Posted on 02/02/2008 6:23:09 PM PST by AmericanInTokyo
At RWU (Roger Williams University), Lou Dobbs repeats tough stance on immigrants
01:00 AM EST on Friday, February 1, 2008
By Alex Kuffner
Journal Staff Writer
The Providence Journal / Ruben W. Perez BRISTOL — No, Lou Dobbs did not announce his candidacy for the presidency during a speech at Roger Williams University last night.
Despite an audience member holding up a “Lou Dobbs for President” sign, despite the CNN anchorman’s own call for an independent candidate and despite a reference from the university’s leader to an Internet campaign urging Dobbs to throw his name in the ring, he did not address the issue.
Last month, the Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee, a group dedicated to fighting illegal immigration, launched an effort on the Web to draft Dobbs into the presidential race as an independent. In response, the 62-year-old host of Lou Dobbs Tonight told various media outlets that he had no plans to run but with the caveat that he “cannot say never.”
After a half-hour speech to a full house in the university’s gymnasium, one student gave Dobbs the perfect opportunity to promote himself as a presidential hopeful, when he asked the newsman to name a “viable third-party candidate.”
Dobbs, however, wouldn’t bite, opting instead for gloom.
“If this is the best we can do,” he said in reference to the Democrats and Republicans that remain in the race, “then we’re in a hell of a lot of trouble.”
Dobbs has morphed from a financial journalist to a vocal opponent of illegal immigration to a self-proclaimed “independent populist,” but it appears that he isn’t yet ready to make the leap from media to politics.
Dobbs spoke at Roger Williams as part of the university’s Civil Discourse lecture series, a program started by university president Roy J. Nirschel that over the past three years has included visits by Nobel Peace Prize-winner David Trimble, author Salman Rushdie and conservative activist Gary Bauer.
Over the course of his sometimes cynical and frequently sarcastic talk, Dobbs touched on some of his favorite subjects: immigration, border security, trade agreements and what he called in the title of a 2006 book, “the war on the middle class.”
Some highlights:
•He hammered home his hard-line position on immigration in response to one question.
“This nation is English-only. Illegal immigrants should be in jail. I know it’s tough, but you know what? There’s a legal way to do business.”
•He parodied what he believes is the media’s reluctance to cover the important issues in the presidential race and news outlets’ focus on the candidates’ race, gender and religion.
“We have learned that Barack Obama is a black man. We’ve learned that Hillary Clinton is a woman. Did you know that Mitt Romney is a Mormon? Mike Huckabee believes in God. Everyday.”
•He was dismissive of the Bush administration’s economic-stimulus package, which includes refunds for all taxpayers.
“In economics, there’s a word for that: stupidity.”
But it was partisan politics that came in for the greatest criticism. As Dobbs sees it, only a select group benefits from the two-party system — corporate America and its “three-piece suit lobbyists.”
“We are confronted by many challenges,” said Dobbs, who wore a gray pinstripe suit, “but the greatest challenge of all is that the American people are not being represented in our capital.”
The capacity crowd was mostly supportive of Dobbs, cheering and applauding him throughout his talk and giving him a standing ovation when he finished.
During a question-and-answer session, a woman who identified herself as a law professor at the university and who was clearly at odds with Dobbs, asked him to clarify his own recommendations for immigration policy.
Dobbs said he would tighten the country’s borders and increase the size of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but then talked generally of supporting a “rational, effective and humane” policy.
In a move that drew some laughs, Christopher Young, who ran in the Democratic primary won in 2006 by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, took to the microphone to tout his latest run for the Senate, this time against incumbent Jack Reed.
“Would you have me on your program?” he asked Dobbs.
The anchor assured him that he would if he could get Reed to come on, too.
Don’t know a lot about Lou, but since he’s a heckuva lot more conservative than any of the Republican choices we’ve been given (gag), yeah, I’d vote for him! :-)
Most candidates who jump in reluctantly begin with articles like this.
I note he had a packed audience. I know he would clean either of the two other candidates on anything that had to do with TV, such as debates, he has cleaned the clocks of pro-illegal alien guests on his shows, and he would (ostensibly) do it agains the Democrat (D) and Republican (D) candidates in any kind of televised debate.
How do you know he is conservative? What are his positions on other issues?
No third party candidate since Abraham Lincoln has won the White House. If Teddy couldn’t win as a Bull-Moose, I highly doubt Dobbs can.
We’re down to one guy who is serious about the border (Romney), and we had Tancredo and Hunter. I know the border is THE issue w/Dobbs, but I just wonder why he never helped/mentioned Tancredo, Hunter and Romney!
Oh, the few times I’ve managed to watch his show on CNN (can’t stand the network!) he’s had conservative issues, especially on illegal immigration. I’m just really desperate for ANYONE more conservative than Romney, McCain, or Huckabee, LOL!! :-)
You probably missed the broadcasts where he did.
Tancredo endorsed Mitt Romney. Don’t forget.
Dobbs is nothing but a newsreader.
One issue does not make a conservative. I would need a lot more info on him before I start championing a CNN guy.
If McCain and HillaryObama are the choices, I’d vote for Lou in a heartbeat.
Who did he support? The only time I ever heard him support anyone was John Edwards (I’m not kidding!).
Romney / Dobbs ‘08.
You do realize that I’m not sincerely endorsing Lou, don’t you? It’s just that the lack of true conservatives among the Republican candidates makes one kind of desperate! :-)
And this is just a general discussion thread anyways, to gauge sentiment. Much of it expected as it is.
I understand. I feel the same in terms of real disappointment with the candidates. I’m afraid, though, that there won’t be room for a savior to appear. The big money GOP train has already annointed its candidate and is rolling down the tracks. Unfortunately we are the ones stuck in the middle of the railroad crossing.
Great Idea! I would go for that in a heart beat.
Lou Dobbs is pro abortion.
Who are you supporting in 2008?
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