This is About CNN: Anti-Dobbs Movement Not Just Targeting Dobbs

As the movement calling for his ouster from CNN continues to surge, Lou Dobbs is fighting back -- and fumbling. Instead of responding to legitimate concerns about his anti-Latino fear-mongering, Dobbs expressed himself in a manner resembling that of the extremists he promotes on his show: with lies, angry outbursts and juvenile name calling. He even went so far as to call yours truly a "flea" and a "bozo."

I could respond to Dobbs invitation to ride the downward spiral of personal insults, but won't. With hate crimes against Latinos on the rise, this fight is too serious for playground tactics. I won't join Dobbs in an insult exchange for the simple fact that this cause isn't about me, it's about the thousands of Latinos and their allies saying ¡Basta! -- enough negative portrayals in the media! And, in a deeper sense, our cause isn't really even about Lou Dobbs -- it's about the network that has made him a household name: CNN.

We're taking our fight to CNN because we know Dobbs won't change. For years, Latinos and others throughout the United States have organized protests and press conferences denouncing Dobbs' dangerous rhetoric. Think tanks and countless journalists have produced reports documenting the falsehoods and fakery that pass for "news" on Dobbs' show. Yet, all we get from Dobbs are half-hearted apologies, lame excuses and more of the same. Our movement, housed at BastaDobbs.com, is exerting the same kind of pubic pressure that forced networks to drop disgraced radio jock Don Imus and other media personalities for their inappropriate behavior on the air. Lou Dobbs has a national, prime time platform because CNN and its President, Jon Klein give it to him. And throughout the Latino United States, people are demanding accountability for that decision.

I know this because, for the past two months, I have been talking to people and groups throughout the country. Just last week in D.C. -- the same city where Dobbs recently attended a rally sponsored by the anti-immigrant hate group FAIR -- a Salvadoran immigrant woman attending a forum on immigration walked up to me with eyes bubbling in anger. She said: "He [Dobbs] is helping those groups that hate and hurt us" and asked, "Why does CNN allow this? We must stop this." I'm encountering this same question in cities across the country and throughout the internet.

Dobbs and CNN are also bringing unprecedented alignment and agreement among Latinos of all strata. For example, 70% of those participating in a survey of 100 major Latino leaders -- a survey released last week and which includes members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, CEO's of Fortune 500 companies and other national leaders- believe that organizing a campaign targeting Dobbs is "a good idea."

While our focus on CNN means we won't join in Dobbs' personal attacks, we have taken note of his recent comments on his radio show. Referring to Basta Dobbs.com he said last week, "they are no more Latino than anyone ..." I think the members of our coalition would be surprised to hear that they and their members are "no more Latino than anyone." Dobbs sudden interest in speaking not just against but for Latinos caught the attention of many of us--as does CNN's sudden business interest in Latinos.

CNN's moves to capture a segment of the "mission critical" Latino market are no secret. Latinos understand why we're seeing more of Rick Sanchez and other Latinos on CNN. And we are cautiously optimistic about how CNN will treat us in its upcoming Latino in America series. But to watch sunny Soledad Obrien singing the praises of Latino contributors to American society, while just a time slot away the dark and ever- dour Lou Dobbs continues infecting the airwaves with deadly misinformation about "criminal illegal aliens" is just too much hypocrisy for us. Regardless of CNN's big money efforts to target Latino viewers, the continuation of Dobbs' program guarantees that, for Latinos, the name "CNN" is synonymous with "anti-Latino hatred."

Viewed from this perspective, Rick Sanchez's recent claim that Latinos working at the more openly biased Fox News were "sellouts" raises questions about what kind of house Sanchez thinks he lives in. At least Fox host Geraldo Rivera has had the cojones to say that "Lou Dobbs has done more to slander Latin people in this country than any other human being." Will CNN Latin@s like Soledad O'Brien and Sanchez join their community in asking why their employer continues to prop up the Most Dangerous Man for Latinos in America?

These questions are incredibly important. But don't just take it from me. In the coming days and weeks I will share the stories of people I meet as I travel from city to city, listening to Latinos in America who are deeply concerned about Lou Dobbs, and educating them about the importance of taking a collective stand through campaigns like BastaDobbs.com. You see, underlying CNN's desire to capture Latino audiences--our large and growing numbers--is the same reason they must heed our call to dump Dobbs from their network.

