- July 27 - After CNN President Jon Klein reportedly called Lou Dobbs' coverage of conspiracy theories about President Obama's birth certificate "legitimate" on Friday, July 24, Media Matters for America President Eric Burns sent an email to its thousands of online activists today asking for their help to publicly pressure CNN to credibly address its Lou Dobbs problem.

In the email, Burns writes: "Klein's caving to Dobbs raises a serious, troubling question: Who is really calling the shots at CNN?"

Burns also called on readers to sign a public petition, saying: "Dobbs' relentless promotion of outlandish conspiracy theories seriously damages CNN's credibility. It is time for 'The Most Trusted Name in News' to prove it deserves viewers' trust."

Those receiving the email are encouraged to sign the petition at:

www.dobbsconspiracy.com

The complete email follows:

Subject: CNN's Lou Dobbs problem

Dear Friend,

Recently, CNN's Lou Dobbs has repeatedly used his prominent platform as a prime-time host on CNN, as well as his daily nationally syndicated radio show, to legitimize paranoid conspiracy theories about President Barack Obama's birth certificate. Despite the fact that these fringe ideas have been thoroughly debunked, he continues to mainstream extreme right-wing rhetoric by asserting that Obama needs to "produce a birth certificate" and giving birther conspiracies airtime on his shows.

In response to Dobbs' relentless trafficking in these fringe conspiracy theories, CNN President Jon Klein initially declared the story "dead," saying anyone who "is not convinced doesn't really have a legitimate beef." But less than 24 hours later, Klein caved in to Dobbs, reversing himself completely. [1]. He even went so far as to reportedly call Dobb's coverage of the birther movement "legitimate." [2]

Klein's caving to Dobbs raises a serious, troubling question: Who is really calling the shots at CNN? We need your help today to publicly pressure CNN to credibly address its Dobbs problem:

www.dobbsconspiracy.com  

Contrary to Klein's description of Dobbs' birth certificate coverage as "legitimate," CNN's own hosts have debunked and ridiculed the story as "ludicrous," "nutty," and "conspiratorial."

Nevertheless, Dobbs has repeatedly claimed on both his television and radio shows that President Obama has failed to adequately address the claims of birther conspiracy theorists. He has said that Obama needs to "produce a birth certificate" and that the birth certificate the president posted online more than a year ago has "some issues." Rather than correct the record in response to criticism of his coverage of birther theories, Dobbs has lashed out at "lily-livered lefties" who criticized him because he "had the temerity to inquire as to where the birth certificate was." He even claims a "national left-wing media conspiracy" is attacking him over the birther issue.

We need to present CNN with an overwhelming public response to Dobbs' relentless promotion of these conspiracy theories tinged with racism. [3] You can help us make that push in a big way by signing a public petition at the following website:

www.dobbsconspiracy.com  

CNN brands itself as "The Most Trusted Name in News." If that is to be believed, it is imperative that CNN address one of its premier host's promotion of discredited, fringe conspiracies

So, please sign the following petition today and demand that CNN address its Lou Dobbs problem in a credible manner:

www.dobbsconspiracy.com

Dobbs' relentless promotion of outlandish conspiracy theories seriously damages CNN's credibility. It is time for "The Most Trusted Name in News" to prove it deserves viewers' trust.

Thank you for your help in holding CNN accountable.

[1] Score: Dobbs 1, CNN 0; CNN President Jon Klein, Network's Latest Birther?

[2] Dobbs 2, CNN 0: CNN president Klein reportedly calls Dobbs' birther coverage "legitimate"

[3] MSNBC president calls birtherism "racist", CNN's Martin: Birther's "I want my country back" comment means "How is this black guy all of the sudden running the country?"