The spreading of misinformation by mainstream media outlets has recently been focused on crimes by illegal immigrants. The Media Matters Action Network (MMAN), after having seen a lot of extremist rhetoric being broadcast, began to research the matter and issued a report titled "Fear & Loathing in Prime Time" May 21 documenting the amount of misinformation being broadcast on cable TV news.
"It's really almost an obsessive focus on immigration," said MMAN representative Paul Waldman.
The main instigators of the misinformation that has been suspected to be aggravating rising levels of hate crimes are centered in radio and cable TV, particularly the shows Lou Dobbs Tonight , O'Reilly Factor , and Glenn Beck . MMAN found that these commentators, rather than backing up their accusations that illegal immigrants are linked to crime rates with evidence, focus on one event and propagate it repeatedly.
"They focus on individual crimes and hammer them over and over and over again," said Waldman. "Segments of one drunk-driving incident have been on thirteen different episodes of The O'Reilly Factor ."
Research done by the MMAN has instead shown that immigrants are actually less likely to commit crimes, especially because of their situation.
One of the main myths being propagated is the so-called "NAFTA Superhighway" conspiracy to connect Mexico to Canada through the United States, according to both Beck and Dobbs. News of a planned highway in Texas called the Trans-Texas Corridor, has been blown out of proportion and accused of being part of the "NAFTA Superhighway" theory.
According to the MMAN, the talk radio and television shows focus on sensational and dramatic topics, but the topic of immigration isn't used only to boost their ratings.
"I actually went on Dobbs show and asked him if he really believed all this, and asked for evidence," said Waldman, adding that he had received very angry emails and calls directly afterwards. "I don't doubt they [the commentators] actually believe it."
The effects of this extremist rhetoric being broadcast on mainstream media networks affects more than just extremist and hate groups—lawmakers and policy makers have in turn, began taking illogical action to prevent illegal immigrants in order to appease contingents.
"People are hearing and believing it. Policy makers are hearing it," said Waldman. "That type of talk resonating with policy makers makes them think 'We need to arrest more illegal immigrants'."
Their research shows that the new local laws passed to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining the same rights as U.S. citizens are instead interfering with U.S. citizens from obtaining their rightful benefits. Kansas' law requiring citizenship identification ended up preventing 20,000 citizens from voting, exposing only one illegal immigrant, according to GAO.
MMAN's twenty-page report centered on the extremist rhetoric of Beck, Dobbs, and O'Reilly is available on their website www.mediamattersaction.org .
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