On Saturday morning Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester voted against the DREAM Act, a bill that would have allowed a path to citizenship for young, undocumented immigrants if they commit to two years in the military or higher education, and have no criminal record. Baucus and Tester joined three other Democrats in voting against ending the Republican filibuster on the bill, which required 60 votes. The bill drew three Republican votes, but ultimately failed 55-41. Tester also voted against the measure in 2007. Opposition to the bill stemmed mainly from Republicans concerned it offered a “path to amnesty” for illegal aliens.
Here’s Tester’s statement on his vote:
“Illegal immigration is a critical problem facing our country, but amnesty is not the solution. I do not support legislation that provides a path to citizenship for anyone in this country illegally.”
But what might be most interesting about the vote by Montana’s senators, and revealing about their bases of support, is that while Baucus didn’t even bother to issue a statement explaining his vote (at least none showed up in our inbox), Tester is now getting HAMMERED by some of the most prominent liberal bloggers in Montana and the country. Shortly after Tester issued a statement Friday declaring his intent to vote against DREAM, Markos Moulitsas (of Daily Kos) tweeted: “Jon Tester to vote against DREAM. Good luck getting reelected, a–hole.” Moulitsas also tweeted: “Sen. Tester’s active misrepresentation of DREAM act isn’t just burning his bridges, it’s going at them with a blowtorch.”
Harsh words. The criticism immediately sparked a response on the blog, Left in the West, where Matt Singer tried to work out what are clearly some conflicted feelings stemming from his support for Tester but disagreement with his vote:
I think I first criticized Jon’s stance on immigration about a year after he took office. His vote on DREAM came as little surprise to me. He’s been (in my view) wrong on immigration policy as long as I’ve known him and Montana’s political environment has given him no incentive to rethink his stances.
That being said, the warpath mentality stemming from this bill bothers me, not because of what it might do to my friend Jon Tester but because of what it might do to progressives in Montana.
On Monday I received a press release from a group called the Progressive Change Campaign Committee with quotes from its Montana membership expressing disgust (and that’s putting it somewhat lightly) with Tester’s vote. Here’s a sample:
Jeff Smith, from Missoula, Development Director for a nonprofit organization, lived in Montana for 34 years, PCCC member
“The guy is a former teacher! How does he sleep at night? We need educated people and this would have given immigrant children a way to get an education. It’s shameful he voted against it.”
Roger Sherman, from Whitefish, 13-year Montana resident with Masters Degree in education, PCCC member
“”I have been a contributor and supporter of Mr. Tester and I can’t imagine he would vote this way. These people are here and have proven themselves. They are college grads and military…they want a better a life and have the HUNGER to achieve it. I have lived in Montana for 13 years. I have a Masters Degree in education with 35 years of experience. I have four friends who have immigrated here and have college graduate degrees. They have contributed to our state immensely.””
Why is Tester taking flack where Baucus gets a pass? I think Baucus, in his longer legislative career, has previously sided with Republicans on some major controversial issues, like the Bush tax cuts, so I don’t think his vote necessarily shocked anyone. Progressive bloggers, however, feel that they helped Tester win his primary and general elections in 2006, and were key in developing his support then. That leads to the distinct sense of betrayal you see now by some of those same folks. You hear the same thing about whether President Barack Obama has betrayed his liberal base in a similar way by decisions to double-down on troops in Afghanistan and extend the Bush tax cuts.
I tend to agree with Singer, however, that these votes are not likely to damage Tester’s reelection bid in 2012. On the same day, Tester can point to a vote to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, a major progressive goal. But what I think this does show is one more factor, in the form of a progressive base, that Tester will have to navigate in his 2012 reelection bid – a factor that Baucus just doesn’t.