CNN Misses the Point with 'Latino in America'
Published October 21, 2009 @ 05:40PM PT
What does it mean to be Latino in America? CNN tries to explore this question in a two-part four-hour documentary hosted by Soledad O'Brian.
First, it's problematic to lump people from diverse countries with diverse backgrounds into a singular category labeled 'Latino' for the purpose of a four-hour documentary. Second, it's far more problematic to label the United States as 'America.' This entire continent is America but glossing over this fact just shows our arrogance as a country. Both these facts can be ignored for the interest of good journalism.
What cannot be ignored is that the channel producing the documentary continues to harbor the infamous pretend-journalist Lou Dobbs who has perpetuated myths that demonize Latinos, accusing them of causing 7000 cases of leprosy, and gone as far as to muse whether President Barack Obama is an undocumented immigrant. Besides Faux News, CNN is one of the last places to go for accurate information on 'Latinos' so the new documentary series presents itself as a public relations ploy and opportunity to profit at the expense of real journalism.
And CNN has done a pathetic job when it comes to 'real journalism.' Hate crimes against Latinos soared by 40 percent from 2003 to 2007, which is a conservative estimate but reporting of these cases has remained stagnant with CNN casting a blind-eye to cases such as Brisenia Flores while giving space to Dobbs to perpetuate hate. When asked to air an ad exposing Dobbs to balance the series, CNN refused the $16000 in ad revenue, inviting more negative attention from the Basta Dobbs Campaign, organizing against Lou Dobbs in over 18 cities. Then, CNN refused to run an ad critical of the insurance industry at a time when 34% of Hispanics do not have health insurance in the United States, the largest ethnic group without health coverage.
Can the channel really have any credibility to do a 'Latino in America' while it does injustice to issues concerning Latinos?
I don't think so. And I won't be watching 'Latino in America.'
(Picture Credit: SPLC)
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Comments (32)
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Author
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Prerna obtained her Masters degree in International Relations in 2007 and took a hiatus from academia. During this break, she co-founded DreamActivist.org and helped launch a program for immigrant youth in the Bay Area (S4FC). Currently, she is also a Managing Editor at The Sanctuary. Views expressed on this blog are her own and not that of any organization currently affiliated with her. Contact email - prerna@change.org
All the harping on Dobbs, yet you don't give him credit for coming back and apologising for mis-information about the leprosy case. He did it with in a day or two, on his show publicly. Its no different then when a newspaper has to give a correction in its paper for mis-information.
Funny how the 40% increase over the short period of time is cited 2003 - 2007 while at a time when many were newly arriving, their population was increasing, and yet if you look at the overall percentages of hate crimes, it still does not equate to the highest number prior to 2003 when less were here. Again, the arguments are half truths used to promote empathy and sympathy. Your cited link is to Maldef? why not to the actual fact page? Here is the link:
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/civilrights/hate.htm
Note that from 1995 - 2002 it soared higher than 40% in escalation and that it was also higher in total amount than 2007. And from 1995 - 2002 there were fewer here.
Now, if you would actually use all the facts to your advantage, it would be a lot better for the argument.
Posted by Liquid Reigns on 10/21/2009 @ 06:20PM PT
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This has nothing to do with your comment, but I'm really just curious. This isn't some kind of attack on you by any means, so please don't take it that way.
Do you enjoy watching FOX News? Do you ever post fault-finding comments at anti-immigration websites? Or do you strictly stick to posting at leftist pro-immigrant websites? You said that you're for giving undocumented immigrants a path to legality, and that led me to assume that you're pro-migrant to an extent. However, from what I've read so far, you seem highly critical of some of the articles posted here. Are you saying these things in order to be constructively critical? Or are you saying these things because you hate progressive bleedin' hearts? I'm sure that if I visit this site often enough, I might find the answers to these questions, but I don't.
Posted by D K on 10/21/2009 @ 11:55PM PT
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Do you enjoy watching FOX news? I watch all the news channels, Dobbs is on CNN so why bring up FOX? I change back and forth on all the news channels to watch the segments that are being discussed by as many people as I can, I get the best information that way and stay informed. What I don't do however, is get my news from a blog site.
