Inevitable: Fox hires Lou Dobbs
Written by Eric Hananoki & Ben Dimiero
Published
This afternoon, Fox Business Network announced it has hired former CNN host Lou Dobbs to host a show on their network. The LA Times reported:
Just about a year to the day that he left CNN, Lou Dobbs is returning to cable news, this time as host of his own show on News Corp.'s Fox Business Network.
Fox Business Network is expected to announce that it has signed Dobbs as early as Wednesday afternoon. It's the latest high-profile hire for the cable network, which launched a little over three years ago and is in 57 million homes. Although that is far fewer homes than its chief rival, CNBC, Fox Business last week managed to beat CNBC on election night, both in viewers and the key adults 25-54 demographic.
Dobbs left CNN after repeatedly embarrassing the network by dabbling in absurd conspiracy theories about President Obama's birth certificate. Dobbs also caused friction at the network due to his years-long, falsehood ridden crusade against illegal immigration. So, Dobbs is heading to Fox, where they apparently aren't bothered by such things. (He has already been popping up on Fox News in recent months to misinform their viewers about immigration.)
Dobbs' hiring might not be welcomed by everyone at Fox News. Fox News host Geraldo Rivera has repeatedly criticized Dobbs for his “slander” against Hispanics. He has also publicly spoken against Fox News hiring Dobbs. Dobbs, in turn, has called Rivera a “cowardly liar” and “annoying.” Following Dobbs' departure from CNN, Fox Business anchor Liz Claman wrote on Twitter, “Was with Geraldo and his wife Erica last night when news of Lou Dobbs quitting CNN hit. Clearly Geraldo won that battle.”
On Glenn Beck's radio program in October 2009, Fox Business host John Stossel said of conservative rhetoric on immigration: “If it means the Lou Dobbs-kind of rants about immigrants wrecking America, I don't subscribe to that. I think immigrants by and large do good things for America.” Dobbs, in turn, has lashed out at Stossel.
Of course, Dobbs is not the first host to find a comfortable home on Fox Business after leaving their previous place of employment under controversial circumstances. After MSNBC fired Don Imus for his comments about the Rutgers Womens' Basketball team, Fox Business brought him on board.