Geraldo Rivera Slams Lou Dobbs In Speech, Says Dobbs Won't Be Coming To Fox

Fox News reporter Geraldo Rivera spoke at a luncheon sponsored by El Diario La Prensa NY yesterday, during which he unleashed a devastating critique of CNN's Lou Dobbs, and told the assembled crowd that Dobbs' future career path will not lead to Fox.

Rivera told the crowd, "One of the aspects of our reality in the United States right now is the defamatory tone of the immigration debate and how that immigration debate has slandered an entire race of people. It has been reckless beyond imagining, it has been reckless beyond precedent."

He then trained his sights on Dobbs: "Lou Dobbs, a man who was an accomplished journalist, and who left to start his own venture in the digital media... and then came back to CNN, and nobody was watching his program. He discovered that one of the ways he could get people to watch was to make of the image of a young Latino trying to get into this country a profoundly negative icon. Lou Dobbs is almost singlehandedly responsible for creating, for being the architect of the young-Latino-as-scapegoat for everything that ails this country."

As for the chances of Dobbs one day washing ashore at Fox, Rivera told the crowd, "I can tell you proudly, when [Dobbs] was widely rumored to be coming to my network, I called my boss... and he said it's absolutely untrue."

WATCH:

In related news, Brian Stelter reports that CNN's broadcast of a documentary special, "Latino In America" has drawn protests from "activist groups that are calling on the cable news channel to fire" Dobbs:

CNN, a unit of Time Warner, has not commented on the protests, or covered them on its news programs. One of the activists featured in the documentary said on Wednesday she tried to bring up what she called Mr. Dobbs's "hatred" on one of the channel's news programs, but that her remarks were cut from the interview.

Isabel Garcia, a civil rights lawyer who was featured in the documentary and organized a protest against Mr. Dobbs in Tucson on Wednesday, said that she felt censored by CNN after the channel edited her comments about the anchor out of an interview.

RELATED:
CNN's Special on Latinos Stirs Protests Against Anchor [NYT Media Decoder]

PREVIOUSLY, on the HUFFINGTON POST:
"Drop Dobbs": CNN Pressured To Give Up Controversial Host
Dobbs Takes Aim At HuffPost Critic

Comments

[expired]

12:47 PM on 11/13/2009

Clicking here will sign your name: "Rupert Murdoch should apologize and put an end to FOX's race-baiting, or admit he agrees with it."


Sign the petition

Dear MoveOn member,
Rupert Murdoch, owner of FOX and the News Corporation empire, just said Glenn Beck "was right" when he called President Obama "racist."1

This is a rare moment of candor from Murdoch, one of the most powerful media barons in the world.


Our friends at ColorOfChange.org are calling out Murdoch for FOX's long history of race-baiting.2 Can you add your name to the growing demand for Murdoch to apologize and end FOX's race-baiting? Clicking here will add your name to our petition:

http://civic.moveon.org/murdoch/o.pl?id=17925-9193653-Lh10JHx&t=3
The petition says: "Rupert Murdoch should apologize and put an end to FOX's race-baiting, or admit he agrees with it."

ColorOfChange.org has successfully urged over 80 advertisers to cut ties with Glenn Beck's show after he called President Obama "racist."3 Murdoch is now backpedaling to keep advertisers from dropping FOX altogether.

[hypnotoad72]

10:02 PM on 11/11/2009

Aww, but if Dobbs did go to FOX, would broken-nose Geraldo be so upset?

Amazing how many people from talk and/or tabloid shows end up on FOX... Geraldo... O'Reilly... it's all good...

[berrycooda]

09:15 PM on 11/11/2009

I didn't know G. Rivera had that much clout....
You can see what side he is on. I saw some of the Latino's in America
and it shows how Latino's can get ahead and also the poverty of some.
However, just because they sneak in here illegally doesn't mean they are owed something.
Come in the front door like other Legal Immigrants do.

[hypnotoad72]

10:05 PM on 11/11/2009

"Come in the front door like other Legal Immigrants do."

Well said. Those who play by the rules should be treated decently. Including immigration and when visiting another country. Don't break their rules. It's petty and arrogant. (You wouldn't catch me going jiggy with anyone like how that UK couple had... they should be lucky they got off, no pun intended as the punishment they might have received was well within their country's right to do...)

But I digress. Unlike America, where it seems illegal and/or unethical behavior is more often well-rewarded than those who do play by the rules...