Do you ever post fault-finding comments at anti-immigration websites? Or do you strictly stick to posting at leftist pro-immigrant websites? I post at illegal immigration sites, criticising the half truth arguments and pointing out the false arguments and statements made by others.
from what I've read so far, you seem highly critical of some of the articles posted here. Are you saying these things in order to be constructively critical? YES
Or are you saying these things because you hate progressive bleedin' hearts? I don't HATE progressives, I just don't agree with their tactics or some of their ideals. Here's a good example, Peter Coytle attacking my comments all because he could not argue the point of the copy I posted, so instead he attempts to denigrate me, Mary has attempted to also in that very same post. For this reason alone, I don't like tactics used by progressives, its the same as what the administration is attempting to do, shut out the opposing view points. But for Peter, he just can't handle the truth.
Posted by Liquid Reigns on 10/22/2009 @ 07:38AM PT
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Hey Liquid Reigns nobody is opposed here to the first amendment, I think this is what you are trying to defend, but it has to be used responsibly otherwise it becomes a false accusation, that hurts an entire community
Posted by L G on 10/22/2009 @ 10:57AM PT
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You bring up a good point, however, I am defending myself, not the first amendment, unless you are referring to my first comment, which is only putting Dobbs on par with other journalists, as in news papers and others jin the news, in making a redaction to inaccurate information, and apologising along with attempting to get the accurate information.
Posted by Liquid Reigns on 10/22/2009 @ 06:52PM PT
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Wasn't there also 'Latino in America' in 2008 on CNN with Mrs. Obrien?
Posted by Liquid Reigns on 10/22/2009 @ 07:34PM PT
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I think the media lies about all issues. Remember when Bush was doing all he did? You could see every reporting journalist gritting their teeth, as they tried to report the story without bias.
We all know how I feel about grouping races; giving jobs solely on ethnicity, yet claiming we want equality. If the government wants to make things fair,(for everyone,) income would be the way to go for classification purposes. Take the color away from poverty and hate groups wouldn't have an easy target. Plus, people who truly need aid would receive it, based on,"need," instead of race.
(This would make too much since for our government. You can't win elections without prejudice; right?)
Posted by L.S. hope on 10/21/2009 @ 11:16PM PT
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P.S. "Faux News;" Prerna, I think you would rival me in the sarcasm department.
Posted by L.S. hope on 10/21/2009 @ 11:21PM PT
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Trying to lump all Latinos into one group is akin to attempting the same with Europeans. Apart from the fact that we speak the same language, we are really that different from each other. As a Latina, I am offended at CNN's ploy to both curry favor with the Dobbs-loving gun-toting right wing-nuts while trying to expand their appeal to Latinos. If the network is really seriously pursuing this market, they would do well to get rid of Lou Dobbs and his brand of racist anti immigrant propaganda, and provide even handed coverage of issues affecting the Latino community as well as acknowledge our contributions to this country. Perhaps Latinos in America was an attempt to achieve this. I would not know, since i did not watch.
Posted by m. d. on 10/21/2009 @ 11:44PM PT
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It's okay. Don't get tunnel vision when it comes to the media. They report with half truths anyhow. On Spanish television, aside from it being much more eventful, the same things are being reported.
We all see the truth, and we all know the truth. The same problems are facing everyone, they only add a color to create bias. We all need employment, less taxes, fair treatment, but most importantly; we need an ethical government that is "elected," not "bought."
Posted by L.S. hope on 10/22/2009 @ 12:22AM PT
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Lou Dobbs the damaged is done... now CNN comes with this documentary without firing him. This is ridiculous.
Lou Dobbs reminds me of the infamous nazy Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels. through the media, Goebbels used to campare Jews with rats and we all know the end of this sad story (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Goebbels).
Dobbs like Goebbels uses massive media to attack minorities through lies repeated constantly will be believed by the masses.
