Dobbs to O'Reilly: White House 'tone' shifted on him
In his first TV interview since resigning abruptly Wednesday night, former CNN anchorman Lou Dobbs told Bill O'Reilly Monday that it was the presence of President Barack Obama in the White House as much as a commitment to fact-based, objective presentation at CNN that led to his troubles with management in recent months.
While pointing out that Dobbs had criticized both the
(Photo Fox News)
George W. Bush administration and Obama White House on matters of immigration, O'Reilly asked Dobbs why it wasn't a problem then, but it is a problem now for CNN.
“You know, I discern more of a difference between then, which was under the Bush administration whom I was criticizing, and now, when it is the Obama administration and an entirely different tone was taken," Dobbs said.
All in all, it wasn't much of a conversation -- mainly because Dobbs wasn't bringing much to O'Reilly's table. While O'Reilly did a pretty thorough job of trying to trash CNN for its lower ratings, Dobbs insisted he had complete editorial control over his broadcasts. He insisted that CNN/US President Jonathan Klein never voiced any displeasure with specific opinions Dobbs held.
“Never," Dobbs said in answer to a question of whether management complained to him about his opinions on immigration. "The only issue that came up in the last 90 days of my employment there was that Jon Klein and I had talked about the issue of opinion itself and advocacy journalism, and he wanted to take the network in a different direction. And I quite understood that, and tried to accommodate him, though.
Dobbs also talked about a gunshot that had recently been fired at his New Jersey home.
"It's a demonstrable fact," he said of the gunshot. "And that followed months and months of threats on the issue of illegal immigration over our phone...And it became a matter of some intensity in the last two or three months preceding that shot. And there are those on the far left who say it just didn't happen.... Well, here's the conclusive evidence to my thinking and to my wife's, and that is the threats stopped on that very day that that shot was fired.”
Dobbs vowed to remain in the "public arena." O'Reilly did try to pin him down. But as close as he got is Dobbs saying he will stay on radio, maybe return to TV and possibly run for elected office in New Jersey.
Comments
I was really disappointed in this interview. I don't think that Dobbs gave anything really conclusive. I think there were issues with CNN president Jonathan Klein and he just would not elaborate. I think that the "birther issue" hurt him and I never thought that should have even been an issue, it was disproven and I believe the President a legal citizen. I think the immigration issues hurt him too. I don't blame CNN for wanting to take this in a different direction and I think the credibility will gain them viewers. I know I will be watching CNN. I would like to comment on the gun incident. But, I am exhausted. I'll be back later. I think I need a break.
Posted by: Sherry T. | November 16, 2009 9:31 PM
Run, Lou, RUN!
Posted by: MassBarry | November 16, 2009 9:42 PM
I am glad I can once again watch CNN without that sick feeling that I am supporting an inhuman and hate-filled agenda. Good riddance to that pompous dunce, and greetings to Fareed and Christiane. It's been too long.
Posted by: John from NC | November 16, 2009 10:40 PM
Dobbs...well he just did not say enough for me to really understand his situation one way or another. It seemed like a lame interview to me.
Oreilly though if it werent for the good work of this blog I would have missed what we used to say was a Kodak moment...boasting about Opinion Journalism. Wow...
Well, my reply is I appreciate CNN. Foxnews you would not be where you are today had CNN not started the ball rolling. There is just no loyalty, gratitude or respect anymore.
I am wore out. It has been a day in the blogosphere. Cant wait to hear from everyone tomorrow.
Posted by: Irene | November 16, 2009 10:45 PM
CNN wants to move to the middle.
( from the left)
That's why they hired Joyce Behar.
Posted by: John | November 16, 2009 10:48 PM
Lou Dobbs is a class act. CNN has lost an asset and an anchor to conservative America. No doubt they care little as they are caught up in Obama mania. Wait until that bubble bursts.
Posted by: black a-hole | November 16, 2009 11:12 PM
In your report, why did you leave out the part of the interview when O'Reilly asks: "Barack Obama: is he the devil?"
