Retroactive 25 years? Applicable to people who otherwise contribute in good ways to our economy? Good luck with that one. Are you ready to pay taxes for twice as many prisons and guards as we have today? Good luck with that one, too.
You can wish me all the luck in the world, but it doesn't change the fact that Newt's proposal is amnesty. Lots of people support amnesty, it's not a dirty word, many people oppose amnesty, even if it is called something else.
If this is Newt's plan, than he should come out and say "yes, amnesty is part of my plan, but I think it is still the best plan because...". Trying to parse words, a la Clinton, should be beneath the "smartest man in the room".