Lou Dobbs Leaving CNN (Video)

Our sister blog TVNewser is reporting that CNN’s Lou Dobbs is leaving the network, effective immediately after tonight’s broadcast. From Kevin Allocca:

Breaking: TVNewser has heard from multiple sources that Lou Dobbs will announce he is leaving CNN on his program tonight at 7 p.m. ET.

A CNN spokesperson could not confirm nor deny that Dobbs would make an announcement about his future at CNN or that he will be leaving the network.

Dobbs originally joined CNN in 1980.

We will be watching and updating.

The New York Times has a report here.

Update: Here’s Dobbs making the announcement at the beginning of tonight’s show:

This will be my last broadcast here on CNN, where I’ve worked for most of the past 30 years, and where I have many friends and colleagues whom I admire deeply and respect greatly. I’m the last of the original anchors here on CNN and I’m proud to have had the privilege to helping to build the world’s first news network. I’m grateful for the many opportunities that CNN has given me over the many years. I’ve tried to reciprocate with a full measure of my ability and my energy.

Over the past six months it’s become increasingly clear that strong winds of change have begun buffeting this country and affecting all of us, and some leaders in media, politics, and business have been urging me to go beyond the role at CNN and to engage in constructive problem solving as well as to contribute positively to the great understanding of the issues of our day. And to continue to do so in the most honest and direct language possible. I’ve talked extensively with Jonathan Klein, he’s the president of CNN, and as a result of those talks, Jon and I have agreed to a release from my contract that will enable me to pursue new opportunities.

At this point, I’m considering a number of options, and directions, and I assure you, I will let you know when I set my course.

Here’s the video of his comments:

OK, this couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the weird marijuana badinage he engaged in two nights ago with Wolf Blitzer and Jessica Yellin, could it? It sounds beyond belief, but I have to ask.

If you saw that item (and watched the video), you may recall Wolf Blitzer saying to Dobbs:

“You could smell the marijuana, Lou, but you probably couldn’t recognize a plant. Am I right or wrong?” Dobbs seems to put an end to the embarrassing nonsense when he replies, “Well, you’re dead wrong. I would recognize it rather readily.”

It can’t be, right? Can it?

Far more likely is that Dobbs is leaving to take a job at Fox. Times writers Brian Stelter and Bill Carter report that Dobbs met last month with Fox News Channel chairman Roger Ailes.

On the other hand, Dobbs’s comments tonight almost sound as if he’s considering running for public office: “Some leaders in media, politics, and business have been urging me to go beyond the role at CNN and to engage in constructive problem solving as well as to contribute positively to the great understanding of the issues of our day.”

A presidential bid? The GOP field is wide open, his ego appears up to the task, plus his anti-immigration views mesh with the party’s base. It’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out.

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