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Latinos Outraged Over CBS Report
As if Katie Couric didn't already have enough problems.
Weighed down by record-low ratings at the anchor desk of "CBS Evening News," and by reports suggesting she will leave that post two years before her multimillion-dollar contract expires, Couric now has civil rights groups - mostly Hispanic - on her back.
And for good reason.
The CBS newscast that carries her name recently aired a one-sided and inaccurate report about illegal immigrant women who give birth to their children in the United States. The news story challenged the broader constitutional law of birthright citizenship and stated - without providing the correct context - that the births cost U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars annually.
The story's central figure was a woman identified as an illegal immigrant, who was lying in her South Texas hospital bed - her right arm wrapped around her newborn and her left hand punctured by an intravenous needle - while reporter Byron Pitts lectured her that "many Americans who struggle to take care of their own families think it is unfair that they should have to take care" of non-U.S. citizens.
Immigrant advocates found the report so crass, and so far below the network's journalistic standards set by legends Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite, that they accused Couric of sinking to the depths of Lou Dobbs, the CNN broadcaster and contributor to CBS's "The Early Show" who has inflamed national anti-immigrant sentiment. One Hispanic group posted on its website a photo of Couric that morphs into Dobbs.
"Anti-Latino falsehoods deserve no time on our public airwaves," stated a letter to CBS by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the National Council of La Raza. The groups and others have asked to meet with CBS "to help raise the dialogue and provide the American public an honest and accurate analysis of this nation's broken immigration system." And in a separate letter to CBS, the Asian American Justice Center lodged a similar complaint against the entire four-part series that included the report.
CBS has not responded to the civil rights groups' request for a meeting. "We appreciate the passionate and articulate feedback on our series. We will continue to do our best to listen to the many voices engaged in immigration issues, to produce fair and accurate stories and to bring national attention to this complicated topic," CBS said in a statement.
The Latino-led action against CBS comes at a critical time. The rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric, hate crimes against Latinos and election-year political pandering on immigration has caused Hispanic leaders to forcefully push back against the scapegoating that touches immigrants and various generations of Latinos.
NCLR, MALDEF and the National Hispanic Media Coalition now have websites aimed at correcting "inaccuracies" in the media. The CBS broadcast is serving as the latest example of unbalanced reporting.
In its written complaint to CBS, MALDEF cited a Texas comptroller's study noting economic benefits due to the presence of undocumented immigrants. MALDEF also maintained the CBS report exposes the woman "and implicitly leads her to believe that she is protected from deportation." And it portrayed birthright citizenship as "an unfair benefit to immigrants rather than a core principle" of constitutional law. One gaping hole in the news story involved a hospital administrator's statement that the facility has "uncompensated care of over $200 million a year," which the reporter tied to emergency room care for non-citizens. But how is that known if the hospital does not verify citizenship or legal vs. illegal immigration status?
Civil rights leaders also contended Couric's broadcast was inconsistent, not just because of her brand as "America's sweetheart" but also because, in June, she is to receive the 2008 Alice Award, named for Alice Stokes Paul, the women's suffrage leader and author of the Equal Rights Amendment.
Despite objections to Couric's broadcast, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joe Baca (D-Calif.) plans to attend the civil rights event honoring Couric. Baca has gathered 399 co-sponsors to his bill to posthumously award Paul the Congressional Gold Medal.
"Right now, I believe that a chance to dialogue with Ms. Couric and the CBS News brain trust may be the most appropriate course of action. They need to be informed that their story was not only offensive to Hispanics but also misleading in its portrayal of immigrants as a drain on society," Baca said. The Latinos' battle for respect is being waged on multiple fronts.
The Hispanic Caucus recently lashed out at Democratic Party leaders for staging House hearings - beginning next week in the Ways and Means Committee - on bills that would enforce the border, sanction employers or extend visas for seasonal workers.
