America 1982-Chapter 584 - 126: Please Donate Your Own Money_2
After nearly two years of fierce competition with BBC, the knives were out in the battle for the satellite television network. Both sides, through different spokespersons or news leaks, expressed their insistence on seizing the network. The Murdoch Group had prepared a staggering sum of 188 million British Pounds for the launch of Sky Television, with forty million of that earmarked to lobby both houses of Parliament to reject the proposed legislation. Meanwhile, BBC’s four major shareholders declared that they had rallied 420 million Pounds, simply waiting for the bill to pass before they turned their guns on Sky.
Though Murdoch could not attend everything happening in America, he still found the time to call both Presidents Reagan and Bush, hoping they could shut up those foolish American imbeciles and clarify that his poor father-in-law was no Soviet naval officer, but an Estonian sailor who was forced to do odd jobs on Soviet naval ships for a while and nearly got executed for spying for West Germany because he secretly watched West German TV dramas on Finnish Television.
However, before the Presidents could even speak up, one of Murdoch’s powerful friends in American politics had already voluntarily stepped forward to denounce the American penchant for capriciously tossing around accusations.
New York’s Mayor, Democrat Ed Koch.
Everyone knew he was Murdoch’s friend. His election as New York’s Mayor was largely due to the massive publicity in Murdoch’s best-selling newspapers, so no one was surprised when he voiced support for Murdoch.
In an exclusive interview with a New York newspaper, he spoke about the recent criticism of Murdoch in the media, "I want to say, how long has it been since McCarthyism? Just because Murdoch had a bust of Stalin on his study table in the dorm, just because he sent a batch of films to China? Are we going to label him a spy for that? If we keep going down this path, should we investigate why England can sell busts of Stalin and who sold it to him? If anyone says, ’Yes, we should!’ then congratulations, ladies and gentlemen, we have returned to the McCarthyism of the fifties in America. Back then, we did just that; we couldn’t even publish Mao’s theoretical books. We couldn’t keep quiet, and if you didn’t shout out against communism loudly, you could be thrown in jail! It was a frightening time, and believe me, no one would like McCarthyism to return."
"People have told me, ’Ed, Murdoch is a jerk. He earns money from American movie tickets and then gives the movies away for free in China, even when there are poor Americans who can’t afford to watch ’Star Wars.’ I agree that it’s an issue. Indeed, I must admit there are people in America who, due to temporary hardship, can’t joyfully walk into a cinema to watch a film. Many think we shouldn’t care about the rest of the world outside the U.S. but should focus on internal issues instead. What do other countries watching our movies have to do with us? I understand everyone’s anger, but I must say, as the world grows closer, America should not isolate itself but embrace and join. Murdoch giving away movies is about spreading America’s morals, rule of law, culture, and the great American Dream to the whole world, so that everyone can watch American films, eat American food, style their hair the American way, and witness the greatness of America firsthand."
"Returning to the original point, if having a bust of Stalin makes one a spy, then should we dig up President Roosevelt from his grave and hang him again? He not only owned photos of Stalin, he even took pictures with him, sitting in the center, from where it looked as if Stalin was following his orders. What should we say, that President Roosevelt was a mastermind for the Soviet Union?"
"So, open your eyes, those jumping up and down trying to resurrect McCarthy are more likely the Soviet spies themselves."
...
Tommy had both feet propped up on the desk, leaning back in his chair, while holding an article written by Ted’s best editor from SSD. After reading it, he picked up his phone and dialed Ted’s number:
"How low is the salary you’re paying this Mr. Thomas to make him churn out this kind of thing to placate you?"
"I think the article is quite good, and that guy has even won a national commentary award," Ted explained from the other end of the phone.
Tommy tossed the faxed manuscript onto the desk, dissatisfied, "So, the whole thing just bluntly questions whether Ed Koch was elected Mayor of New York because of Murdoch’s support, and then mentions his shady dealings with property developers? Susy earns money from her man Jason more easily than this Mr. Thomas earns yours."
"Just tell me what everyone should be seeing on television and in newspapers, blurt it out. I can always draft a new one with an editor who doesn’t need to think for themselves," Ted said with a sigh.
He should never have sought out an editor with a reputation and a personal style for this job. He should have found a blonde bombshell who knew how to use a typewriter, to go and listen to Tommy’s rants and then transcribe them accurately for publication; that way, the SOB would undoubtedly be satisfied.
Tommy laughed, "It’s not that exaggerated. I’m just saying, Ed Koch’s speech, albeit brief, was very sophisticated. He started with McCarthyism, went on to discuss the significance of spreading American culture by Murdoch and ended up extending it to America’s greatest, President Roosevelt. If you use this kind of trash to argue against him, you really are like that trash McCarthy himself. So, to avoid such a situation, the challenger’s speech also has to be high-level. Remember, everything in the name of America."
