News Conference Notes

May 21, 2008

 

[The below is related to the snivel-fest and tantrum tossed by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus over certain members of the media telling the truth about the illegal alien invasion. Related: Lou Dobbs video segment courtesy of Lone Wolf (May 21, 2008) | American Patrol Daily Feature (May 22, 2008)]

 

Topic: Immigration Myths and Cable News- Media Matters report Fear and Loathing in Prime Time: Immigration Myths and Cable News

 

Participants: Sen. Robert Menendez D-N.J., Rep. Joe Baca D-Calif., Rep. Luis Gutierrez D-Ill., Rep. Hilda Solis D-Calif., Paul Waldman from Media Matters Action Network, Janet Murguia- President and Chief Executive of NCLR, and Frank Sharry- Founder and Chief Executive of America’s Voice

 

Rep. Joe Baca

 

• Lou Dobbs is the most guilty of reckless journalism
• Today we use our freedom of speech to speak to the networks running these shows and the people who watch them.
  • Too often viewers are led to believe undocumented people are running around and committing crimes.

• Studies show that immigrants commit fewer crimes than native-born
  • Shows often report the same incident over 20 episodes and people believe there are new incidents of crime
  • In 2007, Lou Dobbs discussed crime and immigration in 94 episodes, a third of his shows that year
  • Federal prisoners represent fewer than 10% of incarcerated people in this country so when the media points to the number of immigrants in federal prisons it gives the wrong view.
• The Hispanic population makes up 17% of the population or 49 million
• It is unacceptable for these sources to pass off myths as truth and people believe it

 

Sen. Bob Menendez

• We need to spotlight this type of coverage and where it is taking society
  • This report shows how pervasive it is and how myths are perpetrated- legitimacy for fear mongering
  • The more misinformation is repeated the more the people believes the myths to be true
• It is no small coincidence that hate crimes have risen with Latinos in the U.S. while these reports are happening
• Over 190 cases of citizens being detained- this violates the constitution and is un-American
• Immigration system is broken- we need a solution that protects borders, the economy and values
• We need respect, not hate
• Some people with the loudest blow horns in the media are using it for hate
  • Fear has dangerous consequences for the country

 

Video Presentation- “Fear and Loathing in Prime Time”

• Highlights the kind of information that Lou Dobbs, the O’Reilly Factor and Glenn Beck are reporting about immigration including: immigration and crime, immigration and social services, and the NAFTA Superhighway

 

Paul Waldman, Media Matters Action Network

 

• Study conducted to document how some cable news programs show hysteria
• Trio of the worst offenders- Glenn Beck, O’Reilly and Lou Dobbs are the most notable because day after day they stir up fear
• 1^st Myth: Responsible for disproportionate amount of crime
  • Hosts and guests pound on the concrete that this is true
  • In 2007 these three programs had over 200 segments on this area

• 2^nd Myth: Drain Social Services
  • Undocumented immigrants pay sales tax, property tax, Social Security, income tax, and medicare
  • Overall they pay more than they get back
• Urban Legends

• NAFTA Superhighway to Mexico and Canada
• NAU
• Voter Fraud
• Diseases like leprosy being brought over
• Reconquista- taking back the American SW

o        These are fiction

• CNN and Fox News put these programs on the air
  • These networks bear the ultimate responsibility
  • They should provide fair and unbiased views and accurate discussion on the issue

 

Rep. Luis Gutierrez

• Freedom to think and say what we wish

o        The press is covetous of that right but there is a difference between right and responsibility

o        Some in the media fail to be responsible and fail Americans who rely on the news for balance and accuracy, basic journalistic standards

• It is hard for legislative balance on this issue
• Inspires fear and hatred
• The other side

o        Why don’t we hear about immigrants who die in Iraq?  About the jobs immigrants perform?  About how it is American citizens that consume the drugs that come over from Mexico.

• The Superhighway

o        Glenn Beck has said that he is the only one reporting on it, probably because he is the only one stupid enough.  If it is supposedly 400 yards wide how come no one has seen it?  This speaks to a lack of research into the issue.

 

Rep. Hilda Solis

·         There is an increase in xenophobic behavior

·         Members of Congress believe this information too- two years ago we had to have a debate over healthcare when undocumented immigrants underuse the healthcare available.

·         There is still a lot of work to do

·         We had a meeting with Lou Dobbs and challenged him to take a different light on immigration but so far he has not.

·         We need to move faster to change the laws

·         We need to make cable companies accountable

 

Janet Marguia, National Council of La Raza

• Seen hate speech dominate- we need to stop the hate
  • It hasn’t been only us but other experts who have documented hate speech emerging not only from the extreme but from mainstream media
  • Hateful words have hateful consequences
    • In the past 3 years hate crime has risen 35% documented by the FBI

 

Frank Sharry, America’s Voice

• There are reporters who demonize members of congress and immigration
• Lou Dobbs should be marketed as “time for anger” instead of “time for answers”
• We need an honest, balanced debate

o        Journalism comes with public trust and obligation

o        If they are going to call it news they need to employ basic standards

o        These gentlemen are not interested in solutions but ratings

 

Rep. Joe Baca

• We have all been labeled as being only for one segment of the community but we are for our whole community

 

 

Questions:

 

            Q: If in the survey that you did on counting numbers of programs immigration is dealt with, did you include the side of liberalization?

           

Paul Waldman

A: No.  Dobbs talked about immigration on 70% of his show and the reporters he has use a whole different language, using the term illegals instead of undocumented.  With him there is fear mongering and getting people angry and resentful.

 

                        Janet Murguia

A: There are occasions when some of us are asked to go on those shows but we know it will be difficult for us to get our voice heard.  Hate speech far outweighs our time that we get on the shows.  There needs to be greater accountability for the networks.

 

            Q: Have people avoided the immigration reform issue?

 

                        Rep. Joe Baca

A: The leadership under Nancy Pelosi recognizes it is up to the President to lead in immigration reform.  It is difficult to work bipartisan but we need the Republican side, they have stopped us from getting it.

 

                        Frank Sharry

A: The road to immigration reform lies in the 2008 election.  The republicans think that using immigration will put them back on the majority but it will just anger swing voters when they embrace the anti-immigration cause.

 

            Q: Why aren’t presidential candidates talking about immigration?

 

                        Frank Sharry

A: I think they are in states where it is a big issue like Nevada and California.

 

                        Rep. Joe Baca

A: Both Clinton and Obama have mentioned they support comprehensive immigration reform.

 

                        Janet Marguia

A: The candidates will be watched closely.  McCain has a difficult line to walk at this point.  We’ll see how he manages that.  The Latino community sees this issue as a personal one because people aren’t making distinctions between those here legally and illegally.

 

            Q: Have you reached out to these networks?

 

                        Rep. Joe Baca

A: Yes, we have met with the CEO of CNN and sent CNN a letter and we are having a meeting with the CEO of Comcast.

 

            Q: Is there any way to see how the ratings differ on the days they talk about immigration?

           

                        Paul Walman

A: It is difficult to get ratings on that because people don’t know when they are going to talk about the issue unless they are regular viewers.

 

            Q: John Kline has said he sees Dobbs as an independent voice.  Both Dobbs and Beck have profited by talking about immigration so what is the incentive for network executives to change?

 

                        Paul Walman

A: I think that is why we’re here because in a democracy we know the influence media has and we need a well functioning press.  When they aren’t fair they are diminishing democracy.  It used to be understood that they have a critical role and now money seems to be more important and this report shows the responsibility they have to not encourage fear and misunderstanding.

 |