Most Americans want it. The House of Representatives voted for it. And 55 Senators were apparently ready to support it. But this morning in a procedural vote in the Senate, the Dream Act failed to get a filibuster-proof supermajority of 60 votes. It was a heartbreaking defeat, especially for many young Americans who are only asking to belong.
A Gallup Poll conducted earlier this month showed that the most reliable support for the DREAM Act came from the “nonwhite” demographic who were 69 percent in favor, followed closely by 66 percent of younger folks (18-34 years old) and those with graduate-level education.
In terms of demographic groups, the lowest support for the DREAM Act came from senior citizens (65 and older), people with High School education or less, and white folks (of nonHispanic ethnicity). Opposition from these groups hovered near 50 percent.
Independent voters favored the DREAM Act (57-38 percent); Democrats favored it even more (66-31 percent); while Republicans took the most decisive stand against the DREAM Act, with 63 percent in opposition.
On the issue of the DREAM Act, Republicans were the most opposed and therefore the least representative voice in American politics, yet it will be the Republican voice that sets the holiday tone for millions of Americans who shall not fail to dream nevertheless of “a more perfect union” to come.–gm
San Antonio Dream Act Rally (KENS-TV)
http://www.kens5.com/v/?i=111885609
| YEAs —55 | ||
| Akaka (D-HI) Bayh (D-IN) Begich (D-AK) Bennet (D-CO) Bennett (R-UT) Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Cantwell (D-WA) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Conrad (D-ND) Coons (D-DE) Dodd (D-CT) Dorgan (D-ND) Durbin (D-IL) Feingold (D-WI) Feinstein (D-CA) |
Franken (D-MN) Gillibrand (D-NY) Harkin (D-IA) Inouye (D-HI) Johnson (D-SD) Kerry (D-MA) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (ID-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) Lugar (R-IN) McCaskill (D-MO) Menendez (D-NJ) Merkley (D-OR) Mikulski (D-MD) |
Murkowski (R-AK) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Sanders (I-VT) Schumer (D-NY) Shaheen (D-NH) Specter (D-PA) Stabenow (D-MI) Udall (D-CO) Udall (D-NM) Warner (D-VA) Webb (D-VA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wyden (D-OR) |
| NAYs —41 | ||
| Alexander (R-TN) Barrasso (R-WY) Baucus (D-MT) Bond (R-MO) Brown (R-MA) Brownback (R-KS) Burr (R-NC) Chambliss (R-GA) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Collins (R-ME) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Crapo (R-ID) |
DeMint (R-SC) Ensign (R-NV) Enzi (R-WY) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Hagan (D-NC) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Johanns (R-NE) Kirk (R-IL) Kyl (R-AZ) LeMieux (R-FL) McCain (R-AZ) |
McConnell (R-KY) Nelson (D-NE) Pryor (D-AR) Risch (R-ID) Roberts (R-KS) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Snowe (R-ME) Tester (D-MT) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Voinovich (R-OH) Wicker (R-MS) |
| Not Voting – 4 | ||
| Bunning (R-KY) Gregg (R-NH) |
Hatch (R-UT) Manchin (D-WV) |
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Texas Civil Rights Review 