# What would happen if we put an X on CNN? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 28, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069 "2005-11-28T16:52:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/1 "2005-11-28T16:52:32Z")
CNN apparently deliberately put an X on Dick Cheney’s face during a speech last week, then lied about doing it. Their reason for putting the X on his face: to get Cheney (and Bush) to stop lying. Apparently, someone called CNN and taped the conversation, in which the CNN person admitted that it was deliberate, even after CNN had said all manner of things about it being a technical glitch, etc. CNN fired the person involved and admitted that the tape was accurate, although they are trying to claim that what was said was only the opinion of the person fired. Way to go, CNN. And you wonder why your ass is being kicked right, left and sideways in the ratings game. And now you’re all upset because people who are sick and tired of your friggin’ liberal bias are now calling your advertisers and complaining to them and the advertisers are starting to back away from you. A collective :wally to all of you, from Ted on down. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/2 "2005-11-28T16:53:36Z")
Oops, forgot the cite: [http://www.dailypundit.com/newarchives/006044.php](http://www.dailypundit.com/newarchives/006044.php) ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/3 "2005-11-28T16:56:35Z")
The “X” was a sign from god. (heh-heh-heh) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/4 "2005-11-28T16:57:36Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Apparently, someone called CNN and taped the conversation, in which the CNN person admitted that it was deliberate, even after CNN had said all manner of things about it being a technical glitch, etc. CNN fired the person involved and admitted that the tape was accurate, although they are trying to claim that what was said was only the opinion of the person fired. This part sounds like it exists only in fevered imagination of some extremist blogger. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/5 "2005-11-28T17:03:54Z")
**’hump** : Let me know what you’re smoking, so I can avoid it. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051123/od\_nm/media\_cnn\_dc](http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051123/od_nm/media_cnn_dc) > [@](#): > > The “X” image, a place-holding marker used by technicians to cue up graphics, is not supposed to be visible to viewers but was inadvertently projected onto the screen by a malfunction in a “switcher” device, they explained. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/6 "2005-11-28T17:08:23Z")
Oh, and I forgot to add this: fnord. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/7 "2005-11-28T17:09:32Z")
CNN has apparently acknowledged that a call taker did claim that the “X” was an act of free speech, and intentional. They have apparently fired the call-taker. Please note that none of this shows that the “X” was deliberate. To assume that CNN deliberately flashed an “X” over Cheney’s image and then shared that plan with the phone switchboard staff is… rather credulous. The far more likely interpretation is that the “X” was a technical glitch, and the call center person was sick of his job and took the opportunity to vent his personal political views… for which he was rightly fired. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/8 "2005-11-28T17:10:01Z")
Huge left wing conspiracy here. :rolleyes: For a few seconds an X hovered over Cheney’s face. Obviously the work of Ted Turner trying to bring down Cheney’s approval rating even further. :rolleyes: Just for fun \*\*Clothahump \*\* try Googling Cheney X CNN and get the rest of the story. You read one blog and see a huge issue. This is so minor as to be a joke. Please tell me this is a joke. Jim ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/9 "2005-11-28T17:11:07Z")
Their explanation seems plausible, and I can see that their is black text under the X that partially obscures the text on the screen. Anyone have any idea what it says? [http://www.drudgereport.com/flashcf.htm](http://www.drudgereport.com/flashcf.htm) ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/10 "2005-11-28T17:12:08Z")
“there is”, not “Their is”. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/11 "2005-11-28T17:13:59Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > Their explanation seems plausible, and I can see that their is black text under the X that partially obscures the text on the screen. Anyone have any idea what it says? > [http://www.drudgereport.com/flashcf.htm](http://www.drudgereport.com/flashcf.htm) [A video graphics expert has isolated the text](http://thedanreport.blogspot.com/2005/11/cheney-x-revealed.html), and it says, “Transition begins after 5 frames of black” . It was a glitch. Much like \*\*Clothahump’s \*\* faculties of reason. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/12 "2005-11-28T17:14:23Z")
I think CNN has established a fair degree of journalistic credibility over the years and have earned the benefit of the doubt. Even an utterly partisan network like FOX wouldn’t stoop to such a stunt, it strains credibility to believe that it was deliberate. I think either it is a technical glitch or the mark of the beast. ---
