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Subscribe to RSSA panel of British lawmakers have declared media mogul Rupert Murdoch 'not a fit person' to run a major international company. NBC's Jim Maceda reports.
Updated at 11:24 a.m. ET: LONDON -- Rupert Murdoch is unfit to run a major international company, British lawmakers said on Tuesday, finding him responsible for a culture of illegal phone hacking that has convulsed his News Corporation media empire.
Pulling few punches, members of the House of Common listed failings of the 81-year-old News Corp chief, his son James and a company they said had showed "willful blindness" about the scale of hacking that existed at the company's News of the World tabloid.
The cross-party parliamentary committee, which approved the report by a majority of six to four, also scolded News Corp's British newspaper arm for misleading the British parliament during its five year investigation into the hacking of the phones of celebrities, murder victims, politicians and soldiers.
But it split along party lines, with members from Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative Party voting against the final conclusions of the report, saying they did not agree with its view on Murdoch's fitness to run a company.
Carl Court / AFP - Getty Images
Opposition Labour member of parliament Tom Watson, center, speaks during the launch of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee report on Phone-Hacking.
Cameron, who has acknowledged that Britain's political elite had been in thrall to the Murdochs for years, is facing criticism ahead of local elections this week that he was too close to the media tycoon.
The report, published only a week after Rupert Murdoch gave evidence at a separate public inquiry into UK media ethics, said there had been huge failures in corporate governance which raised questions about the competence of Rupert's 39-year-old son, James.
"News International and its parent News Corporation exhibited willful blindness, for which the companies' directors -including Rupert Murdoch and James Murdoch - should ultimately take responsibility," it said.
Olivia Harris / Reuters
The report says News Corp's British subsidiary misled Parliament about the scale of phone hacking at its News of the World tabloid.
It provides a devastating account of how employees of News Corp's UK arm became involved in illegal activity and how its executives then attempted to cover up the wrongdoing. Corporately, the firm's "instinct throughout, until it was too late, was to cover up rather than seek out wrongdoing," it said.
"We conclude, therefore, that Rupert Murdoch is not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company," it wrote.
As so often in scandals, the attempted cover-up attracted the most criticism. The committee noted that, by June 2008, the chief executive of England's Professional Footballers Association, Gordon Taylor, had received a payment from News Corp's UK arm worth more than $1 million. The report says, this cash "was paid over a story which was never actually published and was clearly done to buy silence".
The committee said it could not "come to a definitive conclusion" as to what James Murdoch knew when he agreed this payment. But it said it was "astonished" that James Murdoch did not seek more information before authorising this "not inconsequential" sum of money. It concludes that, for James Murdoch, "this clearly raises questions of competence".
Murdoch: Hacking scandal cost 'hundreds of millions'
The hacking scandal has not affected most of Murdoch's global media empire, which includes the Wall Street Journal, 20th Century Fox and pay-TV operations around the world.
But it could persuade shareholders of News Corp that Australian-born Rupert Murdoch should step back from the helm of his $50 billion media empire.
Rupert and James Murdoch are severely criticized after investigations into phone-hacking allegations - and three of their senior executives are accused of misleading parliament. ITN's Juliet Bremner reports.
It has already forced James Murdoch to sever almost all his ties with Britain, although he still holds a directorship of Britain's biggest satellite TV firm BSkyB, which News Corp had sought to take over before the scandal.
British media regulator Ofcom is investigating whether BSkyB, which is 39 percent owned by News Corp, is a "fit and proper" owner of a broadcast license, which entails an examination of the company's officers and shareholders.
James Murdoch recently stepped down as chairman of BSkyB in response to the scrutiny the broadcaster is facing as a result of the hacking scandal. The regulator said on Tuesday it was reading the parliamentary report with interest.
The impact of the report may also be diminished by the fact it was split largely along party political lines.
"None of us were able to support the report and we all voted against it," Conservative lawmaker Louise Mensch said, referring to her party members. "It will be correctly seen as a partisan report and we've lost a very great deal of its credibility, which is an enormous shame."
Mensch said she would have supported the report if the reference to Rupert Murdoch being unfit to run a major international company had been removed. She said she supported the report's findings that three senior executives at News Corp's UK arm had misled parliament.
James Murdoch was back at the Leveson inquiry, where he claimed he didn't know about phone-hacking at News Corp's U.K. unit, and didn't remember being told about it. ITV's Juliet Bremner reports.
Murdoch, who took London by storm in the 1960s before moving to New York on his quest to become the world's most powerful media tycoon, has apologized for the scandal.
He told a judicial inquiry into press ethics last week that senior staff at his British newspaper publisher had hidden the hacking scandal, saying he had been betrayed by minions.
News Corp said in a statement it was carefully reviewing the report, adding that it "fully acknowledges significant wrongdoing at News of the World and apologizes to everyone whose privacy was invaded".
Rupert Murdoch tells UK phone-hack inquiry: 'I'm not good at holding my tongue'
Media regulator Ofcom will take the report's findings into consideration in its continuing assessment of whether BSkyB's owners and directors are "fit and proper" persons to hold a broadcast license.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
It really does not matter when the Murdochs found out about the hacking, they should have known what was going on. If they did not, then it was a case of willful blindness since there were enough irregularities regarding payment that were being made and other activities that they should have been asking questions. They should both be barred from ever again having any management control or authority over any new organization in the UK. I would say any news organization anywhere, but there has not been any evidence presented yet that this type of thing went on outside the UK. If they want to continue to maintain ownership interest in their businesses in the UK, they should be forced to do so through some sort of blind trust type arrangement that keeps them out of any decision making involving the firms. If the Murdochs are found to have had any direct role in approving any of the illegal acts then they should face prosecution and prison time. What went on at New Corp organizations in the UK is completely unnacceptable.
