The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

p> FOX HOUNDS br> After cashing the $7 million check Haim Saban wrote to the Democratic National Committee, party chairman Terry McAuliffe should also send a thank you note to News Corp. chairman and conservative Rupert Murdoch . "That's a lot of Murdoch's money we're getting," says a DNC fundraiser, laughing. Yeah, all the way to the bank. /p>

Saban is the creator of kiddie TV shows like "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "Power Rangers," hallmark shows in the early years of the Fox Network (for more on this "cartoon baron," click here). Given their popularity with the after-school crowd, Murdoch and News Corp. have been paying Saban millions to keep his creations on the air and away from other networks. "Murdoch made Saban. Without him he'd be just another TV producer, and we'd be $7 million poorer," says the DNC moneyman.

Saban gave the DNC $7 million to help build the party's $40 million headquarters near Capitol Hill. McAuliffe intends to raise enough for the capital project so that he can pay for it in cash before possible campaign finance reforms kick in on November 6, 2002.

p> RIGHT TO PAY br> Haim Saban isn't the only fat-walleted Democrat to pony up the dough for the DNC's new headquarters. Texas trial lawyer

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