Obama: Rush Limbaugh, Lou Dobbs Responsible For Rise In Hate Crimes Against Hispanics

At a fundraiser in Florida Thursday night, Barack Obama accused anti-immigrant crusaders Lou Dobbs and Rush Limbaugh of "ginning things up" to such an extent that there was a rise in hate crimes against Hispanics last year.

"A certain segment has basically been feeding a kind of xenophobia. There's a reason why hate crimes against Hispanic people doubled last year," Obama said. "If you have people like Lou Dobbs and Rush Limbaugh ginning things up, it's not surprising that would happen."

Politico's Jonathan Martin writes that Limbaugh addressed Obama's remarks on his radio show today and said that the remarks hurt his feelings.

"I actually don't believe this. Barack Obama, in my own state, raising money for his presidential campaign called me xenophobic at a fundraiser," Limbaugh said. "I thought this guy was the unity candidate? Calling me a Xenophobe? Responsible for hate crimes? My feelings are hurt here."

Earlier this year, promoting his book "His Panic: Why Americans Fear Hispanics in the U.S.," Geraldo Rivera called Dobbs a "hate-monger" and said "I would not shake his hand because this is a man that's done more damage to the cause of sensible, comprehensive reform than anyone with a microphone."

Comments

[GwenElle]

I believe that Dobbs is biased and tends towards demagoguery. For a year or so, I was a frequent viewer of his program, but came to see through his self-serving bloviating, his pandering to hatred and fear. Out of disgust I stopped watching for the simple reason that I did not want his rage and point of view taking root in me.

I have never seen Beck's show and can only think of one occasion when I have tuned into O'Reilly. Once was enough of breathing that putrid air.

As an Obama supporter, I feel that Barack is wrong to go down the same pandering path as those he is criticizing. There are serious problems to be solved concerning illegal immigration. There are legitimate and accurate points to be made about the kind of MSM-sanctioned hate mongering engaged in by Dobbs and the like. However, Barack cannot present himself as a unifier while at the same time positing divisive comments. That is unprincipled and beneath him. It is hypocritical.

Barack should talk only about policies and solutions and never under any circumstance cite citizens by name (including this trio of rabble-rousers) to make political points. He has got to be more savvy and learn to employ surrogates to make the kind of appeals he obviously needs to and wants to make to constituents whose support he has yet to win.

And finally he must learn the lesson that Billary mastered: it's the economy stupid!

[Witchitalineman]

I agree with most of your post; however, Obama is right to call out bigots. Dobbs does incite prejudice and hatred towards illegal immigrants. I had to force myself to watch Kitty Pilgrim this afternoon who sat in for Lou Dobbs to watch him rant and rave towards a guy from I believe a group called Media Matters. The whole "regular" group of commentators are so biased towards Dobbs point of view that is is sickening. I am really surprised that CNN allows this to continue without having a balance co-host.

[pilgrim7]

I was shocked myself with Obama's calling them out by name. That's so unlike him. I don't know what those hatemongering rabble-rousers have been saying lately to stir Obama up like that, but I agree with your entire post and couldn't have said it any better. i think Obama owes both of those nuts an apology.

[tbrnotb]

You know pilgrim...­.it'sabout time we started calling out a few of these guys by name.
I think we've been a little too quiet of the past seven and a half years!

[Davwbaird]

are you a Dobbs supporter?

[imfedup]

Ummmm. . . are you being facetious?

[Sid31]

He is absolutely right ocall them out. These people sitting in their high chairs with unchallenged access to airwave are nothing but BULLIES. When confornting most issues, especially in teh primaries Obama has been very careful, He coudl have called Hillary a lot of times but he refrained. Howver, Limbaugh and Dobbs are different. Thay have risen in power and mobey by taking on the least powerful in the society. They have no hesitation of kicking when someone is down. Obama was talking about hate crimes on Hispanics, and whatever your views might be on immigration, hate as encouraged by these two and others on the rigth should be confronted just like confronting any other bully.
Kudos to Obama!

[cla62]

Does the golden boy have anything to back up his rediculous statements? Or is it just political jiberish as usual?

[Tiredofallthis]

Rush called a hispanic governor a shoe shine boy. What does that say?
Rush also delighted in playing cute little song about a "negro".
Are you too stupid to not see something so obvious right in front of your face?
The shoe fits dittohead.

[speedy2009]

First, learn to spell Klan62

[HumeSkeptic]

There's another thread now on Lou Dobbs. It is hilarious, and a good example of how idiots like Dobbs and Limbaugh make sh*t up, and then start believing in their own sh*t.