The leadership is refusing to consider broader reforms such as legalizing the 12 million illegal immigrants in the country out of fear it would jeopardize moderate Democrats in swing districts. Though Republicans have failed so far to make immigration a wedge issue in their presidential primaries and recent special elections, Democrats are using the hearings to stall conservatives' border enforcement bills. Hispanic Caucus members faulted Democratic leaders for considering only measures that would benefit special interests, such as those needing seasonal worker visas for the summer, or high-tech industries that hire highly skilled employees.
Democratic leaders are "spineless" for not debating comprehensive immigration reform, said Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.).
Top Democrats "want to have, on one side, the support of Hispanics. But on the other hand, they don't want to spend one cent of political capital" to look out for them, added Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-Ill.). In the media, the Lou Dobbses of the world "say that we bring disease and crime to our country," NCLR President Janet Murguia said recently. So when CBS aired its report, Murguia wondered, "Is no one above exploiting this issue?"
And if CBS is playing to immigration hawks to boost its sagging ratings, the network risks being tuned out by the expanding Latino community. Advertisers know that by 2011, Hispanic buying power will total $1.2 trillion, almost 10 percent of all U.S. purchasing power.
"We are not going to be the victims of anti-immigrant reporting, and we are not going to sit by as the community is demonized," said Peter Zamora, a MALDEF attorney.
That is the message Latinos are delivering to CBS, with the expectation that balanced reporting on Hispanics and immigrants will be the standard long after Couric's name is removed from the evening newscast.
Gebe Martinez is a longtime journalist in Washington and a frequent lecturer and commentator on the policy and politics of Capitol Hill.
© 2008 Politico.com
88 Comments so far
Show AllI am surprised that anyone noticed the item on CBS. I did not think anyone watched that lame infotainment station anymore.
Many times, the hospital on the US side of the line is the only hospital withinn close proximity to the woman who is about to give birth. It is better for her and the baby to have US medical attention than no medical help at all. I used to live within 4 miles of the line and know this for a fact. The hospital in my town was 4 miles from the small town on the Mexican side, whereas the closest Mexican hospital was almost 40 miles away over a bad road. Better for mom and baby to come to the US. People on this side need to have a heart. People are people. God bless the whole world - no exceptions.
Consider the source...
well, sorry kids, the newscast raised a valid point in challenging birthright citizenship - there's nothing below 'journalistic standards' about it.
The anchor-baby law is being and has been abused for decades - perhaps these illegal-alien apologists should focus instead on encouraging their people to come to my country LEGALLY.
"so far below the network's journalistic standards set by legends Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite"
CBS is already so far below any 'journalistic standards' set by Murrow and Cronkite that they'd have to build a Hubble space telescope just to see those old standards.
Dear Angst,
Maybe one day this life you will realize we are all in this together. That day will be a great day for you, I just hope it happens for you sooner than later.
You could be the undocummented imigrant your next life.
When you start looking all people as equally important and consider their life as important as yours you will find the quality of your life gets much better.
BTW, it is not "your" country, it is "our" planet. See that whole "the individual is more imporant than the group" mentality even comes through in your language.
Dear forgiveness -
There is no next life.
We live in a world of borders.
To AngstofthePeople, hey dude, this is America. This is the America that my forefathers fought and died for. That's been a principle of that America for a long time. If you don't like it, leave (legally of course if you can find some other country more tolerant of hate). We don't need anti-American freedom haters like you around here.
And yes, we expect a proper media to have standards so that one side's hate speech isn't the only thing in a broadcast.
Can you imagine this poor lady, lying in a hospital bed having just given birth, and then getting 'lectured' by this reporter and his twisted hate-speech.
Like I said Angst, I hope soon than later for you.
No Samson, I don't care to imagine that 'poor lady' lying in the hospital being lectured by a reporter. God forbid we demand some accounatbility in this country. How about you imagining an American citizen, forced to wait forever in line at a hospital, broken arm or whatever ailment you can imagine, as 5-6 patients who are in the country illegally, get top priority.
Sorry, I don't want my limited money going to them. They aren't here legally, they don't deserve a free handout.
"That's been a principle of that America for a long time. If you don't like it, leave "
- hey uh, dude, what principal were you trying to illustrate, 'dude?'