Found out?................Or directed their people to do it?
O come on now, let's be fair and balanced in our assessments of the Murdochs. They would do the same for anyone else, right?
PPPPPLLLLLEEEAAAASSSSEEE!!!!! If the tabloid were caught taping Sarah Palin they would of given them an award. The guy owns media all over the world and he was suppose to know the inner workings of some two bit UK Tabloid? The hacking was wrong, but this has more to do with bringing down an enemy of the political elite then it does anything about privacy and hacking. The people behind the hacking have already been arrested and charged, so why the push to go after Murdoch? Because he controls many media outlets and they want to send a message to all those who don't tow the line and this hacking scandel has given them a cover to go after someone they hate.
"so why the push to go after Murdoch?" Really? In all orgs. the buck stops at the top. They take the big risks and rake in the big profits. My hope is this leads to a fuller investigation of the criminal and manipulative practices going on right here, by this disgraced Murdoch gang that runs the right wing media here in the US. You think his practices are all "fair and balanced" on Fox News? Really?
Michelle,
Thank you for proving my point! You want them to go after him not because of the Hacking Scandel, but because you view him as some "right wing" media mogul. Fox News has NOTHING to do with this case of a UK Tabloid, but you don't care about that do you? No you want anyone who disagrees with you investigated, and silenced. The "buck" stops at the top? Really? Solyndra, Ener1, Beacon Power?
Logic, that spin won't work anymore. You need some new lines. There is already plenty of evidience of their "hacking" practices here, and it's just the tip of the old iceberg. Face facts.
Give facts.
Pull his card, do away with faux news! They are bunch of racist tea baggers and liers. Good morning to all my Liberal friends and family.
Rupert Murdoch has left destruction in every country where he has a footprint - Australia, Russia, The USA, and Great Britain to name a few. He is a bored old man and has played with manipulation of the public thru his newspapers for years for amusement and profit. Fox Tabloid News is only another example of his lowering the cultural bar in every country where he has set up business. It is only a matter of time before TRUTH will catch up with him in the USA just as it has in Russia, Great Britain and Australia. Do your own research -google what the Aussies and Brits think of him and why!
American citizen? Yes he is...he became one when he learned that only a US Citizen could sign FCC paperwork to set up another one of his tabloid empires in the USA. If you believe that he is squeaky clean here, I have a bridge I would love to sell to you! In fact, if you are gullible enough to fall for the "fair and balanced" claims of his US Tabloid News on TV, I have a bridge, a used car, and some gold to sell to you!
Tell us "Logic Required" what the law says about bribery and hacking here in the U.S.? If a U.S. company or citizen is caught doing either, whether foreign or domestic, they can be charged in the U.S. Also consider that Fox's broadcast license can be revoked just for Murdoch being associated with what happened in the U.K. Will it happen? Hard to say. It would seem this is only the beginning of a long public battle.
As for your whining whimper about facts, google the archive of columns about this topic. It's been going on for years now in the U.K. If you don't know the story, don't assume the rest of us don't.
Have you considered Rupert is actually the criminal some people says he is?
Rupert Murdoch: "Failure to maintain ethical standards can be incredibly expensive, in the hundreds of millions."
No, Murdoch. Your ethical failures cannot be counted in terms of money. Your brand of journalism is lies, propaganda, and sensationalism. Tabloid journalism has overtaken America, thanks to you.
Murdoch needs to go. Fox 'News' needs to be shut down. The Wall Street Journal needs to be returned to American ownership. A free and fair press is too important to this democracy to leave a ruthless plutocrat like Murdoch in power.
BOYCOTT MURDOCH!
LogicRequired,
RE: your post #1.5
Sorry Logic, but in the U.S. an FBI investigation is underway, as I type, concerning Fox News and the possibility that they were indeed doing some of the same shenanigans at Fox News in the U.S., as were going on in England at New Corp. All you have to do is Google 'Fox News under investigation' to get the TRUTH. However, I am sure you will deny any fact that is contrary to your political underpinnings. That has been and will continue to be a problem for way too many conservatives. In fact, that is what is destroying the Republican Party! Just like Rupert and Mike Murdock were/are in denial, you also seem to have a propensity to do the same. That is, to ignore facts, evidence, and sound critical reasoning. Below is just one of many citations, but I suspect that you will not even attempt ot ferret out the truth. However that is your perogative and problem.
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/26/world/europe/uk-murdoch-media-empire/?hpt=ieu_t4
Murdock equates to zero integrity and that lack of integrity permeates everything he touches including FOX NEWS
It was obvious from day 1 that Murdoch wasn't fit to run the company.
Exactly, MJC.
So why is he allowed to spread his propaganda here? The U.S. relies upon a free and fair press to inform our citizenry. Murdoch is Australian (never mind that he became a U.S. citizen for business purposes--he is Australian) and he has NO LOYALTY to this country or to our democratic process. He is in it solely for money and power.
Murdoch has been manipulating the political process in the U.K. for years, making and breaking their politicians and using them to enrich himself while he holds the cards to the press they receive.
Why are we allowing this to happen to the United States of America?
Exactly, MJC.
So why is he allowed to spread his propaganda here? The U.S. relies upon a free and fair press to inform our citizenry. Murdoch is Australian (never mind that he became a U.S. citizen for business purposes--he is Australian) and he has NO LOYALTY to this country or to our democratic process. He is in it solely for money and power.