The Re-conquista, invasion, Leprosy and Tuberculosis infections and so many BS that comes out of his poisonous mouth, are only an example of his campaign of disinformation causing attacks on the Hispanic community
Posted by L G on 10/22/2009 @ 10:26AM PT
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If CNN had that special on to counterbalance Lou Dobbs there just not going to get anywhere with that. Lou Dobbs is just a piece of poo-poo!! and they better get rid of him. I remember someone years back told me to read this Lou Dobbs book and I didn't know anybetter. The first few pages seemed OK and then it started to get yucky and then it became worse and I never bothered to continue reading it. I think I still have that blasted book somewhere. I think the problem with having Lou Dobbs on CNN is because confused people do not see through his rhetoric and he just fuels the fire of racism. He can sound reasonable to people like that racist marine they interview on the 2nd night of the Latina special. That marine actually made a statement that he felt the undocumented were stealing the jobs of black people and at the same time he keep a confederate flag on his front porch in Shenandoah PA. Can you imagine that! A confederate flag. He is a perfect example of a guy who is into Lou Dobbs.
I am very disapointed because I donated money to air those commercials and CNN stopped them. This is ridiculous. Its really best to stick to MSNBC and dodge Dobbs and CNN.
I like Racheal Maddow and Keith Oberman.
Posted by Mary Pranzatelli on 10/23/2009 @ 07:55PM PT
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Incontinence Rains cried:
"Peter Coytle attacking my comments all because he could not argue the point of the copy I posted, so instead he attempts to denigrate me, Mary has attempted to also in that very same post. For this reason alone, I don't like tactics used by progressives, its the same as what the administration is attempting to do, shut out the opposing view points. But for Peter, he just can't handle the truth."
You have a crush on me. Get over it.
The only point I argued with you (I broke my promise not to engage with the cut-and-paste king) was your claim that your wife was your source for your post. It was all a cut-and-paste job that you tried to pass of as your own.I posted the site, actually one of many, where you lifted most of your post that you claimed as your own.
I could care less about your opposing view. It is sad that you are limited to verbatim cut-and-paste jobs to express what you believe in.
Heck, I promised never to engage the mean-spirited troll and internet stalker again. I failed. I promised not to take the bait. But sometimes it is hard to avoid the "stuff" intentionally left in the road.
Posted by Pete Coyotl on 10/22/2009 @ 08:52PM PT
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You still lack basic comprehension skills Old Peter Stain, the copy I posted did nothing more than point out a fact that DK was wrong about in her comment, and the last paragraph was attributed as a source, my wife. Limited to verbatim cut-and-paste? LOL, old man, you could never keep up with me when it comes to the laws and facts, your opinion is just that, opinion. Your opinionated pieces I have already decimated, that was why you deleted my comments on your blog, especially when I used your own argument against you. But that's OK, if you feel it necessary to denigrate me, I'll oblige and do the same, Peter Stain.
Posted by Liquid Reigns on 10/22/2009 @ 09:39PM PT
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What is "Peter Stain"? That sound really gross! Can you refrain from calling him that....and the lack of comprehension skills comment getting old. Come up with some new material.
Posted by Mary Pranzatelli on 10/23/2009 @ 07:24PM PT
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I have to refrain from being called names, yet Peter Stain gets away with it? As for comprehension, it is the key to understanding the conversation, obviously he did not understand the conversation, and now, neither do you. But, I see you still are trying to jump on the train, keep trying, maybe one day you will realize it's insane to keep doing the same thing and getting the same result.
Posted by Liquid Reigns on 10/24/2009 @ 08:13AM PT
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Liquiod, the people posting here have far exceeded above your comprehension level. You copy, paste and post because you lack creative writing skills.
Actually I think I just hit it on the nail. I believe the reason why you attack and troll people is because you have insecurities about your on inadequacy's. You are obsessed with the 11.8 million who live the shadows so that you can feel bigger than big about yourself and think you are somehow above others.
(But, I see you still are trying to jump on the train, keep trying, maybe one day you will realize it's insane to keep doing the same thing and getting the same result.)
