Networks Offer Scant Coverage of Liberal DREAM Act, Frothed Over Arizona Immigration Bill
For much of the spring and summer, the big broadcast networks threw staff and airtime at covering Arizona's attempt to control its borders against rampant illegal immigration. Liberals detested Arizona's "harsh" new law, so the media elite reflexively treated it as a scandal in their coverage.
But now, Congress is debating a liberal immigration plan, the so-called "DREAM Act," that would amount to amnesty for possibly one million illegal immigrants, and cost taxpayers up to $6 billion in higher education subsidies. Yet over the last five weeks, the three major networks have offered almost no coverage of the DREAM Act, which may be up for a vote as early as today.
In contrast, when Arizona was considering stricter enforcement of illegal immigration, the networks "aired a whopping 120 stories in a little over three months, with an almost ten-to-one tilt against the Arizona law (77 negative, 35 neutral, 8 positive)." For more, see the MRC's July 28, 2010 Media Reality Check.
The unpopular DREAM Act, which is being considered in the lame duck session of Congress, has been referenced a combined total of just four times since the November 2 midterm elections. (This includes the evening newscasts and the morning shows.)
Jake Tapper accounted for all three of the brief mentions on ABC. On November 30, he blandly explained on Good Morning America: "And there are other Democratic items being discussed, including the DREAM Act, which is for education for the student, for the children of immigrants." (The other two examples were clips from a White House press briefing.)
National Review contributor Mark Krikorian outlined concerns about the bill on December 1:
And yet what does the DREAM Act say about fraud? As Sen. Jeff Sessions (R., Ala.) points out in "Ten Things You Need To Know about S-3827, the DREAM Act," the measure "prohibits using any of the information contained in the amnesty application (name, address, length of illegal presence that the alien admits to, etc.) to initiate a removal proceeding or investigate or prosecute fraud in the application process." This is like playing a slot machine without having to put any money in — any illegal alien can apply, and if he wins, great, but if he loses, he can’t be prosecuted even if he lied through his teeth about everything. No amnesty proposal can be taken seriously unless applicants are made to understand, right up front, that any lies, no matter how trivial, will result in arrest and imprisonment.
Another problem with DREAM, which all amnesties share, is that it will attract new illegal immigration. Prospective illegal immigrants, considering their options, are more likely to opt to come if they see that their predecessors eventually hit the jackpot. In 1986, we had an estimated 5 million illegals, 3 million of whom were legalized. We now have more than twice as many as before the last amnesty, and they’ve been promised repeatedly that if they hold out a little longer they’ll be able to stay legally. Any new amnesty, even if only for those brought here as children, will attract further illegal immigration.
According to a November 15 poll by NBC News, 55 percent of Americans somewhat or strongly oppose the bill. Yet, viewers wouldn't know that from the lack of coverage.
CBS' John Dickerson commented on the legislation once, in an aside for the December 5 Evening News. The only mention on NBC came when Republican Senator Jon Kyl brought it up on the November 28 Meet the Press.
Clearly, ABC, CBS and NBC see nothing contentious about the DREAM Act
(Photo via NYSYLC.org.)
- Scott Whitlock's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
Any Repubes that reach over (around?) and vote for this turd...
Submitted by Dave. on Wed, 12/08/2010 - 11:35am.
...of a bill should be targeted for defeat next time they are up for election - and in the case of House critters, targeted for immediate recall.
Don't the American people realize that this is the sort of BS that is rapidly destroying our country?
It's long past time it was stopped.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Now talk about filibuster!
Submitted by bassndude on Wed, 12/08/2010 - 12:11pm.
Now talk about filibuster! This is the perfect bill to filibuster!
Save a SeAL, club a liberal/troll!!
Dream Act.. sounds nice, doesn't it?
Submitted by Gary Hall on Wed, 12/08/2010 - 12:27pm.
And, that is the reason that the MSM is leaving a discussion of it off the table. If they went to their audience and allowed a conversation - from both sides to take place - they understand that polls would show that the same ole 70% of the voters would oppose it.
That's the same 70%, nationally, who felt this way on the most contentious language in the AZ Immigration Bill - polling by the left wing Pew Center:
73% said they backed a measure requiring people to produce documents verifying their legal status if police ask for them, while 67% approve of allowing police to detain anyone who cannot verify that they are in the country legally.
Just how many times have we heard those facts waived in front of the liberal guests - "But Mr/Ms Democratic Congressperson, how can you ignore 70% of the country?"
Whatever the final negotiations may be in the national issue of "comprehensive immigration reform," it is critically important to understand that the discussion of what's included in the Dream Act can only be undertaken after our borders are secure; all criminal illegal aliens are deported; the American people see the evidence that illegal immigrants are never allowed free passage or hospice here again; that the issue of allowing the best of those presently here illegally to go to the back of the line, pay a fine, pay back taxes, learn English is settled (all of this was Obama's campaign promise - by the way); and that a functional and acceptable documented worker program is in place.
