Lou Dobbs Now Too Soft for Hard Right Immigration Group
EmailLou Dobbs is now too soft for a hard-right immigration group. Has he thrown away his base of support? Or improved his chances with the angry middle? My colleague, ABC News’ Teddy Davis, has the story: Lou Dobbs has lost the political backing of a hard-right anti-illegal immigration group which had been urging him to run for office for several years. The former CNN anchor fell out of favor with the conservative Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC) after giving a Nov. 20 interview to Telemundo, a Spanish television station, in which he said he wanted to “legalize illegal immigrants on certain conditions.” “While Mr. Dobbs claims his positions have not changed . . . that is not the perception of many of our mutual supporters,” said ALIPAC president William Gheen. “His recent comments on Telemundo and his national radio show supporting some kind of path to citizenship for illegal immigrants is inconsistent with positions of ALIPAC and the views of most American citizens.” The rupture with ALIPAC came after Dobbs gave a Nov. 20 interview to Telemundo’s Maria Celeste in which he said: “what I have said from the very beginning and which a lot of people have chosen to ignore: (1) we need a rational, effective, humane immigration policy in this country; (2) we need – we need the ability to legalize illegal immigrants on certain conditions; and (3) we need to be able to influence the direction of the conversation right now towards securing that border because until we can control immigration we cannot meaningfully, substantively alter immigration law because it would have no point.” Watch it HERE. Told by the Telemundo anchor that he now sounded “like a politician” and asked if he would consider running for office, Dobbs said: “Actually, as a matter of fact, that is one of the things that I am considering.” Dobbs is weighing a run against New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and possibly even a run for president in 2012. ALIPAC circulated the video of the Dobbs-Telemundo interview to its 30,000 national supporters. The group claims that its internal polling shows that “over 70 percent” of its supporters are upset with Dobbs’ comments on Telemundo in support of legalizing illegal aliens. ALIPAC opposes any path to citizenship for illegal aliens currently in the U.S. As a result, ALIPAC announced on Thursday that it is suspending the operations of the Facebook “Draft Lou Dobbs for President or US Senate” site. The Facebook page now has a notice on it saying that ALIPAC has pulled its support for Dobbs. Before yanking ALIPAC’s support earlier today, Gheen went on Dobbs’ radio show on Monday to discuss the Telemundo interview. Dobbs confirmed for Gheen that he, indeed, had long supported a conditions-based path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. “Why did no one notice?” asked Gheen. “Why did La Raza not notice?” To which Dobbs answered: “La Raza has got to try to destroy me because I am a centrist, moderate with very strong views on the need for secure borders, secure ports, and a rational immigration policy, William. La Raza hates my guts because they can’t afford to having someone who is making sense here and that is what I am going to do.” Listen to it HERE. ALIPAC’s efforts to get Dobbs to run for president stretch back to the last campaign. Shortly before the 2008 Iowa caucuses, ALIPAC’s president told ABC News that it would “grab Lou Dobbs by the ear and drag him into the race” if the GOP nominated Arizona Sen. John McCain, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, or Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
In the end, nothing came of ALIPAC’s 2008 interest in Dobbs and he remained at CNN until he abruptly stepped down on Nov. 11 of this year to “pursue new opportunities.”
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So……..when did asking people to obey the law, and not overlook lawbreaking, become “hard right”????
That’s simply asking people to uphold the laws, which is what any decent citizen should be doing.
The “hard right”, are the religious zealots, who would persecute gays, because they don’t fit with their concept of “natural”, or those who would persecute women, because they choose not to bring a child into this world, that they cannot provide for.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | December 3, 2009, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
Well now Mexicans are sending money to the US.
Posted by: Huh | December 3, 2009, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
Illegal aliens should be given legal status, as soon as they go back to their country and go to the back of the immigration line. If they legally come back they should be required to learn the American dialect of English and swear allegiance to the United States. Any display of the flag of their former nation should earn them a free trip back there to start the process over again. Any conviction of any crime which might earn jail time should be grounds for immediate and permanent deportment.
We have 50,000 troops in Japan alone. More in other parts of the world. Bring those troops home to guard our borders. Orders should be to treat anyone coming across the border as armed invaders. Shoot first, don’t bother asking questions later.
