Lou Dobbs' Most Scandalous Moments (VIDEO)

On Wednesday night, embattled CNN host Lou Dobbs announced his resignation from the network, effective immediately. Dobbs, the network's longest-running anchor, is known for his anti-immigration rhetoric, his "birther" conspiracy advocacy, and that time he almost called Condoleezza Rice a "cotton picker," among other gems. Not surprisingly, groups that have been advocating for Dobbs' removal are already celebrating the evening's news.

Below, a collection of Lou Dobbs' most scandalous moments.

Dobbs Almost Calls Condi Rice A "Cotton Picker"

"The reality is, this is the most socially, ethnically, religiously, racially diverse society on the face of the earth. Now, Wolf, we don't make enough of that in the national media. We listen to some idiot say you can't talk about race. Not a single one of these cotton...[stammering]...these just ridiculous politicians should be the moderator on the issue of race."

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[faithnj]

Whatever you think of Condolezza Rice, she is anything but a "cotton picker." Lou Dobbs self-edited because he is old enough to remember this term's use was clearly racist in origin. Who picked cotton in this country? More than anyone it was black slaves, black indentured servants and black share croppers who suffered through this grueling work. And no one used the words "cotton picken" before anything in order to say something nice about a person. If you don't think this term has a racial usage for people of Lou Dobb's age, just because your grandparents used it in a manner similar to "darn," then why do you think Lou Dobbs stopped himself from saying it? He stopped himself from saying it because he's old enough to know that calling someone with Condoleeza Rice's level of of accomplishment a "cotton pickin'" anything is just...pla­in...racis­t. There are so many other words he could have used to describe her beliefs, but instead he automatically reached for the one that meant for him that she wasn't anything more than a lowly, backwards, black person. How pathetic. The problem with racists is that they always default to criticizing people based on the color of their skin, rather than what people do or say.

[Steve W]

Are you kidding me. He didn't just about call anyone a cotton picker. Talk about making a mountain out of nothing.

[brit prof]

Read the quote under the video box Listen to what Dobbs says after, "you can't talk about race." and before, "Not a single..."
Creative editing worthy of a certain other media organ. The gist of Dobbs' statement is actually not all that dissimilar from the words of Pres. Obama in that now famous speech he made on race after, "Bitter-gate", namely that Americans should stop tip-toeing around the topic and have an open, honest discussion. Obama was hailed as being brave, statesmanlike but Dobbs is being vilified.
It seems that the HP team want to be offended and are reading opinions into his words that are simply not there.
Not in this clip, anyway.
Poor show, HP. You get a "Pants on Fire" for this one.

[ishkaboodle]

Dobbs and his audience know the statistics better than anyone: by 2050, it is estimated that 25% of the US population will be Hispanic, with "white" America the slowest growing demographic and trending well towards the minority.

As with all "extreme perspective" entertainment masquerading as "news," one has to consider whether the "Dobbs" of cable news inform the viewer-- or vice versa.

Dobbs, O'Reilly, and yes- even Olbermann-- have done their market research, know their viewer's world view, and deliver the appropriate nightly diatribe knowing it will be well received in the targeted American's living room.

Dobbs may have been ousted, but there's a sizable segment of the US viewing audience who will hold tight to their prejudices-- and flip the channel to Fox.

[cardtosser]

//"The invasion of illegal aliens is threatening the health of many Americans. Highly-contagious diseases are now crossing our borders decades after those diseases had been eradicated in this country." Dobbs proceeded to speak with CNN correspondent Christine Romans, who said: "It's interesting, because the woman in our piece told us that there were about 900 cases of leprosy for 40 years. There have been 7,000 in the past three years. Leprosy in this country." Although this factoid was found to be completely false, in the video above, Dobbs relentlessly defends it.//

More like 7,100 in the last 30 years. This from the Department of Health and Human Services, National Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) Program.

http://www.hrsa.gov/hansens/30yeartrend.htm

This "research" took me less than five minutes using that exotic computer tool Google. Doesn't CNN have better researchers than me?

[expired]

Dear MoveOn member,

Saturday night was bittersweet. The House passed sweeping health care reform—but included a severe anti-choice provision in the bill.

23 Democrats voted wrong on both counts, first voting to restrict a woman's right to choose, then siding with Big Insurance to vote against a health care bill they had just succeeded in weakening.1

On the other hand, there were principled Democrats in tough re-election fights who have been under fire from Republicans and the insurance industry for months. They faced intense pressure—first to vote to limit women's access to reproductive choice and then to vote down health care altogether.

But they didn't give in—they courageously stood up for women and for all Americans who can't afford to wait for health care.

And now they're facing even harsher attacks for their votes. Mary Jo Kilroy and other health care heroes are about to see some of the nastiest attacks against them yet and they need our support. Together we can show that when Democrats stand up and fight, people will stand up with them.

We need to raise $150,000 for Kilroy and other health care heroes in the next 48 hours. That'll take 4 donations from folks in Naperville. Can you chip in $20? Click here:

https://pol.moveon.org/give/healthcare_heroes.html?id=17914-9193653-erx6Max&t=3

[brit prof]

Is an abortion a health issue? It' can be argued that it is elective procedure not unlike plastic surgery. As you say, "pro-choice". Choice implies that it is NOT about health but lifestyle, (Do I want a child or not?).
Why should that be covered by any healthcare insurance, public or private?

[MJHammonds]

Pregnancy IS about health, for starters. As far as "lifesyle choices", maybe you should think about the lifestyle of children that are born to women who cannot support them?

[SethBLiNK]

I'm no fan of Dobbs, but is this all you've got. He's a guy with some very out-dated closed minded opinions, but few of these rise to a level even approaching "scandal."

[snoopjohnny]

I'm NOT going to bat for Dobbs. But he was clearly about to say "Cotton Pickin' Politicians". It's like "Doggone"; a family friendly swear word substitute used frequently (in the south, anyway) with no racial overtones, usually by older folks. Dobbs is reactionary about race and immigration, but the anachronistic and racist term suggested by the topic is out of character and would be so noticeable and inflammatory as to end any anchor's career. He self-edited, instinctively keeping even the otherwise benign phrase "cotton pickin'" out of a sentence about an African American....

[rihgtofleft]

Mr. Dobbs almost uses the term " cotton picker"....thats it?....Mrs. Obama used the term 'cracker'...but thats okay?....hypocrisy?

[imjustawitchywoman]

When did our First Lady use the term "Cracker"?

I bet you heard that on one of Fox 's many spin shows.

[ishkaboodle]

Never happened.

[LeFlaneur]

Oh Lou. A category five hurricane could hit New York and he'd still be focused on the Mexican border.

Just the cocky way he leans forward and smirks is reason enough to hate him.

[Tourex]

This is all the cotton pickin' material you got? LOL Epic Fail.

[CraigVale]

I just love how people rise to Dobbs' defense by saying his " Cotton" remark had nothing to do with racism and that older folk have used the phrase for decades. Well, those decades are long gone and so should the phraseology spouted by Dobbs be gone as well. My dad used to say " colored people" it was acceptable for his day but those days are thankfully long gone too!

[CraigVale]

I'll be there at the dock to see him off ! A slow boat to China perhaps?

[Lark817]

I'm going to miss his nightly polls, most of which started with the words, "How outraged are you...."

[Muggersmom]

No! It should be CNN's most Scandalous moments because they knew what and who he was, they let him do it time after time and for that I refuse to watch CNN at all no matter who is on .They are not what I call honest with many of their stories and one gets tired of watching repeat news!