Murdoch has been manipulating the political process in the U.K. for years, making and breaking their politicians and using them to enrich himself while he holds the cards to the press they receive.
Why are we allowing this to happen to the United States of America?
I'll take the conclusions of this panel one logical step further. People who watch Faux news and believe it to actually be news (like that oxymoron Logic Required) are not fit to do something as important as voting.
We knew this.
And like Eric, I'd say regarding most of the rags produced by Murdoch, most of their readers aren't fit to read.
Kaybeetoys-there is an excellent documentary titled "Videocracy" which is Italian released a few years prior, it goes into the propaganda machine in Italy. I recommend this to anyone wanting to understand media with the ability to draw comparisons to other regions in the world. Why is propaganda legal? Ask heavy hitters at p.r. firms across the country in the U.S., they deal with manipulating the press in America daily, catering to celebrity, media moguls and on their same rooster of clients is "politicians" its all in a days work and way to sell their clients to the public.
He built his empire on a foundation created from the lowest forms of yellow journalism. Tabloids are called scandal rags for a reason.
He has always been someone who would go as low as he could and caring not for any level of civility to sell a 'paper'. He began to spread his filth to real newspapers and media outlets. His primary reason for supporting the Conservatives here is they gave him free reign to do that. Giuliani is the one who forced Time Warner in NYC to carry Fox News under threat of losing this franchise. And you cannot say it was over the cable nets politics, it was not on the air yet. Time Warner did not see the reason to have more News than it already had, which included about 7-8 networks, cablers etc. But Giuliani forced them and was rewarded by the Post and on Fox. (Why cross media ownership is bad in the same market).
Let's take a look at a few items (we won't call them facts, Republicans don't like facts): 1. Ruport Murdoch's newspapers presented bribes to foreign officials. 2. The newspapers profited from those bribes. 3. Murdoch profited from his newspapers. 4. It is illegal for a US company to profit from illegally bribing foriegn officials. 5. Murdoch know or should have known of the bribes. 6 Murdoch should be charged in the US under the foreign corrupt practices act.
Put the scum in jail, and tell his cell mates he was making money by hacking into the cell phones of the family of a missing little girl. That's the fair and balanced way to deal with this.
Since when is it government's responsibility to deem citizens "fit" or "unfit" to run private enterprises?! If someone commits crimes, then prosecute them. If not, then don't. It would seem that this is just the latest tactic of the left to try to remove influential right-wingers from their positions of influence.
And that's the point. The greedy zeal with which Murdoch runs his Corporations is not unique. We experienced an economic crisis because the heads of Banks & Corporations took full advantage of regulatory neglect and ran after the money, not matter who, or if their country, got hurt in the long run. Robosignings, MBS's, outright thievery, excessive fee charging--you name it. No one is opposed to a bank or corporation making money, but to defraud clients and employees is criminal. The only reason more aren't dragged into a congressional investigation is because so many congresspeople are part of it.
We don't have a chance unless we wake up and make sure we put some decent people in office instead of those looking to inflate the size of their portfolios. And down with Citizens United, which gives corporations like Murdoch's a say in how this country is run.
The only people who will defend Murdoch here, are the drones who watch Faux News.
Blah... blah... blah...
Idiots.
Logic Required, (?) you can't stand the facts, and if you don't know by now, you wouldn't believe "facts" anyway. Find your own facts to disprove what I said. ??????????????????
JS in SD "It really does not matter when the Murdochs found out about the hacking, they should have known what was going on. If they did not, then it was a case of willful blindness"
It really does not matter when the Obamas found out about the scandalous conduct of the Secret Service, they should have known what was going on. If they did not, then it was a case of willful blindness.
See how silly that can sound?
LogicReguired Comment collapsed by the community
Since the liberals on this vine seem to 'censor' conflicting opinions, I will repeat your OPINION post.
'PPPPLLLLLEEEAAAASSSSEEE!!!!! If the tabloid were caught taping Sarah Palin they would of given them an award. The guy owns media all over the world and he was suppose to know the inner workings of some two bit UK Tabloid? The hacking was wrong, but this has more to do with bringing down an enemy of the political elite then it does anything about privacy and hacking. The people behind the hacking have already been arrested and charged, so why the push to go after Murdoch? Because he controls many media outlets and they want to send a message to all those who don't tow the line and this hacking scandel has given them a cover to go after someone they hate.'
howaboutthis-2165675 "I wonder how long Fox News would stay on the air if absolutely no one ever watched them."
America is a 'center-right' country, but the vast majority of the media is 'center-left', so they go to Fox for some balance, which is why they usually outperform most of the other cable news outlets combined.
michelle-1073610 ""so why the push to go after Murdoch?" Really? In all orgs. the buck stops at the top"
Except for Obama - he's always able to find someone to 'blame', and the media plays along.
Great point howaboutthis however more people watch Fox then CNN and MSNBC combined and if MSNBC had any integrity they'd be writing real news stories about former Dem Gov. John Corzine stealing billions of dollars from people through the MF global scandal but MSNBC would never create a true story about one of the biggest fund raisers for the Democrate party. Or how bout they write a story telling the truth about Eric Holder and the Obama administration selling guns illegally to Mexican drug lords, but that probably won't happen either.
You and three other people tune into MSNBC to get your news nobody else with half a brain cares....
