George Soros Donates $1 Million To Media Matters To Fight Fox News

Billionaire philanthropist George Soros has donated $1 million to Media Matters for America in an effort to fight Fox News.

Soros, a prominent Democratic fundraiser and donor, is a frequent target of Fox News hosts, particularly Glenn Beck. He said in a statement that he is donating the money — his first donation to the group — because of "recent evidence suggesting that the incendiary rhetoric of Fox News hosts may incite violence":

Despite repeated assertions to the contrary by various Fox News commentators, I have not to date been a funder of Media Matters. However, in view of recent evidence suggesting that the incendiary rhetoric of Fox News hosts may incite violence, I have now decided to support the organization. Media Matters is one of the few groups that attempts to hold Fox News accountable for the false and misleading information they so often broadcast. I am supporting Media Matters in an effort to more widely publicize the challenge Fox News poses to civil and informed discourse in our democracy.

Soros funds the Tides Foundation, the organization recently targeted by an assassin who claimed to have been inspired by Beck's program.

"The next 'assassin' may succeed, and if so, there will be blood on many hands," Tides Foundation CEO Drummond Pike said, urging advertisers to boycott Beck's program.

On his radio show Wednesday, which is not aired by Fox News, Beck accused Soros of having "collapsed four economies" and of having "global governance plans."

Beck has routinely criticized Soros on his Fox News program.

Comments

[saljas]

01:17 AM on 12/05/2010

His an enemy to the truth.

[sahana08]

03:03 PM on 11/11/2010

Twin brother to Satan. He's 80, won't be long now. He may not get what he deserves while living but he will pay dearly in Hell for all eternity!

[Vlady]

10:29 PM on 11/13/2010

He is probably rather anti Israel zealot than antisemite.

[morphyous]

01:24 AM on 10/24/2010

It is time that Glen Beck be held accountable for his hate speak ,that may lead to violence. Enough is enough.I don't give a damn which Political stripe you are, Violence touches and demeans everyone.No one is immune. Don't start a Brush fire , it may get out of Control.

[ediva75]

09:14 AM on 10/23/2010

Too bad these same aholes who ***** about Soros don't see anything wrong apparently when The Koch Brothers or Murdoch donate money to GOPers and Teabaggers!

[jdrourke]

05:03 PM on 10/22/2010

Good for Soros! I love to watch and hear the Cons squirm every time this man does something good for America.

http://jdrourke.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/dear-george-soros/

[FOXYROSE]

10:05 AM on 10/22/2010

Soros has his business stationed off-shore, so he doesn't have to pay U.S. taxes - he have NPR 1.8 million just a few days ago - I'm sure that played into the firing of Wlliams - no free speech. Watch out all your pundits and so-called journalists - say one thing wrong and you will be next. A terrible precedent!

[Disciple1]

12:26 PM on 10/22/2010

The firing of Williams was not a "free speech" issue. He violated the SPECIFIC terms of his NRP contract that delineated the objectives and philosophy of the organization. Soros having a "..business stationed off-shore.." is a non-issue unless you equate it with some nefarious deed committed against our Republic.

[JerryAguy]

09:37 AM on 10/22/2010

I guess Soros doesn't like freedom of the press or dissenting viewpoints but he'll need more money than he's put out to silence the American people. It's tough to put that genie back in the bottle and I don't believe it can be done now.

[Disciple1]

12:28 PM on 10/22/2010

The firing of Williams was not a "free speech" issue. He violated the SPECIFIC terms of his NPR contract that delineated the objectives and philosophy of the organization. Soros having a "..business stationed off-shore.." is a non-issue unless you equate it with some nefarious deed committed against our Republic.

[InLosAngeles]

07:37 AM on 10/22/2010

Soros, the ruthless, hedge fund currency speculator: 60 minute interview w/Steve Croft re his participation during the Holocaust:

Mr. SOROS: Yes. Yes.

KROFT: Went out, in fact, and helped in the confiscation of property from the Jews.

Mr. SOROS: Yes. That's right. Yes.

KROFT: I mean, that's -- that sounds like an experience that would send lots of people to the psychiatric couch for many, many years. Was it difficult?

Mr. SOROS: Not -- not at all. Not at all. Maybe as a child you don't -- you don't see the connection. But it was -- it created no -- no problem at all.

KROFT: No feeling of guilt?

Mr. SOROS: No.

KROFT: For example that, 'I'm Jewish and here I am, watching these people go. I could just as easily be there. I should be there.' None of that?

Mr. SOROS: Well, of course I c -- I could be on the other side or I could be the one from whom the thing is being taken away. But there was no sense that I shouldn't be there, because that was -- well, actually, in a funny way, it's just like in markets -- that if I weren't there -- of course, I wasn't doing it, but somebody else would -- would -- would be taking it away anyhow. And it was the -- whether I was there or not, I was only a spectator, the property was being taken away. So the -- I had no role in

[Wow Unbelievable]

11:34 AM on 10/22/2010

Spooky Dude!

[hypyrwyf]

12:29 PM on 10/22/2010

I didn't see the interview from which you quote, but the very end says he was just a spectator, had no role, and was a child, so it doesn't look at all damning to me.

[InLosAngeles]

03:17 PM on 10/22/2010

George Soros was 14. Anne Frank was 15. One wrote a diary, the other walked the daily route as Jewish possessions were taken from their abandoned homes.

