How Much Of A Nose Dive Can Lou Dobbs’ Ratings At CNN Take?

CNN’s conservative host Lou Dobbs, who is severely damaging the credibility of CNN as a true and honest-to-goodness news organization, may be taking a hit in the ratings according to The New York Observer. This is no surprise. Dobbs has been so one-side and so pig-headed in pushing this birther non-story, that he is behaving more like a Fox News operative placed at CNN to destroy it from within. In many ways, Dobbs’ obsession with the birther story fits his conservative xenophobic pattern (his other obsession is barking endlessly about illegal immigration).

From The New York Observer:

To wit: According to The Observer’s analysis of Nielsen data, in recent weeks, as criticism of Mr. Dobbs has continued to go up, his ratings at CNN have continued to go down.

Mr. Dobbs’ first began reporting on Obama birth certificate conspiracy theories on the night of Wednesday, July 15. In the roughly two weeks since then, from July 15 through July 28, Mr. Dobbs’ 7 p.m. show on CNN has averaged 653,000 total viewers and 157,000 in the 25-54 demo.

By contrast, during the first two weeks of the month (July 1 to July 14) Mr. Dobbs averaged 771,000 total viewers and 218,000 in the 25-54 demo. In other words, Mr. Dobbs’ audience has decreased 15 percent in total viewers and 27 percent in the demo since the start of the controversy.

Arguably, interest in cable news has slumped across the board since early July when attention over Michael Jackson’s death was still at a fever pitch.

But, that said, Mr. Dobbs’ ratings over the past two weeks, during the height of the “birthers” controversy, are also down significantly compared to his overall numbers during the second quarter of 2009 when he averaged 769,000 total viewers and 222,000 in the 25-54 demo.

In summary, if Mr. Dobbs’ affinity for “birthers” is a ratings ploy, it’s a pretty ineffective one.

But, how far can a man’s ratings truly nose dive if he already is at the bottom of the barrel?

It’s a relatively short fall for Lou Dobbs.

Republican Nuts Still Doubt President Obama’s Citizenship

Need more evidence of how nutty some on the far right of the political spectrum have become with their obsessive hatred of Barack Obama, our president?

Has any president in the history of the United States of America had his citizenship questioned as much as Barack Obama has – in spite of overwhelming evidence of his being born in Hawaii?

Huffington Post:

Less than half of Republicans believe that Barack Obama was born in the United States of America, a new public opinion poll finds.

Only 42 percent of Republican respondents in a Research 2000 survey, conducted for the liberal website Daily Kos, said they thought Obama was a natural born citizen; 28 percent said they did not believe Obama was born in the United States; 30 percent said they were not sure.

The responses, which were gathered after several prominent conservative media personalities fed suspicion that Obama was unconstitutionally holding office, show the extent to which the conspiracy has taken hold in the GOP.

That only a plurality of Republicans were willing to acknowledge the president was born in America is nothing short of astounding, considering the preponderance of evidence that confirms his Hawaiian birth.

This is so sad, but hardly a surprise. The far-right extremists have hijacked a once-great party and turned it into a crude caricature.

Check out the article’s later portion to see, from a geographical standpoint, where the birthers are most obsessed and extreme.

Self-Centered Cambridge Officer Leon Lashley Still Doesn’t Get It

Cambridge Police Sgt. Leon Lashley really just needs to be quiet … seriously, Leon.

The following is an excerpt from a CNN story about the White House meeting that included Sgt. James Crowley, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and President Obama.

Meanwhile, a black Cambridge police sergeant on the scene the day of Gates’ arrest wrote a letter to Crowley, asking him to mention to Gates and Obama that he is now known as the “black sergeant” and to some others as an “uncle Tom.”

“I’m forced to ponder the notion that as a result of speaking the truth and coming to the defense of a friend and colleague, who just happens to be white, that I have somehow betrayed my heritage,” Sgt. Leon Lashley wrote. “Please convey my concerns to the president that Mr. Gates’ actions may have caused grave and potentially irreparable harm to the struggle for racial harmony in this country and perhaps throughout the world.”

Note to Leon: Quit crying.

