Rupert Murdoch Apologizes For Cartoon: "The Buck Stops With Me"

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.

Comments

[JessWonderin]

"Put another shrimp on the barbi . . . a quick apology and sales will rebound" . . . . NOT.

[Riker]

This was such a non-apology, it was ludicrous. The cartoonist absolutely knew what he was doing. The Post is a yellow piece of garbage, and always has been.

[chicamorena]

Let me understand this. The people to blame are the people who were offended by the cartoon?

This clown needs to pull his head out of his áss and stick it in his mouth before he says something else stupid.

[CostaDelBarto]

Translation:

It upset you that we printed a tactless tasteless cartoon and I'm really really sorry that newspaper sales went down.

[Savanna]

Well, if you hate this so much do SOMETHING to shut up Fox News. I would be ashamed if I were you to admit that I had anything to do with Fox News.

[Carsy]

His wife Wendy probably made him apologize, she held an Obama fundraiser at one point.

[noamjunior]

"I am sorry you were offended at a cartoon that clearly wasn't racist, even though you interpreted it as such, and we are not going to do anything really different to ensure it doesn't happen again, whatever it was that got you so mad for no reason."
RM

[rowzeer]

It all starts at the top. If the people at the bottom felt that they could lose their jobs for exhibiting racism then many wouldn't do it. But if the atmosphere is anything against the Dems is "anything goes" then what do you expect?

[Enid]

Rupert is very venerable he knows we are in charge.
Stop buying his rages and TV he
is toast.

[Tonelook]

Not nearly good enough, there should be the firing of all responsible; and not to mention some real minority hiring practices as well as race relation education of his staff. That's only to begin with; then......

[peter777]

These people need to be cut down for their continued bias and prejudice- FCC, Cut out the waivers for Murdoch. Why should he have any?

[Solja]

In recent years, Australian-born billionaire Rupert Murdoch has used the U.S. government's increasingly lax media regulations to consolidate his hold over the media and wider political debate in America. Consider Murdoch's empire: According to Businessweek, "his satellites deliver TV programs in five continents, all but dominating Britain, Italy, and wide swaths of Asia and the Middle East. He publishes 175 newspapers, including the New York Post and The Times of London. In the U.S., he owns the Twentieth Century Fox Studio, Fox Network, and 35 TV stations that reach more than 40% of the country...­His cable channels include fast-growing Fox News, and 19 regional sports channels. In all, as many as one in five American homes at any given time will be tuned into a show News Corp. either produced or delivered.­" But who is the real Rupert Murdoch? As this report shows, he is a far-right partisan who has used his empire explicitly to pull American political debate to the right. He is also an enabler of the oppressive tactics employed by dictatorial regimes, and a man who admits to having hidden money in tax havens. In short, there more to Rupert Murdoch than meets the eye.

A LOT of info here on Rupert Murdoch. Read the rest here:

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2004/07/b122948.html

[fredgladys]

In a recent tv interview his mother told the reporter that Rupert had socialist leanings in his youth, in fact he was called 'red rupert' I don't remember much more of the interview as I was overcome with hysterics.

[ModeratePoliticalJunkie]

IGNORANCE is the ROOT of all RACISM!!

[AContrario]

He apologizes not because he has judged the cartoon racially offensive
and morally wrong but because people were offended.

What more to say to that?

When you are morally bankrupted, you are beyond saving...

[Solja]

I was born in 1963, at "the end of the civil rights era". I have 3 sons in their 20's. I'm too young to remember MLK or Kennedy or any other slain civil rights leaders. I know our history and see the present. I fear for my sons every time they leave the house. I'm afraid that a cop will beat them or harass them, and also afraid that some idiot will shoot them. That's my fear as a mother of black sons.

I was horrified when I saw the cartoon and immediately emailed the link out to all of my close friends and relatives with the subject, "This is tomorrow's big news - OFFENSIVE". I had conversations about it in the following days, and actually came to tears. Let me try to explain why to those who don't seem to understand why people feel offended.

The chimp that mauled the lady did not cross my mind. I saw the police shooting a monkey, and because of the stimulus bill verbiage, I saw it as President Obama.

"Beware of Dogs" upset me because I have seen hours and hours of footage from the civil rights era when the police used dogs on blacks.

The cops shooting the monkey brought memories of them shooting black men. It happens a LOT in this country, and it doesn't matter if they are unarmed. This is happening everywhere and getting worse. These abuses are going unreported.

I saw white cops shooting our 1st black

[ModeratePoliticalJunkie]

Right On! Sista. Keep Hope Alive!

[Solja]

EDIT: "... our 1st black President.­"