Clearly you know nothing of journalism - or modern journalism today at least. There was nothing bordering on 'hate speech' in the story - they were highlighting the abuses of the anchor baby law - fair game.
Finally, there was nothing hateful about my post, being against illegal immigration is not a racist sentiment. Perhaps YOU should leave my country and gain a better appreciation for what my forefathers fought for....and then come back to me and tell me what principal you were referring to.
Angst is just another scared little man. Pity him.
what am I afraid of? Rational people from rational countries live with the reality of border enforcement.
That you think otherwise is just a marker of ignorance. Enjoy that.
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
That being said, Dobbs is a racist ass who likes to enflame those whose minds are not that open to things different from their selves or their perception of their own importance. (Pinheads) Some of the people here on this thread are his audience and so have all of the catch words down pat. Shame is there are no illegal people in the world. We all got here the same way and some of us are blessed to be born here in America. To call someone illegal demeans them more than they deserve. There is no such thing as an illegal person. The fact that they are brown is not missed by this observer and I think it weighs on the minds of those who shout illegal.
Borders are basically manmade. They are chosen by men even if the border is a river or a mountain it is decided by men. If you decide to live within manmade borders then you are self-restrained in your own mind. Your own fault is what that is. (Probably for that stupid fence too…Too bad for you.)
Oh, and as an afterthought we were taught in our school systems that energy can't be created or destroyed so there has to be a next world for where are we to go once we're dead? There is your one border not made by man. So when we cross over do you think we'll be called illegal in the next world?
"Shame is there are no illegal people in the world."
the law disagrees with you. we have borders - man made or not, for a reason. we cannot afford to feed, clothe, house and care for everyone - hell, we can barely afford to do it for our own people and you want me to extend my compassion and my money to those who have no right to be here?
Sorry charlie - the melting pot solidified a long time ago. Time to take the pot off the burner.
I think Angst's argument is a legitimate one. I have family that came here legally and many of them have waited for thier paperwork, greencards then citizenship to be processed the old fashioned way. Its put their lives on hold but they chose to follow the laws. They also came from a war zone. Its unfair to legal immigrants who follow our laws who wait years and years to get screwed over by illegals who break the laws. And no my in-laws did not come from Europe they came from one of the poorest nations in the world on the UNDP index, Afghanistan.
Ouch! Please, no more photos of plug-ugly Katie Couric. Who watches CBS anymore? Who could stand it?
What else could we expect from this brainless media whore?
Angst,
I came to "your" country legally and don't want my children to be born here, because they might end up being heartless a$$es like you.
Ladybug
what you call heartless, I call practical. Safe travels.
Angst
Alright, I don't want them to be practical assholes
You'll be missed.
Whenever folk speaking about "the problem with illegals", racist hate drips from their tongues like venom.
The problem are the Americans and American corporations that provide opportunities for people desperately seeking to improve their lot in life. It is NOT the people crossing our borders, but selfish, greedy Americans (and corporations) looking to make a quick buck off people who truly want to live in America and contribute to American society. Most of these "illegals" have higher moral principals than the people who employ them.
Wanna solve the problem? Jail every employer and strip corporations of their rights. If employment opportunities for "illegals" dropped to zero, the "illegal problem" would also disappear.
But no, there are too many greedy and selfish Americans to let this happen, and so through sophisticated psyops, we are manipulated to believe that the problem is caused by the "illegals". Just like we are told by racist Americans that all muslims are evil.
Whenever folk speaking about "the problem with illegals", racist hate drips from their tongues like venom.
- generalize much?
@Angst
No. Hate much?
Keep immigrants out of the country and you'll keep the ratio of whites to non-whites high, and really rich white guys will stay in political power, like they deserve. Let enough of those hispanic and Asian and black immigrants into the country and - gasp! - let them become citizens, and before you know it they'll outnumber white folks and it'll be hard for really rich white guys to get elected dogcatcher.
