Dobbs: Radical groups taking control of immigrant movement

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NEW YORK (CNN) -- We all awoke to headlines in our nation's most important newspapers reminding us that this is "A Day Without Immigrants." Not illegal immigrants, mind you, but immigrants.

USA Today headlined today's demonstrations and boycott "On Immigration's Front Lines." The New York Times headlines its story "With Calls for Boycott by Immigrants, Employers Gird for Unknown." The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times are both calling its coverage "The Immigration Debate."

These major newspapers obviously don't want to disturb their readers with the information that today's demonstrations and boycott are about illegal immigration and amnesty for illegal aliens.

CNN and Fox News are both using a banner calling their coverage "A Day Without Immigrants," while MSNBC is titling its coverage "Immigrant Anger."

Most of the mainstream media has been absolutely co-opted by the open borders and illegal immigration advocates. I'm not opposed to demonstrations and protests of any kind, even by those who are not citizens of this country, because one way or another, demonstrations and protests enrich and invigorate the national debate and raise the public consciousness of truth.

But only one newspaper, to its credit, reported that illegal aliens and their supporters' boycott of the national economy on the First of May is clear evidence that radical elements have seized control of the movement. The Washington Post, alone among national papers, reported that ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) has become an active promoter of the national boycott.

Some illegal immigration and open borders activists in the Hispanic community are deeply concerned about the involvement of the left-wing radical group. But others, like Juan Jose Gutierrez, whom I've interviewed a number of times over the past several months, manages to be both director of Latino Movement USA and a representative of ANSWER.

As Gutierrez told us on my show, "The time has come...where we need to stand up and make a statement. We need to do what the American people did when they pulled away from the British crown. And I am sure that back in those days many people were concerned that was radical action."

Just how significant is the impact of leftists within the illegal immigration movement? It is no accident that they chose May 1 as their day of demonstration and boycott. It is the worldwide day of commemorative demonstrations by various socialist, communist, and even anarchic organizations.

Supporters of the boycott have made no secret of their determination to try to shut down schools, businesses and entire cities. Much of Los Angeles' 7th Street produce market, which supplies thousands of local restaurants and markets, is closed today. Many meat-packing companies like Cargill and Tyson are also closing many of their plants.

"The meat packers are confirming what we know," says University of Maryland economics professor Peter Morici, "and that is that this large group of illegal aliens in the United States is lowering the wage rate of semiskilled workers, people who are high school dropouts or high school graduates with minimal training."

In fact, a meat-packing job paid $19 an hour in 1980, but today that same job pays closer to $9 an hour, according to the Labor Department. That's entirely consistent with what we've been reporting -- that illegal aliens depress wages for U.S. workers by as much as $200 billion a year in addition to placing a tremendous burden on hospitals, schools and other social services.

Radicalism is not confined to Gutierrez and Latino Movement USA. Ernesto Nevarez of the L.A. Port Collective is promising to shut down the Port of Los Angeles today: "[Transportation and commerce] will come to a grinding halt. ...They are going to put a wall along the border with Mexico. We're going to put a wall between us and the ocean. And those containers ain't going to move."

No matter which flag demonstrators and protestors carry today, their leadership is showing its true colors to all who will see.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/01/dobbs.imm...ests/index.html

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Now he tells us. This was happening long before today - ####### journalistic reporting at work once again.

[Jaylen Brit 1]

I hate the fact that law-abiding people who spent money, effort and TIME going thru immigration hoops are being lumped in with law breakers.

Its been the same on Sky news today, as well as CNN - totally sucks.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I hate the fact that law-abiding people who spent money, effort and TIME going thru immigration hoops are being lumped in with law breakers.

Its been the same on Sky news today, as well as CNN - totally sucks.

Yup, we're certainly being misrepresented on the national level.

[Jasman0717 9]

[iceyspots 0]

I'll second that

[peejay 327]

I have been a huge fan of CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight for a long time. He tells it like it is and is not afraid of the political correctness fascists. No wonder the illegal alien fan club wants him fired from CNN. Not because he reports falsely, but because he tells it like it is.

Truth...the illegal alien fan club and the Mexican government can't handle the truth! They hate this guy, but a lot of us love him. Go Lou go! May your ratings soar.

[Jaylen Brit 1]

I didnt see any reports by him - this was just the newsdesk report - i must admit I turned it over after a while cos the whole tone of the piece annoyed me. Made it sound like the protesters were legal immigrants who were fed up with their lot - and all I saw (while I watched) was live feeds of the protests and quotes from people who ere neither immigrants, illegal, or even at the scene..same for Sky news..so..I watched Coneheads on paramount instead (bizarrely there was a connection..lol)

Edited May 1, 2006 by Jaylen Brit

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I have been a huge fan of CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight for a long time. He tells it like it is and is not afraid of the political correctness fascists. No wonder the illegal alien fan club wants him fired from CNN. Not because he reports falsely, but because he tells it like it is.

Truth...the illegal alien fan club and the Mexican government can't handle the truth! They hate this guy, but a lot of us love him. Go Lou go! May your ratings soar.

It was inevitable that radical groups would take control of the current movement, protests are often hijacked like this, so its no surprise really.

Perhaps I should have clarified. I'm not objecting to the opinion itself but the bad reporting that has surrounded this whole issue. Illegals don't speak for me, or for most VJers. In fact, watching the coverage today - I did not see any serious attempt by reporters to differentiate illegal immigrant from legal immigrant. None of the immigrants I saw being interviewed were asked any hard questions about the issue. Specifically I want to know what their justification is for supporting an illegal activity. None of this has featured in the news broadcasts I've seen - hence I feel the media is misrepresenting the immigrant community by blurring the boundaries between legal and illegal immigrants.

[almaty 19]

I'll second that

i third that..damn

[peejay 327]

I didnt see any reports by him - this was just the newsdesk report - i must admit I turned it over after a while cos the whole tone of the piece annoyed me. Made it sound like the protesters were legal immigrants who were fed up with their lot - and all I saw (while I watched) was live feeds of the protests and quotes from people who ere neither immigrants, illegal, or even at the scene..same for Sky news..so..I watched Coneheads on paramount instead (bizarrely there was a connection..lol)

CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight is on at 5PM Central Time Monday - Friday. Watch him in action. You will become a fan too.

[Ban Hammer 13,874]

I hate the fact that law-abiding people who spent money, effort and TIME going thru immigration hoops are being lumped in with law breakers.

Its been the same on Sky news today, as well as CNN - totally sucks.

Yup, we're certainly being misrepresented on the national level.

not surprising. if they separated legal from illegal it won't sound so threatening. there's strength in numbers....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I hate the fact that law-abiding people who spent money, effort and TIME going thru immigration hoops are being lumped in with law breakers.

Its been the same on Sky news today, as well as CNN - totally sucks.

Yup, we're certainly being misrepresented on the national level.

not surprising. if they separated legal from illegal it won't sound so threatening. there's strength in numbers....

Unfortunately from a PR standpoint, its quite likely that any 'tightened' legislation against immigrants will likely negatively impact a lot of legal folks too, who have nothing to do with these people.

[mercuryroad 0]

I'll second that

i third that..damn

I told ya'll that would happen

[almaty 19]

I'll second that

i third that..damn

I told ya'll that would happen

yeap..you did,..are you going to 4th it or not?