Nazi cover row linked to National Broadband Network’s threat to Murdoch’s Foxtel

The row over the Daily Telegraph’s front page depicting Australian Prime Minster Kevin Rudd as a Nazi has been linked to the commercial threat the rollout of the National Broadband Network poses to the commercial interests of Rupert Murdoch, whose News Limited corporation owns the paper.The front cover depicted Mr Rudd, Deputy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Craig Thomson as characters from the 1960s era TV show, Hogan’s Heroes.Reaction to the front cover on social networks has been almost universally hostile, with some invoking Godwin’s Law, which posits that online discussions frequently degenerate into invocations of Hitler or the Nazis. Kevin Rudd said that Rupert Murdoch had demonstrated “through his own direct statements that he wants Mr Abbott to replace me as prime minister".Rudd said that the rollout of the National Broadband Network was "a commercial threat to Foxtel".News Corporation said: "Any suggestion that the editorial position of our newspapers is based upon the commercial interests of Foxtel demonstrates a complete ignorance of both our business and of Foxtel."

The front cover of the Daily Telegraph

Murdoch's Daily Telegraph hits Peak-Godwin's Law only 4 days into election campaign. Nazis are so funny #AusVotes2013 http://t.co/C20qT37bYn

— News Australia (@NewsAustralia) August 8, 2013

War On. Tacky, desperate @RupertMurdoch tabloid depicts Australian PM Kevin Rudd as Nazi on front page http://t.co/qN0nggHfwG

— Rupert Murdoch V 2.0 (@RupertMurdochPR) August 7, 2013

Doing research on share buttons and I opened The Daily Telegraph. First image is of Rudd as Colonel Klink?! Entire DT makes me feel dirty

— Mish L. (@Mishrepresented) August 8, 2013

Casting Rudd as a Nazi does seem a little low brow. Even for the telegraph. pic.twitter.com/ThdNrLH4cZ

— daneglerum (@daneglerum) August 7, 2013

WTF? Every time I think the Telegraph has hit bottom, they just dig deeper. Rudd as a Nazi from Hogan's Heroes? pic.twitter.com/W9m5sWfCvS

— Clockwork Corduroy (@CorduroyClock) August 7, 2013