Hey! I've got an idea! For starters, let's build a wall between Mexico and the US, down by the Rio Grande! And then we can export all the manufacturing jobs overseas so those pesky non-white immigrants will have to go overseas if they want to take white American jobs! Oh . . . somebody already did that? Oh well.
I dont hate anyone WTF - I merely respect the rule of law - and these people are violating it every second they remain in my country. Enjoy May Day.
Rule of law?
George Bush and cronies have been violating the rule of law for nearly a decade, and they're continuing to do it every second they remain in political power.
Tico
Lets not muddle the issue, ok - the illegals have no rights to be here, as such, laws such as the anchor baby provision are dead wrong and must be re-visited.
It is interesting that people are said to be illegal in the globalization process while border crossing is bought by corporations through and for resources including 'cheap labor' (ie: people) at will. An economic entity is a legal 'person' immune to both domestic and international law, while people are 'illegal'. That entity can poison your environment with impunity, and even buy its way into your community through your states Attorneys General in most if not all states and the voice of your community, even if the majority stands in opposition, must accept it. The inanimate are to have rights to life across borders, both domestic and international, while the living are not to have that right. At the same time one is told that the fabled Liberty paradigm remains in place when it does not? What is implied in the intellectual/mental/ psychological framework of acceptance of conditions as such? Indeed the pot is taken off the burner by inanimate hands and expects individuals (ie:people) to become the inanimate. In a nation that says the business of the nation is business, borders/boundaries are an extremely important question and they are not limited to humanly imposed topographical phenomena- emergency health care in a hospital emergency room is a human right and doctors function under a hypocratic oath. Finances are the question.
We can fund an illegal occupation at the expense of matters such as the following:
ONE DAY of the Iraq War EQUALS
http://www.afsc.org/cost/banners.htm
720 Million Dollars
84 new elementary schools
12,478 Elementary School Teachers
95,364 Head Start Places for Children
1,153,846 Children with Free School Lunches
34,904 Four-Year Scholarships for University Students
163,525 People with Health Care
423,529 Children with health Care
6,482 Families with Homes
1,274,336 Homes with Renewable Electricity
Where I lived in the Southwest, there was a saying: "We did not cross the line, the line crossed us". Angst, if you remember or ever learned American history, the US took the largest part of Mexico away from the Mexicans during the Mexican war. Now we are acting like that never happened - sort of like the Israelis and the Palestinians. Steal a people's land, then tell them they are not welcome. Pretty poor excuse for humanity.
Angst, stop attempting to deflect the issue by demonizing the "illegals" (a disgusting term, but one that most barely-literate Americans can understand).
There are 2 parties involved, both are breaking the law. One party, those that are taken advantage of, are demonized and thrown into jail. The other party, both corporate and private employers, generally ride above the law and may, at worst, receive a slap on the wrist.
You want a practical solution? Bust the employers. If there are no jobs, "illegals" will not come to the US because it is an expensive place to live.
Until this action is taken, any discussion demonizing "illegals" by you and others is hypocritical.
Angst, if you remember or ever learned American history, the US took the largest part of Mexico away from the Mexicans during the Mexican war.
- Oh but I am a student of history. We did take that land, won it back - so why exactly am I supposed to mourn and feel sympathy for the Mexicans, who by your own observation, LOST the land to our conquest.
Enforce the borders, these concerns are not valid and they have no stake to our land.
The US is so outraged by these illegal 'invaders' but doesn't have the slightest problem in invading other countries illegally, does it? How hypocritical.
If the US hadn't enriched itself by stealing the resources from so many countries, the world's poor would not flock here to look for a better life.
@Angst
And besides, May Day is tomorrow (at least in my part of the world). I WILL enjoy it by striking to demonstrate solidarity with LA longshoremen.
Angst, stop attempting to deflect the issue by demonizing the "illegals" (a disgusting term, but one that most barely-literate Americans can understand).
- I can assure you, I am not one to be classified as barely-literate. The term isn't disgusting - I refuse to call them immigrants, because it implies their status is legal, when indeed it is not. There is no demonization of the illegals other than to point out they are violating the laws of my country.
