Just when you thought the world (or at least your television) was rid of one less windbag telling us how undocumented immigrants are ruining this country, Lou Dobbs revealed yesterday that he is considering running for president.
Questioned by former senator and current radio show host, Fred Thompson, on the possibility of running for president in 2012, Dobbs answered, "Yes, is the answer," adding that his Mexican-American wife, Debi, will "help make that decision."
Dobbs has always maintained that he opposes illegal immigration, not legal immigration, but his anti-amnesty, pro-border enforcement views have crossed the boundaries, understandably leading many people to believe that Lou Dobbs is "anti-immigration."
And who could blame them? Dobbs uses phrases like "illegal alien invasion"; he has been accused of perpetuating myths and stereotypes about immigrants; he is supported by groups such as ALIPAC and FAIR, an organization the Southern Poverty Law Center has listed as an anti-immigrant "hate group." Dobbs' tales of undocumented immigrants contributing nothing to this country but disease and crime have done little more than feed into the public fear of "the other."
Over the years, Dobbs has done an excellent job of angering the pro-migrant and Latino communities. But as every presidential candidate knows, every vote counts, so would a hardcore anti-amnesty advocate like Lou Dobbs moderate his position to increase his appeal?
On yesterday's show, Fred Thompson asked Dobbs for his thoughts on "the status of the illegal immigration issue." Dobbs replied:
"Right now, the great quandary for the administration is how to complete its promised payoff and provide unconditional amnesty. Obviously there is not the support for it in neither the Senate--perhaps there is in the House, but certainly not in the Senate.
I don't doubt one bit that there will be a tremendous, vigorous effort to bring comprehensive immigration reform forward in the first part of the new year. But I think that if they continue to game the system instead of dealing honestly with the issues, it'll fail again as it did in 2006 and 2007.
All they have to do is be straightforward about securing that border. I'm not a restrictionist; I want a rational, effective humane immigration policy just as badly as anyone else in this country, but we can't control immigration if we don't control our borders, and if we don't control immigration, there is no way in the world to meaningfully reform immigration law."
Apparently Dobbs is feeling the need to clear the air and clarify his views on immigration, because he also posted his "pro immigration riff" yesterday on his website.
"I've said for some time that the only rational factor in this entire immigration crisis, illegal immigration crisis, is the illegal alien, trying to benefit himself, herself and better their lives."
"I have great respect for the people who make up the preponderance of the illegal alien population in our country, that is Mexican migrant workers."
Do you think the possibility of Dobbs becoming a presidential candidate will make him think twice before spouting off his critical and disparaging comments about undocumented immigrants, or are you more worried about Dobbs gaining a broader platform for his views on immigration?
Comments
Nice article lady. If you had take just a few moments and done a little research on the issue, or looked the forms over that deal with illegal aliens, you would know there are huge reasons for supporting Mr. Dobbs, and dropping dolts who don’t do their research. Know what I mean lady?
Try this site:
http://www.numbersusa.com
You will discover Mr. Dobbs is a moderate and also uses data and statistics from reputable sources. Your article is goofy and I shall leave it at that.
By the way… the Mexican Mafia shot up my home at one point and my idea of correct behaviour is far, far, FAR more serious than his.
considering that hispanic voters got obama the presidential seat. i think he should think twice on his anti-immigratiin views. ina couple of years, the hispanics will become the majority not a minotory as they are now. if they find the power that comes from voting expect the democrats to hold seeats for years. great article.
Joel, Dude! What are implying? Dobbs lies alot and I mean there is no two ways about it. Dude, You can take your sarcasim and run with it sleep with it and dream with. Fact remains Lou Dobbs is a hate monger and a liar, He prays on ignorants like your self. How does it feel to get your news spoon fed, Dude.
Dobbs pushing for amnesty = he will get no support from Repubs or Dems.
Illegal aliens are destroying this Country, and one would have to be near blind not to see this.
I can’t say the illegal aliens are completely to blame for the shape of our economy, but they are a BIG part of the problem. The illegal aliens send BILLIONS upon BILLIONS out of this Country every year, money we will NEVER see again. Does this help our economy?
How about the BILLIONS the American taxpayers fork out for the illegal aliens babies, the schooling of them, the medical care and the list goes on, and on, and on.
How about the MILLIONS upon MILLIONS paid to jail illegal aliens for the crimes, then the cost to deport them. Does this help our economy?
Then you have these activist groups, the Catholic Church and the ACLU that want AMNESTY for these illegal aliens. It would be absolute suicide for this Country if AMNESTY were granted to the 20 million or so illegal aliens. We have more and more people out of work everyday and they want to add another 20 million to this Country? I say, “NO”!
