Going Toe to Toe With Lou Dobbs

As part of the launch of THE UPRISING, I debated CNN anchor Lou Dobbs on his radio show, and now I have the audio. You can listen here.

Dobbs is the subject of a chapter in the book -- a chapter that has made a bit of news, because in it, Dobbs claims he supports increasing immigration levels.

The chapter on Dobbs in THE UPRISING looks at how his show -- in my opinion -- deliberately separates the issue of free trade from the issue of immigration specifically to stoke anger. Dobbs rarely connects his admirably progressive views on trade policy with his critique of immigration policy -- when, as I've shown before in my newspaper columns, the two policies are interconnected. In the radio debate, I bring this right up to Dobbs -- and he says my point about the connection between lobbyist-written trade policies and immigration policies is one from the "left" and motivated from "guilt."

As THE UPRISING shows, Dobbs epitomizes both the positive potential of today's populist uprising to change our country's economic policies, and the negative potential of today's populist uprising to stoke anti-immigrant and xenophobic sentiment. He is a populist -- sometimes a progressive populist, sometimes a right-wing populist. I give Dobbs credit for inviting me onto his radio show to vigorously debate the issue and his tactics. Listen here for the whole thing -- and if your interest is piqued, pick up a copy of the book and read the chapter on the CNN icon. It was one of the most interesting to report.

This is an ongoing blog series from the national book tour of The Uprising. You can order The Uprising at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Tattered Cover, Powell's or through your local independent bookstore.

Comments

[racetoinfinity]

Too bad Dobbs couldn't grasp how correct your tying the two together is. He is ignorant in calling that analysis guilty. The corporate "free-trade" policies have destroyed small farming in Mexico, impoverising thousands (or more), who have had little choice but to try to find better chances at survival in El Norte. If these bad-for-all-but-the-plutocratic elites (in both the USA and Mexico) trade agreements were rescinded, small farmers and other workers in Mexcio would have a much better chance to earn a decent living andd wouldn't want/need to emigrate.

[in10se]

A simple one page law which makes the hiring of an undocumented person a felony with a graduated punishment leading to the loss of the perpetrator's freedom, right to vote and heavy financial loss would end the issue in a few years.

Undocumented persons would "self deport" because they could not sustain themselves. The Border Patrol would be charged with really closing the border to those which smuggle drugs, goods or people who intend to harm us rather than chasing peasants who are looking for a better job.

The fines levied against the employers would finance a service to assist those wishing to return to their country. They should be treated humanely and the employers harshly.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

"Dobbs epitomizes both the positive potential of today's populist uprising to change our country's economic policies, and the negative potential of today's populist uprising to stoke anti-immigrant and xenophobic sentiment."

To be accurate, isn't Dobbs someone who epitomizes anti-illegal immigration?

Dobbs is opposed to illegal immigration. Many people understand that. Why should his position regarding illegal immigration be misrepresented as opposition to all immigration?

[clr2]

I agree with Lou Dobbs. We need to deport ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS and heavily fine and jail those who hire ILLEGALS.

[pizzmoe]

Good luck tracking them all down

[clr2]

At least we would be doing something. We need to take the BILLIONS we spend on ILLEGALS and use that on our own poor.

[swift goat pet for truth]

If the government merely jails a few high profile employers who hire the illegals, tracking the illegals down will not be necessary.