By Chris Hampson, NBC News Director of International News
LONDON ? It was a moment, perhaps, more suited to the confessional box than a public hearing being watched by millions.
?This is the most humble day of my life,? said Rupert Murdoch in a rare act of contrition as he addressed the British parliamentary inquiry into the phone hacking scandal on Tuesday.
Whether the words came from his heart, or his legal team?s brief, it was something of a surprise from the world?s most powerful press baron.
It was typical of the journalist in Murdoch that he used a phrase that was, of course, a gift to headline writers everywhere. Though perhaps not in the way he intended.
?Murdoch eats humble pie,? screamed the banner headline on the Daily Telegraph following the attack on the octogenarian with a plate of shaving foam.
The unrestrained enjoyment from the British papers at the current discomfort of one of the most ruthlessly combative media tycoons in the business is palpable.
And many of Britain?s politicians seem to be enjoying it too. It is as if the schoolyard bully has been brought down to size. Now it?s their turn to do the kicking.
For too long ? or so they?d have you believe ? they?ve been pushed around by an over-powerful popular press whose influence on their readers can be the difference between winning the keys to power ? or another season ticket to the political backwoods.
Well, up to a point. You reap what you sow.
The phone-hacking scandal is throwing light into all sorts of shady corners.
Take for example the interesting revelation to members of parliament that Murdoch had been invited to 10 Downing Street to receive the thanks of the (then) newly-elected Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron.
So why, Murdoch was asked, did he go in through the back door?
?Because I was asked to,? he said, ??to avoid the photographers I suppose. I did what I was told. I was asked if I would please come in through the back door.?
He got a cup of tea for his trouble, and Cameron?s gratitude for his newspapers? support.
Murdoch also revealed he?d been asked to Downing Street ?many times? by the previous Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
?I wish they?d leave me alone,? Murdoch grumbled.
In 1995 Tony Blair caused controversy at home when he flew half way round the world to Australia to try to win Murdoch?s support by speaking at a News Corporation conference.??
Murdoch commented at the time: ?If the British press is to be believed, today is all part of a Blair-Murdoch flirtation. If that flirtation is ever consummated, Tony, I suspect we will end up making love like two porcupines ? very carefully.?
Two years later? ?? with the support of Murdoch?s mass circulation Sun newspaper behind him? ?? Blair became prime minister in a landslide.
When I worked as a political reporter at parliament I remember overhearing phone conversations one night between a colleague, a former Labour leader, and the despotic and corrupt media ?tycoon? Robert Maxwell.
Maxwell was throwing a party to ?celebrate? the anniversary of his takeover of the then popular red-top Daily Mirror. Not many of us working there felt we had much to celebrate. There was justifiable unease about Maxwell.? He was later found to have robbed the pension fund of millions.
The Labour leader didn?t want to attend the party. Maxwell was furious ? so angry that he threatened to switch the paper?s support to the Conservatives. Reluctantly, the politician gave in.
It made no difference. He didn?t go on to win the election.
The press may be powerful, the public gullible.
But, sometimes, the politicians have only themselves to blame.
Related links:
UK premier accused of 'catastrophic error' amid phone-hacking probe
Murdoch's 'foggy' performance may have served him well
Mrs. Rupert Murdoch wins hearts and minds in China
Source: http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/07/20/7121059-how-politicians-cave-into-uk-press-barons
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