Attack On Murdoch Empire In America

Normally the Oracle, and I personally, are in agreement with MoveOn.org efforts to ensure that true democracy survives in this once great country.

MoveOn has taken up a new cause that has given me pause for thought. I'll let MoveOn speak for themselves:

"Allegations in the U.K. against Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, Fox's parent company, just keep coming. Hacking into the phone of a 13-year-old murder victim, bribing government officials, and now claims of hacking into the voice mail of 9/11 victims and their families.

Now, the key is to find out how far Fox and the rest of Murdoch's news outlets went here in the U.S. If they've been as corrupt and criminal here as it looks like they've been in the U.K., then we might just see Murdoch's media empire crumble.

So we're launching a new campaign to build unavoidable public pressure for full investigations. We'll start tomorrow with a hard-hitting new ad asking whether Murdoch is "running a company or a crime syndicate." But first we need to the raise the money to get it on the air and ramp up the campaign."

MoveOn is soliciting $5 donations to help them fight the fight.

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Let me say right now that I am not a fan of FOX, The Invent The News Network. To me they are nothing more than a propaganda machine for the lunatic fringe and Tea Bagger Republicans. That said, I will not argue against their right to spout all of the hate, dissent, and unadulterated bullshit they can come up with. Just like the SOG City Oracle, FOX is guaranteed the right of free speech by the U.S. Constitution under the 1st Amendment.

To advocate launching a "witch hunt" against Murdoch and FOX because you "think" they may have committed some sort of crime seems like it is stooping to their level. The Constitution exists to protect the rights of all people in this country against vigilante justice.

I am not a Constitutional scholar, although I do have a copy that I read on a regular basis, but I could envision legal action against MoveOn citing, at a minimum, the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments.

I have faith in our legal system. I am comfortable leaving any legal actions against Murdoch and company in the hands of the Department of Justice, the Federal Communications Commission, and any other agency that has standing in this matter.

Five dollars will stay in my pocket until I get to the store and pick up a six pack.

Cheers, y'all.