 

 

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

Comments

[themainpoint]

What I don't understand, is that those who claim to care about immigrants, don't seem to care at all about the immigrants who legally wait their turn in line all over the world. That's not racist? There is tons of hate-speak by those claiming to be liberals, lots of name-calling, and few verifiable facts or convincing arguments set out on these threads.

It all makes me wonder how many commenters on this subject are paid web brigaders working for the corporations that profit from and exploit the illegal workers.

[chicagonut]

Hogwash! Dobbs isn't anti-Latino, he is married to a Latino. He isn't anti-immigrant either, he is anti-illegal immigration.

[mancoff]

CNN is turned off at my house when Lou Dobbs is on. He doesn't deal in facts and his innuendos and flagrant eye rolling when he is supposed to be doing a straight news report (as if to say, don't believe this) is insulting. He would be and should be on a channel like Fox where deciding what you want to say first and then changing the facts to get your point across, is the accepted mode of reporting. Even the most biased of hosts on MSNBC sticks to the facts, backs up each story with undisputable proof and will, if justified, criticize the people whom they support. Being biased isn't a crime as long as your honest about it. It's being biased, claiming your not, and then trying to justify your biases using lies, innuendos, race baiting, and hate mongering. That's Lou Dobbs and thats Fox News. When watching Mr Dobbs, the word "smarmy" always comes to mind............

[askcherlock]

While I generally watch CNN, I turn the TV off when Dobbs is on. I am appalled at his lack of accurate content and his blatant bias against Latinos and others with whom he takes issue. I would not mind if his comments were fact-based, but they are not. Perhaps he is the CNN sell-out to appease the Right. Whatever the deal, he lacks credibility. Could it be that it is time for an alternative network to CNN and FOX? I am leaving out the others which could be mentioned. There is room for a true "no-spin" network. Where is it?

[springsm]

Listen closely to Wolfie too....In fact CNN is a non entity in our home. It gets harder and harder to find a station with credibility and integrity. I do watch Rachel and Keith most of the time. Lou Dobbs I left quite awhile ago when he started his rants against illegal immigrants. Unfortunately he did not stick to facts. And that truly who he is railing against. There is some legitamacy in that...but the name calling and the facts that aren't and his "poor me" status just is too much. But I will say that Geraldo might have denounced Dobbs, but GR is about as credible as a banana slug.

[classicalgeek]

I'm wondering if Lou Dobbs is related to J.R. "Bob" Dobbs.

Seriously, fine the CEO of each company $500,000 for each instance of undocumented workers. They'll straighten up in no time.

[24hourrifle]

dobbs is part of the wingnut elite who dont "believe" in hate crimes."all crimes are hateful",they like to say.even though anyone with one iota of intelligence knows that that is nonsense.

dobbs is merely a poor mans glenn beck.i know dobbs has been around for years but it just seems like dobbs enjoys taking up every hare-brained conspiracy theory beck throws out there.

the most obnoxious part about his show is the whole "mr independent" thing.him and beck like to call themselves "independent" or "liberatarian" but honestly,theyre simply the most extreme, goofiest,most hypocritical versions of conservatives.

actual liberatarians are nearly always isolationists,and they dont support nation building and insanely bloated defense budgets.

anyway...unlike mr lovato,i have no problem with calling people names and therefore feel obligated to point out that in addition to my other criticisms,lou dobbs is a lying,nons­ensical,su­per-hypocr­itical assclown.

[Flavor]

I don't watch Lou Dobbs and I agree with another blogger we have people who hire illegal immagrants to work and we should expose that. I believe that people should comply by the law and most people do believe that, the laws say you have to be here legally and I believe in that. I also believe that some have used the the hispanics, hiring the illegal immagrants and know they should not. There is no other country where you have so much freedom and no other country people want live but the USA because of the opportunities that are here. Probably, the illegal immagrants will get amnesty but congress is gonna have to watch how they word the amnesty bill because we have other nationalities here illegaly and they too have had children who are now americans so this bill will have to give amnesty to (all) who are here illegal because the other races also are working here, that's where the problem will come in the wording will have to cover (all), because their all watching.

[nonofyabusiness]

The fact that their is a CNN in Espanol reminds me of the phrase "The right hand doesn't know what the other is doing and vice versa"

[nee]

Fact: There are MILLIONS of ILLEGAL ALIENS in the US.

Fact: We spend BILLIONS on ILLEGAL ALIENS.

Fact: ILLEGAL ALIENS are taking jobs that American citizens and LEGAL immigrants could take.

