Are Murdoch, Fox, And News Corp. Plotting A Shift Into The Blue?
by Nicole
The American public is used to getting its Fox News (or Faux News as we like to call it) served up through red-tinted spectacles, a phenomenon that The Daily Show parodied rather excellently in the clip above. But should the country shift into the blue come November, don't be surprised to see Fox bend with the wind of change, indeed there are major signs that it already is.
As we previously reported, in the late 90's there was a significant shift in the editorial slant of Fox owner Rupert Murdoch's British news outlets as Margaret Thatcher and John Major's monetarist (read: right-wing / Republican) empire was being swept aside due to increasing popular support for "New Labour" (akin to our left-leaning Democrats) and its promise of more egalitarian trickle-up economics. Sensing the changing political tide, Murdoch held a come-to-Jesus meeting with Labour leader Tony Blair in Australia in Dec '96, where it was agreed that some of his outlets would switch teams in exchange for future political concessions. In May '97, with Murdoch's support, Blair swept to victory in the General Elections, becoming the first Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in nearly two decades.
It seems that the Murdoch clan may be laying the groundwork for a similar seismic shift here in the U.S.. In an editorial published on Jan 30 of this year the Murdoch/News Corp. owned New York Post endorsed Obama, ironically claiming (given the politics of the paper's mother ship) that, "Obama represents a fresh start."
Now the Murdoch/Obama connection is getting more personal. On April 28 Rupert's daughter Elisabeth is planning a discreet fundraiser for Barack Obama at her London home. Gwyneth Paltrow is one of the event's co-chairs, and VIP tickets are priced at the individual donation limit of $2,300 (see invite below).
The Daily Mantra thinks that people can be judged by the quality of their friends. How do you feel about the ones Obama is getting into bed with?
| 04/11/08
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