You put yourself in this situation by speaking out and stepping into the spotlight.

Simply pointing the finger at one individual in this case while absolving the other is not only wrong, but counterproductive.

If Leon Lashley is feeling any pain, it’s self-inflicted pain.

Here is Lashley’s statement:

“One of the major problems stemming from the events of July 16 is that I, now known as ‘the black sergeant’, have had my image plastered all over the Internet, television and newspapers. Subsequently, I have also become known, at least to some, as an ‘Uncle Tom.”

I am forced to ponder the notion that as a result of speaking the truth and coming to the defense of a friend and collegue, who just happens to be white, that I have somehow betrayed my heritage.

Please convey my concerns to the President that Mr. Gates’ actions may have caused grave and potentially irreparable harm to the struggle for racial harmony in this country and perhaps throughout the world.

In closing, I would simply like to ask that Mr. Gates deeply reflect on the events that have unfolded since July 16 and ask himself the following questions: “What can I do to help heal the rift caused by some of my actions?; What responsibility do I bear for what occurred on July 16, 2009?; Is there anything I can do to mitigate the damage done to the reputations of two respected Police Officers?”

There’s no doubt the “Uncle Tom” label stings. But, you can’t walk into the fire and not expect to be burned.

Again, Leon Lashley interjected himself into the mix and had to know where this was headed. If he didn’t then he needs to have his head examined. President Obama got involved in the discussion and took some heat, but he took it without blaming James Crowley or Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Leon, knock it off and accept the consequences of your actions. Also, Leon, ask yourself about the damage done to the reputation of Prof. Gates and quit being so self-centered.

As I wrote earlier, Leon, “you can’t walk into the fire and not expect to be burned.”

As News Hounds Points Out, Sean Hannity Jumps Into Gates-Crowley-Obama Conflict And Blames The Two People Of Color

We should never be surprised by the very conservative and anti-black perspective that Sean Hannity always seems to bring to virtually any discussion about race. News Hounds points out a Thursday episode of Hannity’s Fox News show followed the right-wingers usual script. In a discussion about race, Hannity (as part of an all-white panel) predictably blamed the two black people involved in the issue: Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and President Obama while pretty much completely absolving Sgt. James Crowley of any wrongdoing in the highly-publicized incident that created a national conversation on the topic of race.

Honestly, it was probably best Hannity didn’t have any black conservatives on there to be showpieces to do his far-right bidding (while attacking the two blacks involved).

It’s Probably Good The Far-Right Nuts Will Not Be At The Crowley, Gates, Obama Beer Summit

The far right wing has been angry since President Obama invited Sgt. James Crowley and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. to the White House to talk about things in the wake of the controversial arrest that stirred racial tensions nationwide.

Naturally, the conservative nuts do not think Crowley should attend until President Obama submits to their will and offershis best Kunta Kinte impersonation (apologize profusely and say exactly what they want him to say … loud enough so that everyone else can hear it … to be made an example of). The conservatives, even some black ones, are saying they would not go to the meeting if they were in Sgt. Crowley’s shoes.

But, I suppose that probably makes some sense asI doubt the White House was going to be serving much Hater-ade (which would disappoint career haters such as the ones in this Media Matters for America video).

Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/research/200907300024

Officer Apologizes For Racial Slur Against Henry Louis Gates Jr.

It seems Boston Police Department Officer Justin Barrett has come out and issued an apology for a nasty e-mail in which he calls Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. a “banana-eating jungle monkey.” Yeah, apparently he did in fact write that message. You can see Barrett’s apology below. Now, who knows what the record of Barrett is with regard to such poor conduct (if, in fact, he does have a prior history). His record may be squeaky clean (outside of this substantial stain). I don’t know that Barrett should necessarily be fired, but if he is not relieved of his duties … his margin for error should be pretty small.

Here is an excerpt from a story published online by CNN:

A Boston police officer who sent a mass e-mail referring to Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. as a “banana-eating jungle monkey” has apologized, saying he’s not a racist.

Officer Justin Barrett told a Boston television station on Wednesday night that he was sorry for the e-mail.