Get his Butt over here in the States and Grill his butt in the Senate then take ownership of all news organizations in the states away from him then give him and his son a nice cozy 6 by 8 cell
Great thinking sez me u wacko and while you're at it why don't you bring back the Nazis, Stalin and Pol pot regime as well.
Thank you so much for your inteligent commentary.
LOLOLOL is that you're best attempt at wit how.
How very sad and embarrassing for your parents....
Duh. I wonder how long MSNBC would stay on the air if no one watched. I wonder how long Apple would last if no one bought their products. What's your point? Of COURSE they wouldn't stay on the air if no one watched. That's how capitalism works. But the point is that millions DO watch. In fact, more watch Fox than watch MSNBC or CNN (or both combined).
Lots of Americans HAVE gotten together and have decided that Fox news is the one place that will report things that the other networks refuse to cover for political reasons. You should try watching sometime. You might be shocked at how much goes on in the world that YOUR news station decides you don't need to know about.
Everyone, including Teabagging right-wingers, knows what is going on here. Murdoch is a modern day robber baron and ideologue that believes might-is-right and in this world might = $$$. Of course Teabaggers love him for this because in their minds the ends justify the means. Murdochs means have been exposed to include payoffs, bribes, lies, deceit, all used to further his global propaganda empire. His vast wealth was extracted by parasitic manipulation of the democratic system of government and from western society.
In America there is no law against blatant propaganda disguised as "news" and thus we have Fox News and the rest of his talk-radio, and print media right-wing media empire. However, once Murdoch and his equally despicable son was exposed for running companies conducting illegal activities his propaganda activities crossed the line into criminal enterprise. Fox News and the rest of Murdochs empire should lose all licensing from the people of America and his stations should be sold-off or dismantled.
Restore some legitimacy to our democratic system and to politics, prosecute Murdoch and strip him of his destructive media empire.
Truth is by nature self-evident. As soon as you remove the cobwebs of ignorance that surround it, it shines clear.
Mahatma Gandhi
ah, Old Man Murdoch removed -one cobweb down!
(I wonder what it feels like to realize that you have been suckered by one of Murdoch's Tabloid News Outlets.)
What is that telling you about fox Tabloid news !!!
ROY WILSON-336103 - I am now dumber for reading your comments....What are you talking about? You compare unethical tactics in politics and media free press with some secret service guys that hooked up with hookers before the Presidents arrival in a country? This is what is wrong with this country ....Silliness and blind hatred....One in no way compares to the other and I am quite mortified that some idiot is trying to justify these terribly unethical actions of Rupert's just because they share a party....You should be ashamed of yourself sir!
Noam Chomsky proved with DATA in the sixties and seventies that MEDIA in America and worldwide is controlled by corporations and their partners in crime, the government(s).
The media hates him, but seriously respects him, and call him the most intellectual man living. Politicians hate him and they have learned never to debate him. (William F. Buckley debate anyone?)
Rupert Murdoch's empire of greed, and lust for power and money, proves Mr Chomsky was right and reinforces that the world is not getting news. They are getting propaganda and infotainment and nothing more.
Remember to tune into all your favorite news corporations for the REAL news! (sarcasm)
Matt-1883244:
RE: your post #1.31
More people watch Fox Noise because, generally speaking, more people are ignorant than smart! I know, not the right answer for you, correct? There is a correlation between what people watch, read, espouse, and believe in relation to their IQ's and education level. Don't believe this is true? Check it out, Google, "who is smarter and have higher IQ's, liberals or conservatives?". Most of the 'hits' (324,000) support that liberals are both smarter and have higher IQ's. Ever wonder why that is a FACT?
Sean Hannity is the worst of fox Tabloid news, the guy is a total Phony !!!
You are kidding, aren't you? When crimes are committed, you actually believe that private enterprise is going to clean up their own mess? This is tantamount to thinking Wall Street is capable of policing themselves, and Bankers are looking out for their customers.
In response to Logic Required:
You raise several excellent points, Logic, but don't expect the lefties on this MSNBC "progressive" site to think logically... or rationally for that matter. Note how all comments from anyone approaching conservative views is immediately "collapsed"... It's just that they're fearful of learning an opinion that differs from theirs... like the words are some kind of poison.... Sick group, but that's libbies! They think they're all sooooo much smarter and kinder and more human than conservatives.... (Right, Scrambolo?)
Wow, now a government is saying someone is "unfit" to run a PRIVATE business. Is the U.K. the new United Nations bull horn ?
There is MORE government CORRUPTION across the globe than ever. Just look at what is going with our "elite" Congressional Representatives, what is going on in those back room wheels and deals, and especially what is going on in our government agencies (most recently.....GSA, Secret Service, and now ICE).
Yeah, I really love hearing about the Democratic spokes people......Hilary Rosen, Ed Schultz, Bill Mahers, and Chris Matthews for example. They are such "up-standing" non-journalists and non-news reporters. Talk about tabloids. Yeah, they must have a combined I.Q. of 100....a bit higher than most of their "party".
Bruce-308647....."Lots of Americans HAVE gotten together and have decided that Fox news is the one place that will report things that the other networks refuse to cover for political reasons. You should try watching sometime. You might be shocked at how much goes on in the world that YOUR news station decides you don't need to know about."
For example, it was reported today on ANOTHER news network about the ICE official taking bribes and kick backs, but yet MSNBC has failed to report it. TYPICAL.
Another black eye for the DHS and this administration's Liberal Cabinet members, yet Ms. Napolitano remains in her job.
Is it possible that these commenter's with names followed by numbers are shills?
Check it out, the posts are so similar (both sides of the argument). Like they are pulling talking points off a board.
