Lou Dobbs Goes After Catholic Church Again - Misleads Again Too

SOURCE: Opinionated Catholic

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Lou Dobbs of CNN is after the Catholic Church again. For his prior rants see Opinionated Catholic: Lou Dobbs No Pope Fan and Opinionated Catholic: Revisiting Lou Dobbs, the Pope, and Immigration. More on Lou Dobbs true agenda in a sec.

I was flipping through the channels and was unlucky to hear his latest wisdom. Here is the transcript

Well the Vatican is once again criticizing U.S. immigration policy. A Vatican news agency has released a 12-page document that denounces efforts to secure our borders and to stem the flow of illegal immigrants. The agency praises the U.S. Bishops Conference for opposing what it calls, quote, "the ineffectiveness and violence of our border security measures." The Vatican says efforts to stop illegal immigration have raised the numbers of people killed while trying to cross our border and encourage human trafficking. There is absolutely, by the way, no mention whatsoever of the responsibility of the government of Mexico for its own people and, and their safety -- extraordinary. Well, we're going to be talking with the church about all of this and a lot more, but especially that.

As to Lou Dobbs. The illegal immigration issue is very explosive. There are tons of agendas. In Lou Dobbs case it is not all about the illegals. Lou Dobbs sees this in the larger issue of total immigration in which he is a extremist on. It is largely based on environmental attitudes that would make Al Gore blush. Basically Dobbs is in the camp that thinks we need to reduce the U.S. population to 150 million. It is a part of vast population control program and idea that gets masked by the illegal immigration debate. In fact people of good will are being used. To see Dobbs thoughts see his award acceptance speech from CIS (that he has on his show often). Most people that have real concerns about illegal immigration have no idea of this wacko agenda.

Oh I can't wait Lou for your thoughts and well balanced presentation. I have a link to the full 12 page document here or go here to download it. I have a big big feeling Mr Dobbs did not read it.

Now I am a big NAFTA fan. I think it needs to be reformed but I am for it. Lou Dobbs is not a fan at all and a big critic. It is amusing that this document spends a considerable amount of time criticizing NAFTA and its role in the crisis. THEY AGREE WITH DOBBS!! But Dobbs does not mention that.

The report also states:
More than ten years later we can say, figures in hand, that this strategy only increased beyond all measure the quantity of public money invested in border protection, increased the number of persons killed while attempting to cross the border line, enriched human traffickers (smugglers), encouraged in total ambiguity employers who apply norms similar to those of dependence in a regime of slavery, strangle illegal workers with a starvation wage and massacring working-hours, under the blackmail of non-existence.

Is not Dobbs raving about employers exploiting illegals?

Now as Dobbs knows and the report alludes too (though it should hit it more) the Catholic Church recognizes that the Mexican Govt among others bears responsibilities here too. This is part of the root causes of immigration that Pope Benedict was quite explicit on this when he visited the USA last year. To go down memory lane:

I cannot speak in Spanish but mis saludos y mi bendición para todos los hispánicos [my greetings and my blessing for the Hispanic people.] I certainly will touch on this point. I have received various "ad limina" visits from the Central American bishops and also from South America, and I have seen the amplitude of this problem, above all the grave problem of the separation of families. And this is truly dangerous for the social, moral and human fabric of these countries.

Nevertheless, one must differentiate between measures that must be adopted right away and long-term solutions: The fundamental solution is that there would no longer exist the need to emigrate because there would be in one's own country sufficient work, a sufficient social fabric, such that no one has to emigrate. Therefore we should all work for this objective, for a social development that permits offering citizens work and a future in their land of origin. And also about this point, I would like to speak with the president, because above all the United States should help with the aim that these countries can develop in this way.

This is in the interest of everyone, not just of these countries, but of the world, and also of the United States. Besides this, short-term measures: It is very important to help the families above all. In the light of the conversations that I have had with the bishops, the principal problem is that there be protection for the families, that they not be destroyed. What can be done should be done. In the same way, naturally, all that is possible must be done to work against the instability of the situations and against all the violations, and to help so that they can have a truly dignified life where they find themselves in this moment.