“I regret that I used such words,” Barrett told CNN affiliate WCVB-TV. “I have so many friends of every type of culture and race you can name. I am not a racist.”

Barrett was placed on administrative leave after the e-mail surfaced, and he might lose his job as a result.

In a news conference held Thursday morning, Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis denounced the e-mail.

“We have a relationship to maintain with the community,” he said. “Police officers certainly have First Amendment rights, but they can’t cross the line. I believe this crosses the line.”

Remember all of that talk about us being post-racial … I guess we’re not there yet and maybe not even close as we’ve seen with some of the far-right anger directed at our nation’s first black president.

CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/30/gates.police.apology/index.html

A Vicious Slur Used By Cop Against Henry Louis Gates

A nasty slur was used against Henry Louis Gates Jr., the black Harvard University professor, who was involved in an unfortunate incident that led to his ridiculously being arrested. Now, it appears a Boston Police Department officer named Justin Barrett, in an e-mail, has used a racial slur to describe Prof. Gates as a “jungle monkey.”

Here is a statement reported by the Boston Globe which quoted police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll:

“Yesterday afternoon, Commissioner Davis was made aware that Officer Barrett was the author of correspondence which included racially charged language,” she said. “At that time, Commissioner Davis immediately stripped Officer Barrett of his gun and badge, and at this time we will be moving forward with the hearing process.”

CNN’s Dwindling Credibility, Lou Dobbs Joined At The Hip

Lou Dobbs is an anchor holding (if not dragging) down CNN’s lofty status as the most trusted name in news.

Glenn Beck Proves Again To Be Nothing Short Of An Idiot

The depth and breadth of Glenn Beck’s stupidity is virtually beyond human comprehension. The crazed Fox News host, who has proven he has no business with a platform on any legitimate news network, recently said this: “The president has exposed himself, I think, as a guy, over and over again, who has a deep-seated hatred for white people, or white culture.” Beck, like a lot of the far-right conservatives, is working overtime to attack President Obama using racial politics as a result of the controversy surrounding the ridiculous arrest of Prof. Henry Louis Gates for, as Bill Maher described it, the crime of not kissing an officer’s butt.

From Think Progress:

Yesterday on Fox News, host Glenn Beck went on a rant about President Obama’s comments about the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and the upcoming meeting Obama will have with Gates, who is African-American, and the arresting officer, Jim Crowley. “This president has exposed himself, I think, as a guy, over and over and over again, who has a deep-seated hatred for white people, or white culture,” Beck complained, later adding, “He has a, this guy is, I believe, a racist.”

The NAACP came out with a statement chastising Beck for his comments. “We commend President Obama for having the courage to discuss an issue that all too many Americans consider a third rail,” the statement said.

Like the NAACP, I also commend President Obama not only for speaking out on the issue, but of standing up for a friend of his. He could have phrased his original comment better, but I think the sentiment was right on the money.

Also, as cited by Think Progress:

This morning, the crew on MSNBC’s Morning Joe ripped Beck for an entire segment of the show:

WASHINGTON POST’S JONATHAN CAPEHART: How is it possible that this guy can sit on national television and call this guy a racist? The President is half white!

MSNBC HOST MIKE BARNICLE: In reality, Glenn Beck is just show business. …The larger, dumber statement is that the President of the United States has a deep seeded hatred for white people. Hello Glenn!? His mother was white! He was raised by a white woman, his grandmother! Hello!? Glenn? … Come back down to Earth please!

HOST MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Outrageous is one way of putting it. I would say irresponsible, especially now…selfish, self-indulging.

Beck is disgraceful, but maybe it goes to show if you’re partially black to some people you’re all black. I honestly think there are times people forget that President Obama is half white.

If the man had any mind to begin with then he clearly has lost it.

Maybe it’s that whole one-drop thing.

From Wikipedia:

The one-drop rule is a historical colloquial term in the United States that holds that a person with any trace of African ancestry is considered black (unless they have an alternative non-white ancestry, such as Native American, Asian, Arab, Polynesian or Australian aboriginal).^[1] It developed most strongly out of the binary culture of long years of institutionalized slavery.