What they will get is amnesty, welfare, public option insurance, Bi-lingual education, jobs that Americans DO want and more rights than American citizens.
Posted by: oonogil | December 3, 2009, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
Rewarding foreign lawbreakers, each one who steals $10,000 per year from Americans, with US citizenship is not the centrist view.
Having 50 million Mexicans in the US with dual Mexican and American citizenship to help the Globalist traitors replace the USA with the North American Union is not the centrist view.
Posted by: Johnson | December 3, 2009, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
Palin/Dobbs, Democratic dream ticket….
Posted by: Denise | December 3, 2009, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
What I don’t understand is why no one is angry about the businesses who hire these ILLEGAL WORKERS. If AMERICAN BUSINESSES OBEYED THE LAW, THESE FOLKS WOULD HAVE NO JOBS. HOW ABOUT BLAMING THEM..THE EMPLOYERS..
Posted by: Bill Hopkins | December 3, 2009, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
ANOTHER PSCHO TALKER WE HAVE TO CONTEND WITH ,DON’T WE HAVE ENOUGH PSCHOS, BECK, O’REILLY, PALLIN, BACHMAN, LIMBAUGH! WELL BRING EM ON OBAMA CAN HANDLE THEM , OBAMA WILL RUN A SECOND TERM NO MATTER HOW MUCH “HATE” THEY THROW AT HIM, THE GOP HAS REALLY “LOST IT” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: CC Pennes | December 3, 2009, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm
Maybe Dobbs has read the Megamerge Dissolution Solution and is starting to see the light that there is no real war between Americans and Mexicans, since there is a way they can unite under the U.S. flag and constitution and share the New World in peace in a model bilingual nation, leaving groups like ALIPAC in the dino dust. If you haven’t read it, now is the time, just click the url when you have a spare hour, it can be done in just a few years with broad bipartisan support, and will end the U.S.-Mexico problem permanently.
Posted by: TL Winslow | December 3, 2009, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm
An Angry Man!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: sara | December 3, 2009, 4:03 pm 4:03 pm
There is only one way to handle illegal immigration and that is to treat it as a violation of law which it, in fact, is. We don’t overlook or pardon bank robbers, neither should we cover our eyes as these illegals rob us blind.
Posted by: Ron | December 3, 2009, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm
Has anyone really thought this through? 12-15 million illegals, so most estimates say. Send ‘em back the border people say. Good God, we only mobilized 5 million members of the military in WWII. We knew who they were and they wanted to go. The logistics of the border fanatics position is just mind boggling. But I guess being pure trumps making common sense.
Posted by: Jim Slattery | December 3, 2009, 6:02 pm 6:02 pm
Just read the official news stories from ICE or Customs and Border Protection. So, being concerned with a population that is bankrupting our law enforcement agencies is hard-right? We’re spending 27 Billion each year on border protection. But if we didn’t we would be overrun with illegals—-and their familia, too.
Posted by: Captainron | December 3, 2009, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm
Hey if somebody fired bullets in your front yard and almost killed your wife, you’d probably be running scared too! (Notice Dobbs left right after this episode, hmn) I think he learned his lession and is out singing a different tune.
Posted by: jafo | December 3, 2009, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm
So George….
Since you are into discussing the cable guys….
When are you going to talk about what Chris Mathews called West Point?
To those of you that don’t know, check out a real news source.
Oh and hold your jaw when you do….
Posted by: Kris | December 3, 2009, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
Mr. Dobbs has a lot to offer America and for the most part, he is a conservative candidate. However, it’s sad that he has chosen to campaign like McCain. Not the candidate of choice but the hold your nose and vote against the other guy candidate. America needs a real candidate with real values who is clearly defined and who the majority supports. That’s why we have these lame middle of the road candidates and fakes running because there is no clear man for the real majority. We know what we want, but the candidates are gaming us and we are looking out for the players.
Centrist and moderate is another name for fence sitter, RINO, playing the middle, pretending to be Left when you are Right and Right when you are Left and do what you please when you get in office. We know you are not what you say you are and you are just talking to get elected. Making campaign promises.
I can’t bear the thought of seeing another Bush-McCain Manchurian candidate running for president.
