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Barack Obama's Unlikely Supporter: Rupert 'Fox News' Murdoch

Posted May 29, 2008 12:34pm EDT by Sarah Lacy in Investing, Internet, Media, Newsmakers, Venture Capital, M and A, IPOs

Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg had a long day of grilling executives at their All Things Digital Conference. But they saved Rupert Murdoch -- their Wall Street Journal overlord -- for last. The highlight? Murdoch’s not-quite-but-almost endorsement of Barack Obama for president.

The founder -- and defender -- of Fox News said he expected Obama to win in a landslide, citing widespread unhappiness with the current administration and his disenchantment with Republican contender John McCain. Murdoch added that after a long career in the Senate, McCain had been forced to compromise too much and doesn’t stand for much. Murdoch even nonchalantly owned up to influencing the New York Post to back Obama in the New York primary.

During the Q&A, I pressed Murdoch -- a new U.S. citizen -- on whether he would actually vote for Obama in November. He said he was leaning toward it, but would know in the next six months. When I asked if I could call him, he said yes, then joked I could probably just figure it out from reading the Post.

I also asked Murdoch about reports that he said he would buy the New York Times if he had the opportunity, just to shut it down. He said he was kidding, but likely Times staffers in the audience shuddered.

I caught up with Kara of the WSJ and All Things D once they got offstage to discuss her newfound admiration for the outspoken mogul -- not to mention Alaskan elk.

For video highlights of last night's All Things D interview with Murdoch, click here.

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1455 Comments

Tony H
Tony H - Thursday May 29, 2008 12:50PM EDT

Spell Obama's name right for Pete's sake...

Howard the SongDuck
Howard the SongDuck - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:09PM EDT

It's Barack!!! I agree, at least spell the name of our next president correctly.

Matt A
Matt A - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:10PM EDT

He is correct as Obama WILL be our next President, which is a GOOD thing.....

pete
pete - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:12PM EDT

A RIGHT WING IDIOT LIKE MURDOCH ENDORCING OBAMA..SEEMS LIKE THE KISS OF DEATH..MAYBE ITS JUST A HOAX. CANT SEE THE FOX CHANNELS AND THE NY POST AND THAT SORT ENDORCING OBAMA...IF TRUE, MAYBE, WE CAN HAVE 'FAITH' IN AMERICA..TIL THEN, KEEP HOPING NO MCCAIN AND ANOTHER 20 YRS IN IRAQ....

Angina
Angina - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:13PM EDT

Seriously. Since when is it acceptable to misspell a subject's name?!

isaac
isaac - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:19PM EDT

i agree with him , the rupblicans are done . they can pack it up. no matter who the democratic nominee is thats who i am voting for. NEVER EVER VOTE REPUBLICAN AGAIN NEVER

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:33PM EDT

You all need to forget voting Republican/Democrat. All Republicans and all Democrats aren't bad. Vote for the man who will take care of running the country in a manner that will be beneficial to all Americans and not give us a snow job on what they are going to do. I personally think that our choices stink.

melrosew
melrosew - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:35PM EDT

This is just a sinister way to rally all the scared white voters and the racist. It's almost a joke to hear a man like Murdoch endorse Obama. If a man like Murdoch endorses Obama It scares the hell out of certain elements of the white electorate. Which in turn, prompts them to action because they are scared of change and scared of new perspectives but, hey, they listen to fox news and let the so called pundits make up their minds for them. They don't even follow the script of the so called " Founding Fathers" and vote in their own interests. They vote against the interests of others. Go to hell or back to Australia Rupert!

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:47PM EDT

Way to go Rupert!!

abdullahthegod
abdullahthegod - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:48PM EDT

Notice on some "subtitles" for the embedded video it says "Barak Obama2019s Unlikely Supporter:Rupert 'Fox N" Is there a message "within" the message. Stay tuned and aware.

JohnF
JohnF - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:52PM EDT

I thought the correct spelling was Hussein?

Jackhammer Jones
Jackhammer Jones - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:52PM EDT

Obama is the better choice.

brandon
brandon - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:54PM EDT

Obama is a joke. Hillary is a joke. McCain is a joke. Neither of these Republicrats offer any sort of change. The biggest difference between them is one of them wants to occupy 130 nations, whereas the other 2 want to occupy 129(subtract Iraq). Oh wow so much change I can't begin to fathom.

Bradley S
Bradley S - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:54PM EDT

Do people realized Murdoch is Australian.

Michael Jones
Michael Jones - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:55PM EDT

if obama is the nominee i will change my party status and vote republican

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:55PM EDT

Barak not barack! jeez americans!!!!

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:56PM EDT

Now I see why Fox News has been going towards the left in their reporting.

Trenton Hustler
Trenton Hustler - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:56PM EDT

Black or White Obama is clearly the best choice to lead this nation. He is the only one that can truly UNITE THESE STATES!!!!!!!!!!

MIKE
MIKE - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:57PM EDT

I think that obama would be a big mistake for this country i wouldnt feel as safe.He doesnt have military experience and with Russia ,Iran China all on the same side we need an older experienced man in the Presidency of the U.S.A. Hes a good talker and thats about it..He has had dinners with people that support hamas.He has sat in speaches where people wrote poems against Israel.And he had a pastor of 20 yeears that is crazy. After 20 years if your drilled in the head about certain issues it will still stick without you even knowing.We need to be very worried if he ever got elected.

Marie
Marie - Thursday May 29, 2008 01:57PM EDT

We will get change alright. Pocket change, another 911, and gas lines, 22% interest rates and no jobs. Yes Obama stands for change from freedom to socialism/marcism. We will get just what we deserve.

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