This notion of invisible/intangible membership in a racial group has seldom been applied to people of other ancestry (see Race in the United States for details). The concept has been chiefly applied to those of black African ancestry. As Langston Hughes wrote, “You see, unfortunately, I am not black. There are lots of different kinds of blood in our family. But here in the United States, the word ‘Negro’ is used to mean anyone who has any Negro blood at all in his veins. In Africa, the word is more pure. It means all Negro, therefore black. I am brown.”^[2]

Enablers Of Racism Are Almost As Bad As Flat-Out Racists

It never ceases to amaze me how far people will go to protect cops who make mistakes, engage in racial profiling or commit acts of police brutality. Generally speaking, one of the first excuses you hear is almost precisely what was written by a man name Steve Crowder, who typed up a blog for the right-wing site Big Hollywood. You see, to many of our fellow citizens to the right of the political and cultural mainstream, when minorities are arrested or get in any confrontation with the police, the officer’s statement is always taken as the undeniable truth, as irrefutable fact. To many of these individuals, when blacks are arrested, racially profiled, harassed or become victims of police brutality … they earned it and it would not have happened unless they did something wrong. These enablers of racism, racial profiling, police brutality and/or more are about as dangerous as those who actually commit these kinds of acts.

Wrote Crowder:

I hate to say this, but it must be noted to understand the situation at hand: Black people commit more violent crime per capita than any other race. Now before you go all Johnny Cochran on me here and declare me a racist, let me just state that I am simply addressing a statistic, much like President Obama did last Wednesday. The only difference is that my statistic doesn’t fit into a politically correct agenda with an end game designed to demonize the members of our law enforcement. Do you folks out there honestly assume the worst in all cops? Does it insult you that Barack Obama assumes you do?

Lets dissect. He starts with one of the oldest racist talking points in the book: blacks commit more crimes than other races. I didn’t see any statistics about the number of blacks living at or below the poverty level. Might that have an impact on crime? There certainly is nothing original in that part as he jumps right off the bat and sticks it right in the face of his readers. Then, after misspelling the late Johnnie Cochran’s name, he takes his customary right-wing cheap shot at President Obama as he begins to lay out a plan of attack against the president to try and scare whites using race as a weapon.

Near the end of that excerpt, he goes hysterical by asking “do you folks out there honestly assume the worst in all cops?” This is just plain ignorant and takes an Olympic championship-like leap to go from President Obama’s statement about one cop involved in one case to that ridiculous statement. Then he asks, “Does it insult you that Barack Obama assumes you do?” President Obama was speaking for himself ( and from what I heard he was not speaking for anyone else) and giving his personal opinion of a situation that involved a friend (something he prefaced his comments with), Henry Louis Gates, Jr. So, I am not sure what Crowder is getting at with such a statement.

This is what Crowder follows that up with:

“There is a long history of African-Americans and Latino’s being stopped by law enforcement, disproportionately” – Barack Hussein Obama. Boy, there’s a prejudiced little statement… against cops.

Sure it may be true that more minorities in this country are pulled over or even given the once-over by our police officers… But a disproportionate amount… Really?

When you take into account that black people are over seven times more likely to commit murder or a violent crime, I think you’ve got to ask yourself, at what point do we forbid a police officer from doing his job in the name of political correctness? Shouldn’t the honorable men and women who put themselves in harms way to protect us be given the benefit of the doubt?

After laying out statistics he says asserts blacks commit more crimes than other races, he pretty much slams President Obama for being “prejudiced” for citing a history of blacks and Latinos being stopped more often by police. Crowderseems to be hypocritical.

Then, of course, he tries to reinforce his primary message by again citing facts he likely feels portray blacks as more violent.

Here, however, is where Crowderreally seems to go irrational:

Another question… How can so many cops be “racist white men” when many of the police officers themselves are minorities (much like Crowley’s black partner who was at the scene and supports the man 100%)?

He does not seem to establish who says so many cops are “racist white men” in his blog. Just because his black partner backed him up is irrelevant and hardly a surprise. Cops who racially profile are not all white. Also, think about it: What’s the first defense when someone is accused of racism (and I am not personally accusing Sgt. Crowley of that, but I am accusing him of being a bit of an arrogant cop who probably wanted Gates to essentially kiss his butt): “I have black friends” or “I have a black partner” or something along those lines.

