Michael Wolff denies playing the Times like a violin, says it's more like a viola

Mega-media-mogul Rupert Murdoch has become “embarrassed” by his Fox News franchise and shares the “general liberal apoplexy” about the network, and in particular, “he barely pretends to hide his feelings about Bill O’Reilly,” the network’s star, says a forthcoming authorized biography of Murdoch by Vanity Fair columnist Michael Wolff. But according to a New York Times report, Murdoch has been leaked an early copy of the book and he’s not pleased. He’s demanded corrections from the book’s publisher, Doubleday. Says Wolff, “I’m obviously annoyed that they’re looking at an early version of the book, and a purloined one at that. In essence News Corp. is holding stolen goods.†However, he adds, “I don’t think this is necessarily real objections” because “it’s all from the horse’s mouth. And it’s all on tape.” So what’s going on? While the Times seems baffled as to why Wolff got the assignment in the first place, more cogniscent observers will note Wolff wrote glowingly of Murdoch in his last book, Autumn of the Moguls, and seems to have a genuine friendship with Murdoch. He speculates to the Times that Murdoch was simply trying to placate hurt feelings within News Corps at the bosses’ comments.