[ThinkLiberal]

02:38 PM on 10/31/2009

CNN totally lost me after Ted Turner sold out to Time-Warner. Almost overnight, solid reporting became an entertainment game, with busty blondes and screaming airheads. No substance whatsoever. It is embarrassing to consider CNN, like Faux, a credible, serious news source. America is suffering a severe drought of genuine news sources and reporters - and forget those who try to pass themselves off as "journalists", for they haven't got a clue about the real role of a PROFESSIONAL journalist. Loudmouths and teleprompter-readers all. Thank the tech-Gods that at least we have the internet to ferret out most of the cr@p.

[hypnotoad72]

10:11 PM on 11/11/2009

"The relationship era" and marketing. Pandering to emotions is more likely to bring in money.

[GOODREASON]

03:23 AM on 10/31/2009

The illegal immigrants are destroying America. America is sinking to a new lows every day. It just continues to enable the incompetent and needy. We need to build up our nation, not downgrade it. They need to stay in their home lands and help build their native land up to become something they are proud of.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro]

07:12 AM on 10/30/2009

Awe shucks why won't Loony Dobbs be coming to FOX ? whatever is said isn't it inevitable

aren't all arses on FOX ? or at least on their way....

who agrees?

Ed

P.S. who else do you think should come to FOX ?

[Steve W]

08:46 AM on 10/30/2009

I am actually amazed that Fox would hire Geraldo. Doesn't everyone remember his antics and false reporting? I bet Geraldo works for cheap. I'm not a fan of Fox news but it would seem that they would care about the reputations of their journalists. I don't agree that Lou Dobbs is an Arse but it would seem that he would be more comfortable at Fox. I don't think CNN would have Geraldo though.

[alex61]

02:28 PM on 10/30/2009

I agree. Giraldo should be dumped. Dobbs can come to Fox. CNN can continue sliding into oblivion.

[hypnotoad72]

10:13 PM on 11/11/2009

This is FOX. They have a habit of labeling republicans as democrats when the republican is arrested for doing something illegal. Amongst other situations. There is no need to feel amazement. It is not atypical of FOX to deal with those who would freely engage in false reporting. Therefore, it is not atypical of FOX to want Geraldo.

[sales67]

05:16 AM on 10/30/2009

Lou Dobbs is a RACIST. I used to watch CNN but couldn't stomach Lou Dobbs. His whole show was based on daily vilification of Latinos, constantly harping about illegal immigrants and how they are destroying America. What makes Dobbs so dangerous is that he has that platform to spew his distorted, bigoted characterizations. And he does so with a smile and in such a matter-of-fact way. Dobbs employers are just as despicable for giving the racist the podium.

I'm glad that Geraldo called Dobbs out. It was true that Dobbs' show was tanking until he realized that targeting illegal immigrants was his ticket to get an audience. Shameful! Dobbs and Limbaugh are bigoted twins who play the race card for monetary gain.

[alex61]

02:24 PM on 10/30/2009

You are wrong. the racism is in your mind. Dobbs, like countless millions of Americans, is fed up with illegal immigration and the government and business so-and-sos who permit it. Illegal is not a race. Duh. The fact that the majority of illegal immigrants who come here are Latino is just reality. They will get most of the attention simply because of their numbers. ANYONE in this country illegall, of any race, is an illegal immigrant and should be returned home. Liberals are prone to scream "racist!" because they can't win on their arguments. You are not superior.

[Steve W]

05:46 PM on 10/30/2009

Well said.

[FHTB]

12:54 AM on 11/12/2009

The days of an all-white America, of which you so hope for, are over...Latinos have made many contributions to the country, including the many who take cr==py jobs your spoiled little brat won't do for minimum wage...

[hypnotoad72]

10:20 PM on 11/11/2009

Two things:

* Had Dobbs come to FOX, would Geraldo be in such a hissyfit? (not likely)

* Has Dobbs ever talked about "offshoring" or even "insourcing"? if he's hot to trot on the economy, then he will have to be against those. There's more to our economy's ills than just illegal immigrants (not all of which come from Mexico, in case anybody needs that pointed out to them).

[Ndoubt]

07:35 PM on 10/29/2009

Oh, and, btw, talk to actual Puerto Ricans outside your legal defense fund buddies, Geraldo, and you'll see that there is a beef within that community in regards to rampant illegal immigration in this country, including on the island of Puerto Rico.

And while you're at it, talk to your friend Al Sharpton and remind him that American born blacks aren't too happy with illegal immigration either.

