Is Lou Dobbs a Racist? The Southern Poverty Law Center Responds
By Rebecca White
June 06, 2007
As it gets closer to voting time for the Senate, the immigration-reform bill moves closer to center stage. Along with it, for better or for worse, moves CNN news anchor Lou Dobbs.
The question at hand is why, in the face of so many vocal opponents, Dobbs continues to perpetuate his lies. Is Dobbs a racist? (See also: Lou Dobbs Dodges Truth! 4 Funky Immigration 'Facts')
Dobbs, a proponent in the "anti-immigration" movement since it became a major issue several years ago, has received so much attention for his opinions that many Americans feel those who attack him in defense of undocumented workers are equally to blame for Dobbs' overexposure.
Dobbs is known for reporting that an "invasion of illegal aliens" was bringing "highly contagious diseases" to America "decades after those diseases had been eradicated" here. His show then reported that more than 7,000 new cases of leprosy had been reported in the previous three years. These numbers were proven to be completely off the mark when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that new cases of leprosy, which totaled only 398 from 2002 to 2004, have been declining in the United States since 1988. When challenged about his leprosy story, Dobbs stated, "I do not make up numbers. It is a fact."
Perhaps the most prominent organization to accuse Dobbs of fabricating facts is the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). Long known for its civil-rights advocacy and battles against hate crimes, the SPLC has made its mission to educate Americans on immigration truths.
Recently, SPLC Cofounder Morris Dees talked with current SPLC President Richard Cohen about Dobbs, whether Dobbs is a racist, and whether the center is itself adding fuel to the fire. Longtime SPLC supporters are split as to whether attacking Dobbs is the right route to take for the center.
What do you think? Are groups that defend undocumented workers by attacking Dobbs making the right decision in firing back? Dees feels strongly that Dobbs' lies must be verified and that making a public spectacle of the news anchor is crucial to maintaining damage control.
Dees feels other tactics won't work, and he pointed out that efforts to inform Dobbs directly about immigration truths have had no effect. "I think Dobbs knows what he's doing," said Dees. "I think the officials of CNN know what he's doing too, and it's to pump up the ratings."
On whether Dobbs is a racist, Dees said no but felt that wasn't the point. "I don't think in his heart he would consider himself a racist," responded Dees, "but when people in the spotlight make these statements, people take them to heart. This fuels anti-immigration fears."
Cohen then asked Dees if the SPLC was refocusing its attention away from fighting hate groups. Dees said absolutely not, and he stressed that immigration reform was an important social issue. Dees addressed the guest-worker program in particular and warned of its misleading benefits.
"The guest-worker program sounds like a panacea, sounds like a good idea. It could be good, but guest workers have to have rights. It's like virtual slavery, involuntary servitude. Dobbs is just a part of the larger problem. We are trying to fight this battle on all fronts."
The SPLC has been criticized for not filing a lawsuit against Dobbs, a class-action on behalf of undocumented immigrants, for perpetrating lies. In the past, the SPLC has been responsible for winning important legal battles, such as Paradise v. Allen in 1972, which forced Alabama state troopers, an all-white institution, to end their policy of "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever." The SPLC took the case to the Supreme Court and won, ordering Alabama to hire one black trooper for every white trooper hired, until the force was 25 percent black.
But Dees doesn't want to sue. "In America we have the right to make these statements. The first amendment protects Dobbs and it protects people like us when we confront him."
"In the long run," continued Dees, "I think Lou Dobbs is going to be a footnote in history. Dobbs is just riding a popular horse today. I think we'll be here long after Dobbs is off the show."
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Readers' Comments
Posted: Friday, Jun 05, 2009
Is Lou Dobbs a Racist? The Southern Poverty Law Center Responds
Absolutely! I believe that Lou Dobbs is a racist. The fact the he calls the illegal immigrants, "Aliens" say a lot on how he feels about the immigrants. The word "Alien" suggests that they are not human, it degrades and dehumanizes the immigrants. Lou also blames the illegal immigrants for almost everything that goes wrong in our country. He blames them for our bad economy, he blames them for the high crime rate, he blames them for bring diseases into the country and the list goes on for ever. I am sure that some of the illegal immigrants do some of these things, but Lou uses one or maybe two examples and blows it up as if it is an epidemic. He is covering a movement that does not exist. He uses the immigrants as scapegoats. But he does not try and think of the American History. He is a descendent of an illegal immigrant! We all are unless you are a Native American. Ironically, the Hispanics he hates some much are Mestizos, which are half Native American and European. Another reason why I believe Lou Dobbs is a racist is because he has had several White Nationalist guests on his show. He has had Virginia Deane Abernethy who is a White Separatist and Chris Simcox who is a crazy and really hates Hispanics. Lou says he is only trying to protect our country against an invasion, but he has is heading one of the largest movements against all Hispanics and that includes American Hispanics. As long as Lou Dobbs is on CNN, I will boycott that network. That just goes to show how unfair and unbalanced CNN is and it also shows poor judgment on their part.
John Smith
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Posted: Friday, May 22, 2009
Is Lou Dobbs a Racist? The Southern Poverty Law Center Responds
I agree with mr. Dees, he is not a racist. How can he be, his wife is 1st generation Mexican American & he is very close with his inlawes who came here legally & also happen to live with mr Dobbs & his wife.... He only has a problem with people who break the law comming here. Right or wrong in his opinions, he is not a racist.
STEVE BRODY
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Posted: Monday, May 11, 2009
Is Lou Dobbs a Racist? The Southern Poverty Law Center Responds
I suppose that the first amendment allows CNN and DOBBS the right to their opinions, but then they should stop purporting that they deliver the news (fair and unbiased). And as far as suing, yes they should be sued. Good people should wake up and stop this foolishness from happening. As for the guest worker program, it works in Mexico.
Lee Williams
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Posted: Monday, May 11, 2009
Is Lou Dobbs a Racist? The Southern Poverty Law Center Responds
Yes Dobbs is a racist of the most dangerous kind. I am sure Hitler and Dobbs are relatives,(they are about the same age). Hitler implemented hate literature for the Jews into the German school system. Look what happened there. Dobbs always has a new word to make himself seem intelligent. Here is a new word for him, SPHINCTER. In fact he should change the name of his show to THE SPHINCTER, it seems more fitting than the factor
Lee Williams
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Posted: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Is Lou Dobbs a Racist? The Southern Poverty Law Center Responds
CNN is racist. There is overwhelming evidence that Lou Dobbs and Bill Bennet are eugenic racists. Evidence concerning Lou Dobbs is abundant from his daily inflamatory and hateful rhetoric against minorities. In the case of Bill Bennett, he was the Education Secretary in the 80's who advocated "aborting black babies to reduce the crime rate". CNN is guilty of racism since anyone or entity that acquiesce in, supports or remains silent to acts of racism is as guilty as the perpetrator. CNN continues to ignore all protests against Lou Dobbs and Bill Bennett. It is in this sense that CNN is guilty of racism Keith Reyes, PhD.
Keith Reyes
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