Justicia Poetica: Dobbs Rises and Then Falls Thanks to Immigrants

As I watched the sad eyes of Lou Dobbs last night while he bade an abrupt farewell to his long career at CNN, I shed the tears that he apparently couldn't. I cried in part because, regardless of the Basta Dobbs campaign's -- and my own -- constitutional differences with his brand of anti-immigrant, anti-Latino propaganda disguised as news, one couldn't help but be moved by the fast and fiery demise of a media titan. It really was sad to watch the aging Dobbs go out without the slow grace and good will that characterized Walter Cronkite's departure in a previous media era.

Yet, while slightly moved by Dobbs' personal drama, I cried primarily because, as a member, relative and friend of the groups most vilified by Dobbs for so many years -- Latinos and immigrants -- I was inspired by the power of the movement to oust him, a movement that these same groups and their allies led. In the words of many a jubilant Twitterer and Facebook friend celebrating Dobbs'transition as a victory,"Si Se Pudo" (Yes We Could).

At one level, Dobbs' departure was influenced by internal dynamics at CNN, a network in need of rapid changes required by the economic, political and demographic shifts transforming media. But at another level, the victory over Dobbs shows that our community is mobilized like never before. It reflects how we have taken important strides since the immigrants rights marches of 2006, and are now using the latest technology and organizing tactics to make our voices heard. Lou Dobbs led us to march with our feet -- and with our fingers.

In their search for the right frame for the story, many have commented that ours was a struggle against the kind of hatred promoted by Dobbs and his many guests. But for those working daily to defeat Dobbs, the guiding force of our movement was not hate but love -- the love that we show ourselves when, in the face of daily attacks, we stand up and say "Basta," "Enough."

More than the media or technology or organizing capabilities of Presente.org, Drop Dobbs, DemocraciaUSA, NDN, America's Voice, NALACC or any other organization, the will of the many to push the powerful few has again reminded us of the centrality of spirituality to social change. I cried mostly because I saw in Dobbs' departure some of the same intense desire for change that made many of us cry at the election of Barack Obama.

Dobbs himself said it best when, during his farewell, he linked his rapid departure to how "strong winds of change have begun buffeting this country and affecting all of us." I was touched by these same winds during my travels throughout the country, where I met some of the more than 100,000 people who signed our Basta Dobbs petition. I heard it from the septuagenarian Tejano who, from his hospital bed had a family member text message to tell me, "I'm getting ready to leave the hospital and will be ready to help you get Dobbs out soon." I saw it in the youthful optimism of the troop of Latina Girl Scouts from south Georgia, who said they wanted to go to Atlanta to protest CNN's headquarters. And I felt it among the tens of thousands of non-Latinos who responded quickly to our call to demand Dobbs' removal. Taken together, these people and others are the embodiment of the "strong winds of change" that buffeted Dobbs and CNN.

While on the surface, the anti-Dobbs movement appears as a recent development, its roots go as far back as the beginning of Dobbs attacks on immigrants. Many of the grassroots groups and bloggers allied with our campaign as well as national groups like the National Hispanic Media Coalition, the Southern Poverty Law Center and Media Matters have a long and distinguished history of challenging and checking Dobbs. Without their efforts, there would be no movement.

But for me, the most moving, poetic aspect of the entire Dobbs drama is that it begins and ends with immigrants, including undocumented immigrants. In this sense, the victory reinvigorates the important work of immigration reform. Hopefully Republicans and Democrats are taking note of the power of immigrants and the immigrant rights movement that mobilized to defeat Dobbs. But that's for tomorrow. For now, let us commemorate this historic event by saying along with immigrants, "Justicia Poetica."

 

Follow Roberto Lovato on Twitter: www.twitter.com/robvato

Comments

[ilbereth]

How can you even allow ANY comparison between "immigrants" and "Illegal Aliens"? Have you no shame?

ALL of the true immigrants in this country have fought to legally become citizens, they have studied, acclimated and most importantly sworn their allegiance!!

Every ILLEGAL you justify, demeans not only the all the immigrants throughout the growth of our nation but also the citizens that bleed to protect what we have!

As soon as I start seeing REAL effort by the groups you mention (as well as the Latino community as a whole) to STOP the promotion of these illegal, ethical and immoral acts of incursion... I will start to support your efforts and recognize your pride as justified!

[Rule Of Law]

The worst of it is that the same people who support illegal immigration are, by their acts, lending their tacit approval to the destruction of the country of Mexico .

I'm sure that they would describe the people who come here illegally as hard working, determined, family oriented individuals looking to improve their quality of life. Which means that for every one of those people that leaves their country, Mexico is diminished for it! If that exodus continues how can we ever expect the situation in Mexico to improve? It won't.

Second, by encouraging so many people to come here illegally, most with little education--no matter how hard they work or strong their family values--the open borders cheer leaders are helping to create a vast economic underclass of people. A pool of low wage slave laborers to be used by the Elites. These poor people will be resented for generations, excluded from the mainstream of America by language and culture, and forced to do those jobs that will ensure that they remain for years indentured to the Elites and their Corporatocracy.

It is nothing more than a slick justification of a new era of slavery.

[Azhoosier]

Roberto Lovato's 2nd paragraph referred to Lou Dobbs' vilification of "immigrants." As usual in the media, there is no differentiation made to the "illegal" word in the Dobbs campaign against illegal immigrants. This leaves the impression that Dobbs hated all immigrants, legal or not. I do think that Dobbs went off the rails in the last few months, but there is no doubt that his series on Broken Borders was revealing and (mostly) fact based. Take it from one who lives 50 miles north of the border.

