CNN pundit defends Rupert Murdoch's racial tweet: He just meant that Obama is a 'magic negro'

CNN political commentator and Donald Trump supporter Jeffrey Lord on Thursday defended Rupert Murdoch's suggestion that Barack Obama was not a "real black president" by noting that the News Corporation founder really meant that the president was a "magic Negro."

On Wednesday, Murdoch had sent out a tweet in support of Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson, and then added: "What about a real black President who can properly address the racial divide? And much else."

In defense of Murdoch, Lord pointed to a 2007 Los Angeles Timescolumn by David Ehrenstein titled "Obama the 'Magic Negro.'"

"By that, he meant someone like Sidney Poitier, he specifically reference, and other African-Americans -- Will Smith, etc., who are not seen as -- quote, unquote -- threatening," Lord explained. "And not -- quote -- authentically black like, say, Al Sharpton. Again, these were his suggestions."

"So, I don't really think that Mr. Murdoch has said anything new here that hasn't been said," he continued. "I just think that this is an old argument that somehow has popped up here with Mr. Murdoch. But it's been said before, and by an African-American."

Democratic strategist Keith Boykin saw things differently.

"I don't know what Rupert Murdoch is doing," he remarked. "I think it's a reflection of some sort of white privilege or billionaire entitlement that has forced him to make these comments on Twitter. But it's quite offensive."

"Here's a guy who is not black, he's not even an American, telling African-Americans who we should support for our president," Boykin noted. "The idea that this comment would be made by Rupert Murdoch at all is problematic regardless of the apology."

The Democratic strategist said that he was "tired of this conservative sort of disingenuous concern about black people. The comment was framed in a sense by Rupert Murdoch, 'Well black people should be really upset because Obama hasn't done enough for them.'"

"But when was Rupert Murdoch ever concerned about what Obama's done for black people or about what black people need in the first place. If he were concerned, he would probably listen to black people who would tell him that they support Obama far more than they support Ben Carson."

Watch the video below from CNN, broadcast Oct. 8, 2015.