We'll Never Hear the Whole Story from Lou Dobbs

By: lwumom
Published On: 8/2/2006 7:43:59 PM

Lou Dobbs writes an article that is featured on cnn.com every Wednesday.  I look forward to these articles just so I can write a scathing letter to good ole Lou.  He comes across as the kindly benefactor looking after the rights of America's middle class and working poor, but his rhetoric is slamming Democrats, and doesn't nearly tell "the rest of the story."
Today's article was about the "do-nothing Congress" and, while he is critical of Republicans, he asserts that the Democrats are allowing it to happen, which they may be in a way, but not in the context that he portrays it.

The Democratic Party has played a major role in helping to pass legislation that is grossly injurious to middle-class Americans and their families. This Congress, Republican-led with complicit Democrats, has cut $13 billion in college-student aid

In fact, the Senate voted on an Amendment to the FY 2007 budget proposed by Senator Kennedy which would:

support college access and job training by: (1) restoring program cuts slated for vocational education, TRIO, GEAR UP, Perkins Loans, and other student aid programs; (2) increasing investment in student aid programs, including increasing the maximum Pell Grant to $4,500; and (3) restoring cuts slated for job training programs; paid for by closing $6.3 billion in corporate tax loopholes

Lou went on to say that the Democrats were complicit in approving:

an unconscionable bankruptcy law written by credit-card companies that is nothing less than a federal government heel in the neck of American families bankrupted by catastrophic illness and crushing medical bills

...when in fact there were several amendments, all voted against by the Republicans:

To protect servicemembers and veterans from means testing in bankruptcy, to disallow certain claims by lenders charging usurious interest rates to servicemembers, and to allow servicemembers to exempt property based on the law of the State of their premilitary residence. (Kennedy sponsored)

To exempt debtors whose financial problems were caused by serious medical problems from means testing. (Durbin sponsored)

To exempt debtors whose financial problems were caused by serious medical problems from means testing. (Kennedy sponsored)

To preserve existing bankruptcy protections for individuals experiencing economic distress as caregivers to ill or disabled family members. (Corzine sponsored)

To exempt debtors from means testing if their financial problems were caused by identity theft. (Nelson sponsored)

To discourage predatory lending practices. (Durbin sponsored)

To provide a homestead floor for the elderly. (Feingold sponsored)

All of these amendments failed in the Senate.  George Allen voted AGAINST every amendment. With the Republican majority calling all the shots, what else does Lou want from the Democrats?  Now I admit that I want the Democrats to stand up and scream bloody murder about what's happening in our government and so far, we haven't heard too much of that, but they have made an effort and I'm willing to give them that.

I'm penning my letter to Lou right now.  I know nobody else will ever see it, but I think he should know that we're not all as stupid and uninformed as he thinks.


Comments



I posted this diary on the DKos (lwumom - 8/2/2006 10:06:04 PM)
and I've been taking a beating from Dems who love Lou!  How can they believe all his garbage?  In reality, I might have, too, except I've been researching Felix's voting record for the past year or so....so I know what's what. 


Blue Latino's want Dobbs Fired (pitin - 8/3/2006 1:59:57 AM)
I feel that If you ever watch his show you will notice he is a hate mongering bigot, and if you feel the same way that I do, head on over to BlueLatinos.org and sign the petition to have Lou Dobbs fired.

Almost every night CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight" presents a distorted and blurry view of immigrants to America. Lou Dobbs steadily beats the drum against immigrants, helping build a new wave of xenophobia in our country.


can you post links? (Rob - 8/3/2006 2:43:35 PM)
can you link the article and the source of your blockquotes?  it's a very good diary, but I'd love to read the sourcing.


ASAP (lwumom - 8/3/2006 3:02:05 PM)
At work right now, but I'll post as soon as possible.  Thanks.


thanks. (Rob - 8/4/2006 6:22:04 AM)


I find Dobbs to be (Eric - 8/3/2006 3:53:37 PM)
an interesting critter.  I don't have a strong like or dislike for the guy, but I find it refreshing that he can't easily be lumped into the red or blue square. 

Is that good?  Dunno, but at least it's not the same ole spewage from the same talking heads.

I've nothing positive to say about the twisted, distorted, misleading, and overlooked facts.  But isn't that a problem, to varying degrees, with most MSM?



Links (lwumom - 8/3/2006 6:04:27 PM)
All of the amendments can be found on www.senate.gov. 

For the Kennedy amendment for education and job training:
http://www.senate.go...

For the Durban amendment regarding bankruptcy and service members:
http://www.senate.go...

Kennedy's bankruptcy protection for people with serious medical problems:
http://www.senate.go...

Corzine's protection of caregivers:
http://www.senate.go...

Durbin's amendment regarding predatory lending practices:
http://www.senate.go...

And Feingold's homestead floor for the elderly:
http://www.senate.go...

When looking at these pages, if you click on the amendment number (for example, S. Amdt. 17), you have the option to read the text of the amendment, and if you click the page numbers after "consideration:" you can read the transcript of the debate on the Senate floor.

I found a couple of errors in my post and want to correct them.

To protect servicemembers and veterans from means testing in bankruptcy, to disallow certain claims by lenders charging usurious interest rates to servicemembers, and to allow servicemembers to exempt property based on the law of the State of their premilitary residence.Was sponsored by Durbin...not Kennedy

and

To exempt debtors whose financial problems were caused by serious medical problems from means testing.Was sponsored by Kennedy...I had that one in my post twice