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Lou Dobbs: I’ve Been Targeted by Gunfire
Speaking on his radio show, CNN’s Lou Dobbs claimed that gunshots had been fired at his wife, his house, his driver, and himself, thanks to "unrelenting... propaganda" from his critics who object to his views on immigration. Saying that the shots, which he asserts came three weeks ago, are part of a "battle for the soul of this country," Dobbs lashed out at his critics for having "created an atmosphere" that puts him and his family in danger. "I'm not in the mood to put up with little fools like Geraldo Rivera," said Dobbs, referring to the TV host who took on Dobbs in a speech last week. "It's become part of a way of life—the anger, the hate, the vitriol," Dobbs declared, "but it's taken a different tone where they've threatened my wife." Dobbs told his listeners that "an investigation continues."
pclayton
Lou,
This is what happens when you open your big white man's mouth and spout racist propaganda on national television. Maybe a lower profile would keep you and yours safer;this is the price of celebrity (in your case, infamy) so deal with it.
Plantagenet
The loony leftists are out to intimidate Lou Dobbs. Threats and assaults by loony leftists and illegal immigration supporters is not the "price of celebrity" as pclayton claims---it is criminal activity that should be prosecuted to the full extend of the law.
pclayton
Sorry, I do believe he asked for it. May the law be with you.
Noontime
Plantagenet:
So Im assuming this specific application of the law applies to President Obama as well, right? I mean, there have been quite a few threats against him--including some very bizarre threats couched in the form of a survey question on a facebook site. Those people should be prosecuted as well, right? Or are they--in your most humble opinion---I dont know..justified?
Plantagenet
Hi Noontime:
IMHO, you are on the wrong track to suggest that threats are"justified."
Maezeppa
Oh, don't be stupid. Dobbs shouldn't be on the air because he is a hatemonger.
AuntBarb
I read today that shots have been fired at a Democratic US Congressman's office in Oregon...
"FBI: gunshots hit US Rep. DeFazio's office windows"
http://tinyurl.com/ylrpuj9
Face it, it's a violent, trigger happy country. As far as the shot that bounced off Lou Dobbs house and fell to the ground, I still think it was a stray shot from far away. Bullets normally don't bounce off siding unless they're spent and fired from far away.
Although I'm sure the police told Lou Dobbs this, I fully expect Lou Dobbs to use this stray shot to his advantage. Look how quickly his wingnut fans on TDB came up with the assumption that he was targeted by 'looney leftists'.
LookintoDelight
Ye shall reap what ye shall sow.
AuntBarb
New Jersey State Police Sgt. Steve Jones said troopers were called to the Dobbs' estate in rural Wantage, N.J., at about 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 5. The investigators who responded to the call were told that Dobbs and his wife were outside their home when they heard a gunshot, and a bullet struck their attic.
"It struck the siding and then fell to the ground," Jones said.
http://tinyurl.com/yzry72c
Bounced off the siding and fell to the ground. This long time shooter and gun owner says it's entirely possible that this was a random round fired from far away. I'll venture that it's even likely to be the case.
Can't wait for wingnut O'Reilly to tell us how whipping up hatred for Lou Dobbs is a crime, but doing the same toward Dr George Tiller is OK.
winston1
Maezeppa Lou is not a hatemonger he tells it like it is, which is abiding by the law. When illegals come to this country they are breaking OUR LAWS get it. Maybe one may get your job someday, how would that make you feel, or if they rob you or break into your house. This is America not Venezuela!
Maezeppa
Nonsense from a troll? Nobody on the left would hold a position like that. You have to be a mischief-making right winger.
sophia5
Lou Dobbs should be ashamed of himself,
expressing that the United States should UPHOLD THE LAWS of this country.
How dare he believe in the CONSTITUTION.
aackc1
Wow... pclayton... look at your hate spewing across the thread. I guess its OK to settle disagreements with violence.
pclayton
No, that's not my thought. It's just that if you stick your neck out as Dobbs does some loony out there might shoot you, not my idea but it has happened, no?
Jinglebob
Just remember you said that.
Teuthida
Can you say "paranoid whack job?"
kdj-kdj
LOL!
That is exactly what I thought when I read it...
progressiveaggressive
Like Dobbs is even worth a bullet.
Czarkazem13
Yeah, I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with PClayton (BTW, I like the irony from "openy your big white man's mouth" to "spout racist propaganda").
This seems to be a problem, whether it is Michelle Malkin's house being broken into and he threatened to Michael Moore needing security because of attacks on him. Or Randi Rhoades for that matter.
Violence is not the answer to though one disagrees with. Whether it be aimed at Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter to Keith Olbermann, Rachael Maddow to Noam Chomsky, Gore Vidal and so forth. And none of the above - though many I highly disagree with - should have to censor themselves because of some moron with a gun.
