Thread: Advocacy group drops its support for Lou Dobbs

December 3, 2009

Advocacy group drops its support for Lou Dobbs

Posted: December 3rd, 2009 08:21 PM ET
From CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart

A group that opposes illegal immigration announced Thursday that it no longer supports former CNN anchor Lou Dobbs.

(CNN) – A political organization that opposes illegal immigration announced Thursday that it will no longer support commentator and former CNN anchor Lou Dobbs.

After being a vocal critic of proposals for federal amnesty for illegal immigrants, Dobbs appeared to soften his stance late last month in an interview with Telemundo, a Spanish-language television network.

Dobbs told Telemundo he is one of the Latino community's "greatest friends."

"What isn't working is a penalty to those who are in this country illegally for whom we can both be building a bridge to the future in which there is legalization and at the same time constructing an environment in which everyone is clear and unequivocal about the need for border security and a regulated flow of immigration," Dobbs also said in the interview.

At the time, Dobbs maintained that his position on immigration has not changed despite what appears to be a more moderate stance.

But the political action committee that has supported Dobbs disagreed, announcing on its Web site Thursday that it now opposes him.

"Americans for Legal Immigration PAC is withdrawing support for Lou Dobbs after years, including the suspension of websites calling on Dobbs to run for President due to the perceived change in Mr. Dobbs's stances on immigration issues," the organization wrote.


"His recent comments on Telemundo and his national radio show supporting some kind of path to citizenship for illegal immigrants is inconsistent with positions of ALIPAC and the views of most American citizens," William Gheen, a representative of AILPAC also said in the written statement.

In a separate telephone interview with CNN, Gheen said that the group continues to respect Dobbs for helping to highlight the issue of illegal immigration.

But, Gheen added that Dobbs' recent remarks have "just blown everyone's minds" and that the group found itself at an "unexpected impasse" with Dobbs at this point.

"We feel like: Who are you and what have you done with Lou Dobbs?" Gheen explained.

Dobbs, who parted with CNN in mid-November, has since suggested that he might run for president or challenge New Jersey Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez in 2012.

–CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney contributed to this report.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/20 ... lou-dobbs/

Well.....it is about time that an article correctly states that ALIPAC is against illegal immigration. I like the way it is bolded AND italicized.