Leprosy and Lou Dobbs…
The New York Times’ David Leonhardt writes about the big controversy about Lou Dobbs’ position, reiterated during his 60 Minutes interview, regarding leprosy cases involving immigrants…
So Mr. Dobbs was flat-out wrong. And when I spoke to him yesterday, he admitted as much, sort of. I read him Ms. Romans’s comment — the one with the word “suddenly” in it — and he replied, “I think that is wrong.” He then went on to say that as far as he was concerned, he had corrected the mistake by later broadcasting another report, on the same night as his on-air confrontation with the Southern Poverty Law Center officials. This report mentioned that leprosy had peaked in 1983.
Of course, he has never acknowledged on the air that his program presented false information twice. Instead, he lambasted the officials from the law center for saying he had. Even yesterday, he spent much of our conversation emphasizing that there really were 7,000 cases in the leprosy registry, the government’s 30-year database. Mr. Dobbs is trying to have it both ways.
I have been somewhat taken aback about how shameless he has been during the whole dispute, so I spent some time reading transcripts from old episodes of “Lou Dobbs Tonight.” The way he handled leprosy, it turns out, is not all that unusual.
I watch Lou now that I won’t watch NBC News anymore and I love him.
Comment by J M — May 30, 2007 @ 10:09 am
“The most trusted name in news” is a corrupt tagline of bullcrud.
Comment by Mary Snow — May 30, 2007 @ 10:40 am
Lou Dobbs presents an accurate show every evening. “The Most Trusted Name in News” is not an inaccurate statement by far. Perhaps in your little biased bubble of a world, small-town USA. But may I remind you CNN spans the globe, and offers a well-balanced presentation of the news here at home (including Dobbs), and internationally.
Furthermore, regarding Dobbs, be glad there’s a commentator on television that is actual fighting for the average American, unlike O’Reilly, who just ‘fights’with individuals on his program for great ratings. Where are people’s priorities these days, with trash programs such as BOR’s partisan spin, or honest, heartfelt, engaged programming such as Lou Dobb’s Tonight?
People, people…c’mon.
Comment by Peoplepeople — May 30, 2007 @ 11:00 am
Ah, another useful and informative post from ‘Mary’. I admire the way you illuminate the debate and ennoble our national discourse.
Comment by Arthur — May 30, 2007 @ 11:26 am