Only then, should we allow the national media and the Democrats to exploit the fact that we are a country of empathetic and caring people who do share their heartfelt concern for kids who were dragged illegally into the United Sates of America, but have found it within themselves to excel.
(;~/ gary
Look For a Vote on the Dream Act
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 12/08/2010 - 1:05pm.
Methinks Nanny & Harry are going to try to ram it through.
Wait & see.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
TODAY DREAM ACT. 4.00 EST.
Submitted by Brittanicus on Wed, 12/08/2010 - 5:20pm.
MAKE--YOUR--VOICE--KNOWN--ON--THE--DREAM--ACT--TRAVESTY. TODAY 4.00 EST
MAKE YOUR EMERGENCY CALL TODAY. NOW! CALL YOUR SENATOR OR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE.
Those taxpayers who have had enough, BOMBARD your Senators with your words and your Members of Congress to oppose the DREAM Act Amnesty -- 202-224-3121 NumbersUSA for details. NumbersUSA will inform you of the truth.
Majority Senate Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois predicts the Dream act will come up for a vote Wednesday. We cannot let Senator Reid and his demagogues lever this badly worded immigration bill in for a vote. With Senator Reid at the helm of his Liberal ship, he cannot be allowed to pass this law--as is? It will cause another Chain Migration avalanche of family members, who eventually will end up on the welfare rolls. This became predominant after first of sixth amnesties that began in 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli bill.
There is absolutely no question that in the coming years, student family members will become a further economic encumbrance on the middle class once --Chain Migration--is underway. Hundreds of thousands or even millions will enter America through Chain migration. Eventually the sponsor cannot or will not support the immediate family members. This burden will fall upon this nations public benefit system. Old sponsored family members will become sick and without the subsistence of the original sponsor will end up in the emergency county hospital. Hundreds of hospitals right now are overrun with newcomers on dialysis procedures, costing billions of dollars a year. Sisters entering America through the Chain migration in turn will have their own babies who will collect instant citizenship and the whole vicious cycle will never be closed, as our population will explode as with the 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli bill.This nation cannot afford this monstrosity of a bill, in this fiscal period with America teetering on a 14 Trillion dollar edge of insolvency. This is not just about the US treasury, but almost every State the money reservoir are badly depleted from the illegal alien welfare programs.
California-the Sanctuary State—on the front line of illegal immigration has serious money problems. The illegal alien entitlement programs is rampant around this nation.
Just because someone does not agree with the provisions of the Dream Act, does not mean they are a racist. When the Tea Party memberships were branded as racist, the illegal alien students lost their argument with American people. For over twenty years citizens and permanent residents have been paying for children of illegal alien parents in education through K-12, health care and a host of other welfare entitlements. This includes the babies intentionally born in this country, so the parents cannot be deported and able to collect food stamps, medical in the name of the baby. The average population grows from instant citizenship children of 300 thousand a year. Taking advantage of the badly interpreted 14th amendment, that gives instant citizenship to the infants of illegal alien mothers.
It seems the more the taxpayer gives, the more foreign trespassers demand. The Dream Act is another ideology born of Liberal progressives who seem to believe we as a nation have an obligation to support every impoverished person, who manages to slip through our borders either on foot, vehicle or by plane. As I have repeated before-there will be more taxes needed to pay for this back-door amnesty.
Illegal alien students are not exempt from joining the armed services in time of war. Once enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces, under 8 USC § 1440, these illegal aliens can become naturalized citizens through expedited processing, often obtaining U.S. citizenship in six months? Every student or any foreign national has the option of being recruited for the military, without the need for passing the Dream Act.
With regards to States as Arizona, California, Texas and New Mexico being financial impacted by the illegal alien occupation. If the Federal governments failure to enforce our border with a national military presence or the original double layer fencing barrier, then states should have a right to police the best way they can in protecting Americans from foreigners who cross the border with an intentions to do harm or other criminal activity. The US Supreme Court should do the right thing for every state that is under continuous bombardment by economic illegal aliens and dangerous persons, that has propagated across our country. SCOTUS should see through business entities such as the US Chamber of Commerce, whose main involvement is profitable gain for its business owner subscribers. Include in these complainants organizations who have a financial interest in bringing in illegal aliens, such as immigration attorneys who make their living in filing documents and consultations with the influx of people.
Remember that movie "Excalibur"?
Submitted by drsamherman on Wed, 12/08/2010 - 9:26pm.
Where Merlin said, "I am dream to some, and nightmare to others!"
Dream Act - a nightmare to all, a dream only to those we in psychiatry refer to polititely as "reality-challenged".