CNN SENIOR MANAGEMENT LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO CHENEY "X" - Control Room Staffer Laughed

The Drudge Report ^ | 11-22-05 | Matt Drudge

[rabair]

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX TUE NOV 22, 2005 08:25:48 ET XXXXX

**Exclusive**

CNN SENIOR MANAGEMENT LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION OF CHENEY 'X'; CONTROL ROOM STAFFER 'LAUGHED' WHEN X FLASHED

CNN management has launched an internal investigation into how a giant black 'X' mark appeared over Vice President Dick Cheney's face -- as he delivered a speech from Washington on Monday!

"We are taking this matter very, very seriously, and I can assure you no one at this network would ever deliberately place an 'X' over the vice president's face," a top CNN source, who asked not to be named at this time, said from New York.

A well-placed CNN insider claims a control room staffer "laughed" when the image appeared shortly after 11 am.

A careful review of the tape now shows a white colored 'X' was also transposed over Cheney's face during the speech, it appeared for less than 1/15 of a second, creating a startling flash effect.

CNN spokeswoman Laurie Goldberg emails: "We concluded this was a technological malfunction not an issue of operator error. A portion of the switcher experienced a momentary glitch. We obviously regret that it happened and are working on the equipment to ensure it is not repeated."

A rival network news director asks: "When has an 'X' ever aired on CNN before? Who had the graphic sitting in the key signal? Who generated the 'X'?"

The vice president himself is said to have brushed off the incident, a White House source said early Tuesday morning.

Developing...

[HereInTheHeartland]

New theme :
X CNN

get those bumperstickers printed.

[TomGuy]

I thought it was a black X, not a white X?

Seems it was both. The black X showed up several times. That leads to the conclusion that it was more than just an error/malfunction.

[TexasCajun]

Later today:

CNN suspends technician for 2 months with pay and bonus.

[mewzilla]

Thanks! Wonder if CNN's advertisers are laughing?

[mainepatsfan]

The question is why didn't this "mistake" happen before or after Cheney's speech?

[i_dont_chat]

Maybe the last word is "play", not black.

[thoughtomator]

So I guess this is the perfect opportunity to watch a cover-up in real time.

[cake_crumb]

Before fiddling with the image in Photoshop I was sure it was probably an honest mistake by a media which has been caught DIShonestly altering images before.

Explain why there is text belkow the "X" which looks suspiciously like news crawler text. In fact the text below the "X" on the screen capture says "...the {poa....can't make that out] has proposed restrictions on his best selling as...]"

Convince me some wit didn't use the same equipment for the news crawler to make that "X".

[wita]

At one time CNN was the only 24 hour news station. In cable land, they were king news, the only news so they were able to have their way with the american people. Their coffers were full and their owner and founder was king of his kingdom. Times change and competition is good no?

[Thombo2]

"Technical malfunction"?Suuure.I recall another incident(prior to GW's re-election?)where the caption under a pic of the pres said"It's the economy,again"or something to that effect.This was also attributed to as a prank.

[Ingtar]

"I shor..." "...ames ol black"

I'm not the best at reading that text.

[finnman69]

[cake_crumb]

ummm......someone did

He's mad because only swastikas are allowed?

[mainepatsfan]

The director and producer have the monitors right in front of them. It shouldn't have taken them that long to notice something wasn't right.

[i_dont_chat]

You can view the video. It is linked from Drudge's page.

[ErnBatavia]

Is Bill-O having an organism in that shot??

[aculeus]

"We are taking this matter very, very seriously, and I can assure you no one at this network would ever deliberately place an 'X' over the vice president's face," a top CNN source, who asked not to be named at this time, said from New York.

Restating: "We are taking it seriously but we're convinced it was an accident. In other words we aren't taking it seriously."

[fooman]

bottom right text says 'black'

[Youngman442002]

I don't care if your Democrat or Republican....but it is a disgrace to the position of Vice President.....very sad...the Democrats hatred is getting very scary

[Sen Jack S. Fogbound]

Technical malfunction, my ass. This was a deliberate act of an operator to place that image on the screen.

The net result is the further loss of creditibility of the network!

This is proof of media bias at work!