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Racist is what many think when they see or hear the name of Texas born CNN host Lou Dobbs. His constant immigrant bashing and anti-Latino rhetoric has raised serious concerns
In many circles around the country when you mention the name Lou Dobbs, you think racist and anti-Latino before you think longtime and once upon a time revered CNN figurehead who helped launched the 24 hour news network . This Texas born son fancies himself as an ‘independent populist’ who uses that moniker as cover for his over the top xenophobic expressions. He’s been pimping the Latino community for the past few years by espousing racially biased remarks that have helped create a climate where fellow citizens are made to feel uncomfortable because of their ethnicity and there’s been a rise in Hate crimes.
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It’s time to give Lou Dobbs the boot:
Add your name to AlterNet and CREDO’s petition, and send him to the sidelines.
http://www.alternet.org/story/142940/is_lou_dobbs,_cnn’s_resident_bigot,_on_his_way_out?page=entire
The heat on CNN to dump right-wing nativist news host Lou Dobbs has reached a boiling point.
Several grassroots and Internet campaigns urging CNN to drop Dobbs in response to his relentless hate-talk are gathering momentum and tens of thousands of signatures. Will Dobbs finally be stopped from using his on-air bully pulpit to bash immigrants and spread misleading and inaccurate information?
One major anti-Dobbs campaign, Basta Dobbs.com, calls Dobbs the “most dangerous man for Latinos in America.”
Just how dangerous is Dobbs? According to Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center, “The rise in hate crimes against Latinos coincides almost exactly with the time Dobbs has been propagating false conspiracy theories about Latinos on the air. He’s not urging people to go hurt and kill — but that is the effect of what he does.”
A recent poll of the top 100 Latino leaders, including members of Congress and business leaders, conducted by Bendixen and Associates for Democricia Ahora, showed that 89 percent had a negative opinion of Dobbs. Many believe him to be a racist and question his journalistic credentials. Seventy percent of those polled thought that a campaign aimed at ousting Dobbs was a good idea.
John Santore of Media Matters explains the position of DropDobbs.com, another coalition of groups, which include the National Council of La Raza, LULAC and the Southern Poverty Law Center, working for Dobbs’ ouster:
For years, Lou Dobbs has been one of the most dangerous hosts on cable news. He benefits enormously from the legitimacy of the CNN brand, which provides him with an unparalleled platform from which to mainstream the hate-speech and racially charged conspiracy theories normally relegated to Fox News and other conservative news outlets.
Dobbs calls himself an “advocacy journalist,” but he doesn’t even live up to that ambiguous standard. Good journalism enhances the discussion of serious topics, but Dobbs helps to undermine and debase that discussion, routinely infusing it with misinformation and fear.
Meanwhile, Dobbs has become even more unhinged.
In a rambling, bizarre attack on one of his critics, Roberto Lovato, a key leader in the BastaDobbs.com campaign, Dobbs resorted to juvenile name calling, going so far as to call Lovato a “flea” and a “bozo.”
Dobbs was set off by an AlterNet article in which Lovato chargedthat Dobbs postures as “the victimized defender of American virtue” in order to spread his bile.
A Big Problem
The intensity of the protests against Dobbs have made the news host a “big problem” for the network, sources inside CNN report. Closed-door discussions on Dobbs’ fate appear to be under way.
CNN executives have a lot to talk about. The cable channel is losing market share, and Dobbs is leading the way in the drop in viewers. Raw Story reports that after harping on the Obama birth certificate story, Dobbs’ ratings fell 15 percent — in two weeks.
Long-term, big-picture audience demographics should also figure in CNN’s decision. The Latino market in the U.S is exploding. Naturally, CNN has much invested in its Spanish-speaking audience, and it is well aware that Latinos are not happy with the anti-immigrant Dobbs.
The more Dobbs viciously attacks Latino immigrants, the more he alienates the very audience that CNN is trying to woo. One insider said off the record that they think Dobbs will probably be gone by year’s end.
CNN’s Big Contradiction: Marketing to Latinos While Dobbs Alienates Them
The message aimed at CNN by the drop-Dobbs campaigns is, “How can you seemingly embrace your Latino audience with marketing and special programming
on the one hand, while allowing Dobbs to spread hate with the other?”
The BastaDobbs campaign is spearheaded by Lovato, as part of Presente.com, an online organizing effort affiliated with the Color of Change. CoC is the group credited with getting more than 60 advertisers to drop Fox’s Glenn Beck Show.
I spoke with Lovato on Sept. 27, and he said this about the nationwide campaign against Dobbs’ hate:
For many years, Latinos throughout the United States have organized local street protests and press conferences denouncing Dobbs’ dangerous rhetoric. Think tanks have produced numerous reports proving the falsehoods and fakery that passes for “news” on Lou Dobbs Tonight. Yet, all we get are more silly outbursts from Dobbs — and silence from CNN.
