Lou Dobbs junked whatever standards he had a long time ago. That’s been amply established. But any doubt that he has no business being on the air at any level was erased last night when he allowed his guest to peddle a long-discredited anti-Semitic conspiracy theory. Merlin1963 mentioned it last night, but I figure it deserves another mention for the benefit of those who were out last night.
Chris Farrell, the head of research at Judicial Watch and a member of that right-wing agitprop shop’s board, dropped by “Lou Dobbs Tonight” last night and railed about the Central American “caravan” en route to the United States via Mexico. Josh Marshall got a clip.
Farrell spewed the usual right-wing shibboleth that liberal groups were funding the caravan. But then he really went off the deep end. He claimed that they were getting money from the “Soros-occupied State Department.”
So once again, a right-winger sees fit to blame George Soros. But this is even more sinister than that. This is a rehash of an old, old, old anti-Semitic trope—that we are actually being ruled by a “Zionist-occupied government.” No wonder Marshall called “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” redux. Indeed, it’s almost the exact same theory that drove the massacre in Pittsburgh hours earlier.
What did Dobbs do? Did he call Farrell out? Did he end the interview? No! He kept right on going.
This is, without a doubt, the most shameful moment in Dobbs’ recent career. A host on a real news network would never allow this to happen.
Indeed, a case can be made that this is way below even Fox News and Fox Business’ low standards. Remember, Thomas McInerney was blackballed from Fox after he claimed the torture John McCain endured at the Hanoi Hilton worked because he spilled his guts.
The only thing we need to hear from Dobbs on this is an apology—while he is resigning. And Farrell has to go too. Let Dobbs have it on Facebook and on Twitter. Give Judicial Watch an earful on Facebook and on Twitter as well.