REPORT: CNN's Lou Dobbs problem and the immigration debate (Media Matters for America)

[pampango]

http://mediamatters.org/reports/200909140005

"Dobbs fails to disclose ties to "hate group" FAIR while citing it as credible immigration source." Dobbs has close ties to "hate group" FAIR. In August, FAIR -- an organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center has designated a "hate group" -- announced that Dobbs is scheduled to help lead its annual "Hold Their Feet to the Fire" radio host rally. "

"Dobbs' show used hate group graphic to push "reconquista" myth." Dobbs pushes far-right claim that Mexican immigrants plotting to reclaim U.S. Southwest for Mexico. Dobbs' show has repeatedly advanced the smear that some Mexican-Americans and Mexican citizens -- particularly "illegal aliens" -- are plotting to take over the U.S. Southwest for Mexico."

"Dobbs pushes North American Union myth that his colleague calls a "conspiracy theory." Dobbs accuses government of plotting to form mythical "North American Union." Dobbs has repeatedly suggested that elements in the U.S. government are secretly plotting to merge the United States with Mexico and Canada."

"Dobbs injects loaded "amnesty" graphics into CNN journalists' reports." Dobbs' "amnesty" graphics distort CNN's reporting. Dobbs has repeatedly distorted CNN correspondents' reports on immigration reform by pairing these purportedly straight-news reports with on-screen text containing the politically charged word "amnesty.""

Each of the above topics has 2 or 3 paragraphs explaining each in more detail.

Lou must be gearing up for the immigration reform debate probably coming this fall or next year. Much of the time he labors in relative obscurity, but when immigration is news, Lou gets a lot of attention. I knew that Lou and FAIR were ideologically compatible but wasn't aware of the close working relationship they have.

[JHB]

1. For clarity, the group under discussion here is...

...Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)

And should not be confused with Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR), a group that's been documenting conservative media bias since the Reagan days:
http://www.fair.org

[pampango]

2. Thanks for the clarification. I should have made that clear. n/t