There are 2 parties involved, both are breaking the law. One party, those that are taken advantage of, are demonized and thrown into jail. The other party, both corporate and private employers, generally ride above the law and may, at worst, receive a slap on the wrist.
- I agree - cut off the supply of jobs TO the illegals. I wouldnt mind seeing a hundred M. Bianco raids a week (Im from MA) whereby the illegals are arrested and removed while the companies lose thier contracts, licenses AND face criminal charges. Done and Done.
Until this action is taken, any discussion demonizing "illegals" by you and others is hypocritical.
- well its not hypocritical by me - I am not an employer, but I will raise my voice on this issue to my heart's content. even if people misinterpret what I say and call it 'hate' speech.
Yes, I know MayDay is tomorrow. Im going to celebrate by going to Starbucks, as Dunkin Donuts will not have any staff- they'll be at their little 'protest'
Gee thanks Gebe, just when I was switching my old tv set to CBS from ABC because of their very low journalistic standards exhibited for the whole world to see during their presidential debate.
The only thing left to do is get my news off the internet!
Cute photo! The wolf scared me a little, and Cheney's photo is enough to give one nightmares!
CBS used to be the "liberal" media, not panderers to Archie Bunker types. It isn't unheard of for a Russian with a visa to Israel to turn up in a Philadelphia area ER. Sometimes right off the plane. They get treated and vanish. People want to come to America.
If we are talking about border patrol send the Europeans back first !
Don't take your problems out on immigrants. That is the easy way out. It is the super-wealthy who are orchestrating your misery.
Most of the media covering the immigration "problem" is pretty racist regardless of the issue covered. You have to understand why otherwise we cannot move forward.
Come up with a sensible non-racist policy. You can do it America (oops the name itself is from an Italian explorer Ameriggio).
If there wasn't such wealth and knowledge disparity you would not have such "crimes".
How about building some cheap medical schools across the border so that people can get low-cost medical degrees, locals can get cheap healthcare, and the hospital can create local jobs. I bet half of the people buying cheap drugs there will be American tourists !
Fixed.
(Native Americans have been "fighting terrorism" since 1492 !)
Everyone jumping all over Angst for being honest and talking about it is so tradgically humorous. You people who lash out at him and tell him "If you don't like it, leave (legally of course if you can find some other country more tolerant of hate). We don't need anti-American freedom haters like you around here." You're just as bad as right-wing nutjobs who tell me that critizing our government's foreign policy is Anti-American and "not supporting our troops" and that I ought to "leave if it was so bad."
Given the state of our healthcare system, there should be a focus on our taxpayer dollars go to citizens first. Personally, I think by eliminating the federal reserve and socializing medicine, you'd be able to do all that for free for citizens and non-citizens. But right now, I kind of agree with Angst.
Becoming a citizen is a huge pain in the ass and it takes years. That should not be the case. To legally immigrate should be easier. The only people object are facist pigs who scream about terrorism as if making people wait in lines forever is really going to make us safer.
Trade agreements should also be renegociated so the Mexican economy doesn't destroy itself. The world bank should be abolished. That'd help more than just Mexico, that'd help the world quite frankly. NAFTA is killing the largest industry in mexico, peasant corn farmers. That's where most of the immigrants are coming from. Also, do you really think immigrants want to come here? Away from their homes? Working $hit jobs because our currency is stronger? I believe that the answer is no, most would have preffered to live in the same land their family has lived on for generations.
Immigration is complicated, but you "the world is everybody's" out there are being short sighted by attacking angst. Maybe if you talked about the way you feel specifically, theres a chance you might agree on the policy its going to take to settle these issues.
theres nothing racist about wanting the damned border laws enforced. theres nothing racist in pointing out the considerable drain on resources the illegals represent to our schools, hospitals, prisons and housing services.
"How about building some cheap medical schools across the border so that people can get low-cost medical degrees"
How about Mexicans taking back their country from the culture of corruption that is the Mexican government? we never hear about that, do we? fact is, BILLIONS in aid has been sent to mexico and its still a hole. This should be a Mexican problem, not one for the US to solve.
