Murdoch to endorse Obama?
This little nugget came from a story on Rupert Murdoch's gloomy take on the economy at a recent conference:
So is he optimistic about anything? Yes, he is: He's cautiously intrigued by... Barack Obama. Murdoch, who said that he was responsible for the New York Post's endorsement of Obama during the New York primary, said he wasn't ready to endorse Obama or to vote for him. But he's pretty close: "I want to be convinced that Obama is the real thing, that can really carry through. I'm open to that."
On McCain: "has been in Congress a long time, and you have to make a lot of compromises. So what's he really stand for?... I think he has a lot of problems."
What on earth with Fox News do if Murdoch comes out for Obama? Brit Hume's head might explode.
Link here:
http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/5/murdoch_u_s_economy_in_for_a_very_hard_time_
So is he optimistic about anything? Yes, he is: He's cautiously intrigued by... Barack Obama. Murdoch, who said that he was responsible for the New York Post's endorsement of Obama during the New York primary, said he wasn't ready to endorse Obama or to vote for him. But he's pretty close: "I want to be convinced that Obama is the real thing, that can really carry through. I'm open to that."
On McCain: "has been in Congress a long time, and you have to make a lot of compromises. So what's he really stand for?... I think he has a lot of problems."
What on earth with Fox News do if Murdoch comes out for Obama? Brit Hume's head might explode.
Link here:
http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/5/murdoch_u_s_economy_in_for_a_very_hard_time_
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As usual, none of the formatting works. Here is the relevant section from the story:
So is he optimistic about anything? Yes, he is: He's cautiously intrigued by... Barack Obama. Murdoch, who said that he was responsible for the New York Post's endorsement of Obama during the New York primary, said he wasn't ready to endorse Obama or to vote for him. But he's pretty close: "I want to be convinced that Obama is the real thing, that can really carry through. I'm open to that.
May 29, 2008 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
And here's the full link to the story:
http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/5/murdoch_u_s_economy_in_for_a_very_hard_time_
May 29, 2008 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
The signs point to a Murdoch endorsement of Obama.
His New York Post broke the "RFK assassination" story, carried a front-page picture repeating Drudge's claim that the Hillary camp had circulated a picture of Obama in Somali garb, and officially endorsed Obama over Hillary, also featuring the endorsement in the front page.
May 29, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
It’s Splitsville for Rupert and Hillary
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/business/media/04carr.html
"Mr. Murdoch’s politics are less ideological than a kind of enlightened pragmatism of being in favor of those who are in favor."
It's the power. Where does it bubble up from? From us. L'il ol' us.
What for centuries raised man above the beast is not the cudgel but the irresistible power of unarmed truth. Boris Pasternak
Silly Boris. The truth is its own cudgel.
May 29, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Murdoch obviously knows how to read the leaves in his afternoon tea. I believe that he really does think Obama will win. He is looking for opportunities to politically position himself with the coming Obama administration.
Murdoch further says he looks forward to meeting with Obama - all while his Newscorp(se) minions continue their ugly smears. Obama should reject and denounce.
May 29, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, Murdoch is all about the dollar. But, his endorsement would simply be acknowledgment that Obama's the man, so Obama can accept it as such. And if it means that Murdoch changes the way his operation does its business - great, Obama should take advantage of that. It's all part of the game.
May 29, 2008 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's clear that Murdoh likes Obama over Hillary, the question is will he endorse Obama in the general election. Hard to believe, but this quote seems to strongly suggest he's leaning that way.
If Murdoch does endorse Obama over McCain, it will be interesting to see the reaction from Fox News, and the future coverage of the Obama campaign.
Could they become more moderate? Is that conceivable?
May 29, 2008 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why that ungrateful weasel - and after all the nice things Hillary and her campaign have been saying about Fox News and the New York Post. If I were Hillary, I'd be very upset about being abandoned without even a thank-you after all that hard work and encouragement.
May 29, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's some more from Murdoch from a CNET story:
The tide is against the Republicans, and Obama could overcome the race issue. McCain, Murdoch said, is a friend, patriot, and decent guy, though he conceded also that he is unpredictable, has spent too much time in Washington, and is not great on the economy (which he said is in a recession) or organizationally adept.
Unpredictable?
Too much time in Washington?
Not great on the economy (in recession)?
Wow, control that enthusiasm, Rupert.
Link:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13953_3-9954449-80.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5
May 29, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rec'd!
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/05/seeing-no-evil-can-come-to-no.php
May 29, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink