News Corp scandal divides US along party lines

Claims of illegal attempt to gain 9/11 victims' numbers bring outrage from Democrats and caution from Republican---


The battle over Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is splitting American politics along party lines, with senior Democrats calling for investigations into the company while some senior Republicans play down the crisis.

Allegations that News International reporters may illegally have attempted to obtain the phone numbers of 9/11 victims have prompted an FBI probe into the company, which this week launched a preliminary investigation into the allegations. But a backlash has begun, focusing on the source of the claim: a single story in the Daily Mirror.

The former Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain has criticised the decision to investigate, saying there is little evidence so far that the problem of phone hacking had spread to the US and the probe was unjustified. "It seems to me that this is a British issue that needs to be resolved first," he told Sky News. "I've heard of no evidence or allegation yet of anything being done in the United States of America."

His defence is significant not only because he is a senior Republican but also because he has criticised News Corp in the past. In 2001, he publicly questioned its plans to take over the satellite television service DirecTV, citing concerns over media consolidation.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/16/newscorp-scandal-splits-american-politicians

And Blair might have been hacked while he was in the United States. The anagram/British crossword loon I follow on Twitter gave a date, July 17, 2003, with no other info. The headlines for that date have Blair addressing Congress.

I don't know if that revelation would be enough for action.

and the Repukes would still defend him.

Bill O'Reilly would tell us the cats were terrorists.

year old?

I'd bet on this one

He wants an investigation of Murdoch and News Corp.

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel - Samuel Johnson

Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious - Oscar Wilde

Looks like ReTHUGS are running scared - I wonder why??? :popcorn: :rofl:

AnnShahan2
“Republican­s and Murdoch are coming unraveled. Such a pretty sight!”

SnapShots

“Wow. The Republican­s AND Murdoch implode at the same time. Whooda thunk.”

I'm lovin' it. :rofl:

not want that enterprise investigated.

has as it became apparent that there was no saving Murdoch this time. It may be too late for Cameron, and I hope it is. If McCain was smart, he would remain silent right now rather than be seen as a defender of a criminal enterprise later.

And he should be worried that the events in Britain have already caused the resignation of the WSJ editor who was deeply involved in Hackgate and may end up being charged criminally. Also, a lot of people in Britain and here, were afraid to speak out about the Murdoch Empire, but now are coming forward feeling safe to do so.

But then, McCain chose Palin as his running mate, so it's not rational to expect him to be smart about this either.