Pat Turner on the “Birthers,” Lou Dobbs’ New Hobby Horse

Here is Intelligent Talk Radio segment on “The Birthers Movement,” which claims that President Obama is not a “natural born citizen” and thus is not elgible to be President of the United States.  This movement even has its own website.  Patricia Turner, Vice Provost of Undergraduate Studies at UC Davis studies rumors and shares her expertise about these disturbing fabrications.

On a related note, the Southern Poverty Law Center has called for CNN to fire Lou Dobbs, who recently has given credence to the conspiracy theories of the birthers movement.   “Respectable news organizations should not employ reporters willing to peddle racist conspiracy theories and false propaganda,” wrote SPLC President Richard Cohen. “It’s time for CNN to remove Mr. Dobbs from
the airwaves.”  Lou Dobbs long has been advocating strict immigration controls and has propagated myths — such as that Mexican immigrants spread leprosy, swine flu, etc. — about immigrants.

UPDATE:  Peter Spiro (Temple) seriously addresses the “birther” movement in thisop/ed.

KJ