Former GE Chief Jack Welch lends support to Rupert Murdoch

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Former General Electric Chief Executive Jack Welch took issue with a report from the U.K. Parliament that questioned News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch’s fitness to lead the global media giant in the wake of an ethics scandal at its British newspapers.

“It is outlandish to suggest that Rupert Murdoch is anything less than perfectly fit to lead his organization as it moves forward,’ Welch said in a statement. ‘Over our many years of dealings, I’ve seen nothing but integrity from him. He has never been anything but straightforward and above board in all his interactions with me, and his courageous and innovative moves in business have always been a source of inspiration to me.”

Welch, of course, competed head-to-head with Murdoch when General Electric controlled NBC. Back then, their relationship was not always cordial and at times was bitter. In fact, in 1994, NBC filed a complaint at the Federal Communications Commission accusing Murdoch and News Corp. of violating rules that limit foreign ownership of television stations.

The FCC complaint was withdrawn around the same time that News Corp. agreed to carry an NBC channel on one of its Asian satellites.

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-- Joe Flint