Dobbs' Ratings Take A Hit Over "Birther" Controversy

Backing the "Birthers" may be a good way to gain notoriety and attract criticism, but it's proving to be ratings poison for Lou Dobbs. The New York Observer's Felix Gillette crunches the numbers, and the bottom line is Dobbs is bottoming out:

Mr. Dobbs' first began reporting on Obama birth certificate conspiracy theories on the night of Wednesday, July 15. In the roughly two weeks since then, from July 15 through July 28, Mr. Dobbs' 7 p.m. show on CNN has averaged 653,000 total viewers and 157,000 in the 25-54 demo.

By contrast, during the first two weeks of the month (July 1 to July 14) Mr. Dobbs averaged 771,000 total viewers and 218,000 in the 25-54 demo. In other words, Mr. Dobbs' audience has decreased 15 percent in total viewers and 27 percent in the demo since the start of the controversy.

Maybe this will get CNN President Jon Klein's attention. After initially attempting to put Dobbs' birther madness to bed in an email that read, "It seems this story is dead- because anyone who still is not convinced doesn't really have a legitimate beef," Klein has had to go on the defensive as Dobbs continued to merrily dig himself a hole. This past week, Klein, on a panel discussion at the Television Critics Association press tour, argued that Dobbs was beyond his control so long as he was using the forum of his radio show:

We have no control over what he says on his radio show. It's not a CNN radio program so he does what he does on the radio separate from what he does on our air. So we ask you and anyone writing about this, to look at what he says on CNN. It's the only thing we control.

Dobbs' radio ravings may be beyond Klein's reach, but now that CNN's ratings are trending ditchward, it's Klein's problem now.

READ MORE:
Controversy Surrounding Lou Dobbs Has Failed to Increase His Ratings [New York Observer]

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Comments

[ddadm09]

I never thought birth of Obama will become such a big discussion topic. I am following this closely to see where this conspiracy ends. Meanwhile I have collected some good articles and sites related to Barack Obama (more than 200 sites or articles). If you are interested take a look at the below link
http://markthispage.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-do-i-get-information-about-barack.html

[porkchopchili]

the sooner this self-satisfied smug pissant is off the air, the better.

[gsteinum]

i have yet to view any birth certificate documents from lou dobbs. i have serious doubts that he will be able to provide me with a credible document. ladies and gentlemen, i've even recieved shocking news that lou dobbs occationally slips into his native german tongue, after several hours of channeling mania on his radio show. there are others that are concerned that lou dobbs has yet to deny he worked as a prison guard at bergen-belson. still others claim, he was never employed there and actually worked at dachau.this can't be true, can it herr (von)dobbs? this issue isn't going away. when will we have a definitive answer on the lou dobbs citizenship question????

[Telemachus]

Well done. :)

[porkchopchili]

yeah he can't seem to provide any evidence that would satisfy me, so why should I just take his word for it?

[wendydb]

I only ask for the news media to report the facts. Do approval ratings for CNN or any other network matter when responsible reporters reveal a possible major oversight in Obama's qualifications for President? Are you worried that anything negative or questionable reported about Obama will be considered racial? I could care less about riding the bandwagon and turning a deaf ear to mistruths or supporting silence about this important issue. Stay strong Lou Dobbs.

[sippewissett]

What cave do you live in? Look at FactCheck.org for yourself instead of continuing to perpetuate the myth that Obama's birth certificate is in doubt. The core ofthe birther conspiracy IS racial, dimwit. Instead of losing graciously and working on policies to help us out of this economic and fiscal crisis, the GOP is spending time on side issues and nutso conspiracies to keep the ill-read, ill-educated stoked with hatred that a black man is in the white house.

[rick91]

Name one "responsible" reporter who is saying that there was a "major oversight" regarding Obama's qualifications for the presidency.

[indy100]

"Responsible" reporters? "possible major oversight"?? No it's pretty much the birther nuts and the FAUX news friends who believe that Obama doesn't meet the legal qualifications.

[espressobeans]

I miss Walter Conkrite.

[Telemachus]

Hear, hear.

[j33716]

What ever happened to NEWS?
It used to be reasonably non-biased. Now it just talk shows and filtered media.
Maybe this is why so many get their news from the Internet now instead of the Big 3

[sippewissett]

Try the PBS News Hour at 6pm EDT. Jim Lehrer and staff cover major issues in depth, and bring representatives from the Dems and Repugs to the table. I love that they have major segments for several minutes, without more ads than news. Try it.

[indy100]

I'm with you. I never watch American "news", it's not news. It's celebrity fluff, rumor and innuendo mixed with political viewpoints. I occasionally watch BBC America because it's an unbiased and world based view of real issues. I skim the local paper for relevant local information and I go online to get everything else.

[ebanks84]

"Oh, the American way! Let's give them more FEAR! They haven't had enough. They are not compliant enough. They are trying to use their "free will" to think. Pray tell, don't let them them! Woe is us if they think! "

Don't you hear how afraid they are that we might have a hold on the truth in America? Can't you hear them screaming how unfair we are for having a "foreigner" as our president? They are literally losing sleep at nights trying to unseat this president. Why?

