Cool video in favor of the "Basta Dobbs" campaign, even though I can't support it
As much as I'd personally like to see CNN's Lou Dobbs put out to pasture, I can't totally get behind this new effort by Latino groups asking CNN to boot him. True, he is an embarrassment for CNN, he's a repulsive nativist, and belongs in the dustbin of history along with all the other xenophobes and bigots.
Thing is, if CNN on its own dumps the guy, I'm sure he'll walk to Fox News, taking his viewers withn him. Sure, he deserves to be bashed for his biased reporting, and lambasted for his evident animus towards Mexico and Mexicans. However, Dobbs has an opinion-based show. I don't like his opinion, but then, a lot of people don't care for my opinions or my reporting of the ethnic strife here in Maricopa County.
(BTW, I notice that Sal Reza's Puente movement is one of the supporters of this "Basta Dobbs" blitz.)
In the past, I was the target of a letter campaign asking my bosses to fire me because local nativist organizations were incensed by me calling them out as racists. Fortunately for me, the owners of New Times like it when their writers rile folks up. So the campaign had the opposite of its intended effect.
True, Dobbs has a much more powerful voice, and is paid gazillions for expressing himself. I'm not saying people shouldn't voice their outrage, but unless Dobbs starts using ethnic slurs on air, a campaign calling for his dismissal borders on censorship.
Whenever CNN sacks Dobbs for low ratings or lack of advertising, I'll be the first to cheer. Till then, our efforts are best aimed at debunking him, proving him wrong, countering him. Think of him as a natural foil, and one that unfortunately represents tons of old, white geezers just like him, as well as other prejudiced puddin' heads. Alas, until they all croak of natural causes, we have to deal with the fact that they can still vote. Exiling Dobbs to Fox News won't make them go away.