Czarkazem13
LOL. I should have proofed this before I sent it. Oops.
pclayton
I never said violence is the answer to people who have and spout racist ideas, it's just what happens when you enjoy inciting your enemies.
djanimaequeen
While I do not condone violence, I think it's a bit hypocritcal for Dobbs to complain about the very atmosphere he helped create. You reap what you sow. I hope that this brush with death inspires Dobbs to tone it down a notch and work on more peaceful approach to addressing such issues. Same with Beck and Lardass (sorry I could not help myself).
pclayton
Exactly, thank you.
djanimaequeen
It's funny that everyone is agreeing that violence is not the answer when it's the inciters who are now the target. What about our president and his family? No one was complaining when the neo nazi racists began buying up munitions like hotcakes and increasing the secret services workload by 300%. But let some blowhard hear a gun shot in the faint distance and now it's time to simmer down. Tensions in this country are at an all time high so it would behoove us not to choose our words and actions carefully. Hicks aren't the only ones with guns.
aackc1
Wow this surprises me. If this happens to the POTUS or FLOTUS, god-willing it won't. I hope you answer it the same way.
donatello
Really? He probably took one of his own guns out back and fired them in the air just to get attention. Even though his rants incite violence against others, I doubt most intelligent people pay attention to him.
pclayton
That's more like it and that was my point, too. Night after night he whines and complains about illegal aliens and who is trying to take what away from white men (who are fast becoming a minority in this country, hence his paranoia). Then, when someone decides they have heard enough and want to scare the bejeezus out of him, he gets back on his high horse and whines some more. And certain bloggers think that Dobbs' rights are unfairly being tread upon? He asks for it. and when the 'incitable' not-so-smart folks respond in a violent way, we should feel sorry for him? I don't think so; perhaps it's time for him to back off.
Reason
pc,
Aside from the "you reap what you sow" truism inherant in your argument, I can't subscribe to the idea that Lou's hateful bile justifies intimidation tactics.
In fact, although I strongly disagree with him, I'd have to admire his conviction if he did not back off in the face of threats. That said, I'd need to see some proof of the alleged gunfire.
cbeenthere
I think the ducks and deer are back in rural NJ.
Reason
Like most of the bloggers here, I strongly oppose the use of violence in an attempt to silence opinions with which one disagrees, but I have to ask...
Does anyone have a link to an ongoing investigation? Are there bullet holes in Mr. Dobbs's home or car? Not to impune the voracity of Lou's claims, but what evidence is there that this alleged gunfire took place?
magoo363
I seriously doubt he was actually shot at. I too would love to see the actual investigation of the alleged gunfire. If Lou was targeted, the person who shot at him intended to miss because face it, Lou is a BIG target. Also, for Lou to claim that these shots at him are a "battle for the soul of this country," what an ego. Can someone please relegate this blowhard to the status of Balloon Boy/Man?
winston1
Lou also received threatning telephone calls.
magoo363
Then Lou should have the authorities investigate them rather than trying to use them as a ploy to boost his ratings. From what I've read it was almost entirely likely a stray bullet from hunters in the area.
Reason
Here is a link:
http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20091029/UPDATES01/91029034/Police-in vestigate-after-shots-fired-at-Lou-Dobbs--Wantage-home-
It sounds like Lou is jumping the shark on this one. Some interesting excerpts are:
"Sgt. Stephen Jones said no one was injured in the Oct. 5 incident, which took place at Dobbs' 300-acre Wantage farm."
"An investigation revealed the bullet bounced off the siding near the roof, and dropped to the ground, Jones said."
"It is believed to be a rifle round, and there are "indications it was fired from a long distance away" because it did not penetrate the siding, Jones said."
"Jones declined to speculate on whether the shooter was targeting the home or whether it was a hunter's misfire, but said 'it is not uncommon this time of year, toward hunting season, to have bullets shot at houses in rural areas.'"
hfb1053
So the bottom line, as was posted above, is this was probably a random shot not intended for Lou Dobbs. And I'm sure Mr Dobbs is aware of this fact and yet he played it to the hilt in his quest for higher ratings. If he's not careful, his hype may become reality now that he's given some wacko what they would consider is a very good idea.
LookintoDelight
Next he'll be claiming someone smeared refried beans on his windshield.
unclelew
I think everyone on this post can agree that no matter what one says or writes, it is no reason for violence. I have nothing for contempt for Dobbs and his ideological compadres Beck, Hannity et al, but if violence were to reign where would get whackadoodles to make fun of.
cbeenthere
That's funny.
nb-moe
Lefty's against Righties......Righties against Lefties......when did everything gets so black and white?
hfb1053
You forgot brown, yellow, and red.
LookintoDelight
the southern strategy.
Maezeppa
Dobbs didn't file a police report and I don't think his account is credible.
LookintoDelight
If the bullet dropped from the ground they have evidence they can follow.
Analyze it.
Am I the only one who watches Law & Order?
clearthinker
If a bullett "hit and dropped to the ground" then this wasn't an intentional act. Problem random hunters or something.
winston1
clearthinker The police were called and came to the scene of the shooting.
Matt572
Point? If Dobbs called the police, they certainly would have come, especially if he blew it out of proportion with the 911 operator the same way he did here. What they found when they got there is much more telling. If the person who fired the shot had intended to kill Dobbs, he'd have been hit at least. If they had just wanted to scare him, they would've at least fired more shots, if not taken responsibility in correspondence with either him or the media, most likely along with demands for something and a threat of further violence and physical harm or death. Logic Fail...
hfb1053
And then the police decided it was probably a random shot from a long distance away. Less talk, more listen.
DakLak
Guess Dobbs will blame this on immigrants to.
Personally I think it was a communications challenged person who wanted to deliver a message.
Don't start a tirade against the NRA, they ALL have guns and can hit their targets.
LookintoDelight
His house was guacamoled on Halloween.
They scraped it off with giant blue corn chips.
FatFreddy
What a dumbass. It's Wabbit season in NJ. If he doesn't like the sound of gunfire, maybe he should move to Newark. Bahahahaha.
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2009/smgame_summary09-10.pdf
Thank you.
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