While the Monday back from a long tryptophan heavy weekend is always jarring, today was full of pleasantly surprising news when it came to support of the DREAM Act—a number of well known conservative politicos and media outlets took the opportunity to speak out in favor of the bipartisan legislation. Now, arguably this may not sound like news to the average reader, but in a country that has now rarely seen both politcal parties embrace a piece legislation in years, these endorsements serve as an additional level of legitimacy; “bipartisan support for the DREAM Act” reads less like a talking point, and more like the reality that it is.
Today, perhaps the most surprising endorsement came from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), a publication not only known for its conservatism but is also owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., the same folks that own Fox News. Part of WSJ’s editorial “A Worthy Immigration Bill”, which first ran over this weekend, sounds like it’s pulled from any good child advocate’s book:
Restrictionists dismiss the Dream Act as an amnesty that rewards people who entered the country illegally. But the bill targets individuals brought here by their parents as children. What is to be gained by holding otherwise law-abiding young people, who had no say in coming to this country, responsible for the illegal actions of others? The Dream Act also makes legal status contingent on school achievement and military service, the type of behavior that ought to be encouraged and rewarded.
Adding to the list of conservative support, former Illinois Republican Governor Jim Edgar expressed his support for DREAM in an op-ed in Sunday’s Chicago Tribune, while Secretary of Education Arne Duncan hosted a press call today with a bevy of conservative leaderswho threw their support behind legislation, including former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Carlos Campo, President of Regent University (yes, of televangelist Pat Robertson fame).
While all this public conservative support encouraging, there is still a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the passage of the DREAM Act. Both Senate and House leadership have promised consideration the bill before the end of the 111th Congress but the timeline still remains unclear—a vote can be taken as early as this week, or right before Congress adjourns (whenever that may be).
And yet, the hunger strikes, vigils, and rallies in support of the DREAM Act still persist. Why? I guess for a more simplistic answer, just look at the WSJ editorial title. But, it’s more than that. The DREAM Act lies at the very core of the American dream—the notion that anyone can work hard and succeed, and perhaps more importantly, that every child who wants this opportunity be given the means to do so.
Right wing, left wing, no wing—whatever political affiliation you might have—we want you to remember that in these final days of the lame duck session, your voice can and needs to be heard to pass legislation like the DREAM Act. Tomorrow, join our affiliated grassroots organization, First Focus Campaign For Children for a National Day of Action for the passage of Dream Act.
All of our nation’s children deserve the American dream. Now, it’s your chance to make that a reality.