I have not seen Lou Dobbs more than a dozen times. At first, I sort of admired his outspokenness against corrupt, exploitative corporations such as Enron, and others even after that scandal dissipated. As I learned more about him, I have come to see him as a representation of the way in which our country has become not only desensitized to journalism authored by a narrow social and political ideology, but also how it has acquired a taste for it.

I saw a History Channel show about the propaganda wars between Germany and the U.S. during WWII of which this phenomenon reminds me. I also note similarities between the German (Gerbles) news depiction of Jewish immigrants infiltrating the U.S. and the Dobbs depiction of Latinos infiltrating the U.S. These similarities include disease, crime, theft and even a growing political influence. But the truest indicator is not what Lou Dobbs says and his unctuous approach to creating news/opinion, but it is the echo of his message from his followers.

On Yom Kippur, I learned that my grandmother of 88 watches Lou Dobbs regularly. Upon learning that my cousin would soon travel to Mexico, she asked vehemently, how she could even consider going to that country with all the awful problems they (Mexico/ Mexicans??) are bringing to the U.S., etc., etc. My grandmother had for many years, gardened and worked outside. Early on, she hired Milton, a gardener from Mexico. Decades later, Milton was my grandmother’s best friend. Upon hearing my grandmother’s ridiculous response to my cousin’s trip to Mexico, I assumed that her comments were the result of Milton and her having a falling out. My cousin credited Lou Dobbs.