Murdoch's machine moves against hope in the US

News Corp boss Rupert Murdoch has been questioned by shareholders about a series of large donations made to right-wing organisations.

Normally a tightly controlled and sober affair, the News AGM was diverted by questions about million-dollar donations to the Chamber of Commerce and Republican Governors Association.

The American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organisations representative Laura Shaffer Campos politely but pointedly wanted to know why the donations had been made.

Mr Murdoch said the donations had nothing to do with the editorial opinions of the corporation.

"It has nothing to do with the editorial policies, or the journalism, or the films, or anything else," he told the meeting.

However, he did say the donations were aimed at driving changes in Washington DC.

"It is certainly in the interests of the country ... that there be a fair amount of change in Washington."

He did not elaborate on that comment.

News board member Rod Eddington was also pressed on the donations.

"The board takes advice from the management team and considers it on that basis and also refers it to the company's general counsel," Sir Rod told the meeting.

Source: AAP via The Age newspaper

Before it gets lost again... I'll point out that Rupert Murdoch is a US citizen now, and has been for 25 years.
I doubt the Republican Governors Association was much interested in HIS birth certificate.