In an exclusive interview published in The Australian Financial Review -- an Australian daily national economic newspaper -- News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch reportedly brags about Fox News host Glenn Beck, whom he describes as a “very genuine, extremely well-read libertarian,” and criticizes Fox News host Bill O'Reilly, saying his “easy” treatment of now-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in an interview was “disgraceful.”

When questioned by interviewer Max Suich about those who don't like Fox News, Murdoch reportedly commented: “Well half hate it, half love it. We said to the cable operators when we put the price up, we said, do you want a monument to yourself ... cancel us, you might get your house burnt down.” He later said Fox News was “beating the shit out of” cable news competitor CNN.

In the wide-ranging interview, Murdoch also criticized President Obama, saying he “doesn't listen to anybody” and that "[w]ith any kind of a Republican candidate -- a decent Republican governor, say -- Obama will find it impossible to win [re-election]." Regarding the tea party movement Fox News has aggressively promoted, Murdoch said: “The Tea Party will stiffen the back of the Republican Party. This is an upswell. They [the Tea Party] have no leadership; that's why they get a few crackpots in it.”

An excerpt from The Australian Financial Review interview, "Uncut: the thoughts of Chairman Murdoch," (subscription only):

Are you worried by the attacks on Fox News for bias and its support of the Tea Party and the Republicans?

NOooo ... people love Fox News.

Some people don't.

Well half hate it, half love it. We said to the cable operators when we put the price up, we said do you want a monument to yourself ... cancel us, you might get your house burnt down. (Both laugh.)

There's a lot of Democrats on Fox News, not just Republicans.

Everyone is invited on.

Bill O'Reilly gets Hillary Clinton on. He's disgraceful the way he gives her such an easy ride. We're beating the shit out of CNN.

There's a guy on Fox who started on CNN called Glenn Beck.

He is a little bit of an actor, he looks in the camera all the time. He's very genuine, extremely well-read libertarian, doesn't make any secret of it. He says don't trust the government, don't trust me, just trust yourselves.

He's hit a nerve. Millions -- millions -- watch him at five in the afternoon!

Is this healthy politics, such a huge growth in American populism?

The Tea Party will stiffen the back of the Republican Party.

This is an upswell. They have no leadership; that's why they get a few crackpots in it.

People just very deeply feel there's too much government. Under Obama it has accelerated.

The states are broke, taxes are going up. Land and school taxes all going through the roof in Nassau County, in Westchester.