On Tuesday's Lou Dobbs Tonight, which was repeated on Sunday, CNN host Dobbs chided the media for not including illegal immigration in exit polls of Democratic voters simply because Democratic candidates have avoided discussing the issue to prevent, according to Bill Schneider, "stirring up a lot of passion," and relayed that he had pressured CNN into including the issue in other polling two years ago. Dobbs: "Would it surprise you if I were to tell you right here in front of God and everybody I had to convince CNN a couple of years ago to include illegal immigration in a poll because we didn't even in this organization believe it was an important issue, some of us didn't?" He even got Schneider to agree with his contention that the media's "complicity with that motive" of the Democratic candidates in ignoring the issue should "bring a sense of shame to these [media] organizations." (Transcript follows)
Dobbs set up the discussion with Schneider, Gloria Borger and CNN contributor/liberal talk radio host Roland Martin by showing a report by correspondent Casey Wian about a business owner who refused to hire illegal immigrants, and argued that he ended up suffering because his competitors exploited the cheaper labor of illegal workers. After Borger opined that increasing concern about the economy would lead to the illegal immigration issue moving "front and center" because the two issues are "intertwined," Dobbs brought up CNN's handling of the issue:
Would it surprise you if I were to tell you right here in front of God and everybody I had to convince CNN a couple of years ago to include illegal immigration in a poll because we didn't even in this organization believe it was an important issue, some of us didn't? Bill Schneider, the idea that the Democratic party is not being polled in exit polls on the issue of illegal immigration, you and I have talked about this, the idea that the national press corps doesn't think it's an important issue for Democrats in making that a priority judgement, your thoughts?
Schneider cited the refusal of Democratic candidates to talk about the issue to avoid "stirring up a lot of passion" as the rationale behind the issue's absence in exit poll questions to Democratic voters, but also conceded that "Democrats certainly care about the issue." When asked by Dobbs if it should "bring a sense of shame" to media organizations that they "act in complicity with that motive on the part of these candidates and the Democratic party," Schneider agreed: "I think it should. I think that they should poll on the issues that are of concern to the voters, whether or not the candidates talk about them."
Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Tuesday, January 15 Lou Dobbs Tonight, which was repeated on Sunday, January 20, on CNN:
LOU DOBBS: The reaction when you watch a story as Casey Wian reported from Chino, California?
GLORIA BORGER: Well, I think that immigration is going to become a very large issue in this presidential campaign because it is intertwined with the issue of the economy, which in all of our CNN polls and everyone else's polls show economy has now trumped every other issue in the American mind. And when you talk about the economy, immigration is a natural spinoff of that, just as Casey's story showed. So I think it's going to be front and center.
DOBBS: Would it surprise you if I were to tell you right here in front of God and everybody I had to convince CNN a couple of years ago to include illegal immigration in a poll because we didn't even in this organization believe it was an important issue, some of us didn't. Bill Schneider, the idea that the Democratic party is not being polled in exit polls on the issue of illegal immigration, you and I have talked about this, the idea that the national press corps doesn't think it's an important issue for Democrats in making that a priority judgement, your thoughts?
BILL SCHNEIDER: Well, it's not included in polls because the Democratic candidates don't talk about it much. There's kind of an agreement they don't want to stir up a lot of passion on the issue. Democrats certainly care about the issue.
DOBBS: And the national news organizations act in complicity with that motive on the part of these candidates and the Democratic party?
SCHNEIDER: Yes, they do.
DOBBS: But shouldn't that bring a sense of shame to these organizations?
SCHNEIDER: I think it should. I think that they should poll on the issues that are of concern to the voters, whether or not the candidates talk about them.
DOBBS: Amen, brother. Roland, the idea of illegal immigration not being put forward. We could see in poll after poll it was important to Americans all over the country. The idea that the national news media did not force these candidates to deal with the issues of drivers licenses for illegal aliens, the issues of border security. It's remarkable, isn't it?
—Brad Wilmouth is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.




Would it surprise you if I were to tell you right here in front of God and everybody I had to convince CNN a couple of years ago to include illegal immigration in a poll because we didn't even in this organization believe it was an important issue, some of us didn't? Bill Schneider, the idea that the Democratic party is not being polled in exit polls on the issue of illegal immigration, you and I have talked about this, the idea that the national press corps doesn't think it's an important issue for Democrats in making that a priority judgement, your thoughts?
LOU DOBBS: The reaction when you watch a story as Casey Wian reported from Chino, California?














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"...the idea that the
January 21, 2008 - 12:24 ET by Chris Norman"...the idea that the national press corps doesn't think it's an important issue for Democrats in making that a priority judgement..."
