Press Conference - Rep. Xavier Becerra (CA-31)

http://www.mediamattersaction.org/fearandloathing
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Xavier Becerra was elected in 1992 for California's 31st District. Rep. Becerra is the son of working-class immigrants and was the first in his family to graduate from college. The first Latino to serve on the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Becerra has used his position to increase opportunities for working families and improve the Social Security program for women and minorities. Rep. Becerra is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus where he served as Chair during from 1997-1998. He is also a member of the House Committee on Budget which oversees the federal budget process.
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Washington, D.C. -- Media Matters Action Network today released "Fear and Loathing in Prime Time: Immigration Myths and Cable News," a special report documenting the rhetoric surrounding illegal immigration heard almost daily on influential cable news channels. The report exposes how cable news overflows not only with vitriol regarding immigration, but also with a series of myths that feed viewers' unfounded resentments and fears. Leading the charge are CNN's Lou Dobbs, CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck, and Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, all of whom have played major roles in creating this anti-immigrant hysteria.

"This report shows in startling detail how Dobbs, Beck, and O'Reilly serve up a steady diet of fear, anger, and resentment on the subject of illegal immigration," said Karl Frisch, a spokesman for Media Matters Action Network. "When they aren't demonizing undocumented immigrants with misleading claims, this trio of cable news bullies is advancing baseless urban legends and wild accusations targeting the immigrant community. CNN and Fox News need to answer for this -- failure to do so would be the height of irresponsible journalism and a disservice to the American public."

The report discusses, in detail, two types of myths regarding immigration perpetuated on cable news. The first are the largest and most common myths, such as those about crime and undocumented immigrants, and the costs of illegal immigration in social services and taxes. The second are the urban legends, such as the purported conspiracy to take back the Southwest United States for Mexico and the supposed secret plan to construct a "NAFTA Superhighway" running from Canada to Mexico.

Media Matters Action Network's analysis focuses on Dobbs, O'Reilly, and Beck. While hosts on other cable programs regularly discuss illegal immigration (particularly on Fox News, where it is a frequent topic on Hannity & Colmes and Special Report with Brit Hume), Dobbs, O'Reilly, and Beck are the key offenders.

Among the hosts, Dobbs stands out as the most guilty of this recklessly irresponsible journalism. Fully 70 percent of the 2007 episodes of CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight included discussion of illegal immigration.

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News & Politics

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• Xavier
• Becerra

[databoney]

could not understand a word.

[Art4Law]

DeathloomZ:

not for long!

He's on the way out.

Fucking RACIST MAGGOTS!

He's a DAVID DUKE that actually succeeded in getting to the place of prominace to push their RACIST agenda.

just like DUKE tried to become a Congressman ONLY to push his Ku Klux Klan agenda.

[DeathloomZ]

time to vote out every scum fcking latino treasonous politician!

NCLR: HATRED AND RACIST ORGANIZATION!

AMNESTY IS TREASON!

[JimyRoss]

america is a land of immigration but it is also a land of truth. l ara za wants you to believe 2 things are 1. paul waldman speaks out against "fear resentment and-anti-immigrant-hysteria", naming lou dobbs glenn beck and bill oriely as the "worst offenders". directly he switches right to "illegal immigration" then fuzes the two and goes on to compile both into one catagory while still keeping oriely dobbs and beck still pertaining to both, as if all 3 fuze both and proceed to create hysteria

[JimyRoss]

watch?v=b54NrD1EMUg

paul waldman up next, both tools of laraza. i havent seen anything from any of these people where they talk about only ILLEGAL immigration. instead they talk about both legal and illegal, as if legal immigration should be heald always in the same conversation as illegal immigration. notice their leader standing behind them nodding in acception for the misinformation that they themselves promote as the truth.

[NotSoOldHippy]

This mother fucker can also go back to Mexico.

[DeathloomZ]

LOU DOBBS RULES THE AIRWAVES!

[DeathloomZ]

i'm not a TRAITOR!

[edaddy4]

Deathloom, you are a racist xenophobic nutjob.

[DeathloomZ]

your a disgrace to the country and your people; english is the OFFICIAL langauge you dumb fck!

AMNESTY  IS TREASON!