No one is accusing all cops of anything. To make such an assertion is ignorant and alarmist.

This is one case, and not a statement of fact against all police officers.

The main reason I wrote this blog was to show the extent to which enablers of racism will go to make their point even if it means using the politics of fear to smear an entire race as violent.

Fear Of A Black President

See how racism has gripped the far-right movement polluted by bigots like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, G. Gordon Liddy and others.

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter Is A Disgrace To The State Of Michigan

Right-wing nuts, led by Fox News (the far right’s biased media megaphone), have been fighting to keep the issue race issue involving the arrest of Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr. in the public eye to try and score political points with white voters. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, taking a break from solving some very real problems that plague those of us who live in the great (although economically-troubled) state of Michigan, is drafting a useless resolution to try and make the president of the United States of America apologize to McCotter’s satisfaction. It’s a waste of time and it goes to show how right wingers are attempting to use this as a political tool. These right wingers don’t give a damn about Sgt. James Crowley (he’s just a pawn they’re using to attack President Obama), the very real problem of racial profiling or Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Here is text of McCotter’s dumb resolution (that is an irresponsible waste of time involving, primarily, three people):

Whereas on July 16, 2009, Cambridge, Massachusetts Police Sergeant James M. Crowley responded to a 911 call from a neighbor of Harvard University Professor Henry Louis (“Skip”) Gates, Jr. about a suspected break-in in progress at his residence, which had been broken into on a prior occasion;

Whereas on July 22, 2009, in responding to a question during a White House press conference President Barack Obama stated: “Skip Gates is a friend, so I may be a little biased here. I don’t know all of the facts involved in this local police response incident”;

Whereas President Obama proceeded to state Sergeant Crowley “acted stupidly” for arresting Professor Gates on charges of disorderly conduct;

Whereas, as a former Constitutional Law Professor, President Obama well understands that all Americans are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and their actions should not be prejudged prior to being fully and fairly judged by an appropriate and objective authority after due process;

Whereas, President Obama’s nationally televised remarks may likely detrimentally influence the full and fair judgment by an appropriate and objective authority after due process regarding this local police response incident and, thereby, impair Sergeant Crowley’s legal and professional standing in relation to said incident; and

Whereas, President Obama appeared at a daily White House Press briefing on July 24, 2009 to address his denouncement of Sergeant Crowley and stated: “I could have calibrated those words differently” but “I continue to believe, based on what I have heard, that there was an overreaction in pulling Professor Gates out of his home to the station.”

Whereas, President Obama’s refusal to retract his initial public remarks and apologize to Sergeant Crowley and, instead, reiterate his accusation impugning Sergeant Crowley’s professional conduct in the performance of his duties;

Now therefore be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

Calls upon President Obama to retract his initial public remarks and apologize to Cambridge, Massachusetts Police Sergeant James M. Crowley for having unfairly impugned and prejudged his professional conduct in this local police response incident.

This guy has disgraced the state of Michigan and sought to exploit the unfortunate incident between Henry Louis Gates and Sgt. James Crowley to take a political shot at President Obama.

This guy is symbolic of opportunistic Republicans eager to keep this issue alive to try and portray President Obama as some black, anti-police radical.

McCotter, and those like him, are enablers of racial profiling. They take everything the police say at face value and virtually ignore anything that comes from the other side of an arrest or conflict with the police.

Now, consider this idiotic statement from Jameson Cunningham, minister of propagandapress secretary for McCotter:

“He has said he will introduce the legislation if the President does not retract and apologize for his comments,”said Jameson Cunningham, press secretary for McCotter, when asked if Obama had already addressed his concerns. “As of now, no apology has been issued.”

That sounds like a threat to me.

This Republican is trying to show President Obama his place, and it has a familiar feel to it.

Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/27/gop-rep-will-offer-resolu_n_245287.html

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/27/mccotter-resolution/

Cutting Back On Blogging

Maybe temoporarily, I am cutting back on the amount of blogging I am going to be doing. I have some things I need to deal with.