As though dumbing down of America by these clowns is not enough, they also incite hate.

[triplbee]

I think that Lou Dobbs is even more dangerous than Bill O'Reilly or Rush Limbaugh because otherwise sensible people actually believe him. He is a modern day Father Coughlin.

[jameskong15]

Well, you have not shown me any behavior pattern that would make me not believe him or even why believing him in general is bad. Still, even if you did magically make me not want to believe him, it doesn't make his stances themselves incorrect. You'd be much better off attacking his positions rather than attacking him because the former is a form of legitimate argument while the other is flat out fallacious.

[Cougarkj]

goodness..­.his feelings are hurt...sou­nds just like Hillary in NH...maybe he should put on his big boy panties and accept responsibility for the hatefulness he's sponsored over the years....

[DesertLight]

He was being sarcastic Cougar.

[lotuslike]

you WERE???

[rollingdivision]

Obama obviously knows something the rest of us don't.
The 2007 hate crime statistics have not been released yet.

The 2006 hate crime statistics were released in late November 2007:

Anti-Hispanic Incidents in 2005 - 522
Anti-Hispanic Incidents in 2006 - 576

This showed a 10% increase.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-11-19-hate-crime_N.htm?csp=34
So unless Barrack Obama was privy to some secret information that has not been released yet-- he's pulling numbers out of his hat.

[DesertLight]

Or he was off teleprompter again and stepped in it as he did in SF.

Stuffed suit and a cry baby.

[sarasotajeff]

this post isn't about bush, that would be truly accurate if it were, though

[Breni]

Oh, no - remember Elbummo likes to accuse those of us who are crtical of him that we took his 'words out of context'. Elbummo is the 'see all - know all' - the 'leader' of his sheep.

[HumeSkeptic]

Did he say that he used 2007 Statistics? No.
Was there an increase in 2006? Yes.

So what are you complaining about? Or is it that aq 10% increase not enough to make you happy?

[HumeSkeptic]

I take that back. I see now what is bothering you. Going by the numbers you cite, Obama was inaccurate in saying that the crime rate "doubled". My apologies. I read his quote after I read your comment.

[rollingdivision]

BTW a 100% decrease would make me happy.

[Witchitalineman]

If what you say is true then how can Kitty Pilgrim know it was not double. The math as they say is fuzzy. No matter what the figure hate is hate, and it's wrong.

[johnnyjust]

No doubt, anytime anyone in any country anywhere speaks out for enforcement of their country's immigration laws they are filled with hate.

And, of course, anytime a crime is committed against someone who is homosexual, black, Hispanic (or any minority, really), a woman, a liberal...­.it's all a hate crime.

Kinda like all sex is rape. Yeah, that's the ticket. Why think?

[sarasotajeff]

you're certainly good at showing your true colors....
a white guy who thinks hate mongering is great, still supports the criminal asshole in the white house (read his posts over the last four months) and doesn't believe in rape - that's too scary for white guys -

you're nothing but a bigot and mysogynist. well, creationist, obnoxious bible thumper who believes the most fantastical fairy tales, and all around crazy, too, actually.

[Testtubebaby]

HAHAHA...H­E'S NOT AFRAID OF ANY OF THEM AND THEY JUST DON'T GET IT!

[jameskong15]

He should be afraid of them because apparently they have some mind control that makes people commit hate crimes.

[Breni]

I'm waiting for Elbummo to come on Lou's show - he got in hot water another time with Lou and Lou invited him (on air) to come on his show and discuss his lie - which he never showed - that was over 2-3 months ago. Lou wasn't on air to talk about this latest lie told by Elbummo (Kitty Pilgrim was sitting in for him and she's the one who reported it); I'm sure - on Mon or Tues when Lou returns - he'll bring up the subject again and ask Elbummo once AGAIN to come on his show to discuss it - but, of course, Mr. tuff-guy won't appear.

[imfedup]

What was the lie? If you're going to accuse someone of this stature, at least tell us what this alleged lie was about. And by the way, the cute little names are so JUVENILE.

[jameskong15]

Obama made various claims here, but I have yet to see him actually present the proof required to support them. It’s obvious we have some people that are way too attached to Obama or simply anti-Lou/Rush and this mindset doesn’t pay attention to the provable facts.

[speedy2009]

I am sure he will present more objective information in the future. But in this article he states that some people, he mentions Dobbs and Limpbaugh, but there are many other conservatives that have people thinking the illegal immigrants are the cause of all their economic troubles. " Ginning them up".

