Vicente Gonzalez: “--and of course I hope that we do have a vote on the DREAM Act--but this is really a plea to my colleagues on the other…”

“--and of course I hope that we do have a vote on the DREAM Act--but this is really a plea to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to prove a former official and spokesman for the Bush administration wrong. Michael Gerson wrote yesterday in The Washington Post: ``Whatever its legislative fate, the DREAM Act is effective at stripping away pretense. Opponents of this law don't want earned citizenship for any illegal immigrant--even those personally guilty of no crime, even those who demonstrate their skills and character. The DREAM Act would be a potent incentive for assimilation. But for some, assimilation clearly is not the goal. They have no intention of sharing the honor of citizenship with anyone called illegal--even those who came as children, have grown up as neighbors and would be willing to give their lives in the Nation's cause.'' I implore and I request fair consideration and that we prove Michael Gerson wrong. My fear is that he may be very, very accurate in what this vote represents.”