I would like to also say that there are many problems, many sufferings, but there is also a lot of hospitality! I know that above all the American episcopal conference collaborates a lot with the Latin American episcopal conferences in the face of needed help. With all the sorrowful things, let's not forget also so much true humanity, so many positive actions that also exist.

The Vatican agency Press report has it faults and I do not agree with it all. The fact that it points out a 700 mile fence is sort of crazy is something I agree with. Which is one reason why I supported immigration reform because of worker ID and the internal policing mechanisms. The problem is people overstaying their visas and a fence aint going to help that!!!

Also Dobbs will not mention this but it appears the Vatican was all on board with a immigration reform bill that had tons of conditions for illegals to become regularized and in the end would have deported millions of illegals because frankly many would not meet the requirements.

As to Lou Dobbs. The illegal immigration issue is very explosive. There are tons of agendas. In Lou Dobbs case it is not all about the illegals.

Lou Dobbs sees this in the larger issue of total immigration in which he is a extremist on. It is largely based on environmental attitudes that would make Al Gore blush. Basically Dobbs is in the camp that thinks we need to reduce the U.S. population to 150 million. It is a part of vast population control program and idea that gets masked by the illegal immigration debate. In fact people of good will are being used. To see Dobbs thoughts see his award acceptance speech from CIS (that he has on his show often).

Most people that have real concerns about illegal immigration have no idea of this wacko agenda.

As the Wall Street Journal so well pointed out a few years ago:
“So determined is conservatism’s nativist wing that it’s even made common cause with radical environmentalists and zero-population-growth fanatics on the leftist fringe. The Federation for American Immigration Reform and the Center for Immigration Studies may strike right-wing poses in the press, but both groups support big government, mock federalism, deride free markets and push a cultural agenda abhorrent to any self-respecting social conservative.

SO SO TRUE. I understand that people of good faith can have different solutions to the illegal immigration crisis. However I wish some of the more hardliners on the issue would wake up and see who exactly they are bed in and ask themselves if they are buying into this.

RELATED IS MY POST A Catholic Republican Responds to Represenative Tancredo's Pope and Catholic Bashing

Posted by James H at 1/07/2009 11:54:00 AM

Ignoring reversal, AP reports McCain trying to "convince Hispanics that he was on their side" in immigration debate

FROM: MEDIA MATTERS FOR AMERICA

Mon, Oct 6, 2008 2:46pm ET

Summary: The AP reported that Sen. John McCain is trying to "convince Hispanics that he was on their side" during the recent congressional "fight" over proposed immigration reforms. But the AP did not report that McCain has since reversed his position, and now says he would no longer support the legislation -- which he co-sponsored with Sen. Edward Kennedy -- that Congress was "fight[ing]" over.

In an October 6 Associated Press article, AP Hispanic Affairs writer Laura Wides-Munoz reported that McCain adviser Ana Navarro "allows that the [Republican] party lost support among new Hispanic citizens because of some Republican lawmakers' remarks during the recent congressional debate over proposed immigration reforms. But the McCain campaign is using Spanish-language ads to convince Hispanics that he was on their side of that fight." However, while reporting the McCain campaign's claim that McCain was on the "side" of Hispanics during the recent congressional "fight" over immigration reform, Wides-Munoz did not mention that McCain now says he would no longer support the legislation Congress was "fight[ing]" over. As Media Matters for America has documented, McCain said in January that he "would not" vote for the immigration reform bill he co-sponsored with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) if it came to a vote on the Senate floor. McCain now says that "we've got to secure the borders first" -- a position at odds with his prior assertion that border security could not be disaggregated from other aspects of comprehensive immigration reform without being rendered ineffective.

