Rupert Murdoch donates $1 million to Republican party

Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch has donated $1 million to the Republican cause, making his donation to the party one of the largest by any group or individual.

Rupert Murdoch, after publicly praising Barack Obama during the 2008 run for the White House, donated $1 million to the Republican Governors Association (RGA) in June, according to information provided to the Internal Revenue Service. Murdoch’s News Corporation is supporting the RGA and Republicans in general because of the party’s pro-business agenda. His media empire includes the New York Post, Wall Street Journal and Fox News. Their editorial support is given to the Republicans, according to a report in The Guardian. Although Murdoch praised Obama in 2008 in his competition against HIllary Clinton, admitting the then-senator from Illinois was of “rock-star” proportions, Murdoch backed Republican contestant John McCain in the general election. Murdoch tends to support politicians who might be of benefit to his business world. While much focus is currently being given the Senate and House of Representatives races to the November elections, the state governors also exert a certain influence in the American political landscape. Much of the Republicans’ recent optimism in the gubernatorial elections is due in part to their successful campaigning during the first half of this year, an effort that has helped raise $58 million, compared to just $40 million raised by the Democratic Governors Association. In New York, News Corporation’s Jack Horner, vice-president of corporate affairs and communications, said: “News Corporation believes in the power of free markets and organizations like the RGA, which have a pro-business agenda, support our priorities at this most critical time for our economy." Earlier this month, Murdoch’s News Corporation released its earnings for the year and quarter ending June 30, 2010, showing a fourth quarter (fiscal year) net income of $875 million, or a revenue growth of 6 percent over fiscal 2009.