If AMNESTY were ever granted to these 20 million illegal aliens, you can bet big money that 3 years from now, there would be ANOTHER 3-5 million illegal aliens demonstrating on our soil for AMNESTY.
An end MUST come to this illegal immigration. The perfect tool we have so far is E-Verify. It MUST be used by ALL businesses and Government Social Services. EVERY employee must be checked! If they are illegal, they are to be dismissed!
I believe it is time for all 50 States to pass a State law, like Arizona, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina and a few others. It is time for these illegal aliens to go back to their home Country and get out of this Country. The problems they are causing will not go away until the illegal aliens are out of this Country. I think that is plain to see.
It’s time for ZERO TOLERENCE with these illegal aliens. It’s time for them to get back to their own country where they belong. If they truly want to be part of America, let them apply and wait their turn like the millions of others who want to come to America LEGALLY. They will then be welcomed with open arms.
Delaware Bob, I’m just wondering if your family applied in your old country and waited for permission to immigrate to America, or if your ancestors, like the vast majority of people who came to the USA simply managed to be lucky enough to find their way on to a boat headed west and arrived completely without papers on these shores.
Tell me Bob do we send back all the Italians, the Irish (like me), the Scots, the Germans, and so on and make them wait until they are properly processed? Because this is going to be one big empty country if so…
Illegal entry aside, there are many who’ve entered the country legally, have applied for work visa sponsorships or are beneficiaries of family visas. This group of immigrants has abided by the law and yet are still waiting years or even decades to get their green cards. Should they be put in the same boat as those who entered illegally? The backlogs and processing wait times are so extensive and long, that 15, 20 years later, they’re still waiting to start their life. It’s a waste of the intellectual, social and financial capital they bring to society, despite following the law. It’s a loss to the US as a whole to not benefit from their valuable contribution. By denying immigration reform, you’re rightfully punishing those who enter illegally, but wrongfully punishing those who have followed the law.
Shane: Delaware Bob, I’m just wondering if your family applied in your old country and waited for permission to immigrate to America, or if your ancestors, like the vast majority of people who came to the USA simply managed to be lucky enough to find their way on to a boat headed west and arrived completely without papers on these shores.
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I doubt that “most Americans arrived without papers,” as you claim Shane. I know exactly when and where my mother’s family entered in 1840 — they had papers! Which have been electronically preserved and posted on the internet, BTW. I also have found papers related to some of my Dad’s ancestors who arrived in the 1750s on a British ship called the Phoenix and were made to swear allegiance to the British King as the first legal requirement of their immigration process (no allegiance, no immigration). If there were papers and records way back in 1750, I tend to doubt your claims very much.
That said, it’s very immature and childish to insist that the country continues to absorb millions of immigrants without giving any kind of thought to if that’s a good idea or not, given our resources and the realities of maintaining a modern, First World country. 100 years ago the British had an Empire that covered 1/4th of the world’s population. Are they required to try and re-establish that Empire because “that’s the way they did it 100 years ago”?
MaryJ you might want to brush up on your immigration history. Under the 1820 Act Regulating Passenger Lists, revised again in 1847 all that was required of a ship’s captain was to report who the passengers were and where they were from. No formal documentation from the passengers were required and they certainly didn’t have to wait in their home country while being processed. Once here all an immigrant had to do was prove residency for 5 years, show upstanding moral character and pledge allegiance to become full citizens. Oh, and be “free white people” if you were from say China you were out of luck until the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943, at which point all Chinese residents (most who were “illegal”) were naturalized.
Clearly this “amnesty” for the Chinese in 1943 was a terrible thing and all the troubles in the country at the time were caused by it right? Since these former “alien law breakers” went on to be for the most part upstanding pillars of their communities, why would it be any different this time around?
Shane, you may be surprised to hear that the laws have changed since 1943. Try brushing up on our CURRENT laws!!!
Tony, I’m interested in the lies you claim Lou has said. Can you enlighten us??? Or is it you who is lying???
Umm, thanks Sue, but we were talking the laws that were in place when a lot of our ancestors came over; which for most of us was during the the big land rushes in the 1800’s, (you might want to reference MaryJ’s comments on her family’s immigration process in 1750 and 1840) so post 1943 laws don’t really come into play.
i dont know from where to start but if at this time we let get this all illigle immigrants to stay hear with fine of 2500$, they need to get police clearance and submitt their fines, no need to hier a lawer and when they start paying their tax they need to pay for double amount of their final tax for 3 years, after 3 years they get green card, it will bring up money in market like anything and we will b a nation with money, any way Mr obama is going to do it next year than why not this way, and make sure lawer doesnt make money out of this deal…nick