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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

Destroying Rupert Murdoch

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  July 19th, 2011 at 05:00 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

In 1998, a reporter at the Cincinnati Enquirer, Michael Gallagher, wrote an 18 page exposé on Chiquita Brands International and its corporate goings on in Central America. The report sourced phone calls leaked to the newspaper.

In fact, Gallagher had illegally tapped into Chiquita’s phone system.

In 2010, NBC’s parent company General Electric paid a $23.5 million settlement to the SEC on allegations that its subsidiaries bribed Iraqi officials to win UN contracts.

In neither case was Gannett, the parent of the Cincinnati Enquirer, or GE hauled before Congress with its CEO sworn in to answer questions about their conduct.

In neither case did media sensationalize what was going on.

But things are different with Rupert Murdoch. Why? Because he is amazingly successful and many other media properties unwilling or unable to compete would rather destroy him than innovate ahead of him.

The story of what News of the World did is news and it is bad and it should be punished. But the level of piling on with no evidence against Murdoch or even his son, James, is astounding. They are being tried in the court of public opinion solely because of their last name.

But beyond that, critics in the United States are using the situation as an excuse to go after the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and other Murdoch properties. There are no allegations of wrong doings at those other properties, but their competitors just can’t help themselves.

Rupert Murdoch is a genuine success story. He has pushed the news forward. And, oh by the way, his properties tend to hover around the center or right of center while most publications with dwindling readers *cough* New York Times *cough* continue their drift left and slow decline.

The witch hunt against Murdoch personally is political and professional payback from folks he has bested. It is not surprising, but conservatives should be willing to step up and defend News Corp and Murdoch. Their subsidiary newspaper behaved horribly. Those trying now to exact revenge on Murdoch are behaving just as horribly.

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  • victrola

    Papers like the New York Times will violate national security laws that put people’s lives in danger and win Pulitzers, yet a tabloid level paper taps into some B list celebrity’s phone and it’s national outrage?

    Can you imagine the squealing on the Left if we hauled in NYT’s Pinch Sulzberger in front of Congress if a reporter crossed the line?

    The Left is never going to forgive Murdoch, he simply needs to start playing some offense instead of continually getting kicked while he’s on the ground.

  • johnnyd

    I email my support, but I’m affraid that the email I found on the net might be old or no longer used. It also might be full.

    rmurdoch@newscorp.com

    I wish I could work for him.

    I have heard reports that some of his kids are liberals and that Fox News will change after his death. Does anyone have any info on this?

  • msctex

    . . .but they do not do at all well against opponents both willing to and capable of fighting back.

    For reasons I will never fathom, Bush practically indulged them in this regard for eight years, never pointing out the obvious until the lies became taken for granted. Murdoch has no such inexplicable masochism.

  • Ned Reck

    They stick together… like musk ox forming a protective perimeter. (With the exception of the Weenie.)

    Sure hope other powerhouses like Erick step up… ’cause I ain’t got the power of popcorn f@rt. Where’s all the folks that have greatly benefited from Murdock’s fair and balance?

    Folks… it ain’t bein’ brave to step up… it’s the RIGHT thing to do. Look what that man has done.

    Ned Reck

  • renny

    And surely the WSJ, the NYPost, and FOX are big boys all on their own. Actually, last year, the WSJ and Post were two of the only 3 US newspapers that were gaining both subscribers and ads.

    Yes, the World Whatever tabloid in the UK was off its rocker and should be closed and whoever promoted hacking private phones and wire taps should be apprehended and prosecuted. I do not think that is Murdoch himself. But he can afford any legal defense money can buy.

    For itself, the WSJ is already on its own attack. And we on the right need people like Murdoch (atlho’ he gave a hefty amount to Hillary’s primary campaign) to keep our communications and principles before the public in a way the NYTimes will never do.

  • trutexan

    I hadn’t done much research into the story and didn’t even question the media spin about Murdoch. I always learn so much on this site.

  • Doc Holliday

    but I will say it again. This is going to morph into a general attack on Fox News in this country. The left will try to destroy Fox as the only network that allows conservative views to be heard. There will be a concerted campaign to tar Fox and Republicans until the end of the general election.

  • runner12

    The man shut down the paper when all of this came out. What more would you have him do? Every single person on the paper lost their job, I think that is quite a severe enough consequence and a just one.

    But the Left wants blood. Their goal is to suppress any dissent from their Progressive idealogy. They only like the 1st Amendment when it suits them and they shred it when it does not. It irks them to no end that the majority of Americans do not read their newspapers, blogs, nor do they watch their “news” programs. It also scares them because they know if this continues their days are numbered.

    Fight on Mr. Murdoch, don’t let the Leftist tyrants win.

  • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

    Fox News and Rupert Murdoch and the Republicans any other time . . .?

