Murdoch's News Corp: Edwards benefits from book deal with company

By NEDRA PICKLER=
Associated Press Writer=

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. is fighting back against Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards and his criticism of the media empire, pointing out that the 2004 vice presidential nominee was paid $500,000 by one of its companies.

HarperCollins, which is owned by News Corp., paid the former North Carolina senator a $500,000 advance for his book, "Home: The Blueprints of Our Lives."

The Edwards campaign said the money was donated to charity and that another $300,000 for expenses was used to pay researchers and other costs to write the book.

The figures were reported by the Murdoch-owned New York Post on Friday, a day after Edwards challenged his rivals to return political donations from News Corp. executives. Edwards said the Fox News Channel, owned by News Corp., has a right-wing bias and "the time has come for Democrats to stop pretending to be friends with the very people who demonize the Democratic Party."

Edwards' criticism was chiefly aimed at Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has taken more than $20,000 in donations from Murdoch and other News Corp. executives.

"John Edwards did not receive one penny from this book," said Edwards spokesman Eric Schultz. "All of his proceeds went to charities, like Habitat for Humanity and the College for Everyone program. But this latest attack from the New York Post, a tool of Murdoch, proves our point better than we could ourselves."