[DesertLight]

For those of you who missed it and wanted the real response from Limbaugh. This is what he said in response to Obama's Xenophobe comment.

"RUSH: My, my, my, how things have changed over the course of a year. Why, a little over a year ago he was able to laugh at it, no big deal, Rush is a good guy, just an entertainer, now I am sponsoring hate crimes and xenophobia. Don't talk about his wife; don't talk about his ears; don't talk about his mother, his father, his grandmother. Don't talk about his voting record; don't talk about his attendance anywhere. Don't call him liberal; don't talk about his preacher; don't talk about the mobsters he ran around with; don't talk about the terrorists he runs around with. Don't talk about anything. Xenophobe and racist. By the way, last night on CNN, Lou Dobbs Tonight, Dobbs interviewed the Senate minority leader in Florida, Steven Geller. Dobbs says, "What do you expect to happen as a result here, if Florida's vote doesn't count? What are you going to do?"

[timetorevolt]

I can't wait see Lou Dobb's REDNECK glowing through his sheet when he respond to Obama next week...

[Caramba]

NO, No, No, NO!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!

LOU DOBBS is not a journalist nor analyst but an Anti-Obama Basher
It was high time for someome to Stand Up and yack yack on his bad mouth.
Bravo Obama.

TODAY Lou Dobbs does not control Americans whom to vote
FREEDOM for Bloggers to express their opinion and assassinate these hate mongers.

Thank you Arianna Huffington Post - The Blog to tell the truth as it is and all sympathizers of Lou Dobss are none but the small minority of uneducated White-Listeners and there is exception with Alabama Senator Sessions who is NOTHING but empty headed former judge, a crook and divisive anti-immgrant senator.

[jameskong15]

What truth was told here? All I see is a few quotes attacking rush/lou that have zero supporting evidence.

I'm also glad you decided to stereotype Lou's listeners; it really shows your true colors and motives.

[Breni]

Caramba-

Are you Hispanic, with your screen name - I wonder. Anytime ANYONE mentions someone and it's a LIE, that person - ANY person - has a right to call them on it. I'm sure Lou has the facts, unlike Mr. know-it-all.

'anti-immigrant' - you mean ''anti-ILLEGAL immigrant' - right? There IS a difference and that his what Dobbs and Jeff Sessions (my hero!) stress; they support LEGAL immigration, but illegal; of course, you want to mix the two together.

[DesertLight]

All of my illegal friends and employees got their paper work and were legalized. They encourage that process for anyone here illegally.

[Caramba]

Breni,

Lou Dobbs and Sen Sessions are heroes for your but for many they are intollerant and hate mongers. I know how had been the history of white guys with Black Americans in Alabama.
That history repeats today with Mexican Americans and many Spanish Groups from around the Latino World.
They are a little lesson of History of this Country.

I am American Indian and you all guys came to this country, killed many of my ancestors and raped this land and took it by force. The history will tell how the first settles fought back to the British Rule... George Washington, Shelby, Robert E Lee, Thomas Payne.... were heroes to gain the Independence for this Great Nation Today.

Welcome to America...­. people flocked withoud any kind of Documentat­ion.... If you prove contrary I will take off my hat to Lou Dobs and Senator Sessions.

My Ancestors accepted you and lived in peace. But many of YOU and especailly the Republicans are forgetting they you are all Immigrants to this country.

Our People never saw your Legal Documents. Our Land have enough space for everybody and we will keep welcoming everyone who wants to work hard and make effort to give helping hand and build this country much stronger than these hate mongers and prejudical against other races of the world.

[realtalk]

Obama is not afraid of LOU DOBBS, or RUSH LIMBAUGH. Both these men have been attacking Obama, every single day since he started winning. So if Obama believes something, he should speak his mind, Lou Dobbs and Rush sure do, every single say, they find something to try to bash Obama about!!! Ever since Obama started winning they have been trying to undermine his nomination every way they can. Lou practically salivates, grinning from ear to ear everytime anyone on his show says anything negative about Obama. Neither of these men like Obama, and they have never hid it.

So if Obama legitametly thinks that Lou Dobbs, and Rush Limbaugh's consistent negative coverage reporting about illegal immigrants themselves, RATHER than actually focusing on the Bush Administration, and the Adminstrations before Bush who have failed year after year to secure the border properly, the theta is who Rush,and Lou should be targetting. Lou, and Rush should be focusing their anger on the failed policy of the Bush administration!!!