As for the rest of you who equate anti-illegal immigration stances with racism, prejudice, and being anti legal immigration: The hatred is for the vile institution of illegal immigration, not for those victimized by it on both sides of the fence, and while there are those who may be racist who hold anti-illegal immigraTION views, they are not the majority just as those who are pro illegal immigration who hold racist views (you damn well know who you are, remember we speak Spanish too and can understand your conversations quite well) do not represent the majority of that faction. Walk outside your circles of elites or like-minded individuals and you'll see that first hand.

[alex61]

02:48 PM on 10/30/2009

Outstanding. I am Latin, but I am, and always will be, American first. I don't need any ethnic hero like Rivera speaking for me. He should remember that he is supposed to be America, and not some sort of professional Hispanic.

Anyone in this country illegally is insulting out sovereignty, laws, and our generosity. They should return-or be sent-home. Rivera is a divisive figure. He fuels racial animosity.

[hypnotoad72]

10:21 PM on 11/11/2009

Well said, thank you!

Fanned!

[ElTommo]

09:15 PM on 11/11/2009

Gourd, people love to just toss out words they don't even understand. Illegal immigration is not an 'institution'.

[Ndoubt]

09:07 AM on 11/12/2009

Ingrained in society = institution. That's one of the many definitions of the word. Illegal institution is, in fact, an institution, just as much as indentured servitude and slavery were (that is, a significant practice or custom that is an ingrained feature in a society).

Do YOU know the definition of the term? Or are you angry at the fact that hatred of a vile institution and all that comes with it does not equate to hatred for the individual victims caught in it's wake (both those forced to deal with an unwanted issue, and those poor individuals who are themselves the illegal immigrants)? Does it bother you that those holding anti-illegal immigration views can avoid being anti-illegal immiGRANT (that is, the people themselves) or racist or prejudice in any way? Well thought out views backed by facts that go against your views are much more difficult to argue against, aren't they? Yeah....

It has become ingrained in American society because of the fact that it is a way for American businesses to get around paying just wages to workers. They hire illegal immigrants because they do not wish to pay the going wage to people who are ENTITLED to seek just wages and just working conditions through mechanisms such as collective bargaining, complaints of workplace safety rules to local and state labor representatives, etc. Employers skirt around labor laws, avoid hiring locally, and abuse the illegal immigrant labor.

[ancientmarinader]

06:00 PM on 10/29/2009

It may be "negative" to sneak into the US illegally but it's still happening and it's still, as always, illegal. Promoting illegal entry to the US seems to be a policy of the mexican government even as they kick out their own illegal immigrants.

[alex61]

02:54 PM on 10/30/2009

Exactly. The Mexicans treat illegal immigrants into Mexico very harshly, but insist that America takes in millions of Mexicans and let them remain. The system in Mexico is terrible and the Mexican people need to make whatever changes are necessary so they can have better lives at home. This will not happen until America stops being the pressure relif valve for the Mexican oligarchy.

[Steve W]

06:04 PM on 10/30/2009

Mexico encourages their poor to come to the U.S. In fact they help them with advice on the best way to come and what to do once they get here etc. Once here, the illegal immigrants send 50 billion dollars a year back home as remittances. This stunning amount of cash is the number two component of Mexico's GDP. Second only to the sale of Oil. This situation is actually worse than outsourcing labor to other countries because in addition to taking jobs from Americans the immigrants are also a burden on social service programs.

[Hjaltason]

03:23 PM on 10/29/2009

Geraldo go to CNN. Lou go to FOX. Case closed.

[hypnotoad72]

10:21 PM on 11/11/2009

lol

[Arrech]

02:07 PM on 10/29/2009

Good speech.

[instarx]

07:38 PM on 10/28/2009

and Rivera runs Fox now? how does a second rate reporter get to know what Ailes will do? baloney.

[niws]

11:15 PM on 10/26/2009

Too extreme for Fox? That's a new one.

[Healthwatch2010]

09:15 PM on 10/26/2009

Lou Dobbs owes the Hispanic community including his Mexican American wife and twin daughters an apology.

http://www.aztlan.net/dobbs_married_to_mexican.htm

[Steve W]

08:52 AM on 10/30/2009

Why is it that people against illegal immigration are considered racist. A recent CNN poll shows that 75 percent of the people in this country are against illegal immigration. That includes many Latinos.

[alex61]

02:26 PM on 10/30/2009

You got it backwards. All people in this country illegall owe America an apology.

[CarolinaYankee]

06:59 PM on 10/26/2009

Geraldo should just thank his lucky stars that ANY network lets him on TV, loser