Isn't it newsworthy when a broadcast journalist (or the broadcast journalism equivalent of an op-ed writer) asks if the President of the United States is Satan . . . and his interviewee treats the question as one more line of legitimate inquiry?
O'Reilly regularly uses that term. When I was on his show two weeks ago, he accused me of saying he (O'Reilly) was the "devil." I never did. But that is an expression he uses a lot. Z
Posted by: Shimmy | November 16, 2009 11:13 PM
Lou was the only reason I ever watched CNN.. guess I don't have to now. ...
Posted by: Harvey Douthit | November 16, 2009 11:26 PM
Lou Dobbs is a hero. He is not afraid of PC. He is simply telling all of you in the minority (not you are minorities) exactly what main street America is thinking: We will not allow illegals from ANY country to have equal voting rights in the US. We will not allow the Dem party to "buy" votes from illegals.
Finally, if your supreme leader is so legal himself, why not simply show the American People his birth certificate? I have to do it to be employed. I have to show my college records and grads if I want a job. What makes this fool think that he should be above the law?
Go ahead and use your little trick of ridicule. You'll only sway yourselves. The rest of America makes up its own mind. We do not need the deservedly faulting CNN (who sold their souls to selecte bo) to tell us how to think. We can figure out for ourselves what is right or wrong by using good old fashioned American Common Sense.
Posted by: Gregory Jones | November 16, 2009 11:30 PM
America feels lighter, cleaner, we can take deep breaths again while watching CNN without that toxic gas spewing from Lou Dobbs mouth. With hateful people like Lou & the Fox crew who needs enemies... Good riddance.
Posted by: Dan Watchman | November 16, 2009 11:51 PM
Lou Dobbs, I do hope you will followup with a run for politcal office.
You have met the American people, always with the truth. You are highly respected by Americans that know you to be honest with integrity.
Run for public office and you will win. God Bless you Lou Dobbs.
Posted by: stormnnorman1 | November 17, 2009 12:00 AM
Hey someone used my normal name for posting.
I in no way believe that Lou Dobbs is a hate monger, his wife in fact is a Mexican American.
I also only watched his show on CNN, as the rest are clearly not centrist but left leaning.
Sad that someone has to impersonate me and I'm sure Z could check the emails associated with the post and see it was not me...
CNN did itself a disfavor by getting rid of him.
Posted by: John from NC | November 17, 2009 2:20 AM
I think when O'Reilly said that Dobbs criticizing the Bush administration and now it was a different tone with the Obama administration that O'Reilly was trying to pin Lou Dobbs down into putting some of the blame on CNN. That strategy did not seem to work. The interview really did not clear up any real reasons that Dobbs resigned. I do think there is FOX interview with Hannity scheduled soon, I think I caught that on FOX last night.
Posted by: Sherry T. | November 17, 2009 7:22 AM
John...I'm guessing you're being sarcastic with the Joyce Behar comment. At least I hope you are. And if you're not...then what can I say? Speechless!
Posted by: jarod | November 17, 2009 10:16 AM
Let's all take a minute to appreciate the irony of "the media" blaming "the government" for a minute....
And now, let's back to reality and recognize this as a conservative blaming a liberal, which is entirely consistent. Righties blame media when a righty is in office and righties blame government when a liberal is in office. Does this happen on the other end of the spectrum? Once in a while, but usually not because the media is "liberal" too, right? So the media would never blame their co-conspirators.
Seriously, if "CNN/US President Jonathan Klein never voiced any displeasure with specific opinions Dobbs held," how weak does Dobbs look for blaming the White House for his departure from CNN? Lame!
Posted by: Pete | November 17, 2009 1:33 PM
John & jarod,
Just a minor point of clarification. Ms. Behar's first name is Joy, not "Joyce". She was born
to a Brooklyn-based Italian-American family as Josephina Victoria Occhiuto, even though throughout her performing career as a standup comic, and as one of the original hosts on "The View" folks often took her for a New York City Jewish gal. I always thought she strongly resembled Bette Midler. Behar is her ex-husband's surname, which she's obviously kept.
