Lou Dobbs, conservative news host...

[IceWizard]

Lou Dobbs, conservative news host,
dies at 78




Lou Dobbs, the conservative political commentator who hosted "Lou Dobbs Tonight" on CNN and Fox Business Network,
has died. He was 78.

"It's with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of 'the great Lou Dobbs.' Lou was a fighter till the very
end -- fighting for what mattered to him the most, God, his family and the country. Lou's legacy will forever
live on as a patriot and a great American," a statement on his official social media accounts said on Thursday.

Former President Donald Trump earlier announced Dobbs' passing on his Truth Social account.

Dobbs began working for CNN at its inception in 1980, hosting "Moneyline," which was later renamed
"Lou Dobbs Tonight." He also served as an executive vice president at the network and as a member
of its executive committee. From 2011,
he hosted the program on Fox Business Network until it's cancellation in 2021.




Lou Dobbs is shown in this 1999 photo.




Dobbs was born in Childress County, Texas, in 1945, with his family later moving to Rupert, Idaho.
He attended Harvard University where he obtained a degree in economics. He worked for a Department of Labor
poverty initiative and in banking before pursuing a career as a reporter, beginning at local outlets in Phoenix
and Seattle before joining Ted Turner's groundbreaking venture -- the Cable News Network.

As the host of "Moneyline," he became one of the network's most recognizable personalities.
The opinionated host frequently clashed with CNN brass, prompting him to leave the network briefly in the late '90s.

During a break from CNN, Dobbs founded Space.com, a website devoted to astronautical news. He returned
to CNN in 2000 at the behest of Turner, launching "Lou Dobbs Reporting" -- which became
"CNN News Sunday Morning" -- and the new incarnation of "Moneyline,"
dubbed "Lou Dobbs Moneyline" and then "Lou Dobbs Tonight."

Dobbs became known for his frequent on-air commentary on illegal immigration, drawing criticism from
groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center and Media Matters. He sparked further controversy by
repeatedly discussing the so-called "Birther" conspiracy against former President Barack Obama -- the false notion
that Obama was not born in the United States. Dobbs denied allegations of racism and said he ultimately
believed that Obama was born in the U.S.

He left CNN in 2009 and later joined the Fox Business Network.

Dobbs was a strong supporter of Trump's campaign and presidency, with the former president frequently
holding interviews on his TV and radio programs. Dobbs was accused by his critics of once again amplifying
unsubstantiated claims propagated by Trump.

Dobbs was among several Fox News hosts named in defamation lawsuits by the voting machine companies
Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems that accused the network and its hosts of pushing false claims
about the companies during the 2020 presidential election. Dobbs later aired an episode of his program
debunking many of the false claims. Nonetheless, his program was cancelled by the network in the
wake of the lawsuits.

Most recently, he had hosted "The Great America Show" on iHeartRadio and his personal website.

He is survived by his wife Debi and his four children.


A number of other social media users also spoke out following the announcement of Dobbs' death on Thursday.

"We're all praying for Lou Dobbs, his family, and staff. Lou was a great American and will be deeply missed,"
Ohio Republican Representative Jim Jordan wrote on X.



Conservative commentator Laura Loomer also shared the news, saying,
"This is so sad. I just spoke to Lou a couple weeks ago. May he rest in peace."

Sean Davis, the CEO of The Federalist said,
"Very sad news. Lou Dobbs was an exceptionally kind, generous, gracious, wonderful man
in an industry that rewards none of those qualities.
Yet he remained as kind as ever to the end. What a patriot."