Rupert Murdoch, the outspoken octogenarian chief of News Corp. and self-described "billionaire tyrant" took to Twitter on Wednesday night to praise Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson and his wife Candy.
The media magnate took an unsubtle swipe at President Barack Obama in the process. "Ben and Candy Carson terrific. What about a real black President who can properly address the racial divide? And much else," Murdoch tweeted.
Ben and Candy Carson terrific. What about a real black President who can properly address the racial divide? And much else.
Murdoch then added a reference to a New York magazine article about minority disappointment with Obama. Though he did not link to the story, it seems he was referring to Jennifer Senior's piece published Wednesday.
Read New York magazine for minority community disappointment with POTUS
The remarks ricocheted around the Internet, generating more than 900 retweets in 10 hours, and more than a few be bemused responses.
Confession. Rupert was my ghost writer for #HowToBeBlack. I feel relieved the truth is out there. #thankyourupert https://twitter.com/rupertmurdoch/status/651924724960874497 ...
Rupert Murdoch has the gall to deny President Obama's blackness, after profiting millions over racist paranoia about him for 8 years? Wow.
@rupertmurdoch Can you please regularly advise black Americans on which of them is "real", so they'll be free of doubt?
@rupertmurdoch What about a real white man who runs a media outlet without bias? And much else.
@rupertmurdoch How about a real "news" service that could report on the racial divide? #foxnews
Murdoch attempted to resolve the situation in a follow-up tweet on Thursday morning:
Apologies! No offence meant. Personally find both men charming.
It's not the first time Murdoch has landed in hot water over his typically freewheeling Twitter feed. In January, Murdoch took to the medium to advocate all Muslims take collective responsibility for Islamic terrorism. A spokeswoman told CNN at the time "We don't comment on his tweets."
Murdoch's tweet questioning Obama's "blackness" isn't the first time Murdoch's Fox News network has raised objections to the president's identity and legitimacy. In 2011, Fox presenter Sean Hannity dedicated significant air time to speculating whether Obama was a U.S. citizen or had been born in Kenya. "What's the deal? Produce the birth certificate ... Why won't they release the birth certificate?" he said, according to Media Matters for America .
Fox also routinely provided a platform to promote birther conspiracies advanced by real estate billionaire and Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump.
Nevertheless, with Fox News still dominating cable news ratings, it likely won't be the last word Murdoch, and his surrogates, have on the subject.
