"Bush plan may help drive for immigrant licenses"

From the San Jose Mercury News:

Proposed legislation that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses in California may have received an unexpected political boost this week when President Bush announced a sweeping plan for immigration reform.

In the Bay Area and across the state, supporters of the driver's license effort believe that the president's plan will help their campaign to get a new bill introduced in California.

What about those who don't support this bill? Why is the only dissenting voice in this entire article saved until the very last paragraph, paragraph #17? Quotes from the supporters are featured in paragraphs 3, 6, 9, 13, and 15.

...Sen. Gilbert Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, said his plan to introduce a new version of the driver's license bill is on track to be introduced this month.

``It's very helpful for the president to go out there and acknowledge the contribution of immigrants,'' said Cedillo, who for the last five years has pushed for legislation that would allow undocumented immigrants in the state to drive legally.

We're a nation of immigrants, as they keep reminding us. How could we ever forget about the contribution of immigrants? Oh, wait, Cedillo meant the contribution of illegal immigrants. He just didn't say what he meant.

...``The federal proposal is more an explicit immigration policy. The California proposal is about highway safety,'' Cedillo said.

Why doesn't the reporter call Cedillo on his Big Lie? It's not about "highway safety." It's about votes and power for Cedillo. I mean, if you've got the guy on the line for a quote, you might as well ask him a tough question or two, right? Isn't that what reporters are supposed to do? Since when is reporting about parroting obvious lies?

Also, as in other stories about immigration matters, the reporter or editor misuses some terms.

Here's a handy chart showing the error on the left and the correct term on the right:

• title: "immigrant" -> "illegal immigrant"
• lede: "UNDOCUMENTED DRIVERS" -> "ILLEGAL ALIEN DRIVERS"
• para 1: "undocumented immigrants" -> "illegal aliens"
• para 6: "undocumented immigrants" -> "illegal aliens"
• para 10: "undocumented immigrants" -> "illegal aliens"
• para 11: "undocumented workers" -> "illegal alien workers"
• para 12: "undocumented immigrants" -> "illegal aliens"
• para 14: "undocumented immigrants" -> "illegal aliens"

Immigration_dls · Fri, 01/16/2004 - 11:53 · · Importance: 1