Fact: Employers are exploiting ILLEGAL ALIENS.

Fact: Americans are fed up with all of the above.

It doesn't matter where the ILLEGAL ALIENS come from or who they are related to ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS need to go back to their own countries. Those who hire ILLEGALS should be heavily fined and/or jailed.

[ariveria]

good then lets seize the businesses of those that hire illegal aliens.

as long as we let people hire illegal aliens with out any consequences they will continue to do and there will be illegal aliens.

if we come down hard on those who break the law by hiring illegal aliens problem solved.

"a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth"
glenn beck
information czar fox news
the view 5/20/09

[nee]

Fine with me.

[Flavor]

TRue.

[cupcake65]

It was actually Josef Goebbels who said that. But. then, command of the facts has always been a weak point for most of the commentators on this site.

[billhodges]

We need to enforce the current laws and deport immediately the illegal immigrants in this country. Stop providing benefits from State or Federal agency's. Even the ER services should be stopped. If all illegals understood there were no services they would not come here illegally.

I support legal immigration but stop these illegals from staying gin the US.

[ariveria]

which current laws should we enforce. the one we ignore the most is the one that calls for punishment against those that hire illegal immigrants. that is actually the most important. if we seize the business that hire illegal immigrants they would head home.

so you want to deny they er services. i believe that is known as murder. a better idea is to make their employer responsible for 100% of their medical expenses.

hate to burst your bubble by stopping benefits will have no effect on the status of illegla immigrants

"a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth"
glenn beck
information czar fox news
the view 5/20/09

[carlonw]

I believe in one world..people should be free to live where they want.

[nee]

Go try that in Mexico carlonw and see where that gets you.

[alysheba 3]

So now you will overload the foster parent services by having parents sent home, but their children (born on American soil) are American citizens who have the right to remain.

[nee]

Their children should go back with them. Don't blame us - their parents made the choice to come here ILLEGALLY - they need to deal with it now.

[azurite]

US foreign policy over decades, has ensured that Mexico hasn't had governments that put the well being of Mexican citizens first. Social Democratic leaders were undermined and corrupt governments propped up instead.

The result has been social dysfunction. Mexicans enter the US illegally to escape desperate conditions. US policy is complicit by: ignoring businesses that hire illegals; and supporting irresponsible governments.

The US should help create internal social conditions that encourage Mexicans to stay in Mexico. They work damn hard in the US, they would work harder in Mexico.

In all the years of bashing illegal immigrants, Dobbs has never proposed a viable solution to the problem. He rants about "amnesty", but gives no alternate plan. Honest commentators acknowledge that it's impossible logistically to deport 11 million people. Dobbs implicitly supports a mass exodus, This is why I know he's dishonest.

He is a right-winger who plays "Mr Independant", pretending to be a patriot while selling any message that boosts his own ratings with a fearful, unaware segment of the public. Hit on illegals, hit on China, hit on Government that does nothing right. No root cause analysis, just play on American paranoia. Don't vote for Dems, don't vote for Repubs, don't vote for solutions. Vote for Lou, tune in to CNN.

CNN just understands money. Do to Dobbs what they did to Glenn Beck. Follow the money behind the show. Expose them, petition them, boycott them until they withdraw their support. Then Klein will respond.

[Jorge Al-Subbad]

"Honest commentators acknowledge that it's impossible logistically to deport 11 million people."

But it IS possible to jail 2 million people. Let's get real.. if the law said that illegals had to be deported. They would be deported whether the number is 11 million or 30 million. It might be impractical or impolitic but not impossible. Inaction and Amnesty require the false argument that immigrants are needed.. that our economy would collapse without them.. that they are all we have between prosperity and the collapse of social security. This is nonsense. We have gang wars going on in every illegal immigrant stronghold. They cost a tremendous amount to our social services. They provide a convenient wedge issue that has helped to slow needed health coverage reform. They further anti-black white supremacy by shoring up the system of economic segregation in the U.S. They have displaced all manner of entry level and teenage workers. It's not right and the so-called "benefits" of mass illegal immigration SHOULD be enjoyed by China or Mexico not by cheapskates in our country who depress our wages which is why Americans put off and decide not to have children... children who will get their first jobs doing what illegals do now.
I agree that hatred should NOT be directed at illegals.... they come here because they are invited and encouraged by business. Human trafficking has introduced deeply troubling issues of slavery, smuggling, and underming of respect for America's laws in general.

