Can Fox News be 'fair and balanced' if News Corp. gives to Republicans?
News Corp., the parent company of Fox News, has donated $1 million each to the Republican Governors Association and the US Chamber of Commerce, both of which work to defeat Democrats.
News Corporation Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch testifies on Capitol Hill Thursday on immigration. News Corp. has donated $1 million each to the Republican Governors Association and the US Chamber of Commerce, both of which are working to defeat Democrats.
Cliff Owen/AP
Fox News touting itself as “fair and balanced” has always elicited a smirk from those on the left.
Skip to next paragraphRecent posts
-
12.15.11
Barbara Walters scoop: Herman Cain wants to be SecDef! -
12.13.11
Sarah Palin speaks, but are Americans heeding her anymore? -
12.09.11
Stephen Colbert almost bought naming rights to South Carolina GOP primary -
12.08.11
Digging for political dirt? Twitter could be the source for you. -
11.11.11
After his debate gaffe, Rick Perry goes into full spin mode
Subscribe Today to the Monitor
Fox’s main stars – Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck – all lean right. It’s given a broadcast megaphone to Karl Rove and three potential Republican presidential candidates: Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, and Newt Gingrich. And Fox News chief Roger Ailes worked for Republican presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush.
Fox commentators also thump approvingly for the "tea party" movement’s goal of tossing out President Obama, Senate majority leader Harry Reid, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
So in many ways, Politico.com’s scoop Friday about political donations by News Corp. comes as no surprise. But overt lobbying by a major news organization – in the form of large contributions for campaign purposes – is a definite departure from common practice.
Politico’s Ben Smith reports that News Corp. recently contributed $1 million to the US Chamber of Commerce. This follows an earlier $1 million donation by News Corp. to the Republican Governors Association (RGA). Both the Chamber and the RGA are working to defeat Democrats in Congress.
Fox isn’t the only member of Big Media that’s been politically involved, Mr. Smith acknowledges.
These comments are not screened before publication. Constructive debate about the above story is welcome, but personal attacks are not. Please do not post comments that are commercial in nature or that violate any copyright[s]. Comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence will be removed. If you find a comment offensive, you may flag it.