Anywho, sorry to be such a nitpicker.(Z knows all about that side of me. HA!) But I do think accuracy (as well as honesty) is always the best policy.
ALEX
Posted by: ALEX MCCRAE | November 17, 2009 3:54 PM
I was more about the story after Dobbs last night. The terror suspects from 9/11.
Just like Oreilly throws around "devil" Oreilly said to an attorney he was interviewing, "I do not care about the constitution"
While Foxnews has a right to have opinion journalism on its show. (And, in the previous segment told Dobbs about how people want that~~shown in ratings): I have a big problem with that being my only source of news in the evening time. I and many other Americans do care about the Constitution. See those are dangerous comments to make even if you are talking about terror suspects. Shimmee, I heard Oreilly say that but in context of what his show really boils down to, Opinion, I almost expect nothing less of Oreilly.
Posted by: Irene | November 17, 2009 5:43 PM
ALEX,
I looked up Joy Behar too. I don't watch The View so I had to find out. We must think alike sometimes ALEX. Thanks for the information. Kind of interesting to me the Italian background and the fact about the New York Jewish girl. She sounds fun. I think I would like The View it just never seems to work into my schedule.
Posted by: Sherry T. | November 17, 2009 6:51 PM
Irene,
Whoa, did he )O'Reilly) really say he didn't care about the constitution? That is a dangerous statement. The constitution is what protects us and calls us innocent until proven guilty. We all depend on that and the equality and the scales of justice. I think CNN being a credible cable news channel will win the ratings in the end. You can trust credibility, you can't trust opinon it is just opinion.
Irene, hope you are having a good night. :)
Posted by: Sherry T. | November 17, 2009 6:58 PM
Yes, Sherry, Oreilly did. He asked the lawyer questions, then when the lawyer didnt spin it the way Oreilly wanted the convo. I will see if I can hunt up the transcript and will send it to your facebook.
That is why everything on Oreilly has to be kept in the perspective it is: OPINION.
Posted by: Irene | November 17, 2009 9:03 PM
I agree Irene with keeping the opinion in perspective. If you find the transcript yes, please send on facebook. I will try to find it. I would like to hear it. Marie just said on another post. She doesn't understand the difference with Sarah Palin and all politicians they all spin. That is why the media has to be so diligent and we have to stay informed. Thanks for that insight Irene. See you n FB.
Posted by: Sherry T. | November 18, 2009 7:30 AM
Sherry T. I went to Oreilly's site. The only transcript available is the 11/17 dobbs. The lawyer segment was directly following.
I guess I am going to have to DVR. Because the Factor does not transcript everything like Larry King does. I am sure the producers were not happy with Oreilly's comment it could get spun by people like me who catch on to a blatent spin comment when I see it.
Posted by: Irene | November 18, 2009 10:34 AM
Irene,
Found this.
http://www.conservativeforchange.com/2009/11/bill-oreilly-i-dont-care-about.html
You're right O'Reilly said it alright.
Posted by: Sherry T. | November 18, 2009 11:12 AM
ALEX...you're right, accuracy is quite important so I'll remember "Joy". She's definately not my cup of tea, but that's neither here nor there. As far as this constitution argument goes...CONTEXT! Come on now people, O'reilly was, first, trying to keep the judge from dodging his question, and second, saying he doesn't care about the constitution when it comes to foreign terrorists. Quite frankly, neither do I. The mastermind behind 911 does not deserve Constitutional rights and freedoms, and should not be tried in civilian court where he can use OUR Constitution to help HIS cause. Do you think he should be able to use our Constitution's freedom of religion to justify killing 3000 innocent people? Foreign terrorism is an act of war, and should be handled by the military...which has a very different set of rules than the Constitution. To think this means Bill O'reilly doesn't care about the Constitution in general is a bit silly.
Posted by: jarod | November 18, 2009 12:48 PM