Last Thursday, NewsBusters asked if media will remember that Barack Obama helped kill immigration reform in 2007.
Clearly, NBC's David Gregory doesn't, for on Sunday's "Meet the Press," he blamed Republicans for blocking such legislation.
As the panel discussion switched to Arizona's new anti-illegal immigration law, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) mentioned how funding for border security has declined since the Democrats took over Congress in 2007.
Gregory was having none of this, and interrupted the Congressman to offer his view of who's to blame for the current problem (video follows with transcript and commentary):
REP. MIKE PENCE (R-INDIANA): I don't know if this law is perfect, but I knew--do know that it is wrong for officials in this government to throw stones at the people of Arizona as they're trying to, to reassert the rule of law in the wake of the fact that this administration and this Congress have been systematically cutting funding to border security since the Democrats took control.
DAVID GREGORY, HOST: Of course, it was Republicans who blocked comprehensive immigration reform. Let's be clear about that.
REP. PENCE: Well, let--well, let, let's focus on border security first, David.
MR. GREGORY: Right.
REP. PENCE: In, in fiscal...
MR. GREGORY: The bill called for that. The Bush bill called for more border security, Republicans were with him...
REP. PENCE: Right.
MR. GREGORY: ...until they were against him on that.
Color me unsurprised.
As NewsBusters pointed out last Thursday, one of the big keys to immigration reform's failure in 2007 was an amendment offered by Democrat Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota.
The Associated Press reported on June 7 of that year:
A proposed immigration overhaul narrowly survived several strong Senate challenges Wednesday, but it suffered a potentially deal-breaking setback early Thursday.
Shortly after midnight, the Senate voted 49-48 to end a new temporary worker program after five years. The vote reversed the one-vote outcome on the same amendment offered both times by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. two weeks ago. Six senators switched their votes, reflecting the issue's political volatility.
The AP followed up later that day (no link available, emphasis added):
The 49-48 roll call by which the Senate passed an amendment to the proposed immigration overhaul that would end a temporary worker program after five years.
On this vote, a "yes" vote was a vote to end the program after five years and a "no" vote was a vote against adding this time limit to the program.
Voting "yes" were 37 Democrats, 11 Republicans and one independent.
Voting "no" were 10 Democrats, 37 Republicans and one independent.
Democrats Yes
Baucus, Mont.; Bayh, Ind.; Biden, Del.; Bingaman, N.M.; Boxer, Calif.; Brown, Ohio; Byrd, W.Va.; Cardin, Md.; Casey, Pa.; Clinton, N.Y.; Conrad, N.D.; Dorgan, N.D.; Durbin, Ill.; Feingold, Wis.; Harkin, Iowa; Inouye, Hawaii; Klobuchar, Minn.; Kohl, Wis.; Landrieu, La.; Lautenberg, N.J.; Leahy, Vt.; Levin, Mich.; McCaskill, Mo.; Menendez, N.J.; Mikulski, Md.; Murray, Wash.; Nelson, Fla.; Nelson, Neb.; Obama, Ill.; Reed, R.I.; Reid, Nev.; Rockefeller, W.Va.; Schumer, N.Y.; Stabenow, Mich.; Tester, Mont.; Webb, Va.; Wyden, Ore.
The Christian Science Monitor agreed with the significance of this vote on April 17, 2008:
Obama was part of the bipartisan group of senators who began meeting in 2005 on comprehensive immigration reform. But last summer, with the presidential nominating race well under way, Obama backed 11th-hour amendments - supported by labor, immigrant rights, and clergy groups - that Republicans saw as imperiling the fragile compromise.
None of those measures passed. But Obama was part of a 49-to-48 majority that voted to end after five years a temporary worker program that had been a cornerstone of the immigration deal. The vote, backed by labor, was seen as a major setback to bipartisan negotiations.
So, contrary to Gregory's claim, 37 Senate Democrats INCLUDING Barack Obama voted for an amendment that effectively killed immigration reform.
With this in mind, why would the host of "Meet the Press" claim that Republicans were to blame?
Consider that on Friday, conservative author Ann Coulter said she's never seen an issue lied about as much as this new law in Arizona.
Does this apply to Gregory, or is he just ignorant of the facts?
Regardless of the answer, it doesn't give you a lot of confidence in his ability to report the truth, does it?