This is not ALIPAC therefore I am on the right train. Now, if I were to be commenting on ALIPAC obsessively and trolling the anti's you would have a point about the train if I was hanging out at that trainstop. That means YOU ARE ON THE WRONG TRAIN LIQUIOD!! Also, I can't be hanging out at the trainstop 24/7...so that means it would make sense if I picked up the train that takes off at 9:45 if I was occupied with other things to do at 7:15. As for you Liquiod you seem hop on the train at this blog everytime it makes a stop. Why is that? Do you need to get a life?
Doing the same thing and getting the same results? That is your group/peers that do the same thing with the same talking points again and again. Look at the polls. 64% on the pro-side and 15% on the anti-side. Obviously your talking points do not work and that is why you are attempting to lighten your tactics up a bit but you see they are transparent because you are quite famous on the internet and most have caught on to your game.
Posted by Mary Pranzatelli on 10/24/2009 @ 03:20PM PT
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So I am famous on the Internet, am I? Maybe if you would argue the points I bring up or make, you wouldn't have to resort to lame attacks and attempt to denigrate me.
Now, if you actually read and understood my comments, you would realize that most of my comments are correcting your advocates mistakes. You see, your sides talking points from Soros, Media Matters, etc. use the wrong information and interpret it incorrectly the majority of the time and imply things that just simply are not true, that's not my fault.
As for th 63%, you forget I am in that 63%, legalization, not citizenship. And those for legalization hold the majority of your 63% at 45%.
Because you have no fallible argument against me, you see me as attacking and trolling, that is hilarious. It only proves my point. Maybe you should think before you type and attempt to make me out to be the bogeyman.
BOO!
Posted by Liquid Reigns on 10/24/2009 @ 03:54PM PT
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Maybe you should do as you have stated before, do not respond to my comments, better yet don't put your nose into someone elses statements, it makes you look foolish.
Posted by Liquid Reigns on 10/24/2009 @ 03:56PM PT
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I am sorry Liquid you don't sound consistent.
Posted by L G on 10/24/2009 @ 04:16PM PT
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Point out any of my inconsistencies.
Posted by Liquid Reigns on 10/24/2009 @ 04:43PM PT
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I was scratching my head over the piece featuring the depressed, suicidal 14 year-old girl who could not relate to her mother. Teen age angst is found across all cultures. Depression can be found in teen-aged girls from any group. Why were Latinos represented in this gloom-and-doom light? Many Latinos are successful in many different endeavors.
It is impossible to group so many different groups as one. Manu Ginoboli of the San Antonio Spurs is of Italian ancestry. He holds duel citizenship with Italy and Argentina. He looks European. Alberto Fujimori was the President of Peru. He was born in Lima, but his parents were from Japan. According to CNN the would both be Latinos but if they were born in this country would CNN lump them in the same "ethnic" group.
I do not think so.
We can add the many people who descend from Africans. There are the Germans from northern Mexico-Linda Ronstandt's descendants were of this group. Her great-grandfather came here from Germany when the Tucson area was still part of Mexico. Then there are the many indigenous people of the land south of the border.
So many different backgrounds, languages, cultures, traditions. religions, and skin color. But to CNN, and to many others, they are all one group.
We represent the world in this group, which when I think about it, it is not a bad group to belong to.
Posted by Pete Coyotl on 10/22/2009 @ 09:08PM PT
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I meant Ronstandt's ancestors not descendants. I was not a stoned pony when I wrote it, so I have no excuse.
Posted by Pete Coyotl on 10/22/2009 @ 09:14PM PT
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LOL...Pete, You read my stone pony stuff. Gotta love the stone pony!
Posted by Mary Pranzatelli on 10/23/2009 @ 05:19PM PT
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Hi Everybody, this is the kind of responses Lou Dobbs generates with his shows:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0uvCiTTJJY&feature=fvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCOijmBvnuA&NR=1
I lived few miles away from where the second one happened, it is scary to think that one day they can just hang me because of my dark skin, it gives goose bumps I can't believe this ideologies still exist in the 21st century.
