I read stories recently on the Internet that said Lou Dobbs is leaving CNN.
For those who might not know, Dobbs was a controversial host of Lou Dobbs Tonight.
According to one story I read, Dobbs was unpopular with Hispanics because of his forceful commentaries on illegal immigration and that was apparently the reason he left.
Another said Dobbs represented an ongoing threat to CNN’s credibility as a serious news organization because of his immigration coverage and giving groups like FAIR prominence.
FAIR -- the Federation for American Immigration Reform -- represents Americans of many ethnicities. However, the annual “radio show” is touted by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group.
I’m not for hate groups, but I will miss Lou Dobbs because his show, while controversial, was a lot more interesting to watch than the others on CNN.
He tested the coverage of reporters by asking them tough questions after their reports, and he brought up controversial subjects other than immigration, such as billions of dollars being spent on bonuses to businessmen whose corporations had been bailed out by the federal government.
Issues like these should be addressed. They keep the American public informed about what is happening to their tax dollars -- although, according to reports, the bonuses came about because the corporations made big profits after the bailouts.
I looked forward to seeing Lou Dobbs in the evenings after work. He brought me a sense of comfort, because I felt he in many ways held the government and big business accountable.
John King, who has been with CNN since 1997, will replace him, but I doubt he will be able to keep my attention like Dobbs did, since I have no interest in King’s current show that airs on the weekends.
I will admit, Dobbs could be a bit of a jerk. But maybe that was necessary in order to get the kind of information that was presented. He was informed and well studied in every topic that crossed his anchor desk.
I wish him the best -- he won’t be without, since he now has his own radio show.
I expect that CNN, which is third behind Fox News and CNBC, will definitely remain behind in the ratings with the parting of Lou Dobbs.
Michelle Seeber is a reporter for the Woodward News. Comments about her stories and her column can be e-mailed to reporter2@woodwardnews.net.