But now, Latinos and others come to realize Dobbs is not going to change. So it’s time for us to take our fight to the real source of the problem, CNN itself.
We are going to make Jonathan Klein, the president of CNN, one of the most famous TV execs in America [Klein is responsible for management oversight of all programming, editorial tone and strategic direction of the network].
I’m encountering this disposition to fight in the 25 cities our campaign is organized in, and on the Internet. Dobbs and CNN are bringing unprecedented alignment and agreement between working-class and elite Latinos.
I asked Lovato about his approach to pressuring CNN and the economics of the Latino audience. Lovato said:
CNN’s moves to capture a segment of what many in media consider the “mission critical” Latino market are no secret. Latinos understand why we’re seeing more of Rick Sanchez and other Latinos on CNN. We take note of the inclusion of Latino analysts, including Alex Castellanos and Leslie Sanchez; and we are curious about how CNN will treat us in its upcoming Latino in America series.
And we wonder why CNN isn’t translating Lou Dobbs in Spanish for inclusion on CNN Espanol, which, by the way, is quite popular with Latinos at this point. But to watch sunny Soledad O’Brien singing the praises of Latino contributors to American society, while just a time slot away the dark, dour Lou Dobbs continues infecting the airwaves with deadly misinformation about “criminal illegal aliens” is just too much hypocrisy.
Regardless of CNN’s big-money efforts to target the Latino market, the continuation of Dobbs’ program guarantees that, for Latinos, the name “CNN” is synonymous with “anti-Latino hatred.”
Ultimately, Dobbs’ vicious attacks on immigrants — often combined with bizarre red-baiting — is not doing great things for the CNN brand. In fact, Dobbs’ antics harshly distort its tag line: “The most trusted name in news.”
For example, take a look at Dobbs’ response to the national protest day, “A day without Immigrants” in 2006, here described by Daphne Eviatar, writing in The Nation:
… on CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight, it was a different story: “Hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens and their supporters today failed in their attempt to shut down most of our cities to support amnesty for all illegal aliens,” the network’s 6 p.m. news anchor reported that evening.
Dobbs elaborated in his online column: “It is no accident that they chose May 1 as their day of demonstration and boycott. It is the worldwide day of commemorative demonstrations by various socialist, communist and even anarchic organizations. … No matter which flag demonstrators and protesters carry today, their leadership is showing its true colors to all who will see.
You might expect that sort of McCarthyesque description from Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh or some other famously right-wing provocateur on Fox or talk radio. But Lou Dobbs, on CNN? These days, the network once pilloried by conservatives as a leading voice of the “liberal media” is offering an expansive platform to the nation’s leading spokesman for anti-immigration hard-liners.
There are countless other critiques of Dobbs, dating back more than three years. The charges, listed by the DropDobbs campaign, and documented by Media Matters, include:
- Dobbs spreads leprosy falsehood in claiming “invasion of illegal aliens” threatening Americans’ “health.”
- Dobbs has close ties to “hate group” Federation for American Immigration Reform.
- Dobbs smeared U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as “interested in the export of American capital and production to Mexico, and Mexico’s export of drugs and illegal aliens.”
- Dobbs advanced racially charged conspiracy theories about Obama’s birth certificate.
- Dobbs said Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s Supreme Court nomination was “absolute pandering to the Hispanics.” Dobbs declared “Mexico has become our enemy.”
A more thorough listof Dobbs’ hate speech can be found on the DropDobbs site.
It’s time to give Lou Dobbs the boot:
Add your name to AlterNet and CREDO’s petition and send him to the sidelines.
This is the amount of incredulous influence the–OPEN BORDER–lobbyists (business power brokers and ethnic zealots)) have on certain Democratic devious rabble? Once again the senate top echelon have huddled secretly (BEHIND CLOSED DOORS), recklessly placing E-Verify worker identification system in jeopardy. The obnoxious
R-O-P-E Senate group as its being called on the Internet and nationwide, who are marked as Reid, Obama, Pelosi Emmanuel have indifferently pushed American Workers in the background, allowing the millions of illegal aliens to take their jobs. They have driven into the ground amendments from appearing in the final Homeland Security “conference committee” bill. They eradicated–ANY CHANCE–of a Senate’s permanent authorization of the E-Verify program.