As Media Matters documented, in a July 13 AP article, Wides-Munoz wrote that McCain "is respected by many Hispanics for refusing to pander to anti-immigrant sentiment over the years," but did not mention that McCain altered his position on immigration reform to more closely conform to the views of the GOP base. The AP has ignored McCain's reversal on border security in numerous articles since March, as documented by Media Matters here, here, here, here, here, and here.

From the October 6 article:

Ana Navarro, McCain's adviser on Hispanic affairs, said Republicans aren't investing the same amount of money as Democrats on registering new citizens. She also allows that the party lost support among new Hispanic citizens because of some Republican lawmakers' remarks during the recent congressional debate over proposed immigration reforms.

But the McCain campaign is using Spanish-language ads to convince Hispanics that he was on their side of that fight and that he has had a lifelong interest in Latin America, Navarro said.

—A.J.W.

NCLR Death Threat Punished in Court of Law

by: kesquivel@nclr.org Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 19:08:03 PM EDT

(Kety Esquivel, a Founding Editor of The Sanctuary, and now also the New Media Manager for The National Council of La Raza, highlights another shocking example of the just how toxic and hate-filled the imigrartion debate has turned - promoted by Duke) Originally posted at wecanstopthehate.org Also posted at http://promigrant.org/ Christopher Michael Szaz was sentenced today in North Carolina for emailing a death threat to the staff of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR). Szaz plead guilty to one count of threat by force via email communication to NCLR. He was sentenced to 45 days in federal prison and has to serve 100 hours of community service. In his email to NCLR, Szaz referred to Hispanics using a racial epithet and threatened to kill members of the staff and splay their bodies. NCLR and other community advocates believe that this has to be seen as a part of a larger pattern of hate directed at immigrants, as the debate on immigration continues to loom in the national psyche. Szaz's prosecution sends an important message to others engaging in this type of action that it is a federal crime punishable in a court of law. During a press conference this Tuesday outside the federal courthouse in Raleigh, North Carolina, NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía stated that there was a difference between healthy debate and hate speech. She went on to say: "This case is an important reminder that the use of death threats and hate speech is against the law and, if prosecuted, people will serve time. We encourage the Department of Justice to begin to take these offenses more seriously. Unfortunately, these types of crimes are the result of a pattern and practice of hate speech and harassment that has been unleashed during the debate on immigration reform. Free speech does not give anyone license to make death threats, and the First Amendment does not protect hate crimes.

kesquivel@nclr.org :: NCLR Death Threat Punished in Court of Law

As an organization, we believe in the spirited debate of issues. We recognize that many will not agree with our positions or be moved by our rhetoric. We uphold and support the right to free speech in this country and are an ardent defender of civil liberties. But we also recognize that civil discourse should not be a cloak to disguise hate and injustice. Words have consequences, and hateful words have hateful consequences. The rhetoric used by many in this debate has created an environment of fear within our community. It also has created a climate of empowerment for those like Christopher Szaz who want to act on their hate." Also participating in the conference were Andrea Bazán, NCLR Board Chair and President of the Triangle Community Foundation; Tony Asion, Executive Director of El Pueblo, Inc.; and Reverend Dr. William Barber II, NAACP North Carolina State Director. "The bible says the power of life and death is in the tongue," said Reverend Barber. "The NAACP stands with the immigrant community and deplores and detests how they are being treated now, because we know history." He went on to say that hate crimes are not a new thing. "Forty-five years ago, four little girls were killed at a Baptist church in Alabama." Forty-five years later, the silence of public officials is still deafening. He asked politicians to stop scapegoating communities of color for political purposes, as that was a part of the problem. Tony Asion, who spoke as both the Executive Director of El Pueblo and also as a former police officer, shared that he had received death threats on a daily basis. He stated that in this day and age it should be unacceptable. According to the FBI, hate crimes targeting Latinos have risen steadily in the last few years. Through its website, http://www.wecanstopthehate.org/, NCLR has been working to raise awareness of this increase and the ties to white supremacy and eugenics that many of the anti-immigrant groups have. Although the target of Szaz's hate was a national group, the rise of national hate crimes also has local implications. Andrea Bazán is a Latina activist in North Carolina, and the Triangle Community Foundation is one of North Carolina's largest foundations. Ms. Bazán said that Szaz's threats were part of what prompted NCLR to invest $100,000 in increased security measures and for her to feel compelled to ask Durham police for frequent checks at her home. A recent article in the Raleigh News & Observer documented the threats against her and Mr. Asion. In an ironic twist of fate, it has come to light that Szaz's Hungarian-born father, now deceased, was an immigrant activist in Washington. To view a copy of the impact victim statement, please visit http://www.nclr.org/. To read more about the case, visit http://www.newsobserver.com/ne... and http://www.wral.com/news/local...