[GBGB]

I visited BastaDobbs.com. There is a section called "Get the Facts." However, when you click on it, all you see are general statements allegedly made by Dobbs (nothing specific) which are then contradicted by generalized and unsupported contentions.

One would think that if you had evidence of Dobbs making false statements you could post those statements clearly and unequivocally along with citations to the truth.

[CubeVato]

Hello GBGB,

After you click on "Get the Facts," if you look in the right-hand column there is a link to a PDF document called Campaign Overview. This PDF gives a full incident breakdown with references.

Hope this helps.

[AndSoItGoes]

Have been increasingly disappointed in CNN since its obvious slant against Pres. Obama during the campaign, when they would play Sara Palin's hateful remarks against Obama over & over, and when McCain slipped & said he promised we would never go to war again over oil, and they played it once in the five PM hour & let him skate without taking issue with it. McCain pretty much changed his position on just about everything from the primaries in order to garner votes & CNN never called him on it. Dobbs, he is just another Glenn Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh, etc. It is shameful that media networks allow them airtime & pass it off as if it is news coverage. Blitzer isn't much better but tolerate him only to watch the only saving grace on the network ... the Cafferty File.

[Jorge Al-Subbad]

They're scared to fire him because then they'd have another Glenn Beck on their hands defecting to Fox News and becoming a high rated folk hero over there. CNN is so head up their butt with their crappy faux neutral hosts that they're not even willing to save their own business. You have TWO channels on cable and you spend it all with Soledad and Wolf and crap like Ashleigh Banfield and Nancy Grace on CNN/HN... ridiculous... CNN should get back to being 24/7 news and reporting. Start using this medium like they know how to do and they'd wipe the floor with the blonde blue eyed angry Christian women's network that is Fox News.

[simplystunned]

Could you kindly edit the article to reflect that FAIR stands for "Federation for American Immigration Reform"? When I first read the article I immediately thought of the FAIR that is "Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting" (www.fair.org). Had me pretty scared for a minute there!

[randyjet]

There have been almost NO hate crimes or increase in anti-HIspanic actions. My grandfather who had a German name had his business and home burned down in Boston during WWI because of his last name. He could not even speak German. This was just a small part of the violence and killing that went on against German Americans during that period. Here in Texas, you would be ARRESTED by ANY public official for speaking German. Germans were routinely arrested and had businesses and homes destroyed.

To say that there is ANYTHING like anti-Hispanic hysteria is simply ABSURD. Dobbs has routinely stated he is FOR legal immigration, and points out that we admit over ONE MILLION legal immigrants into the US every year. Being against illegals is NOT being anti-Hispanic any more than it is being anti-black to enforce laws against various crimes.

[guajiro]

Randy, discrimination, before the 1960's, was completely legal, and as such, practiced with impunity. Discrimination in the early part of the 1900's was common against blacks, hispanics, Italians, Germans, etc. In Texas during the 50's, hispanics were not allowed to share classrooms with Anglo-Saxon kids, and even dark-colored hispances were not allowed to share the same classroom as light-colored hispanics, even if they were from the same family. That's nothing new, but to say that Dobbs has created anti-Hispanic hysteria is incorrect. While stating that he is for legal immigration, he paints a broad brush in his anti-Hispanic tirades and as such paints legal Hispanic citizens too. That we won't stand for when it's America's airwaves that are being used for his personal vendetta.

[randyjet]

The FACT is that Dobbs has NOT been anti-Hispanic at all. He is as I am, anti-illegals. It is true that the majority of the illegals are Hispanic but that does NOT therefore make him anti-Hispanic at all. NO more than saying that I am against crime and criminals makes me anti-black since they are far more numerous in prisons than the general population.

I will hopefully soon be retiring to south Texas because of the Mexican culture down there which I thoroughly enjoy. I am still against illegals because it hurts my future neighbors who still have to work at slave wages because of unscrupulous politicians. They say that they are for "their" people, but make damn sure that they keep the illegals coming so that they can make tons of money off of them and screw "their" own people by using them to keep down wages. By leading the fight against illegals, Dobbs is doing more for American Hispanics than ANY of their so called leaders.

It is a question of class differences. The leaders love to have the illegals since THEY make lot of money off of them. The ordinary person along the border knows that very well when they see their low wages and compete with all the commuter workers who come across every day. Del Rio just had a major crackdown on the kids who commute to their schools every day and that is a big problem too.