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McCain: Fox News is 'schizophrenic'

In a wide-ranging interview with The New Republic, Sen. John McCain called Fox News "schizophrenic" and spoke about his conversations with Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes about immigration.

"I think that Fox News is a bit schizophrenic," the Arizona Republican said in response to a question posed by Isaac Chotiner about how immigration reform is protrayed on Fox News. "I saw a guy on “Hannity,” maybe “Huckabee,” and the guy said, “You know, the Chinese are coming across our border, and they are going to commit cyber attacks.”

"They have to cross the border to do that?" Chotiner asked.

"Honest to God! 'They are going to commit cyber attacks,' McCain said.

When asked what Ailes and Murdoch say about whether the Republican party can "come along" on the issue, McCain said Murdoch is a supporter and Ailes is a realist.

"It is well known that Rupert Murdoch is a strong supporter of immigration reform. Roger Ailes is also a realist. He believes that immigration reform is vital to the country first, but also the GOP," McCain said.

But despite being a realist, Ailes does "not dictate" on the issue, McCain said, noting that Fox News host Sean Hannity has come out against the issue "and kept his job."

"I don’t think Roger Ailes is ham-fisted," McCain said.

McCain also blasted Katie Couric for "shredding" Sarah Palin.

"(Palin) excited our base in a way I was unable to achieve. And then I watched the shredding and destruction to destroy a good and decent person by the liberal media, beginning with Katie Couric," McCain said. "Not only do I not regret it, but I have probably not seen anyone in American life savaged like she was, particularly by the liberal left."