A new, improved and PC Bruce

From publicly cantankerous to politically correct, rebel Rep. Douglas Bruce changed his tune on illegal immigration today at the Capitol – well, sort of.

He told his House colleagues – the same who rapped him for describing foreign migrant laborers as “illiterate peasants” – that instead of using “illegal aliens” in a bill, he wanted to substitute “undocumented, temporary guest residents.”

“This amendment was drafted by our own linguistic sensitivity codification commission,” said Bruce, R-Colorado Springs. “And we all know how a politically incorrect two-word phrase can alter our public image and the self esteem of potential immigrants around the world.”

Earlier this week Bruce found himself gaveled into silence after sounding off on a bill to more quickly import seasonal farm workers from Mexico and other countries.

He has since said – and said emphatically – that his “illiterate peasants” comment was both technically accurate and not only directed at Mexican farm workers, but all foreign farm workers.

In the flap that followed, Bruce was criticized by a bi-partisan peck of peers, scads of immigrant-rights groups and even the Mexican Consulate. But he also received hundreds of e-mails and scores of phone calls in support of his statement, he said.

This morning’s amendment failed and failed again when Bruce tried to revive it at the close of House business.

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