Janet Murguia of NCLR cheers Lou Dobbs departure, warns of more to come

Posted Sun, Nov 22, 2009 at 5:49 am

Janet Murguia of the National Council of La Raza takes to the pages of Alternet to offer "Dobbs' Resignation Was Long Overdue" (alternet.org/story/144089/dobbs'_resignation_was_long_overdue). Somewhat surprisingly, it doesn't seem to contain any outright lies, just smears and misleading statements. For instance, she tries to blame an increase in hate crimes on Dobbs and others:

The rhetoric that Lou and other extreme commentators used surrounding the debate took a harsh turn, so much so that a member of my staff called it a "wave of hate" and said that "this no longer sounds like it's about policy - it sounds like it's about us." ...This is not just an exercise in etiquette. The Latino community knows all too well the effect of extreme and polarizing rhetoric. Over the past five years, the vitriolic debate surrounding immigration has created a toxic climate for our communities. During that time, we have seen a double-digit increase in the number of hate crimes against Latinos and substantial growth in the number of hate groups targeting Latinos.

The number of "hate groups" is based on the opinion of the Southern Poverty Law Center, not exactly a credible source.

Then, she implies that the NCLR and other illegal immigration-supporting groups are going to go after other hosts:

Yet Dobbs is not alone in purveying extreme rhetoric on the subject of immigration. There are dozens of others on cable television news and radio who draw our ire. Given the free speech issues that we regularly defend, we have attempted to approach this issue with restraint. We have appealed to the journalistic integrity of the cable networks and requested balance. We have worked with advertisers who have a right to ensure that their brands are not associated with such polarizing debate. And we have used the airwaves to identify patterns of distortion and established a website (www.WeCanStopTheHate.org) to call out the worst offenders so that the public can add its voice to the debate.

The actions of the NCLR show clearly that they have no interest in a real debate about these issues.

Tags: 
national council of la raza
janet murguia
cnn
lou dobbs
alternet

Comments

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Mon, 11/23/2009 - 00:37

"Well yes", millions of Americans soon to be called NOTHER AMERICANS! Meaning nothing and will follow Lou, But not into some nice retirement but into total hardship and total poverty most would say that is ok.

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Mon, 11/23/2009 - 00:39

BUY GUNS

Anonymous (not verified)

Mon, 11/23/2009 - 04:17

'Given the free speech issues that we regularly defend' Like what? All I hear is 'IF YOU DISAGREE WITH US, WE WILL DESTROY YOU!' They're all for *legitimate* points of view (and that doesn't include those of you who oppose amnesty and support enforcement of immigration law). That's 'hate speech'. So let's have a vigorous debate between the two 'stakeholders' (that means the special interests who own our 'democracy'): guest worker advocates and those only in the game for increasing a particular ethnic group.

Sgt. Joe Friday (not verified)

Mon, 11/23/2009 - 12:13

Let's break this down: "There are dozens of others on cable television news and radio who draw our ire." Translation: "Here is who you can expect us to go after next: O'Reilly, Savage, John & Ken, Glenn Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh, et al. It doesn't matter that O'Reilly and Hannity support legal 3rd world immigration, we've got to take them down. And what the hell, Limbaugh has talked maybe a half dozen times - in total - over 20+ years on the air, he's got to go too." "...we have attempted to approach this issue with restraint." Translation: "But we have a lot of crazies on our side, so don't blame us if some of them resort to violence. You had it coming, and you've been warned." "We have worked with advertisers who have a right to ensure that their brands are not associated with such polarizing debate." Translation: "We sent our goons to talk to those companies and threaten them with financial ruin if they don't get with the program, and quickly."

Mary (not verified)

Mon, 11/23/2009 - 22:48

The country is being invaded and they are winning as our representatives choose treason over enforing the laws.

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Tue, 11/24/2009 - 03:35

Look people Lou will do well, but what will happen to you in this evil coming years will not be to nice its not about freedom its about control and massive population replacement.