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Edwards: "I'm Not Interested in Seeing Murdoch Own Every American Newspaper"

Posted by GottaLaff , Cliff Schecter's Blog at 6:25 AM on December 28, 2007.


Score one for John Edwards.

Score one for John Edwards:

John Edwards isn't shy about letting Rupert Murdoch know how he feels. When asked a question about media consolidation at a recent campaign stop, Edwards said:

"I am not particularly interested in seeing Rupert Murdoch own every newspaper in America."

Nicely done, John. This answer responds directly to the heart of the question and points an incriminating finger at the industry's worst offender.

But so many people whine and moan about how negative Edwards is becoming!

Edwards continues to solidify his position as the candidate most committed to media reform and supportive of efforts to rollback consolidation. He has spoken out on many occasions on the need for independence and diversity in the press and he has been a leading voice of opposition to the FCC's policy of weakening regulations on ownership caps. He was also the first candidate to refuse to participate in Fox News-sponsored primary debates.

He's so mean! The pundits tell us that, so it must be true.

But every time Edwards takes a principled stand, the pundidiots can't help but crack-wise at Edwards expense. In the item linked above, James Pindell of the Boston Globe follows the Edwards quote with this bit of irrelevancy:

"It should be noted that Edwards received nearly $800,000 in a book contract from one of Murdoch's companies, HarperCollins."

Why, pray tell, should that be noted? It is not a political contribution or evidence of electoral support. It is a payment for publishing rights to an author from a book publisher. It is the free market at work. And if anything is notable about it, it is that Edwards will act on his principles even if it is contrary to the interests of corporations who lay out big bucks to do business with him. In other words, they can't buy him.

Attaboy, News Corpse, who goes on to compare Hillary's soft response to Edward's principled one, comparing their "independence and integrity".

Edwards:

"It's time for all Democrats, including those running for president, to stand up and speak out against this [News Corp./Dow Jones] merger and other forms of media consolidation."

Hillary:

"I'm not saying anything against any company in particular. I just want to see more competition, especially in the same markets."

News Corpse:

That is the same characterization they make of him when he advocates for the poor - something the media apparently believes rich folks should never do. And for his trouble he is ganged up on by sanctimonious pundits that would rather point a finger at targets of their imagined hypocrisy than left a finger to help those less fortunate.

If you're paying attention it's easy to see who the phonies really are.

So pay attention.

Digg!

Tagged as: media consolidation, news corp, murdoch, clinton, edwards

GottaLaff is a regular blogger for Cliff Schecter's Blog


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thedirtydemocrat
Posted by: JimActivist on Dec 28, 2007 8:36 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Hooray for Edwards. He has the cajones to tell it like it really is. Even Kucinich, Gravell and all of the low rungers of the Dems have not the good sense of Edwards nor the conviction.
Hillary collects from the big corps and she has the big buck donations from them. Obama still accepts the money from them, but says he dooesn't.

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Cash whore
Posted by: dayenta on Dec 28, 2007 9:04 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Hilary can't say anything about Murdoch because she's in his pocket. Edwards has refused corporate cash during this entire campaign.

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Score one for Edwards and the dems.
Posted by: Prophit on Dec 28, 2007 9:23 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Murdock is Hillary's biggest supporter. He has held two fund raisers for her already. He is currently in the process of trying to buy a british paper. Soon he will own them all and we won't have the news.

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Finally a positive story about John Edwards
Posted by: Chloe2005 on Dec 28, 2007 10:36 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What happened? No new haircut? I would like to hear more about Edwards stands on the issues. I am tired of hearing about Hil & Obama being the front runners. Perhaps if we could hear more about Edwards, he would truly make it a race of policy and values.We need a candidate with real progressive policies who can actually win. I for one, do not want another corporate President.

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» LOL Posted by: meetmeineleusis
Edwards is mean? But a president who has killed thousands is not mean?
Posted by: Ellie1 on Dec 28, 2007 12:39 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Republicans and their followers are a bunch of stupid hypocrits. To them being "Mean" is standing up to their Bushit. I hope Edwards continues in this vein. Democrats have long been operating on one or no cajones. I would prefer a candidate who would kick the Republicans in theirs.

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Edwards: Up for consideration
Posted by: Astroboy on Dec 28, 2007 1:06 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I can't stand Hillary. She's just more of the same sickening shit we've been suffering.

Kucinich would be a dream come true, but alas, merely a dream.

Racist American will NOT elect a black man, no matter how white he is.

I like Dodd AND Biden, but I don't think enough people do.

So Edwards may be the One. If he keeps on hammering home against our present Corporatocracy...it just might happen. If only he came across as a little bit more sincere.

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» RE: dwards: Up for consideration Posted by: pollyanna999
inclement
Posted by: inclement on Dec 29, 2007 11:26 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Hooray for Edward's.

Clinton and Obama are corporate suits.

A list of the members of the north american union elitist are in the The August Review - The Global Elite: Who are they?

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Edwards Shows Greatness
Posted by: JonA on Dec 29, 2007 2:15 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Read the articles about Edwards. Please note that those who are trying to disgrace him are the shit-faced people themselves. This tells us that Edwards is a worry to them. GREAT...and actualy...right now, Obama and Edwards is my pick.... and they are very close to succeeding in this election. We from the mid-west, lost contact with Hillary a long time ago. She is in the pocket of all those we dispise. Edwards isn't mean or angry man.... he is dedicated and intense....ready to clean up our Government! What's the option boys and girls?..... come up a a good one for the answer.

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