Rupert Murdoch Issues His Own Apology

Updating a story I posted last week, Rupert Murdoch has personally apologized for the political cartoon that appeared in the February 18th edition of The New York Post.

The cartoon, you'll recall, featured police shooting a chimp dead, while remarking "They'll have to find someone else to write the stimulus bill." This tasteless commentary was published a day after President Barack Obama signed into law a $787 billion economic stimulus package approved by Congress after weeks of wrangling. The image, implemented as a parable, referred to a gruesome incident earlier last week, when a pet chimp in Connecticut attacked and disfigured a woman before being shot dead by police (for more on this, check below for a fine post by Nickname).

Mr. Murdoch said the paper had made a mistake in publishing the cartoon and that he was sorry for any offense. So, what does everyone think. Is this too little, too late? Does it sound insincere? Does this absolve the Post, or Murdoch himself? Leave your thoughts in the comment section.

Below, you'll find the full version of the media mogul's apology:



As the Chairman of the New York Post, I am ultimately responsible for what is printed in its pages. The buck stops with me.

Last week, we made a mistake. We ran a cartoon that offended many people. Today I want to personally apologize to any reader who felt offended, and even insulted.

Over the past couple of days, I have spoken to a number of people and I now better understand the hurt this cartoon has caused. At the same time, I have had conversations with Post editors about the situation and I can assure you - without a doubt - that the only intent of that cartoon was to mock a badly written piece of legislation. It was not meant to be racist, but unfortunately, it was interpreted by many as such.

We all hold the readers of the New York Post in high regard and I promise you that we will seek to be more attuned to the sensitivities of our community.