Lou Dobbs joins Fox Birther Network

Lou Dobbs is reportedly joining Fox Business Network to host his own show. With Dobbs' hiring, Fox is adding yet another birther to its lineup.

Dobbs is the latest birther to join Fox

Dobbs repeatedly advanced false conspiracy theories about Obama's birth certificate. As Media Matters extensively documented, Dobbs helped mainstream birther conspiracy theories while employed by CNN, suggesting on his July 15 CNN show that the birth certificate President Obama provided to FactCheck.org was not “the real document” and suggesting on his radio show that day that it was not “the real deal.”

After asking if Obama should be “more forthcoming” about his birth certificate, Dobbs added that one of his callers “pointed out that he didn't release -- he didn't release his medical records, either. Now isn't that interesting? And hasn't produced some other documents. What's the deal? What is the deal here? I'm starting to think we have a -- we have a document issue. Do you suppose he's un -- no, I won't even use the word undocumented. It wouldn't be right.”

On his July 21 radio show, Dobbs faulted “certain quarters of the national liberal media” for “absolutely trying to knock down the issue of President Obama's birth certificate.” On his July 23 radio show, Dobbs addressed media reports on his conspiracy theories by declaring, “I do believe in a national left-wing media conspiracy in which they work in concert and attack like hell.”

Fox has a history of embracing birtherism

Thomas McInerney, Fox News' birther military analyst. In an affidavit reported on August 31 by birther site WorldNetDaily, Thomas McInerney, a retired lieutenant general who now serves as a Fox News military analyst, said that he believes there are “widespread and legitimate concerns that the President is constitutionally ineligible to hold office,” and expressed support for an Army officer who is currently awaiting a court-martial for refusing to obey orders from his commanding officers “until the president produces his original birth certificate.”

Hannity on birthers: "[A]ll they wanted to do was say, 'Where's the birth certificate?' That's all they were asking" On the August 12, 2009, edition of his radio show, Hannity said, “This huge birther thing is another huge distraction. To try and portray conservatives as a bunch of right-wing nutjob kooks when people all they wanted to do was say, 'where's the birth certificate?' That's all they were asking. 'Show us the birth certificate.' ”

Hannity promoted birther story. On the July 15, 2009, edition of Hannity, Sean Hannity recounted the story of Army Maj. Stefan Frederick Cook, who claimed President Obama had not proved that he is, in Hannity's words, “a U.S. citizen.” Hannity's story explained that Cook had his deployment orders revoked and that “Major Cook and his lawyer expressed joy at this outcome and they took it as an admission on the part of the military that the president is not in fact a legitimate citizen by birth.”

Fox Nation repeatedly promoted birther stories using picture of Obama in Somali clothes. On July 14, 2009, The Fox Nation featured these stories and images:

Obama Brith Certificate Ruling

On July 20, 2009, The Fox Nation featured this story and image:

Fox Nation 07/20/09

Fox Nation promoted WorldNetDaily birther story. On July 16, 2009, The Fox Nation featured the following image, linked to a story from WorldNetDaily promoting a birther's challenge to President Obama.

Obama Citizenship Fox Nation