@scrambolo,
I have a friend who is a PhD research psycologist whose basic specialty is doing fMRIs to find out what parts "light up" whan different stimuli are given a person. One of the more interesting parts of research he has done is to correlate some of the findings with political orientation. In one experiment, he has a picture of a casually-dressed man lying face down in a street with the only other visible object is a little bit of sidewalk in one corner. He asks people to look at the picture and write a description of what they see.
Two things pop up immediately when you correlate political orientation with brain activity:
1) The length of the description is extremely telling. Very long descriptions go with conservative Republicans. Short descriptions go with Democrats. The very long descriptions usually involve drugs, drive-by shootings, and even racial animus. The short answers are virtually along the lines of "we don't have enough information to say what is happening but obviously the man needs help."
2) Completely different parts of the brain light up for Republicans and for Democrats. This means that different parts of the brain are used by Republicans and Democrats to process exactly the same data.
@ Tony,
And the link between conservatives and liberals/progressives in both intelligence and education has been well documented for over 70 years. Nothing new there. It started out at looking at the effect of aphasia from strokes and accidents on voting patterns. And at the time it was first observed, the Democrats were the conservatives and the Republicans the liberals. Psychologists always have a field day when they get into politics. My guess is that you couldn't even describe what a "liberal" or a "progressive" or a "socialist" or even a "conservative" without running to a dictionary. And even then I would have reservations about your ability to truly understand the definitions.
I take it you would rather listen to O'Reilly or Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck. Please tell me I'm wrong.
howaboutthis-2165675
Just ask MSNBC, they already know what it's like for no one to watch them.
George - of all the talking heads mentioned, Ed Schultz and Bill Mahers are the scummiest most vulgar. I have never heard the expletives they use on their shows by other talking heads on Fox or CNN. All of them are guilty of spinning the facts to accommodate their views. None of them are actual Journalists anymore...they are commentators. In the end, we as consumers are still free to choose who to believe and listen too, at least until Obama finds a way bypass the Supreme Court to amend the 1st amendment.
Why did you cut off the end of my post when quoting me? My very next sentence (that you cut off) was, "If they have committed crimes, then prosecute them." Hey wait, are you that guy who edited the George Zimmerman call for MSNBC?!
Most thinking people would agree that "conservative" thugs like Murdock don't give damn about ethical standards, they only care about PROFIT.
At least British law makers are finally calling out this neo fascist. If only that could happen here in America…..... Oh wait our congress is currently controlled by neo fascists too. Until that changes the criminal organization known as “Fox News” will continue to be the propaganda arm of the Republican/Tea Party in their never ending campaign to destroy democracy………
"Boycott Fox Puppets & friends, GOP Teabaggers News Network"
"BOYCOTT MSNBC and friends, Democraps News network"
Tony D-373561 - Yes we are....
Peter Arsuaga "ROY WILSON-336103 - I am now dumber for reading your comments....What are you talking about? You compare unethical tactics in politics and media free press with some secret service guys that hooked up with hookers before the Presidents arrival in a country?"
Since you seem to have a problem 'connecting the dots', I'll break it down for you.
When JS in AD wrote 'It really does not matter when the Murdochs found out about the hacking, they should have known what was going on. If they did not, then it was a case of willful blindness', he implied that the top person has an obligation to know everything that goes on in their organization, no matter how many employees thay may have and no matter how many levels of management may be involved. How is that any different from Obama not knowing about what the Secret Service is doing, especially since he is directly involved with them on a daily basis?
scrambolo " There is a correlation between what people watch, read, espouse, and believe in relation to their IQ's and education level."
Perhaps that explains why exit polls showed that high school dropouts voted for Obama over McCain by a 63% to 35% margin, aaccording to the NY Times.
Once again your paranoid and delusional world is quite interesting but not reality.....
Don't no corrupt organization want anyone exposing them. It is damaging to their reputations and it's time consuming to evade the truths. Sometimes you have to use worst case scenarios to get what you want done. Something has got to be done!
and Roy....You are comparing hookers to phone hacking a dead little girls cell phone....and I don't think the CEO is suppose to know what all their employees do in their personal life (are you implying bigger government with less freedoms??????)...work practices yes........If you don't know the difference then you are beyond any kind of rational thought.....
Chris-749391
RE: your post #1.50
And your PhD. Phychologist friend's name is? And his research is published, where? And he is involved with what institution(s) or organization(s)? And certainly, you could cite some credible citations on his research or even yours? You BS way too much and cannot or will not give any of us on the Vine or, I suspect anywhere, even one credible citation to back up your preposterous claims. Good luck with convincing any rational person you are even close to the TRUTH! Have a great delusional life!
Old Rupert is in a jam on this one. If he knew about the hacking and did nothing he is a criminal. If he did not know about it he is an incompetent idiot who by the way may still be a criminal because he is the owner of the whole lot and the "buck" or pound as it were stops right on his doorstep. I sense bad times coming for the Rupert family and business interests. Guess I better sell my stock in News Corp before it becomes News Corpse.
This is similar to a vote of no confidence,,,,,the media and the governing bodies are in Bed all over the planet, None of them are fit to lead yet they do!
Well here we go again, left wing liberals know all that is wrong with the right/ republicans, someone else said so we hold obama resposible for sollyndra and fast and furious. Iknow there is more but its a little to early, give me time to have my coffee. Don't forget Oberman was fired Matthews was taken off the last election for bias,for a couple of days and just recently suspended. Pathman its quite obvious you are not intelligent enough to have any murdoch stock!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not a Troll, you are still a moron!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Far Right rather be far right then free...that's why they blindly follow the lockstep RepubliCon-Party-over-Country.
