Rupert Murdoch Takes Credit for Racist Cartoon: 'The Buck Stops With Me'

Posted by Keith Thomson, Huffington Post at 10:39 AM on February 24, 2009.

Rupert Murdoch released a statement in the pages of the NY Post on Tuesday, saying in part, "I am ultimately responsible."

Murdoch was responding to the uproar after last week's controversial stimulus cartoon, for which the paper had already semi-apologized.

The statement in full:

As the Chairman of the New York Post, I am ultimately responsible for what is printed in its pages. The buck stops with me.

Last week, we made a mistake. We ran a cartoon that offended many people. Today I want to personally apologize to any reader who felt offended, and even insulted.

Over the past couple of days, I have spoken to a number of people and I now better understand the hurt this cartoon has caused. At the same time, I have had conversations with Post editors about the situation and I can assure you - without a doubt - that the only intent of that cartoon was to mock a badly written piece of legislation. It was not meant to be racist, but unfortunately, it was interpreted by many as such.

We all hold the readers of the New York Post in high regard and I promise you that we will seek to be more attuned to the sensitivities of our community.

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