‘Alien’ word in nixed Senate bill buried in DREAM

It's interesting to note reluctance by some politicians --- and many in the media --- to use the word “alien,” preceded by illegal, when referring to people who cross the border without proper documentation, observes Grumpy Editor.

It’s a word to be hushed, they figure. And they prefer not to differentiate legal entrants from illegal and thus many camouflage those entering the U.S. illegally simply by labeling them immigrants.

Yet, print and broadcast media gave heavy play this week to the DREAM Act, which failed a crucial vote in the Senate.

Nearly all simply called the measure the DREAM Act.  It was brought to the Senate floor by Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill). 

What many (editors and readers) did not know was the bill's full name:   Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act. 

From that comes the uplifting letters DREAM --- with the A for (the frowned on) alien.

The bill, labeled and spurred by Democrats, was part of a broad plan that might have legalized, according to Associated Press, as many as 12 million illegals.  Republican opponents called it the first step toward amnesty, which they said the Senate rejected four months ago.