They have religiously under-funded, undermined the Senate’s mandate to beef up and complete the final 300 mile Mexican border fence. Then again it was never the original border wall as designed by Rep. Duncan Hunter. Illegal Aliens would have first had to scale the–FIRST–fence, run across the two lane highway for the Border Patrol vehicles, then scale an identical–SECOND FENCE. Under funded and weakened just like E-Verify, the police 287(g) arrest and detainment and ceasing the massive ICE raids. Finally the ROPE group strangled the Senate (already) passed ability of countrywide businesses to run their previous hires employees through E-Verify. So you can guess this is a harbinger to drop on the AMERICAN WORKER YET ANOTHER ULTIMATELY EXPENSIVE BLANKET AMNESTY. THOSE TAXPAYERS WILL BE FORCED TO PICK UP A TRILLION DOLLAR TAB. Be advised that Reid D-NV , Pelosi D-CA have one of the largest population of illegal immigrants in the country, who they are subservient too. Remember to expend your frustration and anger at 202-224-3121on your lawmakers. They are juggling with millions of American Workers job lifeline, by pandering to people who shouldn’t even be here?
MY SUGGESTION IS DON”T BUY ANY SERVICES FROM BUSINESS THAT DOESN’T DISPLAY THE E-VERIFY PLACARD. Remember the real conniving happens in rooms hidden from the public awareness in conference committees. In addition, Remember Harry Reid as an incumbent Senator who carries the blemish of being anti-American Worker, Anti-Sovereignty must not be re-elected. Speaker Pelosi must go? So must Emmanuel? They have proved they cannot be trusted As NUMBERSUSA president says,” With no chance now of E-Verify dying in any minute, because they couldn’t annul the 3 year extension? The pro-amnesty forces no longer can try to use it as a bargaining chip. States, counties, cities and businesses can now be quite confident that they can set policy based on the E-Verify program being around.” IT’S NOT PERMANENT YET THANKS TO ROPE. This group has given preference to illegal workers instead of the 15 million authorized AMERICAN WORKERS. COMPREHEND MORE OF THE CORRUPTION THAT CANNOT BE DENIED BY POLITICIANS AT JUDICIAL WATCH. NUMBERSUSA will explain in detail the consequences of the illegal immigration occupiers. CAPSWEB for OVERPOPULATION information.
Lou Dobbs is living proof that Adolf Hitler fucked John Candy.
I may not agree with everything Lou Dobbs says but I definitely agree with him on the issue of illegal immigration. I live in San Diego, CA & I’ve seen first hand the effects of illegal immigration. As Mr. Dobbs said, we do have to prioritize American workers FIRST. We live in tough economic times & resources are scarce! I’m all for treating them in a humane manner. However, I think anyone who has entered this country illegally should be deported back to their home country, PERIOD! If that makes me a RACIST or a XENOPHOBE, SO BE IT!
John how many Americans are lined up to pick fruit? Are those the resources ur claiming are scarce? American fruit pickers are being shut out.. Here’s a real simple test since its all about putting American workers first.. next time you go to a store check to see if the product you buy was made in America… not China.. not Botswana…Not India, but America… The minute u discover the product u purchase was made with outsourced labor from overseas drop it and rush off to purchase the goods where ist 100% American.. Thats how you should support America.. Now if you discover that the price for American goods are higher because our good ole American company outsourced the labor to another country for cheap, thus displacing American workers , You John Q will do the right thing by by passing those cheaper products.. U might wanna start with the computer your typing on.. It was mostly made with outsourced labor..
What effects do illegals here have on your life personally? You know what gets me is that certain groups of people are always complaining about these “illegal” people in “our” country who come here and do the work most americans deem below them and blame them for all the economic hardships that are going here right now. Yet they have no ill words fro these corporations that are outsourcing jobs down to central and south america for cheaper wages while still charging “americans” an arm and a leg for thier product and not covering the few jobs that they do have here with proper health-care.
All of these words to label folks who disagree with us. The joke word used to be “wetback’ when I was in Texas, now their, I guess, “citiizens”. It just amazes me how people can fight for everything and everyone except their own.
John Q you are a racist, and a misinformed idiot. You’re also delusional, calling yourself “John Q”, as if your views represent the public. Polls have already shown that most Americans support giving citizenship to Mexicans here to work.
Robert, still taking your marching orders from white republicans, I see.
