CNN's Klein Stands Alone: Is network president Dobbs' only defender?

Washington, D.C. -- Today, Media Matters for America called attention to the growing number of conservative media figures that have distanced themselves from CNN host Lou Dobbs and his relentless promotion of "birther" conspiracy theories. These media figures stand in stark contrast to CNN President Jonathan Klein who defended his prime-time host, calling the coverage "legitimate."

"It appears that Jon Klein stands alone as Lou Dobbs' sole defender in the birther battle. Even Bill O'Reilly and Ann Coulter have jumped ship," said Eric Burns, president of Media Matters. "How long will CNN allow Dobbs to devote airtime to a laughable conspiracy theory that even the most right-wing of media figures think is irresponsible?"

BACKGROUND

As Media Matters has noted, a number of extreme right-wing media figures have called Dobbs' promotion of conspiracy theories about President Obama's birth certificate "absurd" or "wrong," or have otherwise distanced themselves from the birther movement:

O'Reilly slams Dobbs' "absurd story" on Obama birth certificate, but says he shouldn't be fired

On Geraldo, Coulter proclaims Dobbs "wrong on this issue" of Obama's birth

Dismissing birthers, Tyrrell says "It makes it a lot easier to believe in conspiracies than to be an empiricist"

Unlike Dobbs, some conservative media think birthers are "nutburgers"

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