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New SPLC Report: Documents Reveal History of Racial Extremism by Architect of Anti-Immigration Movement

Southern Poverty Law Center
09/22/2008

The leaders of the anti-immigration movement in the United States have long claimed that they are not motivated by racism.

But a new report by the Southern Poverty Law Center reveals that John Tanton, the architect of the movement and founder of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), has a more than 30-year history of racial extremism. FAIR is listed as a hate group by the SPLC.

Based on Tanton's personal correspondence, preserved at the University of Michigan's Bentley Historical Library, the report shows that Tanton has been in the midst of the white nationalist scene for decades. He has corresponded frequently with leading white nationalist thinkers, race scientists and Holocaust deniers. He encouraged a major donor to read the work of a radical anti-Semitic professor to "give you a new understanding of the Jewish outlook on life." And he suggested that the board of FAIR, on which he sits, discuss the professor's theories on the Jews.

Tanton's organizations have long been high-profile players in the immigration debate. FAIR, for example, helped defeat federal immigration reform legislation in 2007 and has played a key role in fueling the fierce, anti-immigrant backlash in the United States. FAIR boasts on its website that it has been called on to testify about immigration more than any other organization.

In addition to FAIR, Tanton founded or co-founded the Center for Immigration Studies, NumbersUSA, Pro English, the Social Contract Press, U.S. English and U.S. Inc.

U.S. Inc. is a foundation created and headed by Tanton. It has funded all of the groups founded by Tanton in addition to the American Immigration Control Foundation, the American Patrol/Voice of Citizens Together, Californians for Population Stabilization, the California Coalition for Immigration Reform and ProjectUSA.

The SPLC designated FAIR a hate group in December 2007, citing the organization's ties to white supremacy and its long track record of bigotry. The SPLC also lists Tanton's Social Contract Press as a hate group because of its anti-Latino and white supremacist writings.

Organizations founded by Tanton, who has compared immigrants to "bacteria," have helped fuel a rising anti-immigrant, anti-Latino furor in the United States. The SPLC has documented a staggering 48 percent increase in the number of hate groups operating in the country since 2000 — from 602 to 888. The border states of California, Arizona and Texas experienced the greatest growth in hate groups during that period.

At the same time, FBI statistics suggest a 35 percent rise in hate crimes against Latinos between 2003 and 2006. Experts believe such crimes are normally committed by people who think they are attacking immigrants.

Despite the veneer of respectability presented by FAIR and other Tanton groups, their founder's own words suggest his campaign against immigration is mainly about race.

In a Dec. 10, 1993, letter to Garrett Hardin, a controversial ecology professor, Tanton wrote: "I've come to the point of view that for European-American society and culture to persist requires a European-American majority, and a clear one at that."

On Jan. 26, 1996, he wrote Roy Beck, head of NumbersUSA (and then an employee of Tanton's foundation U.S. Inc.), questioning the ability of Latinos to govern California.

Tanton wondered "whether the minorities who are going to inherit California (85% of the lower-grade school children are now 'minorities' — demography is destiny) can run an advanced society?"

Read more quotes from John Tanton and FAIR officials.

Southern Poverty Law Center
400 Washington Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36104

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