[expired]

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.

[AnimalLover6]

Will do. Can we get Murdoch's citizenship revoked in the process?

Just asking. . . .:)

[AhnAmuru]

The fact that CNN accomodated Lou Dobbs for so long tells me alot about the former.

Now that the next obvious target is Fox, it will not be enough to simply uproot an anchor - it would be expedient to uproot the network.

[Xarnego]

Congratulations on removing a Bigot of the first magnitude.

Most of his supporters (known generally as republicans) are pretty much the schoolyard bullies and their cohorts.

Always claiming to be christians while hunting down and targeting the least of these in society.

[blizb]

It is refreshing that while the rants from the right and Republicans did in Anita Dunn and Van Jones, now the same has happened to Dobbs.

The people do have influence and we need to continue to progress.

Glenn Beck left CNN and hopefully his inflammatory show will eventually be cancelled.

[condor101]

Congratulations Rob. Thanks for your work to get rid of Dobbs.
Welcome to the reality America of The NEW MAJORITY..­....Latino­s.
As stated below:
"I think this best exemplifies the influence of Latinos in the US, and more importantly, the influence of ALL Americans who fight against racism, xenophobia, and corrupt journalism. Thanks again for heading this charge."

[Aneesia]

Lou Dobbs had a point. If you want to come to America, do it the Legal way and adopt America as your home.
I immigrated from Canada years ago. I could not get into the country if there was an American available to do the job that I was trained for. It took years and years to get my green card..
Today this nation is becoming 3rd world. Sold out by the people that run it.

[FloresdelaHoz]

Congratulations Roberto!

Your focus and persistence is recognized from Seattle to Santiago de Chile in the Pacific and from Boston to Buenos Aires in the Atlantic.

[jwalter]

if there is nothing wrong with illegal immigration, why do we have borders? it seems kind of pointless.

[dynwit]

What a ridiculous comment. There was no such thing as "illegal immigration" in America until 1924. Clearly, we did have borders before 1924. Borders and illegal immigration are not synonymous. Borders do not necessarily exist to keep people out, but rather to establish the self-limits of a nation's authority.

[Gasparilla]

One, if people came here and it was not against the law for them to come here, then how could it be anything but legal? [not to mention, there were many who were denied entry and sent back for various reasons.]
Two, if the government has "authority" within our borders, then do they not have the authority to say who can and can't be here?

[Tim303]

"And now, reporting live from inside the dustbin of history, heeere's Lou..."

[Bluedogdemocrat8650]

Yah, but the conservative Cuban-American loved and respected Mr. Dobbs brand of conservativism. So it was like all hispanics disliked Dobbs immigrant bashing...

[Xarnego]

Not anyone I've ever spoken to...

[nee]

All ILLEGAL ALIENS latino or otherwise need to be DEPORTED. We spend BILLION on them and we should be using that money on our own citizens and LEGAL immigrants.

[Tim303]

Oh cry me a river.

[condor101]

Inhuman and Racist.

[nee]

condor - nothing inhuman or racist about my comment. ILLEGAL ALIENS are not a race. They come from many different countries. ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS no matter who they are related to or where they come from should be DEPORTED!

[condor101]

hahahahahha.....you lose!!!! A coward excuse to blame latino immigrants.

Now go to the store and buy the products you need that are "made in China".

[nee]

Condor I have nothing against "latino immigrants" I want ILLEGAL ALIENS out of this country. Are you saying that all ILLEGAL ALIENS are Latino????­??????????­?

[Geewhittakers]

Please back up your false stat of a "Billion dollars" with evidence.

Oh wait, you can't because you pulled it out of your a--.

[nee]

Gee have you every tried Google it's a wonderful tool. How about www.nctimes.com or usgovinfo.about.com or articles.l­atimeslcom­/2009/feb/­02/local/m­e-cap2
Next time I'll charge you to do your work for you - I'm not like the ILLEGAL ALIENS you usually hire for slave wages.

[LeonBNJ]

The issues of legal and illegal immigration in the USA is a complex one. Dobbs problem was to put in an overly simplistic way, supported by extremeists who believed in the least humane ways of dealing with it.
To me, while his strong anti-illegal immigrant opinions were a significant factor in his departure from CNN, I wouldn't doubt his disputed claims of someone shooting at his home, his support of the 'Birthers' as well as of the TEA protesters were factors. Add to all that failing ratings, and he was sliding downhill fast, CNN's top bosses had to take action. The suddeness of his departure also leads to wonder if any other issues were involved.

[Rule Of Law]

No fan of Dobb's, I. But was he anti "immigrant" as Roberto says here, or was he anti "illegal immigrant?" And there is a huge difference, unless you are one of the open border crowd.

[SocialistBoy]

Canadian border you say??

[Gasparilla]

The Canadian border is largely unguarded but that is because Canada is not a source of illegals anywhere close to the extent that Mexico is. Canada does not tell us we have no right to deport those here illegally. It takes a little complex thinking beyond one liners, but give it a try.

[Miguel Guadalupe - Huffpost Blogger]

Bravo Rob. Bravo. I think this best exemplifies the influence of Latinos in the US, and more importantly, the influence of ALL Americans who fight against racism, xenophobia, and corrupt journalism. Thanks again for heading this charge.

[AnimalLover6]

Are you suggesting that any American who is against illegal immigration is "racist" and "xenophobic"? Or are you just suggesting that Dobbs was?

[Tim303]

Are you trying to change the subject and ask leading questions?