Murdoch sorry for implying Obama's not a 'real black president'

NEW YORK, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- News Corporation founder Rupert Murdoch apologized Thursday for potentially offending President Obama by implying he is not "a real black president."

Murdoch, 84, tweeted "Apologies! No offence meant. Personally find both men charming."

The tweet was a followup to two tweets on Wednesday in which Murdoch expressed his support for Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson and implied that President Obama was not a "real black president."

The first tweet read "Ben and Candy Carson terrific. What about a real black president who can properly address the racial divide? And much else," he wrote.

In a later tweet, Murdoch referenced a New York Magazine article about how President Obama has disappointed some minorities who wish he had done more to confront racial problems.

Murdoch has previously publicized his support for Carson, a retired neurosurgeon. In an Oct. 2 post Murdoch said pundits keep underestimating Carson while the public finds his humility admirable.

Carson, meanwhile, stirred up controversy in August when he said a Muslim should not run for office because the religion is inconsistent with the U.S Constitution. He's also come under fire this week for comments he made about a mass shooting at an Oregon community college.

Murdoch's company owns Fox News Channel, The New York Post and the Wall Street Journal in the United States. It also owns Sky News, The Sun and The Times newspaper in Britain.