You can thank old man Murdoch for your FeAR RIGHT attitudes!
Surprised Murdoch hasn't responded yet that British lawmakers aren't fit to run the country. As the saying goes: What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Did I miss THIS story in MSNBC?
Contempt of Congress Charges Drafted for Eric Holder
Apr 27, 2012 07:00 AM EST
It's on.
For nearly a year now, we've heard threats of contempt charges against Attorney General Eric Holder for his refusal to provide the House Oversight Committee with requested information and documents about the fatal Operation Fast and Furious program. The Justice Department has repeatedly ignored subpoenas, the White House has refused to provide key Fast and Furious witnesses and the information DOJ officials have submitted to Congress, has been so redacted, Issa describes them as "black paper" instead of white paper.
Now, members of the House Oversight Committee are tired of being patient and are ready to hold Holder accountable. A 48-page contempt citation has been drafted and House Speaker John Boehner is fully onboard with supporting the move. So what's next? The LA Times has the scoop:
Murdoch owns the British lawmakers. It's collusion and corruption on a massive scale.
We need to ferret him out of our news system before he destroys our democracy.
We don't have a bloody queen here.
cschilton, you type the equivalent of babbling, then call Pathman a moron for making an intelligent observation. Yes there are morons here........
Thankfully that kind of nonsensical political rhetoric doesn't fly in England, only in the Corrupt States of America where your ilk welcomes political corruption by corporate tycoons.
cschilton said in his response to my observation on Murdoch:
"Don't forget Oberman was fired"
There has never been an Oberman that was fired by MSNBC. Now Keith OLBERMANN was fired by MSNBC. We talking 'bout the same guy? Ya'll might want to google names before you post em if you are not sure of the spelling.
Mitt will only go on fox garbage news, what's up with that ???
David Cameron is firmly in bed with the Murdocks.
As an ex-pat Brit, I find your comment pretty amusing. If you think there's no political corruption in the United Kingdom you had better start figuring out how to dig your head out of the sand. BTW who again employs the forerunner for Governor of the Bank of England, George Osborne? Hmmm Goldman Sachs I believe. Seems the same problems that exist here are just as prevalent on the other side of the pond still.
I've been to England and I'm aware there are similar problems as here, my head isn't in the sand. The rhetorical point I was making is that it didn't happen in this case (in England) and you KNOW they would have done so here. Not difficult to comprehend. As many problems as England has, they certainly don't have Teabagging RepubliCONs to deal with...
this proves murdock and all his cronies are the most corrupt most biased and untrue news in the world, hard to believe there are millions upon millions who still go by it, i guess if your use to living on lies you will continue to do so instead of watching real news because you think its liberal biased, i guess some people just cant face reality, the lies are much more comforting to them
Uh? How does "this" (phone hacking) prove "that" (biased and untrue news)?
Did they break the law? Yes, but I saw nothing that showed his news outlets in America had any connection with some Tabloid in the UK. You're kind of reaching there aren't ya.
Hmm someone who has made his fortune selling papers claiming "An Alien Ate My Baby" ex. should be considered a good source for truth in journalism....You realize that he countersued for the right to LIE to his pidgeons and won a SCOTUS decision to allow it.......Think about that for a sec....Would a paragon of truth countersue for the right to LIE if he wasn't using it....
The guy owns TABLOIDS! Did you think "An alien ate my Baby" was a true story? You don't think his company can own to different types of media outlets? NBC is the "parent company of MSNBC, so does that make NBC soap operas real?
They were hacking into private phones, and private conversations!
Logic- I really can't imagine why you are trying to defend News Corp. Take a step back and try to read your comments with a more objective eye. As far as Fox is concerned, in a 2003 Florida court of appeals in a case where Jane Akre and Steve Wilson had sued Fox over having lost their jobs for not reporting the story Fox had wanted them to report, Fox used the argument that broadcasters have a 1st amendment right to lie or deliberately distort news reports on public airwaves.
There you go. It's not just the British tabloids.
Don't bother attempting to reason with "LogicRequired"...a misnomer if ever there was one.
Indeed. In case you want to call BS. I'm way ahead of you: http://www.2dca.org/opinions/Opinion_Pages/Opinion_Page_2003/February/February%2014,%202003/2D01-529.pdf
Logic is a TROLL.
UMMMM Hal it's BS bud. That case was against WTVT news a local news organization that is affiliated to a FOX channel not FOX news. This is the reason why you are easily misled you, as well as every other lib on here, don't have the capacity to understand simple facts.
Then I won't mention any of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SiVasR2Gzo&list=PLA3BD2524FE99BD4D&feature=plpp_play_all
Mitt the flip flopper and fox Taliban news are working on a new Etch A Sketch for his VP pick !!!
If board members are held accountable (Jail)for the crimes their corporations commit, corporate crime will drop drastically. Merely paying fines is no deterrent, it is looked on as the cost of doing business.
Agree. If "corporations are people, too", then they should be able to be charged with any crime with which a person can be charged, and punished accordingly. Prison time for a corporation? Any gross income during their "sentence" should be forfeit. Or, if they received a 6 month "sentence", the fine should equal total income for the past 6 months. Note I'm saying income and not profit.
All very true mtwa & ED;
Accountability and Responsibility for actions and decisions, just the same as citizens are held accountable and responsible under law for their actions and decisions.