Oh By the way in both events, the people reacted bravely, heroically. I loved it.
That is the reason why I joined this website, I believe we have something to contribute with, an idea, so we together can fight those forces that are anti progress, those that make profits out of the people's right for health care, those that alienate the poor feeding them with ignorance. God bless you all.
Posted by L G on 10/23/2009 @ 09:17PM PT
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I checked ebay tonight and found a handfull of sellers on ebay listed the Halloween costume even though ebay knocked it off their website the other day. I did write them in their resolution center to make them away a few people have listed it as RARE. What people will do for a buck. They will sell their soul. I wrote some of these people and told them how offensive it was. Its really scarey because it is hard to believe that some people could be so cruel and hateful.
Posted by Mary Pranzatelli on 10/23/2009 @ 11:10PM PT
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Anyone know why my 64 GMC truck is not showing up with the other GMC trucks? Taking the proceeds to Mexico.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260495636662&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT
Posted by Gary Stein on 10/24/2009 @ 02:12PM PT
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Truth.
What you say in this post is totally truth.
I subscribed to the BastaDobbs campaign.
Posted by Khyron Elric on 10/25/2009 @ 11:24AM PT
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I am an immigrant and I always enjoy watching Lou Dobbs. I hink he is a great American really concerned with what's going on with this immigration debacle, and like the vast majority of Americans, including me, are sick of this issue.
I watched a little bit of that show "latino in America", and honestly, I think is extremely poor in terms of journalism; it clearly has an agenda, and is absolutely designed just a a marketing for "latinos" which is disgusting because people like Soledad O'brian keeps pushing this latino agenda like a self segregated group.
Why they don't interview immigrants like me? I consider myself from a latino background, but I feel 100% American, with no affiliation to any foreign flag or any foreign country. My life is every day 100% American, in English, I love every single detail of this culture and its people. I came here voluntarily because it was my dream, and I stand strong against illegal invasion or any foreigner that wants to change this nation in any way.
And like me, there are millions. The day Americans will appreciate immigrants again, will be the day those immigrants start playing for this team. Instead of promoting garbage like "the tv channel of hispanics", "radio station for latinos", "internet for latinos"; bullshit. Cut all that garbage and encurage them to become Americans; they don't like it, out of here. Nobody is forced to come here. Nobody has any right of coming into this beautiful house and then claim rights once inside.
Enough for now, and SICK of this immigration poblem present every day in our wonderful American life.
Posted by Alex Godoy on 10/25/2009 @ 11:31AM PT
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That Leprosy report was just ridiculous and did you see him trying to defend it on sixty minutes. CNN has lost all legitimacy by giving a platform to Lou Dobbs lies and hate propaganda. This great video gives some more examples of Dobb's glorified BS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqKvSxmUoVQ
Posted by Marissa l on 10/25/2009 @ 01:21PM PT
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I started watching MSNBC about 5 years ago because I couldn't stand Dobbs. I did watch Anderson Cooper 360 from time to time but for the most part I stick to MSNBC and when I want to laugh alot I turn on FOX. FOX is a joke.
Posted by Mary Pranzatelli on 10/25/2009 @ 06:38PM PT
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Alex, I applaud you for your pro-American thoughts and assimilation into our beautiful country. You are the kind of immigrant that is a blessing to our country.
As for Dobbs he isn't anti-immigrant he is anti-illegal immigration. Those from south of our border get the most attention because they make up the majority of illegals in this country and for no other reason. He only made one mistake in reporting and that was his leprosy report. He apologized for it but you notice that the pro-illegals have no other story to demonize him with so they keep harping on this one and as if his apology is worthless.
I would like for the pro-illegals in here to back up their claims of racism on Dobb's part with exact statements from him that would prove it. They can't as it never happened! They just hate him because he doesn't share their immigration views and points out to the public the factual negativities of illegal immigration. They don't want the public to know the truth and therefore they hate him and lie about him.
Posted by Mark Lindley on 10/28/2009 @ 01:54PM PT
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