Well, is it?
Kirsten Powers claimed on Hannity last night that, contrary to Hannity's assertion, the Democrat candidates did, in fact, want to "fix the border". Too bad there wasn't a studio audience to laugh uproariously at that joke.
Chris - It is a very big issue for Democrats
January 21, 2008 - 12:56 ET by Dee BunkMany liberals I know are on board with most of the conservatives here on Illegal immigration. Obama and Hill won't talk about it now because they don't want to upset the far left or any of their illegal voters. My guess is by the time the general election comes around who ever wins the nomination will take a position similar to what Bush's was but the media won't call them on their apposition to his plan.
Dee, for many Democrat
January 21, 2008 - 13:08 ET by Chris NormanDee, for many Democrat voters, the dilemma is how to oppose illegal immigration without thinking of themselves as anti-Hispanic. It must keep them tied up in knots. I think the same holds true for Republican politicians. I think the Democrat politicians are just praying that it would just go away as an issue (like terrorism) so they don't have to address it at all.
Chris .. the Democrat
January 21, 2008 - 13:02 ET by Jack BauerChris ..
I think she meant "fix the election!"
One way is to forget border contols, and import a 20 million underclass of welfare recipients to build in a perpetual majority.
Check out what's happening in the EU as well. It's the Democrats model.
Force discussion
January 21, 2008 - 12:31 ET by KC MulvilleYou mean, you now find it remarkable that no one is pressing Democrats about the ramifications of their vague, blurry, focus-tested slogans masquerading as policy?
This shame isn't news to most of us.
It is not immigration
January 21, 2008 - 12:41 ET by Lame CherryThe first thing which has to be settled is it not immigration but it is INVASION.
This is criminal from human traffic to human enslavement by US robber barons. This is no different than the importation of slaves by the English and it is the same families of profiteers doing it now.
Lying about it by calling it immigration does nothing but cloud the issue.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
→ Right on, Dobbs
January 21, 2008 - 12:44 ET by Cool ArrowYou have been banging this drum longer than anybody else in the MSM, and sneering at the hypocrisy of your own News unit.
Keep it up.
I ♣ My Seal
Idiots.....Illegals can't vote (yet)
January 21, 2008 - 12:53 ET by JayTeePolling Illegals for an Elections ? Just shows you how way out of touch these talking heads are compared to the real world. These guys live in a Bubble somewhere ?
Proof than the MSM doesn't pay attention to real Americans.
"Barack Obama is a Powerful Speaker—And so is My Bose Bass Amp" Doug Giles
→ Illegals can't vote?
January 21, 2008 - 12:55 ET by Cool ArrowSo why were 7 of the WTC hijackers registered to vote? You think maybe they were citizens?
I ♣ My Seal
Sorry, I live in a border state...and we don't let them vote
January 21, 2008 - 13:21 ET by JayTeeIf you have a Felony, you can't vote....why don't we make Illegal Aliens a Felony ?
States that let Illegals vote, are violating Federal law...IF ...IF they want to enforce it.
"Barack Obama is a Powerful Speaker—And so is My Bose Bass Amp" Doug Giles
BILL SCHNEIDER: Well, it's
January 21, 2008 - 13:43 ET by bigtimerBILL SCHNEIDER: Well, it's not included in polls because the Democratic candidates don't talk about it much. There's kind of an agreement they don't want to stir up a lot of passion on the issue. Democrats certainly care about the issue.
DOBBS: And the national news organizations act in complicity with that motive on the part of these candidates and the Democratic party?
SCHNEIDER: Yes, they do.
Says it all right there....does it not?
Democrats do [did] care about immigration... it's
January 21, 2008 - 14:41 ET by Gary HallDemocrats do [did] care about immigration... it's the media which in pursuing it's agenda (not caring about immigration), as with most issues, has confused the Democrats (and a few Republicans as well) as to how they had felt about immigration -- immigration reform and ending illegal immigration. Via the propaganda tools of not polling, by selective push polling, by selectively reporting (and/or censorship of) the results of polling, by refusing to fairly deliver news stories and interest stories of the other side (opposed to the MSM's view) of the issues, and by not keeping the views of folks like these in the public discussion, the MSM has dumbed the US voter, especially the Democrats:
Here's how Democrats felt:
One might wonder how a MSM so concerned about the environment managed to miss the one guaranteed way to reduce man's impact on dear old mother earth - close the borders. Fewer people - less emissions - less impact.
