New York, NY, January 26, 2005 … Reacting to Ted Turner's latest remark invoking Hitler and the Holocaust to attack a media rival, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called Mr. Turner "a recidivist who hasn't learned from his past mistakes."  According to reports, Mr. Turner this week lashed out at Fox News, telling an audience of programming executives in Las Vegas that the network's popularity among Americans has similarities to Hitler's rise to power in prewar Germany.

"Once again, Ted Turner can't seem to learn his lesson," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "You tell him it's wrong, it's offensive, it's inappropriate, it's degrading to the memory of the six million.  He apologizes – then does it again.  He's a recidivist who hasn't learned from his past mistakes.  Well, Mr. Turner, apologies are good, but learning from your mistakes is better."

In 1995, the League criticized a similarly offensive remark by Mr. Turner when the then-CNN Chairman stated his inability to buy a network made him feel like "those Jewish people in Germany in 1942."  Mr. Turner apologized, saying he realized the remark was "thoughtless" and "insensitive."

In September 1996, ADL again wrote to Mr. Turner after he compared Rupert Murdoch to "the late Fuhrer."  Mr. Turner responded with another letter of apology, saying that, "I know full-well the extent of horror the Nazis imposed upon the world.  I sincerely regret the ill-chosen comparison which offended a group of people for whom I have the deepest respect."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.