KROFT: No feeling of guilt?

Mr. SOROS: No.

KROFT: For example that, 'I'm Jewish and here I am, watching these people go. I could just as easily be there. I should be there.' None of that?

Mr. SOROS: Well, of course I c -- I could be on the other side or I could be the one from whom the thing is being taken away. But there was no sense that I shouldn't be there, because that was -- well, actually, in a funny way, it's just like in markets -- that if I weren't there -- of course, I wasn't doing it, but somebody else would -- would -- would be taking it away anyhow.

[JessCostello]

08:34 AM on 11/10/2010

He was 14 years old and made a nice bit of money off it. This stuff just comes up because it's about the Holocaust. The stuff he did later in life is much worse.

[KaAp]

07:27 AM on 10/22/2010

Bless you Mr. Soros.

[lboucher]

05:24 AM on 10/22/2010

Watch your back, Mara Liasson …
(Media Matters) — News that Juan Williams’ contract with NPR was terminated over comments he made about Muslims while appearing on Fox News shines a spotlight on the radio network’s evergreen controversy: Its continued affiliation with Fox News. Specifically, NPR’s Mara Liasson and her long-running association with Fox News has often raised questions. This might be the proper time for NPR to finally address that thorny issue.

[somearelost]

09:13 AM on 10/22/2010

Same post as the other topic. Nice job wit hthe copy/paste. Do you have an original though in your tiny little head?? Didn't think so. Also, Media Matters = Joke

[BlackWidowPilot]

11:11 AM on 10/22/2010

No, the joke's on you, citizen:

http://www.republicanoffenders.com

So much for "The Party of Conservative Christian Family Values" that Fake News, Rupert Murdoch and his Saudi pal shill for so shamelessly 24/7.

Or by "Party of Conservative Christian Family Values" did y'all really mean the locals in THE HILLS HAVE EYES?

Do tell.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[Sheiban S]

04:42 AM on 10/22/2010

More liberals have to show that they have balls like Soros did today. He basically told Fox that they're lying, so in order to set the record straight, he's not going to have them retract their statements but instead is going to donate to Media Matters to bring forth the truth. Good on him!

[DoinMyHomework]

02:02 AM on 10/22/2010

1 million is a nice start...

[Richard2]

09:27 PM on 10/21/2010

Speaking of foreign interests trying to influence American politics, how about George Soros?

[StuartGalley]

10:21 PM on 10/21/2010

doesn't count....he is a liberal.

[DoinMyHomework]

02:00 AM on 10/22/2010

he's a citizen, just like Rupert

[trouble97018]

05:10 AM on 10/22/2010

Soros has better credentials. Among other things, he helped to finance a group called Solidarity in Poland. They became rather famous. Then there are all of the black students who's schooling he paid for in South Africa during apartheid.
In 2003 PBS estimated he had given away something like 4 BILLION dollars. What's Rupert done except feather his own nest?

[JazzyJim]

08:50 PM on 10/21/2010

Which Foreign entity does the Republican Party represent? They obviously do not represent America. They would rather spend a Trillion dollars on an illegal Bush War - and then blame the middle and lower class citizens whom are tired of giving all the tax breaks to the 1.5% whom are not all represented as "Republicans" many of them in the entertainment field and elsewhere are WILLING to contribute a fair tax; then there's Republicorp who then ship jobs to India, China and Africa. So again - which country do the Republicans attack American under?

The war is with the Corporate Citizen that OWNS your voice and your opinions of stupidity masquerading as false morality and false patriotism for America.

http://www­­­.casttv.­c­o­m/vide­o/­zv­eztf­b/t­hat­-s­-rep­ubli­­corp-­vide­o

http://pol­­­.moveon.­o­r­g/repu­bl­ic­orp_­org­cha­rt­/

Exclusive: Chamber Receives At Least $885,000 From Over 80 Foreign Companies In Disclosed Donations Alone

Last week, ThinkProgress published an exclusive story about the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s foreign fundraising operation. We noted the Chamber raises money from foreign-owned businesses for its 501(c)(6) entity, the same account that finances its unprecedented $75 million dollar partisan attack ad campaign. While the Chamber is notoriously secretive, the thrust of our story involved the disclosure of fundraising documents U.S. Chamber staffers had been distributing to solicit foreign (even state-owned) companies to donate directly to the Chamber’s 501(c)(6).

[somearelost]

09:15 AM on 10/22/2010

Seek professional help

[BlackWidowPilot]

11:15 AM on 10/22/2010

"JimmyJazz" has presented you with empirical facts. Only the truly mad deny the sanity of all those around them.

Your denial is not a river in Egypt, citizen.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[JazzyJim]

01:35 PM on 10/22/2010

Coming from a sheep - I think I'll opt to disregard and offer you my help. How is it working for the party of little minds?

[Kris63]

08:46 PM on 10/21/2010

Thank you Mr. Soros! So many in America thank you!

[mrskorn]

08:53 PM on 10/21/2010

You're against free speech then? Nice.

[tonebender]

11:00 PM on 10/21/2010

??? Could you explain your comment about free speech? It seems to make no sense at all.

[ezwalker]

11:48 PM on 10/21/2010

Fox is a paid shill for the corporations. Nice try!