Sen. Harry Reid (D) - now Senate majority leader, in 1993 (my Bold):
Dobbs should have Reid on, and ask: "Gosh darnit Harry, that is the view of the majority of Americans - what happenned to you?"
And briefly (I know - I can't be brief). When voices the MSM embrace speak out with a view that the MSM does not endorse, that view is suppressed - or censored from the public view:
- Bill Clinton spoke out several times strongly supporting President Bush on his rather moderate immigration reform agenda (which the MSM saw as too conservative). MSM kept that out of the discussion. MSM's response? ""Shhh. Don't ever repeat that again. Do not ask Clinton about it in future interviews."
- Jimmy Carter (voter reform commission) came out very strong in supporting that a photo ID be required to vote and that that provision be added to any immigration reform bill. MSM's response? "Shhh. Don't ever repeat that again. Do not ask Carter about it in future interviews."
MSM's mantra. "Keep it partisan, and keep the voters ignorant and in the dark long enough and they will come around to seeing things our way."
Criminals did NOT build America
January 21, 2008 - 14:55 ET by DrColesCriminals did NOT build America; Citizens and LEGAL
immigrants built it. Illegal Aliens and Immigration is NOT the same thing. 80%
of the American people want an end to anarchy! This is NOT a Democrat,
Republican, Independent issue. It's an American Issue.
Illegal aliens are criminals, those who hire them
are criminals and those who aid-and-abet them are criminals.
Illegal aliens in America have NO rights. We are required by law to arrest and
prosecute, deport them. (Title 8 U.S. Code) To report illegal aliens call the
DHS National Hotline 1 866 DHS 2ICE. (1-866-347-2523)
No,
matter your political party affiliation, and setting aside your thoughts on
issues. We all need to remember what it
is to be an American Citizen. We need
to make sure our elected representatives obey their Oath of Office and keep
their Oath of Allegiance. See http://tinyurl.com/2znnvl
Know whom you are voting for.
Speaking of CNN... Jack
January 21, 2008 - 16:19 ET by bigtimerSpeaking of CNN...
Jack Cafferty just asked Wolfie if Bill Clinton was going to be in the debate tonight....he said you'd think he was running again... was sick of seeing him.
I'm shocked...just shocked.
Just kidding folks about being shocked...it is getting old and like I said before on another thread somewhere... it seems almost criminal him/her running a third time.
BT,I suppose we should take
January 21, 2008 - 16:33 ET by Chris NormanBT,
I suppose we should take any criticism of a Democrat, especially Bill Clinton, by the MSM as a gift. Still, the criticism is generated by the fact he's hurting Hillary's chances, not because his actions are just wrong. You know what I mean?
Chris... I do know what
January 21, 2008 - 16:39 ET by bigtimerChris...
I do know what you mean...and concur.
Plus, for me at the moment anyway... it is all just delectable.
The Consequences of unfettered illegal immigration?
January 21, 2008 - 16:33 ET by BrittanicusIt is a shame that the momentum of the illegal immigration nightmare, has resorted to THEM and US! But for the majority of the American population, its about the "RULE of LAW." It's about a troubled economy! It's about our sovereignty, our flag our language. It's about the difference between legal and illegal! Whatever your origin of birth, you are welcome no matter what your ethnic makeup, as long as you entered through the front door with the permission of the American taxpayer? We are a nation of citizen-Americans (85%), but in this century of a 300 million population and climbing, its about about drinking water and supplying energy to every community. Have you seen our highway systems lately? No person in their right mind enjoys the madness of traffic congestion, that is escalating daily. What is the major cause of "Road Rage"? Funny I never heard of these menacing conflicts on our streets back in the 50's? We can no longer as a country afford to support the millions of uneducated, poor of the world. We have become a magnet for people who want to feed their families, protect themselves from the corrupt governments. Americans are compassionate,very giving and have a philanthropist nature, but there are limits to supporting the hungry and destitute of this planet. We certainly are not the benevolent people as we once were? Taxpayers, the middle class; the white and blue collar workers are strained to even feed their own families. Yet by federal mandate we are forced to feed, house, clothe and care for wave upon wave of illegal foreign nationals. This is unjust, completely unfair and a travesty of our safety-net for our own needful citizens.
