Rupert Murdoch: I am a victimYou can't top
this:
Rupert Murdoch took the stand in London this morning for the second day of his testimony before the public inquiry into the controversy his U.K. media empire has inspired, and the focus finally turned to the issue that sparked crisis in the first place—phone hacking.
Asked how the problem had gone on for so long at his News of the World tabloid without the knowledge of Murdoch or his senior executives, as has been claimed, Murdoch had a simple explanation: cover-up.
In response to questions from Robert Jay, the chief counsel to the Leveson Inquiry into corrupt practices in the British press, Murdoch said he had been “misinformed and shielded” from the problem. He casted the blame downward, away from himself and from trusted executives such as Les Hinton, Rebekah Brooks and his son James, who have all held top positions at News International, the U.K. arm of Murdoch’s New York-based News Corp. "I do blame one or two people for that who perhaps I shouldn't name because for all I know they may be arrested,” Murdoch said. “There is no question in my mind [that] maybe even the editor, but certainly beyond that, someone took charge of a cover-up which we were victim to and I regret."
Murdoch is referring to a couple of people that were supposed to look into the hacking in 2008 and that, according to Rupert, concealed the illegal activities. But they say that they did notify James Murdoch, so this will boil down to whether or not there is evidence one way or another (like emails). Sadly, when News of the World was shut down, lots of computers were scrapped and millions of emails were deleted.
posted by Quiddity at 4/26/2012 07:29:00 AM
An English Bugs Bunny might say: "I say, what's up Mur-Doc?" Imagine the legal fees associated with prepping Rupert for his grilling.
Peggy Noonan of Murdoch's Wall Street Journal on last Sunday's "This Week with George S" on ABC couldn't seem to believe that the Obama Administration was unaware of the Secret Service problems that surfaced in Colombia. But she probably believes that her boss was unaware of the hacking by his publications in England. I guess that would be paycheck - and ideology - loyalty. Sounds like the early days of Watergate and protecting Tricky Dick by right wingers.
Jon Stewart on his Daily Show yesterday provides coverage on Murdoch's testimony, segueing to Donald Trump in Scotland testifying against offshore (of his golf club there) wind turbines that certain U.K. politicians had promised him would not be installed. Of course, "The Donald's" real concern was that the breeze might undo his coif. Trump was contrasted with Murdoch who Stewart described as Australia's Mr. Magoo in his testimony.
Yes, these are "Golden Rule" moments: He who has the gold rules.