They are AFRAID people that THEY will be dissolved, finished, removed from their positions as OWNERS OF THE SLAVES, who are ALL of the American people. Aren't you tired of being subservient to them? Aren't you tired of their "dark energy"? Haven't you had enough yet?

[j33716]

The reason everyone is up in arms about the Birth Certificate is they have not been satisfied. They are voters and they deserve an opinion just like you do.

Voters want to know when you publish rules they will be followed. Many others may have run for president but were unable because they believe in the rules that have been published. If we do not follow the basic rules then why have them at all.

[rick91]

"Everyone" is not up in arms about this non-controversy.
You talk about how important "rules" are, but, apparently, you don't have the same regard for facts and the truth. Probably because you don't like what the facts and the truth are in this case.

[eshaneua]

Where's Bernard Shaw when U need him???!!!

[str8fwd]

Dump CNN period. After seeing Don Lemon totally blow off the facts of the Gates-Crowley incident, I now realize that journalistic integrity is in VERY short supply at CNN. So it's no wonder that Dobbs is still held in high regard despite his plummeting ratings. It's all "relative" because they're ONLY a half-step above Fox News.

I may watch CNN from time to time when they feature special programming because it can be "entertaining" sometimes, but I will NEVER watch them to provide REAL "news" again... and Don Lemon definitely has the right name. Because in the world of journalism, he IS a TRUE "lemon".... "tart " and "yellow".

[dcfairbank]

I am in agreement with this comment and haved stopped relying on CNN for the "news" it currently provides. It seems as though the Fox "News" virus has spread to other networks, including one that I used to rely on for news. As an educated person and on behalf of the many other rational people in the US, I am horribly insulted by the comments made by Lou Dobbs that are clearly a deliberate attempt to capitalize upon the racism and fear present in many US citizens in our society. I am ashamed of us as a nation founded on escaping religious persecution as stated in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes the freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."
How can the religious right shove their religious beliefs on others at all, let alone in our nation, founded by those escaping religious prosection? And then call others "Un-American" if they have any objection. It is unfathomable and hypocritical! As a nation, we should be hanging our heads in shame!!!
As for CNN, clearly the only thing that is a priority is capturing ratings and perhaps the only way to influence CNN is a boycott on their programming.

[respectingothers]

npr, pbs, cspan, charlie rose, bill moyers all still real good sources for "news". i still enjoy my Maddow fix tho.

[makdi]

Dump Dobbs. There are a lot of starving journalists out there, many of whom would be much easier on the eyes.

[eco delsol]

This Kenyan birth certificate has surfaced today:

http://www.wnd.com/images/misc/kenyandocument-top.jpg

http://www.wnd.com/images/misc/kenyandocument-bottom.jpg

this controversy is highly interesting and i look forward to seeing more news about the President's birth certificate(s).

[learntofly]

Now that is one crisp white document for 1961, and folded down to pocket size? Fake-aroni.

[str8fwd]

Oh yeah, that looks valid. Good job. Why don't you come on down here to D.C. and present it to Congress. I'll make sure the press will be there to showcase your findings to the World.

Just think of the "fame" and untold fortunes you'll receive by being the FIRST and ONLY person to have President Obama's "valid" Kenyan birth certificate. The sky's the limit.

So c'mon down... we look forward to "rewarding" such a "Great American" as yourself.

[Kevins]

Kenya wasn't a country in 1961. It became an independent country in 1963.
And didn't become a republic until 1964.

Why are you peddling this obvious fraud? What is your stake in this--obvi­ous--decep­tion?

[ebanks84]

You're showing your ignorance again. Please be more original if you're trying to prove a legitimate point!

[lydiajean]

This is so interesting. Thanks.

[riff4u]

I used to watch Lou Dobbs because I could not stand any of the crap on FOX. I seems there is now little difference between the two. I'll watch the BBC when I want real news.

[diogeron]

If CNN doesn't want to become a laughing stock like Faux News, they need to jettison Dobbs ASAP. This is similar to the whack jobs on the Left who claim that the Pentagon never was hit in 9-11. All reasonably informed an intelligent people, of any political persuasion, know that is nonsense just as the "birthers" argument is. For CNN to give this guy a platform to air this insane/inane "meme" is indefensible and they should be ashamed to call themselves a news organization as long as he is on the payroll. To quote the late, great senator from NY, "You are entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts."

[ebanks84]

Too late, they are already a laughing stock with Dobbs.

[gsteinum]

cnn does want to be like fox noise. aren't you paying attention?

[sterlingsilversurfer]

Cnn has degenerated into an infotainment tabloid that presents lies, opinions, and half-truths as news.
How sad to watch a once highly respected news organization stoop so low to boost ratings.
All in the name of the once mighty American dollar.
Truth be damned.
Than God Walter Cronkite is dead. He doesn't have to listen to this crap anymore.

[Andrew119]

Lou Dobbs is an A**

[lydiajean]

He may have the last laugh if this certificate if valid.

[delysia]

No chance of that!

[elsivier]

Dobbs seems to suffer with the same ego without intellect problem that prompted Disraeli to say of Gladstone "You appear to be Inebriated with the exuberance of your own verbosity, and gifted with an egotistical imagination".