Posted by: Rowdy | December 3, 2009, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
most people understand how illegal immigration and legal immigration when coming from one country in high porportional numbers is bad for a country. Most people understand that corporations, unions, and -most- politicians like immigration because it destroys the middle-class and allows cheap/cheaper labor. The lower classes are not a threat, really (unless REALLY exploited and if they have access to weapons etc). But the middle-class has enough money and enough time for education to recognize corruption (whether its war contractors, community organizers, mafia, fatcat politicians, or international banksters.) So allow immigration and depress wages, have an uneducated base of voters used to abuse/corruption, and demographically “weed out” those who say no, vote their informed conscience, or who have allegience to the Constitution.
ps: as soon as the system is broke and throughly corrupted you will notice that borders QUICKLY go back up! (to wit: E.Germany, Burma, China, Soviet Union, etc)
Posted by: Ed | December 3, 2009, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm
Mr. Stephanopolous:
I was once a supporter of yours a an officer in the Democratic college auxiliaries back when you took the White House with Clinton and represented our youth cohort. I also remember how our faction within the new administration was the first to get the boot!
Americans for Legal Immigration is NOT a “Hard Right” organization unless you consider the super majority that of Americans that agree with our positions “hard right”.
Please try not to include derogatory sounding labels when describing groups like ours and ask your moderators to stop censoring posts that are favorable to our group and positions.
Long ago I was a youth leader, in charge of the College Dems of NC, for the campaign that put you into the fame category Mr. Stephanopolous.
I am very disappointed by the name calling and censorship your team is engaging in here with ABC.
Please correct these abuses as I am sure that you can make your positions clear without resorting to misnomers and censorship.
William Gheen
Posted by: William Gheen | December 3, 2009, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm
I have to say, good for William Gheen and the voters who support his organization ALIPAC for standing behind their principles and beliefs. At least you know where they stand and they are not compromised and not faking you out about illegal immigration.
Posted by: Rowdy | December 3, 2009, 11:23 pm 11:23 pm
Any display of the flag of their former nation should earn them a free trip back there to start the process over again.
Would you still feel the same way if the flag was an Irish flag, or a polish flag?? In my neighborhood, these are the flags I see, should we send them back as well, or is it just Mexicans that should be deported??
Posted by: readingispower | December 4, 2009, 1:13 am 1:13 am
Any display of the flag of their former nation should earn them a free trip back there to start the process over again.
Would you still feel the same way if the flag was an Irish flag, or a polish flag?? In my neighborhood, these are the flags I see, should we send them back as well, or is it just Mexicans that should be deported??
Posted by: readingispower | Dec 4, 2009 1:13:52 AM
_______________________________________
there is nothng wrong with people being proud of their heritage but most take it way too far. If you’re so proud to be Italian then go live in Italy for god’s sake. The same goes for the Mexicans, the Irish, and the Puerto Ricans. If you’re a citizen of the US then being American should come first and if it doesn’t then don’t let the door hitcha where the good lord splitcha!!!
Posted by: dk | December 4, 2009, 3:20 am 3:20 am
Do we actually have a border south side? And if so, it’s pretty crappy and why bother?
Posted by: phantomniter | December 4, 2009, 7:54 am 7:54 am
Holy crap dont even get me started on illegal immigration, there should be a simple rule, we can hang them or throw them the heck out of the usa. I’m so sick of them stealing are job, and sending money back home.
Posted by: coedbnj | December 4, 2009, 8:36 am 8:36 am
Hard right and angry middle,words used by ABC news to describe law abiding US citizens that just want the immigration laws enforced.ABC get a clue and quit the leftist liberal slant that is so evident in every story that is reported on, and you call yourselves journalist,HA!
Posted by: Johnny L | December 4, 2009, 8:37 am 8:37 am
Sadly, Lou is just another politician who speaks out of both sides of his mouth. The American people are looking for someone who isn’t afraid to stay the course. Good for the Alipac group at least they show some backbone.
Posted by: ck | December 4, 2009, 10:29 am 10:29 am
THE VIEWS OF ALIPAC, MR. GHEEN AND LOU DOBBS ARE ANTI-AMERICAN AND ANTI-CATHOLIC. THEY HAVE A RELIGIOUS BIAS BECAUSE MOST MEXICANS ARE CATHOLIC. A PROPER PROCESS OF ALLOWING HONEST AND HARD-WORKING IMMIGRANTS TO THIS COUNTRY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. DEPORTATION SHOULD OCCUR FOR CRIMINALS, MISCHIEFS AND BUMS.