Soledad O’Brien is such a phony. In April 2008, Reverend Jeremiah Wright gave a speech in Detroit to the NAACP. One of the things that he said in this speech was that black and white children learn with different parts of their brain, and then gave an “unflattering imitation of the way white pastors speak.” Peoples comments were that he gave a racial speech. Soledad O’Brien, on CNN, was quoted as saying, in a gushing manner, that the speech was a “home run” and “really funny.” When questioned about the things he said in the speech, she would say things like, what he really meant was …..or what he wanted to say was… Once again she’s covering the truth and being racist. Just as with the Henry Gates incident. In an appearance on Anderson Cooper, the night or so before CNN’s “The Moment of Truth” she appeared enraged that it was a racial profile against Gates. She said that she got calls from her FRIENDS saying it was all about Gates being black. She went on that show with the purpose, at all costs, to destroy the credibility of the white police officer and throw him under the bus. When Cooper was talking she wanted to make the point that Gates said “Thank You” to the police officers. By mentioning that, she was purposely misrepresenting the truth by playing down Gates’ belligerence and racial remarks, which she didn’t even mention. Even Gates’ attorney and friend, said to the media that he used very strong language. Colon Powell and President Obama both said he should take blame in the incident. I have seen this in many occasions with her, where she doesn’t speak the truth and hides the true facts. Another time on Anderson Cooper, Cooper said to O’Brien that Senator John McCain hasn’t brought race into the campaign, like he said he wouldn’t. You would think her response would have been something like, that’s great because he shouldn’t. Instead she strongly insinuated that he would, even in the last week of the campaign. Also, her questioning style, in interviews is completely different with a white person than it is with a black person. Like in her interview with Henry Gates in “The Moment of Truth” She just went along with his lies. I have seen several comments on various websites about her racism. There are many other examples I could give of her racial bias, dishonesty and hypocrisy. She seems to consider herself to be black. She mentioned in an interview that her parents made it clear to her “you’re black” and that’s all there is to it.
She’s all about being #1, she wants the world to revolve around her. She comes first, before her family. She wants to be a celebrity figure and a star. In interviews she says she works 6 days a week, mostly out of town, and on some holidays. She goes to gala events, concerts, lots of entertainment events, as a single woman, leaving her husband and kids behind.
I think Soledad O’Brien is a very poor journalist. What ever happened to the days of CNN with Bernard Shaw and Judy Woodruff? T hey were honorable journalists. You could believe what they said. John Las Vegas
John.. u started off by using an example of Jeremiah Wright-have u ever heard that NAACP speech? yes or no? I doubt it very much.. In fact I know you didn’t.. Which makes the rest of ur remarks a bit suspect… Its like most so called pundits and 30 second soundbite experts who never heard the speech that Wright gave where he said Goddamn America.. If u ever heard those speeches than u know the negative commentary reflected a gross ignorance..
As for soledad being a good journalist or not..I can’t really call it..I don’t watch her that much.. what u say may or may not be true, but if u started off with Wright’s speeches as the example of her falsehoods then u lost credibility…
Much props to Lou Dobbs!! I watch his show regularly and love it. It is one of the few shows on TV where you DONT see politcally correct pandering to all these constituencies. CNN, MSNBC, CBS and NBC are all state run media that is no different that the media in Russia , China or Venezuela.
I am 37 black and live in So Cali. It is like TJ in LA and all of the 714 not to mention the Inland empire. Mexico is a corrupt 3rd world country and those people flee there to come to what is fast becoming a 3rd world country full of corruption. The joke is on them.
With Obama and his goal of totalitarianism and the fascist govt controlling all money making, they can have this banana republic.
I would love to see some black folks immigrate to cancun mexico and try to get a job. Go see what happens. AmeriKKKa with Obama is a nation without law and without order.
Wake up Black People.
Like I said, “It amazes me how people can fight for everything and everyone except theire own”. I’ll say it again. I take marching orders from “God”, not jews, republicans, nor those that help ignorant people – hurt our people. I’d love to see you guys go to Cancun and see if “you” can get a job. Truth hurts, people.
I had a job at cancun.. wasn’t rthat hard.. they have a resort there and they hire all sorts of folks.. what are u talking about fam?
Good, Davey D. Well, let them (illegal aliens) go to Cancun, Fam. We “now” know that not only the US will hire them.
CNN is using Lou Dobbs to distract people from the NYC Wall St crooks who have wrecked the global economy. He dehumianizes Mexican people, calling them “aliens.” No human being is an “alien.” Mexicans come from North America, not another planet.
Do any of you immigrants bashers ever stop to think why so many Mexicans and other Latin Americans have immigrated here in the last 20 years? It’s because of NAFTA.
American companies now have the legal right to move into Mexico and to pollute the soil, the air and the groundwater. Look up Smithfield Farms and their fecal pools. And what happens when Mexicans protest or unionize? Our government gives the Mexican government money to put down these protests with the military. Look up Plan Mexico/The Merida Plan, and see how many human rights activists have been killed just in the past two years.
I have to say, although he beat the immigration thing like a dead horse, Dobbs was right. He misspoke a few times, but he was trying to watch out for the middle class. I think Dobbs should have focused more on the corporations exploitation of cheap labor rather than illegal immigrants, but he was just trying to give us a bigger picture. I do disagree with him on the birther issue. I thought it was ridiculous (and I do believe Obama, would I don’t love, was born in Hawaii).
and for mr. 619 try http://www.cis.org/Costs
There are LAWS on the books making it illegal to hire white people in India.