RWNJ's wanted the SCOTUS to uphold Citizens Untited and deem (along with Willard Romney I might add) that "corporations are people" - well then, NO MORE RNC/TEA DOUBLE STANDARDS! Prosecute the heads of the corporations for violations of law just like anyone else. Hold them accountable!
This nation is founded upon the principle that, "All are created equal" not "The 1%ers are MORE equal and are entitled to advantages not available to the '99%' of citizens..."
Let us PRACTICE our own rhetoric!
I couldn't agree more! If the SCOTUS wants corporations to be people then they should not be given a get out of jail free card and have it both ways. Either they are treated like a person or they are not. Giving them the shelter of corporate protection legally and then treating them like an individual when it suits them is just corrupt and inherently unfair.
Mitt Romney has a new bumper sticker - ( "Flip Flopper" ) !!!!
'Not a fit person to run a company?'
An odd statement coming from politicians, who are generally not fit for anything.
Here, here! Labor or conservative, see my moniker.
...and that was reported on faux so you know it's true; right? Hello out there in lah lah land, we get what we, as Americans, deserve. If we want our news sugar coated with some blonde spitting it out, then what do you expect? People get the government and news media they deserve and demand.
Oh, if they show cleavage and appeal to the lowest of human traits and intelligence, it must be true!
Would bet that those who believe Fox Tabloid News is true and balanced, believe that whoever throws the most and the dirtiest mud in political campaigns should be the winners, too.
The untruthful and unbalanced Fox Tabloid News proves PT Barnum was correct about suckers being born! Murdoch has made millions off of them while having fun playing with their fears and angers in every country he has a business.
You have to admire FOX NEWS(?) for the way they present their talking points. They do have some fine looking ladies that are not shy about showing their wares. Ever notice how they no longer have modesty panels on the desks, or they are sitting on a sofa ... saw a nice pair of legs right up on the desk a few days ago. Don't remember what the heck she was promoting.
P. T. Bartum said: "A sucker's born every minute". The mindless, brainwashed zombies who totaly buy in to the outrageous republican propaganda being served up by the liars at Fox Noise are living proof to that fact.
As far as all the misery thier corrupt, morally devoid owner, Rudolph "The Dirtbag" Murdoch is going through right now, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy, that is if you love mean old ogars.
....Kind of like the patsys thet buy into the retreaded label slapping and worn-out Keynesian ecomonic models of the current administration, eh... but I get your point. It is just both parties suck.
Why T.R. -
Are YOU promoting trickle-down supply-side Reaganomics over the "Keynesian" philosophies utilized by Presidents "Balanced Budget" Clinton and "leading us out of the Republican mess" Obama???????
Come on! Open your eyes and get real.
It sounds like this guy would even throw his own son under the bus! I guess it's just businessand nothing personal! This guy need to be slapped in irons and locked up.
David Cameron with him.
So what else is new?? And once the investigation finishes here in the United States Rupert and company will find themselves a fall guy to blame. And the republicans will believe his lies and say he had nothing to do with any of it. He is one of the puppet masters of the republican party. Nothing will happen to him or his son. None of the time spent investigating this will amount to nothing. Just a waste of our tax payer money.
I bet $10,000 dollars they find some way to blame all this on President Obama.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
Don't you mean conservative party? The story is from the UK.
As a ret MSgt, you should know more about global politcs.
I was stationed in Europe for 6 years.
Yes this story is based in the UK, however, Murdoch is one of the owners of Fox News. And now it all is starting to make sense.
Liars,
You know that there is an investigation going on in the USA!!!! He is guilty in the UK and USA! He will buy his way out in america but i hope the UK has more balls to do something
Whatever the case Rupert qualifies as a republican here in America :P
And because he has interests in "FAUX" news makes it even easier for him to buy his way out.
Why not everything has been blamed on BUSH. If this president and his adminstration took any blame at all, would be a miracle.
Ret, what SHOULD happen, after the dust has settled and all the facts are placed on the table and if found to be irresponsible, subversive and criminal here in the U.S. (i.e., victims of the 9/11 tragedy phones being hacked, or any American), is to revoke his U.S. citizenship. By THAT order, he loses ALL held rights to U.S. operator licenses, period.
Here is a thought. If and this is a big if, his companies are found to have violated U.S laws he and his son should go to prison for a long time. But as you can see from some of the comments his and the republican/tea party followers are already lining up to defend him. Who ever is at the top of the food chain in any company should be held accountable for what goes on in that company. If that starts to happen a lot of things will change. But because these fat cat hide behind "plausible deniability" nothing ever gets fixed. He owns FAUX news and he will use that to place blame elsewhere.
And yes he is being investigated here in the U.S. Let's see how long it takes for him to be cleared.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
cschilton@ 8.5:
Yes,,,
only because Bush DID IT all.
Why do you have trouble facing the truth and admiting that instead of attempting to make excuses, rationalize and justify the disaster the GOP/TEA created between 2001 and 2009?
Facts are facts, and you can NOT re-write history to fit the RNC-TEA platform planks.
Price of a free press Top. Can't believe people are still falling for Murdoch's crap, but there you have it. Faux News is funny though, and entertaining. It's not news, but it is amusing. Most people just want to be amused, not informed.
Enjoy your retirement.
You're are right. We were BUSHwacked.
Sounds like Brittan has is just right Mr. Burns isn't a fit person to run a new company. Now if we could get the US to believe the same thing!
What does this mean for Murdoch? Does it mean jail or what?
Janet, it sounds to me as though they have some way of forcing him to leave publishing and are in the process of doing it.
