Lou Dobbs

Louis “Lou” Dobbs was born in 1945. He graduated from Harvard University with a BA in economics in 1967. Dobbs worked on anti-poverty programs in Boston and Washington, D.C. before working as a cash-management specialist in Los Angeles. In the early 1970’s he began his broadcasting work in Yuma, Arizona, becoming an anchor in Phoenix a few years later. After a stint as an anchor in Seattle, in 1979 he was approached by a recruiter for Ted Turner to work for the then start-up CNN.

CNN launched in 1980, with Dobbs as the host for its Moneyline program and as its chief economics correspondent. Over time he became an executive at CNN, serving as a member of its executive committee as well as its executive vice-president. Dobbs later also anchored the Business Unusual program on CNN financial news (CNN fn), which he founded, and served as the division’s president.

In 1999, Dobbs resigned from CNN due to conflict and an acrimonious relationship with its then-president Rick Kaplan. He founded Space.com, a website devoted to providing information on everything Space.” When Rick Kaplan left the network in 2000, Dobbs returned and resumed hosting the revamped Lou Dobbs Moneyline. He also became host and managing editor of Lou Dobbs Reporting, a more news oriented program. In 2003, Lou Dobbs Moneyline was renamed Lou Dobbs Tonight.

Since 2000, Dobbs has written several books and contributed columns to publications such as U.S. News & World Report, Money magazine and the New York Daily News. In addition, he hosts the syndicated radio program Lou Dobbs Radio. During his time with CNN, Dobbs won numerous awards, including the Emmy, Peabody Award and Cable ACE award.

Despite his many awards and his popularity, Dobbs has courted a great deal of criticism for his support of the “birther” conspiracy, as well as his statements on immigration issues. Many Hispanic groups accused him of making xenophobic comments about illegal immigration and border issues, which is at odds with the fact that his wife and the mother of his daughters is a Mexican-American. He was the focus of a campaign by those groups to damage his sponsorships and to have him removed from the air.

In November of 2009, Dobbs announced his decision to resign CNN, effective immediately, giving speculation that the opposition was successful. Dobbs and CNN have disputed this claim, with both Dobbs and CNN referring to Dobbs’ desire to “pursue new opportunities.” That seems to include the possibility of both a Senate run in his home state of New Jersey in 2010, as well as a presidential run in 2012.

Dobbs has been an outspoken critic of free trade, globalization, foreign outsourcing, illegal immigration and corporate interference in government. As of December 2009, though, he appears to have softened on his previously tough stance on illegal immigration with his support for a plan to legalize undocumented workers.

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