Democrats debating the Senate immigration measure yesterday defeated an amendment that would prevent convicted felons from becoming citizens.

Democrats said the amendment would "gut" the immigration bill under consideration in the Senate and refused to allow a vote on it.

"It hurts the bill," said Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. "It hurts the very foundation and what I believe is the spirit" of the legislation.

Republican Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona and John Cornyn of Texas restated the purpose of their amendment and appeared incredulous that anyone would object to it.

"I do not have to explain in any more detail than what I have as why I don't want to move forward," Mr. Reid said. "I don't agree with the amendment. I don't think it's going to benefit this legislation that is pending before the Senate and I'm going to do what I can to prevent a vote on it."

Later, Mr. Reid added, "We're not going to allow amendments like Kyl-Cornyn to take out what we believe is the goodness of this bill."

Yes, burglars, kidnappers, auto thieves, human smugglers are all part of what Democrats see as the "good" of America. Talk about being hit with the stupid stick...repeatedly.

And let's not even get into Sen. Harry Reid's convenient pro-illegal immigration conversion.