Posted by: Juez7 | December 4, 2009, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm
Juez7,
Illegal immigration is a crime so deportation should occur for all illegal aliens.
Illegal aliens are not honest because they pass fake documents, steal IDs, lie to live here, about who they are and all of that is a against God’s laws the 10 Commandments.
Posted by: Rowdy | December 4, 2009, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm
JUEZ, your comments are 100 percent WRONG.
Its not because of a certain religion or anything else. ITS because they are ILLEGAL. it does not matter if they work hard, or commite crimes. Being illegal in the US is a crime in itself.
as per your post “DEPORTATION SHOULD OCCUR FOR CRIMINALS, MISCHIEFS AND BUMS.” anyone in the US illegally is a criminal. Anyone who is in possession of a forged,stolen, or bought identity is a criminal. Anyone who lies on W2, I9 or any other federal document is a criminal.
What part of ILLEGAL do you not understand?
Posted by: james w | December 4, 2009, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm
Denise, I agree w/you, these 2 would be 100% better than the idiot in the WH right now, thank you for the observation
Posted by: lyineyes1956 | December 4, 2009, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
Oh, you ol’ softy, Lou.
I’m sure there are many other groups Lou can scapegoat for this country’s problems.
Lou, try the Irish. They haven’t been scapegoated in years.
Posted by: Doppelganger | December 4, 2009, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
Bill Gheen is correct in his denuciation of that traitor Lou Dobbs. This debate has all to often overlooked the view of Black Americans, as a group 88% of Black Americans oppose illegal immigration and would like to see all illegal aliens returned to their country. Also the abuse of the 14th amendment pains my community.The change to the Constitution was to give status to the children of slaves, not Mexicans illegally crossing our borders. Children born to illegal aliens are not US Citizens.
Posted by: Top | December 5, 2009, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
Lou Dobbs and Sarah Palin, Both Quitters!! Lou Dobbs admitted on the Daily Show that his CNN contract has him by the short-hairs…. it couldn’t happen to a more deserving guy…Tell me Lou , Does quitting on air make you more “maverick-y”???
Posted by: The Reminder | December 6, 2009, 9:42 am 9:42 am
Now Lou Dobbs is where he belongs—-Home of the Hatred
Posted by: Charlie | December 6, 2009, 11:01 am 11:01 am
The hard right only supports its heroes while they are using the bully pulpit of TV and radio to propagandize. The minute one of these guys like Dobbs starts looking at seriously running for office, they realize very quickly that their public TV stances will not draw enough voters to actually win an election. Hence, Dobbs shuffled more toward the center only to find his “base” is abandoning him as being too soft. Between the purity tests and fickleness of support, the right wing is cannibalizing itself to death as a viable political movement … preferably the sooner the better
Posted by: windrider | December 6, 2009, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
Well Lou Dobbs…now you know how fickle people really are. Today they love you and if you do one thing they don’t like, they quickly hate you. Welcome to the world of politics. I think it is funny after all your attention to immigration for them to turn on you.
Posted by: talmag | December 7, 2009, 9:47 am 9:47 am
From 2008 until recent, I have watched Lou on CNN every night. I thought he was truly against illegal immigration and legalization of those currently living in the US. I liked his stance on E-Verify and controlling the southern border. I was shocked that he left CNN. Then I stumbled upon this blog of George’s and found out he is now acting as a politician and giving in to LaRaza and their cause. He wants to be a politician in New Jersey? The most corrupt politicians in the country? Or atleast second or third to Chicago and Miami. Figures.
Posted by: Nancy | December 12, 2009, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
I dont believe everyone can be legalized, but American also need to realize getting permit and visa arent as easy for those countries as it is for ours.
My husband was ban from USA because he tried to go the legal route to fix his illegal status. Now our 11 year old daughter suffers because there is no laws to help us in any way. He made a mistake he tried to fix it. We are married and I am an AMerican so I should have the right for my husband to be with me and my family. There is just not something that can be a all around stop to immigration.
Posted by: Angela Perez | August 31, 2010, 5:14 pm 5:14 pm