Media Mogul Offers Up Cutting Remarks On Paterson
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While speaking before a Wall Street Journal CEO conference Tuesday, media mogul Rupert Murdoch took verbal aim at Governor Paterson's disability, saying it's compromising his ability to govern the state. NY1's Michael Scotto filed the following report.One of the most powerful media moguls in the world says Governor Paterson's disability is hurting his ability to govern.
The owner of the New York Post and the Wall Street Journal thinks New York is in trouble, and part of the problem, Rupert Murdoch says, is the governor's disability.
"The Senate, the State Assembly, totally incompetent, with a governor, who's a very nice and honest man, who can't, who's blind, who can't read Braille and doesn't really know what's going on," Murdoch said.
The News Corp. CEO made the comments Monday in response to a question about the lack of civility in political discourse. The governor's office refused to comment on the remarks, but the executive director of the American Council of the Blind called them unfortunate. Media critics also say Murdoch could have used different words.
"Murdoch didn't choose his words wisely, to say the least. And it's no surprise that many people found them offensive," said Clint Hendler of the Columbia Journalism Review.
Murdoch's comments came to light on the same day Paterson got into another, unrelated fight with the media during an appearance on radio station WWLR.
"There are economic problems that a lot of our media sources have as well, so they will spin things up and make them look more sensational," Paterson said.
Paterson was angry at the press for highlighting his disagreement with the Obama Administration over its decision to try September 11th terror suspects in a Manhattan federal court.
In recent months, Paterson has had his share of public disagreements with the press. This past summer, Paterson accused the media of racism but later backed away from the comments.
Observers believe the governor is just trying to do whatever he can to lift his low poll numbers.
"It probably won't make a difference of affecting their coverage, drawing anything worse or better. I think he just needs someone to blame right now and the press is a handy target," Hendler said.