**Author:** ![Queuing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Queuing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queuing)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/13 "2005-11-28T17:17:22Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > And now you’re all upset because people who are sick and tired of your friggin’ liberal bias are now calling your advertisers and complaining to them and the advertisers are starting to back away from you. > > A collective :wally to all of you, from Ted on down. Ahhm the liberal bias in the media. So as I was driving to Kingston (in Ontario), its about a 2 hour drive from where I live, through a whole lot of nothing. Bored, I turned on good ol’ AM radio, and tuned to some american radio stations. I tuned into one called “WABC” a fairly major media outlet I am assuming by the last 3 call letters. On it was a woman, who was talking about 9/11. The last thing she said was how mainstream media was so Liberal and it must stop! Huh? On WABC (which ran a commercial right after this claiming to be the #1 radio station in the country)? I know this has nothing to do with the OP, but what the hell? Its not like the OP made sense anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/14 "2005-11-28T17:18:19Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I think CNN has established a fair degree of journalistic credibility over the years and have earned the benefit of the doubt. Even an utterly partisan network like FOX wouldn’t stoop to such a stunt, it strains credibility to believe that it was deliberate. I think either it is a technical glitch or the mark of the beast. But the Mark of the Beast would be DCLXVI, not just X! ::: wanders away muttering about cultural illiteracy extending to Roman numerals now ::: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/15 "2005-11-28T17:20:56Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > But the Mark of the Beast would be DCLXVI, not just X! > > ::: wanders away muttering about cultural illiteracy extending to Roman numerals now ::: > > 😃 Well of course- maybe that’s just the starter kit and he gets the rest later. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/16 "2005-11-28T17:21:59Z")
I worked in call centers before and I wish I had the balls to say something that incredibly fire-worthy to somebody. Here’s an all time list of fire-worthy things to say while working on the phones that I’ve heard (working in quality control, you get to hear all kinds of shit.) “There’s an X on his face because he’s such a liar.” “I’m not trying to drive you crazy, ma’am. You were in that state before you called.” “You’d like my name? You saying that you don’t know what my name is? Oh, well then. . . _click_” “No Fault Insurance so that, if you crash your car, it won’t be anybody’s fault.” “Because we don’t like you.” “Sorry sir but I’m going to have to cut you off. I gotta go take a dump.” Oh, there were soooo many more. These are the ones that I remember. P.S. Only the hanger-upper was actually fired, everyone else just got a severe talking to by the manager. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/17 "2005-11-28T17:22:58Z")
Wow. I hadn’t heard about this incident, but when i read the OP, i assumed that the “X” must have remained over Cheney’s face for half of his speech or something. Then i find out that it was there for approximately one-seventh of a second, and yet despite CNN’s perfectly plausible explanation, the OP still insists on seeing some dark conspiracy. Get over yourself, dickwad. Also, i concede that it’s possible that this actually occurred… > [@](#): > > Apparently, someone called CNN and taped the conversation, in which the CNN person admitted that it was deliberate, even after CNN had said all manner of things about it being a technical glitch, etc. CNN fired the person involved and admitted that the tape was accurate, although they are trying to claim that what was said was only the opinion of the person fired. …but i think i’ll wait from a confirmation from a reputable news source, rather than the blogosphere. > [@Bricker](#): > > CNN has apparently acknowledged that a call taker did claim that the “X” was an act of free speech, and intentional. They have apparently fired the call-taker. As i said, i concede this is possible, but every reference i’ve seen to this incident leads back to the DailyPunndit blog linked by the OP. I can find nothing except his report of an alleged telephone conversation with a CNN person. If this really did happen, i’m surprised that CNN has issued no formal statement about it, and that there’s nothing about this admission on the newswires. Do you have a better source, or is my Google-fu not working today? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/18 "2005-11-28T17:24:11Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > A collective :wally to all of you, from Ted on down. While Ted Turner is a director of Time Warner and a big stockholder, he neither is an officer or holds a controlling amount of stock, and is not even the largest individual stockholder (that would be Stephen Case). ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/19 "2005-11-28T17:25:12Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Wow. > > I hadn’t heard about this incident, but when i read the OP, i assumed that the “X” must have remained over Cheney’s face for half of his speech or something. > > Then i find out that it was there for approximately one-seventh of a second, and yet despite CNN’s perfectly plausible explanation, the OP still insists on seeing some dark conspiracy. > > Get over yourself, dickwad. > > Also, i concede that it’s possible that this actually occurred…but i think i’ll wait from a confirmation from a reputable news source, rather than the blogosphere.As i said, i concede this is possible, but every reference i’ve seen to this incident leads back to the DailyPunndit blog linked by the OP. I can find nothing except his report of an alleged telephone conversation with a CNN person. If this really did happen, i’m surprised that CNN has issued no formal statement about it, and that there’s nothing about this admission on the newswires. Do you have a better source, or is my Google-fu not working today? The Drudge report I linked to is actually specifically about the fact that the operator got fired. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069/20 "2005-11-28T17:25:43Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > CNN apparently deliberately put an X on Dick Cheney’s face during a speech last week, then lied about doing it. Their reason for putting the X on his face: to get Cheney (and Bush) to stop lying. Did it work? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-we-put-an-x-on-cnn/333069.md?page=2)