Rupert Murdoch, Chief of News Corporation which is the parent company of Fox News, was interviewed by Fortune Magazine. He was asked about Fox News’ role in American politics. Murdoch’s answers were shocking.
Murdoch was asked in the interview if Fox News “has contributed in a big way to the political discontent in the US, degraded the political process, and maybe, in spotlighting the Tea Party, even hurt the Republican party?”
Murdoch replied: “I think it has absolutely saved it. It has certainly given voice and hope to people who didn’t like all that liberal championing thrown at them on CNN. By the way, we don’t promote the Tea Party. That’s bull****. We recognize their existence.”
What’s really bull**** is Murdoch’s contention that Fox doesn’t promote the Tea Party. We’ve repeatedly documented Fox’s promoting the Tea Party. For example, in 2013, Fox ditched coverage of President Obama’s speech in Berlin in favor of discussing a Tea party protest; in 2009, On The Record covered a Tea Party event “as if you were there” and in 2012, promoted a Tea Party DVD. In 2013, Fox psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow likened Tea Party members to slaves on the verge of revolt.
Media Matters has more examples, including documenting 107 advertisements on Fox promoting its April 15, 2009 Tea Party coverage from events around the country.
Fox could have changed its slogan to “We promote, you retort.”
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