There is a building storm that could tear the very fabric of American society to shreds. We are in a period of a revolutionary mind, enacting the time of colonial loyalists and revolutionaries, because the U.S. citizen is not getting the representation they are ensured of by our Constitution. Within the midst of are many anti -American entities, who are threatening our Constitutional law and the oath of allegiance. People who legally come here must want to be an American first, and citizen should form ranks and become as ONE? Every ethnic group no matter their origin, should repudiate any un-American group, of which their are many! If we do not stand together, unite against a common enemy; our representative republic may not survive? . Our national sovereignty will vanish like the Roman Empire? We know who the traitors are; some are hidden behind non-profits, that taxpayer unknowingly support. Yet they ultimate goal is to destroy our way of life. Not only are we attacked from within, but also from foreign nations like Mexico, whose previous President demanded we accept their poor workers unconditionally. Then there is the International globalist, open border, free market machine, that underscores the peoples Will at every turn? All legal people, all nationalities, all races, religions should get involved, because their is an internal movement out there, to destroy our great nation. Not with bombs, not with bullets, but by destroying our freedom of "FREE SPEECH."
Perhaps like never before, America is on the brink of collapsing into an unholy mess? This 2008 national election could certainly be the final gasp of a once, powerful nation. Today we are confronted with immigrants who have no intention of assimilation, to them we are the cash-cow, the free handout, because our government says we must? We as a nation, a people has been sold to the highest bidder. Our country is heading downward spiral, because the powerful corporate cartels own the majority of our politicians? Our border are in jeopardy, our ports, our infrastructure. Worse than being sold to a commercial enterprise, we have become ignorant that even our highways are up for grabs. What next toll-booths on the F-R-E-E ways, because some consortium has taken possession? What happened to the great American steel industry? What happened to shoes that said "Made in America." Even if you wanted to buy a pair of shoes that were manufactured HERE on these shores? All the time the Communist Chinese are building a War machine, for what? Why does our stupid, liberal press decry anybody who speaks out?
Before this President steps down, we must be aware of the decisions we make for our children's future? Before we go to the ballot box to vote, that is our right; who are going to vote for? The one's who see the mass numbers of illegal immigrants, as a voting power who can keep them in power, no matter the consequences? Or equally dangerous the NEOCOMS who want to stifle America workers with illegal aliens counterparts, who see unparalleled numbers as unheard of profit. You, the taxpayer are presented with a tax bill, along with future generations. Then there is the estimated profit to U.S. corporations and businesses employing illegal aliens in 2005 which was more than $2.36 TRILLION dollars; The cost of immigration to the American taxpayer in 1997 was a NET (after subtracting taxes immigrants pay) $70 BILLION a year, [Professor Donald Huddle, Rice University]; the cost is MANY TIMES GREATER now in 2006! In 2006 the average cost of each Illegal Alien here is 11,000.00 per year for American Taxpayers! Then according to Center for Immigration Studies and the tax burden will grow -- because 15 million more immigrants are set to arrive by year 2017 according to their latest research. according to Center for Immigration Studies and the tax burden will grow -- because 15 million more immigrants are set to arrive by year 2017 according to their latest research. More than 10 million immigrants have arrived since year 2000; it is estimated that nearly 6 million are illegal. All told, the group of immigrants now account for 38 million at the moment according to the White House's own census bureau.
This continuous tide of unfortunate poor from across our Southern border, South America or any other third world country, is devastating to our economy We are teeming with foreign national and their families, seeking a better life. Many have come here to harm us, intentionally, while others have imported less-known contagious diseases, unintentionally. But when they started demanding that taxpayers pay for interpreters in the courts, voting ballots; is yet another burden upon the U.S. taxpayer and unfortunately their needs are being favored by our weak politicians. Comes along The "SAVE ACT" that can alleviate much of the frustration and anger of the American citizen. Using of penalties from predator employers of heavy fines and confiscation of business profits, would pay exceedingly well for internal enforcement?
Emphasizing the principles of Attrition Through Enforcement. The SAVE Act (H.R. 4088) will broaden and enhance border security and interior enforcement. CONTACT YOUR (Public Servant) SENATOR OR CONGRESSMAN/WOMEN TO CO-SPONSOR THE "SAVE ACT."
ITS IMPERATIVE TO TELL ALL FAMILY, RELATIVES & FELLOW WORKERS TO SPREAD THIS URGENT MESSAGE!
You are the voter, you are your families future, you are the food on the table. The "SAVE ACT" is the first step to STOP; to Stop for good, the erosion of your pay check. You are saying NO! to the predator employers, who sell you down the economic river? No more free welfare for big business--They either hire American workers of any race! Or they can have a FIRE SALE!
Go Lou Dobbs!
January 21, 2008 - 20:28 ET by R D HelmIt is about time someone attempted to hold the illegal alien-coddling liberal MSM to account for their duplicity in the ongoing Mexican Invasion of our country.
And an invasion is exactly what it is.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. -J.W. von Goethe