[frankky]

Limbaugh, Dobbs, O'Reilly, and Beck are a bunch of hate- mongerers if this where the 60's they would be members of the KKK. The reason there has been a rise in crimes against Hispanics is
because many people act like sheep when the shepherd (Dobbs, Linbaugh, etc.) rings the bell everyone follows without questions. In other words some people don't have a mind of their own
so whatever they hear from this hate-mongering idiots they believe and follow them like sheep
without doing some research of their own.

[DesertLight]

they would be members of the KKK.

Rev. Wright is that you talking again?

[jameskong15]

[citation needed]

[Breni]

Uhh....the­y DO all the things you say - bash Bush, the democratic congress - they bash EVERYBODY, esp. Dobbs, apparently, you don't listen to his show, but just jumped into to defend your hero because he was taken to task to defend his words.

[Jonni Rae]

You know, I did watch Lou Dobbs for a long time. He really broke the story of all the out-sourced jobs and when he was on that theme, he was really good. The illegal immigrant problem starts with securing the borders. Obama is for that as a first step. Then it means cracking down on employers who deliberately hire illegals to pay them lower wages. Obama cites that as his second step. The third step is a path to citizenship for those who are here, if they!: 1. Come forward within a specified time period. 2. Pay a fine and any back taxes they many owe. 3. Learn English 4. Get at the back of the line , behind those who are already waiting for citizenship. He also understands the need to address the economy of Mexico to attack the root cause of this problem. There is nothing in Obama's immigration plan that is objectionable. Those who do not comply and are apprehended, will be deported. But rounding up all the 11 mil illegals is not feasible. Anyway, there are Polish illegals, Irish illegals, Russian illegals, Brazilian illegals, not just Mexican, ok??

[sarasotajeff]

oh, please.
i've listened to as much hate mongering, racism and idiocy as one person can stand from dobbs. he has a valid point now and then, but presents it like the racist asshole he is, and it's followed by hateful rhetoric, short on truth.
no one can seriously defend limbaugh, and you look bad trying. Dobbs has slightly more grey area, and probems with dobbs and his hate mongering, lies and racism have nothing to do with Obama = it's all about dobbs.,

[Caramba]

CLINTON-LI­MBAUGH-LOU DOBBS Camp
They are unbalanced and mentally sick who would support Hillary and hate mongers against Latinos and other minorities such as blacks, brown, green, red and yellows.!

THESE FOLKS hate American Indians too. They belong to Guantanmo and NOT in America.

TODAY OBAMA is "Within Reach" and Hillary/Bill are gone blind and mad and whatever is in their heart NOW it comes to their mouth. Hillary comments should be outraged and unacceptable dreams and whishes that Obama gets Assassinated by June like Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King WHERE IS OUTRAGE AMERICA?
IS THIS WHAT THE WHITE WOMEN WANT FROM THIS FORMER FIRST SICK LADY?
Where are all the Black Leaders who support Hillary?
Hillary, Limbaugh and Lou Dobbs are divisive and Hate-Crime instigators!

Would this justify this THOUGHT and Acceptable to Hillary Camp?
I am afraid as she is suggesting that a white man may assassinate OBMA
and how about a black man assassinate the former first lady?
WOULD THIS JUSTIFY? - God Forbid

Hillary thoughts come ot from Limbo and Luloo Dobb, the hate mongers and xenophobes
They do NOT belong in civil and decent society in AMERICA.
People should put off LULOO DOBB CNN and Limbo /DOBB Radio
These are the fellow american hate mongers and radio show hosts
And they shoud be obliterated from listeners transmission radios.

OBAMA is right - Americans should join OBAMA and NOT Hillary/Limbo/LuLOO the xenophobes sick and rudes.
Republicans for Obama Versus Hillary&McCain

[Soule23]

Guantanamo is Wrong. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone, not Clinton, Dobbs, Limbaugh, not anyone.

[presto]

Hate crimes against Hispanics went up 16% in 2006. The 2007 figures will not be released until sometime in October, but saying they went up 100% is unfounded and very dubious.

[Soule23]

Proof? Isn't a 16% increase worrisome as well?

[DesertLight]

Well the bigger question is where did these hate crimes surveys come from? And who committed them? In my community labeled, " the killing zone" it is not unusual to find a Hispanic gang member kill another Hispanic gang member.The African-American population is small here and the Hispanics that a murdered are more often than not murdered by a rival Hispanic gang member.

[jameskong15]

16% is worrisome for sure, but that's not the point. The point is that Obama claimed a doubling and then attempted to push the blame off on lou/rush without a single shred of evidence.