Dobbs' "amnesty" captions appear below three more CNN correspondents' reports

[NNN0LHI]

http://mediamatters.org/items/200706190001?f=h_latest

Summary: On Lou Dobbs This Week, the politically charged word "amnesty" appeared in captions beneath news reports by CNN correspondents who have noted in previous reporting that "amnesty" is a characterization favored by opponents of the immigration bill, continuing a pattern on Dobbs' programs of adding editorial commentary to what are ostensibly CNN news reports.

During the June 16 and 17 editions of CNN's Lou Dobbs This Week, the politically charged word "amnesty" once again appeared in captions beneath news reports by CNN correspondents on deliberations over the Senate immigration bill. A report by congressional correspondent Andrea Koppel and a panel discussion featuring senior political correspondent Candy Crowley and chief national correspondent John King were accompanied by on-screen text referring to "Amnesty Push: Illegal Alien Amnesty Agenda," even though all three correspondents have noted in previous reporting that "amnesty" is a political characterization favored by opponents of the immigration bill. As Media Matters for America has documented, Dobbs' weeknight program, Lou Dobbs Tonight, has previously aired reports on immigration legislation using the word "amnesty" in the text at the bottom of the screen -- reports that had aired during other CNN programs without that word, suggesting that Dobbs' program was responsible for adding editorial commentary to what was ostensibly a CNN news report.

On the June 15 edition of The Situation Room, during Koppel's report on a deal among senators to bring the Senate immigration bill back to the floor for further consideration, the on-screen text read: "Immigration Reform Revival: What's Next?":

But on the June 16 edition of Lou Dobbs This Week, when a report of Koppel's on the same topic aired, the on-screen text read: "Amnesty Push: Illegal Alien Amnesty Agenda":

[fasttense]

1. Oh come on, it is amnesty.

Whether you make the illegal immigrant pay a fine or you make them show fake documents, what it all comes down to is the US will be giving amnesty to illegal immigrants if they do such and such.

Now, I think the US is going about this backward and we are currently giving Tyson, Del Monte and other huge corporations amnesty for hiring illegals, but ignoring laws is what this administration does best.

Since corporations are currently being given amnesty, we might as well give it to the illegals they lure across the border.

[jefferson_dem]

2. Dobbs used to be cool...until he went all freeperish on us with the mean spiritied nativism.

I can't stand to watch his propaganda nowadays.

[rodeodance]

3. agreed.

[Skidmore]

4. It is amnesty. Go get a dictionary and read the definition of the

word. Things are what they are sometimes...and unspinnable. A rose by any other rose....