    I’ve gotten used to it. I suggest we all try to develop as thick a skin as Mr. Murdoch and son.

  • proudgop

    I think Rupert will be fine he has Wendy in his corner talk about a bitch slap she gave to that wanna be pie thrower

  • doncorleone

    Soros and his caste of minions wouldn’t be behind any of this, now, would he? Even with the demise of “news of the world”, newscorp’s european holdings are only 1% of his total pie, but the bad publicity has cost him greatly. The european contagion spreading to the u.s. seems to be working, at least at the onset. And by-the by, has anyone reported on the political affiliations of all of those folks involved in the wiretapping? Another question, does it seem a little “timely”, when the only news source that is covering all of the “fast and furiouses”,( and that kettle’s really stating to boil), would get this much attention? It’s getting “curiouser and curiouser”.

  • Doc Holliday

    the Dems will try to get the feds involved. Oh yeah, they are the feds, so it won’t be so hard. I am saying we need to be prepared to fight, not just whistle past the graveyard.

  • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

    The Libs will feel like they have had their day in court against Murdoch, and, as usual, nothing will come of it. Murdoch did the right thing in closing the tabloid, and by the time it’s over, the Dimocrats in in Congress will be falling all over each other trying to shake Rupert’s hand, telling him what a great American he is (considering he’s Australian) for closing that “corrupt” newspaper.

    I am personally convinced that Rupert Murdoch is more intelligent than all 535 members of Congress combined, and he will have them eating out of his hand by the time this affair is over. In the meantime, I am putting on my thick skin. I suggest you do likewise.

  • gunslingr45

    I heard it was a “R” rep that was demanding the FBI investigate the alleged phone hacking of 9-11 families?. Does he not think this would have not come up in the last 10 years? (Think liberal main stream media.)

    SO MANY RINOS, so little time…

  • carolynr

    Any comments to the contrary…I doubt it

  • mine

    Where are the inquiries into Soros funded Media Matters? This is a “get Fox” moment. We have to fight the agenda.

  • Christian

    Doesn’t that make for a difference?

  • http://uslibertyjournal.blogspot.com/ Daezy

    This whole thing is making me sick. Anyone else under this attack would be hiding behind lawyers and bodyguards.

    Mr. Murdoch has not only agreed to appear, but has bent over backwards to make amends, and has shown true compassion for all who have been harmed by this. He has personally met with the injured parties, and I can’t think of ANYONE that would be as gracious today.

    The liberal press is frothing at the mouth for a chance to bring this man down, and his empire, and I pray goodness will out.

    The left destroys!

  • williamjameson

    Does anyone think tabloids got lucky with Senator John Edwards? The tabloid knew which floor and room number Johnny was meeting with Rielle Hunter.

    What about Media Matters? Media Matters claimed they received FOX News emails and supposedly talked with Fox executives yet they’ve never produced one witness nor a witness with his face and voice concealed. Fox has been hacked and MSNBC discussed the story on several evening shows including Christy Matthews and Ed Schultz;s show. What did they know and when?

    WaPo reports on Fox emails
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/15/AR2010121503181.html

    MM Fecal Brain drooling over emails that were most likely stolen via hacking. Hacking isn’t that hard, remember the young guy in Tennessee who hacked Governor Sarah Palin’s email?
    http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/media-matters-launching-whistleblower-medi

    Fox News Ticker hacked with false message displayed
    http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20067801-71.html

    Fox news twitter account hacked, where’s AG Eric Holder? Good thing the Secret Service are involved.
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/jul/04/hacking-twitter-feed-fix-news

    Tabloids are dirty and the UK ones operate under different rules but since a little proof has come to life then Republicans must insist on investigations into GE, Gannett, the tabloids and Media Matters.

    This scandal have little affect on Newscorp US operations, even the alleged phone hacking of a 9/11 victim has been discussed but no one has produced proof. We’ll see what they produce before condemning anyone.

    Liberals prefer to convict first then prove the facts with sometimes flimsy evidence, its more about promoting hatred and lies than truth.. What liberals have done is call attention to things lefties have done that they’d just as soon forget. Paybacks a bitch.

  • williamjameson

    ridiculous demands for conformity while they never complain about MSNBC aka MSDNC the media arm of the democratic party. The real story is for decades liberals controlled the news with the usual majority of writers or TV hosts. Before Rush Limbaugh the political radio world was generic and boring. Americans like conservative radio hosts more and it kills libs thinking its unfair while libs continue to hire dullards who are paid less, lol. Murdoch broke that Utopian mold and the mental illness grew.

    Life is getting better because liberals can’t lie and conceal their corruption. With so many media outlets the democrats will never hold a congressional majority for 40 years again. Murdoch can be thanked for being part of that too.