CNN covers Cheney
with mysterious 'X'

Vice President Dick Cheney had his face covered by a mysterious giant "X" during CNN's live coverage of his speech from the American Enterprise Institute yesterday.

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Giant black X continuously flashed over Vice President Cheney's face during CNN coverage of speech today (courtesy: Drudge Report)

According to the Drudge Report, the "X" over Cheney's face "appeared each time less than a second, creating an odd subliminal effect."

A screen capture by Drudge notes that while one "X" flashed over Cheney's face, CNN ran a headline at the bottom of its screen: "CHENEY: I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS WRONG TO CRITICIZE."

"This is the vice president of the United States. It is rather serious to be putting black 'Xs' over his face," online journalist Matt Drudge said on last night's "Hannity & Colmes" program on the Fox News Channel. "I felt it rather alarming that this is subliminally being sent out over the airwaves. ... I'm just knocked out."

When asked if he thought it was evidence of the so-called liberal media, Drudge answered, "I don't know. Is CNN liberal?"

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The TVNewser website obtained a statement from a CNN spokeswoman Laurie Goldberg, explaining: "Upon seeing this unfortunate but very brief graphic, CNN senior management immediately investigated. 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."

"It glitched over and over again, huh?" Drudge responded. "The timing of the glitch is interesting."

Meanwhile, at a weblog called the Dan Report, a contributor manipulated a screen shot to expose text below the "X."

The text reads: "Transition begins after 5 frames of black."

That leads some bloggers, including Michelle Malkin, to conclude the flashing "X" likely was a glitch.

In an update this morning, however, the Drudge Report said a "well-placed CNN inside" claimed a control room staffer "laughed" when the image appeared.

CNN management has launched an internal investigation, according to Drudge.

"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, said from New York.

Vice President Cheney himself is said to have brushed off the incident, a White House source said early this morning, according to Drudge.

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