Dobbs Gets Daily Radio Show Despite Fact-Twisting and Hate

There's been a flurry of activity surrounding Lou Dobbs since our protest...

If you haven't read it yet, check out the seminal NYTimes article attacking Dobbs' journalistic integrity by David Leonhard: “Truth, Fiction, and Lou Dobbs". In this article Leonhard exposes a few of the most salient examples of Dobbs' demagoguery: his misrepresentation of the number of leprosy and tuberculosis cases in the U.S. which he then attributed to undocumented immigrants without any scientific evidence; his gross misrepresentation of the numbers of undocumented immigrants in federal and state prisons; and his insinuations of a Mexican conspiracy to invade the U.S. and retake certain territories.

Numerous journalists have attacked Lou Dobbs for his inaccuracies and lack of journalistic integrity; even more immigrant rights groups have been vocal in their outrage over his hateful messages. However, mainstream media venues like CNN continue to feature Dobbs as a credible journalist, and now he has signed a contract for a 3 hour, daily radio show.

Also check out last week's NYTimes article by David Brooks, “Follow the Fundamentals”. Brooks perceptively breaks down Dobbs’ rhetoric, pointing out that it “rests on fears that the America we once knew is bleeding away. And that’s just not true.”

Also last week: Journalists Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez interviewed Dobbs and confronted him about these lies on their show, Democracy Now. They then went on to highlight his multiple connections to the white nationalist hate group, Council of Conservative Citizens. If you don’t have the patience to watch the entire interview with Dobbs, take a look at Amy Goodman’s weekly column summarizing their findings: http://www.alternet.org/rights/69769/.

Congressman Gutierrez was also featured as a guest on Dobbs' show last week. It was an excellent interview. Check out blogger Kyle Debs' video here. They spent a good amount of time debating the merits of his proposal for immigration reform, the STRIVE Act. It was an excellent debate that showed just how people like Cong. Gutierrez are working hard to find solutions to our broken immigration system, while Lou Dobbs does nothing but demagogue and manipulate the American public with his inflammatory rhetoric and false statistics.

ICIRR Leader Probes Clinton on Immigration

Last Saturday marked the first annual Heartland Presidential Forum in Iowa. Four busloads of ICIRR community members braved the icy conditions to show solidarity with diverse organizations across the Midwest. Coming at a crucial time in the campaign calendar, the Forum allowed community leaders to ask the candidates tough questions about everything from housing to immigration reform.

ICIRR leader Billy Lawless asked Hillary Clinton whether she would commit to passing comprehensive immigration reform soon after taking office. Here's an msnbc blogger's report:

Asked by Coalition member Billy Lawless if she would address immigration reform during her first 100 days in office, Clinton did not offer a definite "yes," saying, “Well, you've got to get the Congress to pass the legislation." As hoots crescendoed from the rear of the room, she continued, "The president can do as much as possible, which I will do."

Coalition staff member Ricardo Serrano described the Chicago-based group as a pro-immigrant rights coalition of ethnic and service organizations throughout the state of Illinois. The organization has a heavy Hispanic representation but also includes members of European and Asian groups. Lawless, the man who asked the question that prompted the boos, is an Irish immigrant.

Serrano said that the group has galvanized around opposition to Illinois congressman Rahm Emmanuel, who "pulled a 180 on us" by failing on his promise to push comprehensive immigration reform through the Congress earlier this year. Serrano is concerned that Clinton's recent remarks on drivers' licenses for illegals -- on which he says she has "stumbled, if not completely backtracked" -- might indicate her willingness to brush off immigrant communities.

Perhaps 'the Hillary boo' may call her Party's attention to the fact that a fair, swift, and humane immigration reform is a top priority for our communities- and our nation. It is not an issue that can be ignored or swept aside to a candidate's second term, as Democratic leader Rahm Emanuel (5th Congressional district- IL) has repeatedly asserted.