Well then, how do we accomplish that here as well?
not when you have his kind of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$44
Unfortunately, any rich man can buy himself out of anything with the Republicans. He's safe in America as long as the Repubs have power.
I'm not a fan of Fox News but I think it is ironic that most of the people who hate Fox News love WikiLeaks.
As an aside, it makes your argument much more convincing if your words display your opinion instead of how you spell. Writing things like "Fox Noise", "Faux News", "Amerika", and so on only makes your argument look weaker because it's juvenile. It's just propoganda, which is the same thing most of you accuse Fox News of being.
Fox "News" is, for the most part, just right-wing propaganda and has pathological liars as commentators... most people already know this... Google "Fox viewers less informed" to find studies that show people who are loyal FOX NEWS VIEWERS ARE LESS INFORMED ABOUT ACTUAL NEWS than people who watch no news at all...
Lighten up, Patrick. I was just using humor to state my opinion of Murdoch and Fox Noise... Sorry, I mean News. Well, that's not right either, is it? I really mean Fake News. How's that sound, Mr. Sensitive.
lol, Star Blazer
So, my question is that as Mudoch seems to intentionally set the agenda for News Corp, and controls its view point, just how much does that agenda influence the Fox News manipulation of information in the US? By that, I mean above and beyond what is obvious to the casual observer who does not consider any of Fox News reporting on US Politics, Congress, the Senate, or the President fair and accurate? Other than this wide area of obviously skewed reporting, which has turned Fox into a Mouthpiece for the GOP, the rest of the network reporting seemingly does a good job.
When it comes to politics, it seems that a slice of reporting is the only way to go, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, and NPR, distilling the results down to understand what is happening.
However, for the Faithful, Fox News is the only way to go.
Did I miss THIS story on MSNBC?
Contempt of Congress Charges Drafted for Eric Holder
Apr 27, 2012 07:00 AM EST
It's on.
For nearly a year now, we've heard threats of contempt charges against Attorney General Eric Holder for his refusal to provide the House Oversight Committee with requested information and documents about the fatal Operation Fast and Furious program. The Justice Department has repeatedly ignored subpoenas, the White House has refused to provide key Fast and Furious witnesses and the information DOJ officials have submitted to Congress, has been so redacted, Issa describes them as "black paper" instead of white paper.
Now, members of the House Oversight Committee are tired of being patient and are ready to hold Holder accountable. A 48-page contempt citation has been drafted and House Speaker John Boehner is fully onboard with supporting the move. So what's next? The LA Times has the scoop:
Keep trying your diversion attempt there smith. People will just continue to ignore you. No one cares about one more right wing hatchet job. Republicans in the house have been out to get SOMEBODY since Obama walked into the front door of the white house. Just more noise from the right wing.
Nice stat:
People who watch Faux News are less informed then people who watch no news at all.
What a great day it would be for this country if this costs him so much that he has to shut down Fixed News!
Does this now mean that faux will cover this story 24/7 like they do with everything he doesn't like?
And people are just now finding out that he is a piece of cow dung with a outfront agenda, he is not hiding anything. He knew exactly what was going on, this asshat could be Tricky Dicky Cheney brother.
So when do they export his ass back to Australia to the Outback, give him a flash lite and a compass to return to America just in time for good ole Rupert and mafia son James to jail?
Wonder when the FCC is going to nail Fox and that crew of liars and propaganda agents.
that is a really an amazing statement to make.
I wonder how Fox News is going to spin this one!
(if/when they ever report it, that is)
easy....it's a liberal conspiracy headed up by George Soros.
they weren't 'blind'.....they knew and directed the activities. The deciept, rot and lies are prevalent throughout this 'news' organization. Finally they are being exposed for what they aren't......a legitimate news reporting service. They contrive, distort, mislead, misrepresent and abuse and are generally a bunch of liars!!!!
Liberals 6, Against: Conservatives 4. That's the vote from Parliament on this issue. The bigger issue here is an attempt at censorship of a news organization that doesn't hold hands with liberals.
No the bigger issue is that Rupert's a wiretapping freak. Last I checked that kind of activity is illegal for both conservatives and liberals. Illegal. You get it? Is he with the FBI,CIA,NSA,MI5 or MI6? No? Then he can't do that s**t. Period. It's disgusting unethical behavior from a wannabe plutocrat. And now real leaders are putting him in his place. I'd be just as disgusted if it was a liberal icon implicated in this.
Since corps are people here in the US can't they get jail time???
Use some common sense; if you have it. This was a political finding in England. Am I surprised that the politicians were upset over having their phones hacked? Hell no. Imagine if England had done the same thing to Benjamin Franklin for aiding the Colonists to overthrow the British way back then. We need more people taking chances to expose the corruptness of all politicians all over the world.
angry, you mean like hacking a phone of a dead teen, THAT kind of exposure? Talk about common sense.
Yes, Rupert was obviously being righteous when he hacked the phone of a poor kidnapped murdered little girl and hacked the phones of 9/11 victims. Oh, and 9/11 didn't happen in the UK so there goes your 'this is only and issue in England' idea.
Fine upstanding journalism, eh?
pop! one more ripped out!
Not only Rupert, James is also unfit! If he paid off people and claims he did not know, he should also do time in prison. The whole organization is a criminal enterprise.
Simple solution, Banish him from selling Newspapers in the UK.
He should be banished from being involved in any media anywhere!
Fox doesn't represent middle class America !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well HALLE-FRIGGIN"_LUJAH. Finally a legal system that has the guts to stand up to this guy.