LONDON (AP) — News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch said Wednesday that his globe-spanning TV and newspaper empire doesn't carry as much political sway as is often believed, telling a British inquiry into media ethics that he wasn't the power behind the throne often depicted by his enemies.

Speaking softly, deliberately and with dry humor, Murdoch sought to deflate what he described as myths about his business, his agenda and his friendships with those at the pinnacle of British politics.

"If these lies are repeated again and again they catch on," he said. "But they just aren't true."

The 81-year-old media baron denied ever calling in favors from British leaders and dismissed the oft-repeated claim that his top-selling daily, The Sun, could swing elections.

"We don't have that sort of power," he testified.
http://news.yahoo.com/im-not-powerful-rupert-murdoch-tells-judge-16...

The News International proprietor admits that he only sanctioned Sun approval
of Tony Blair after he had gotten all the concessions he could get from him.
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