Lou Dobbs To CNN: Who’s Your Daddy?

This whole birther flap between conservative mouthpiece Lou Dobbs and his CNN superiors is beginning to reflect an episode of the Maury Povich Show. Lou Dobbs would be sitting in one chair, CNN President Jon Klein is sitting in another chair and Maury is in a third.

The script is all too familiar:

“When it comes to who is in charge at CNN … JON KLEIN … YOU ARE NOT THE FATHER.”

Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/press/releases/200907240039

I’m going to go out on a limb and question whether Lou Dobbs’ dance skills are up to par, but he is the daddy at CNN.

Uh, You Can’t Use That Word

New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney (a white female Democrat), like so many other people, should no better than to try and drop the so-called N-word. She’s not allowed to use it without backlash.

From CNN:

New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat, apologized Monday for using the N word in a recent interview while recounting a phone call she had received.

“I apologize for having repeated a word I find disgusting,” Maloney said in a statement. “It’s no excuse but I was so caught up in relaying the story exactly as it was told to me that, in doing so, I repeated a word that should never be repeated.”

Maloney, who is challenging Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand for the 2010 Democratic Senate nomination in New York, used the full racial slur in an interview with the Web site City Hall while taking aim at Gillibrand’s record.

“I got a call from someone from Puerto Rico, said [Gillibrand] went to Puerto Rico and came out for English-only [education]. And he said, ‘It was like saying n—r to a Puerto Rican,’” Maloney said. “I don’t know-I don’t know if that’s true or not. I just called. I’m just throwing that out. All of her-well, what does she stand for?”

Maloney has to be smarter than that. Dropping that word is a bad slip-up on her part and people have a responsibility to hold her feet to the fire.

Lou Dobbs Making A Mockery Of CNN’s Reputation

Is CNN truly “the most trusted name in news” or is that just some kind of fancy slogan that is strong on the surface, but weak in substance? Now, compared to Fox News, CNN clearly is far more trusted as a credible news outlet, but Lou Dobbs’ obsession with the birther story involving President Obama eats away at the networks credibility, as pointed out by Media Matters for America. The conservative commentator has abused his high-profile CNN platform to launch what seems to be a bitter obsession to attack President Obama with one of the dumbest issues ever to be pursued against a POTUS.

Dobbs had shaky credibility prior to the manufactured birther issue, but his credibility is falling harder than Sarah Palin’s approval ratings.

More and more people are picking up on the campaign of political hate being waged by Lou Dobbs (a known conservative who has done virtually nothing but attack President Obama). But, now people are beginning to take notice of this abuse of platform and CNN’s reputation is on the line.

How will the network respond to a rogue anchor waging a nutty personal battle?

Do I Feel Lucky?

Rep. Gwen Moore has some strong words for those fighting health care reform.

Same Old Story: Fox News Provides Platform To Rush Limbaugh Who Makes Race-Based Attack On President Obama

Republican leader Rush Limbaugh was interviewed by Greta Van Susteren of Fox News (the network conservatives trust) and, of course, the subject of President Obama came up. Naturally, Limbaugh used this platform to launch another race-based attack on the president. A major part of the reason that Limbaugh attacks the president, using race, is because it pleases his party and strengthens his position in the Republican Party and on the far right of the political spectrum. Limbaugh can say what a lot of people want to say about our first black president, but don’t have the guts to say it. This is why they defend Rush and fear crossing him to the point we’ve seen apology after apology from those who offend Limbaugh.

LIMBAUGH: I think Obama is largely misunderstood by a lot of people. … We’re finding out that this guy’s got a chip on his shoulder. He’s angry at this country. He’s not proud of it. […]

Let’s face it, President Obama’s black, and I think he’s got a chip on his shoulder. I think there are elements in this country he doesn’t like and he never has liked. And he’s using the power of the presidency to remake the country.

Take note of all of the racist stereotypes of black people: angry, chip on his shoulders, angry at his country, not proud of it …

These are all historical racist stereotypes of black people.

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/24/limbaughs-obama-is-black/