http://www.humaneventsonline.com/blog-detail.php?id=14727
Murdoch Defends Plan to Host Hillary Fundraiser; Calls Her 'Effective, Good Senator'
By: Robert B. Bluey
News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch, owner of Fox News and the New York Post, said today that he his standing by his decision to host a political fundraiser for Sen. Hillary Clinton later this year.
During a conference call about his companyâs robust earnings report, I asked Murdoch what conservatives are to make of his willingness to support the liberal New York senator. (Listen to Murdoch's response in Windows Media and MP3 formats.)
âIt will be pretty modest support,â Murdoch said. âItâs giving the opportunity to people in our office who want to join us at a breakfast.
âWe think that sheâs been effective on state issues and local issues here in a New York. Sheâs been an effective and good senator. And if people want to come to breakfast for $1,000, theyâre welcome. Itâs no big deal. Itâs not a million-dollar raising. Itâs got nothing to do with anything other than her Senate re-election.â
A News Corp. press officer invited HUMAN EVENTS to participate in the callâand ask about Hillaryâfollowing my report last night about a speech Murdoch gave to conservatives without mentioning the topic.
Last nightâs speech at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., came a day after the Drudge Report broke the story about Murdochâs decision to raise money for Clinton. The news was the talk of the town, leading some pundits to speculate that Murdoch was making a strategic move similar to his embrace of Tony Blair over conservatives in the United Kingdom.
Murdoch chose not to broach the subject during his speech to conservatives. He was in Washington to receive the Phillips Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award and honor recipients of the foundationâs journalism fellowship awards. He kept his remarks focused on Fox News and his other journalistic enterprises.
During a pre-dinner reception before Murdoch was honored, he entertained and chatted with some of the conservative movementâs VIPs. But everyone I talked to said they were either too nervous or simply too afraid to bring up the Hillary question.
When I told one attendee I planned to corner Murdoch and ask him about it, he suggested I avoid interacting with the News Corp. chairman for fear of angering the honored guest.
Following his speech, I made my way to the front of the room to ask the question no one else would dare pose to Murdoch: What are conservatives to make of his raising money for Hillary? Alas, I was too late. Murdoch made a dash for the door, and I missed him.
Today, however, after seeing my story, a News Corp. press officer called to apologize. He said Murdoch would have been happy to answer my questions about Hillary. He then offered me the opportunity to take part in this afternoonâs call.
Mr. Bluey is editor of Human Events Online.