As to the Europeans - its in the past. Get over it. Mexico lost.
Oh and before I forget - to the halfwits telling ME to leave MY country - Ill see if I can go to mexico...oh wait, they have border laws and they enforce them! Those RACIST mexicans. boo Hoo. See? it sucks when your argument slaps you on the ass.
@Angst wrote: Oh and before I forget - to the halfwits telling ME to leave MY country
It's OUR country, you halfwit. Your arrogance and hubris exceeds only your racism.
WTF, you have yet to prove me a racist, so until you can, sit down before you fall down.
your ignorance is only exceeded by your emotionalism. and it is my country, moreso than the illegals, whose lawlessness you defend - even at their peril.
Angsty,
I said media coverage is racist.
I really doubt you can prove that none of the laws in the US are racist, including the border laws.
Every country has its measure of corruption. The US is not at the top, but it certainly is not at the bottom of that list.
Racism against indigenous people is not only in the past. They struggle against it everyday. Not just the "Mexicans", but the people in these borders whose ancestors were herded like cattle. The attitudes of the oppressors have not disappeared.
Get educated. And learn Mandarin :)
Your new Overlords are coming !
Haha! Here in Ontario, Canada we have our own "illegals", too. They're called Americans and they keep trying to sneak into the health care system. I guess it just all depends on where you're looking at the problem from.
Jefferson
people often cry racism when they see their special interests are being questioned. As much as I despise network news and think Couric is a hack - big nutz to them for taking on a politically incorrect subject. Its called the first amendment, sorry this is a shock to you.
How about change the stupid fu**ing law? Let's just declare this a free world -- you know, like the "free market" that lets Coca-Cola go into other countries and take their water, and Chevron take their oil, and Monsanto take their seeds, and the US military and CIA take their governments. Let's just say we are done with human bondage, and that we respect human rights and dignity, and that we should all have as much right as frickin* StarBucks and KFC to go wherever we please to make our living and enjoy our lives. Because it's just one big world now -- our food comes from everywhere, our clothes come from everywhere, our cars come from everywhere, our oil, our people, whatever. The world is just one big free for all, so GET OVER IT! It's all just imaginary frickin' lines in the soil anyway...wake up and join the HUMAN race.
Laws don't matter in the USA any more and the country has lost all vision of what used to make it great. Illegals could not even hope to do the damage caused by real Americans.
God....illegal immigration is a red herring meant to distract everyone from the real issues that are ruining America. Compared to them, the supposed money illegals cost us is a day at the beach with a frosty drink at my elbow.
Hey Angst! Ready to pay five bucks for a tomato? That will certainly help stop the government from subsidizing the oil companies drowning in a cash glut caused primarily by friggin commodities speculation.
Besides... I have little patience for those demonizing others for doing precisely what they would do themselves in a similar situation.
Except clemsy
if I was to try and break into Mexico for that same tomato - Id be locked up in a Mexican jail.....which given that its Mexico - would really really suck.
Don't you just love the 'legal scholars' who blow a big smoke screen about illegal vs. legal immigrants? With our government being what it is, the legal immigrants are likely to be former death squad leaders, rich thugs buying their way in, and all sorts of other 'legal' vermin.
I flew back into the US once from Guatemala with the leader of the Guatemalan death squads on board, and they waited on him like he was some sort of royalty! Meanwhile, Migra was hunting down women and kids trying to cross into the US like they were animals.
All you legal fetishists out there, you are not kidding anybody other than yourselves with all these niceties while pontificating legal vs. illegal with us. We all have the right to move around freely in this world, and not just you. You just want special privileges for yourselves in your gated America.
We all have the right to move around freely in this world
- tell you what, genius. Hand me your passport and any forms of ID - I'll give you money for some bus fair or for a coyote to take you on his way back to ole mexico.....see how long it is before you get picked up. You can try that rationale of being able to move freely when you're picked up by the Federales.
Gated America. Every goddamn country has border laws. All we want is for ours to be enforced.