NationStates Jolt Archive

If you figure all the hours of CNN on the air, and the X never happens except when Cheney is on the air...

Well...

CNN OPERATOR FIRED AFTER SUGGESTING 'X' OVER CHENEY WAS 'FREE SPEECH'

A CNN switchboard operator was fired over the holiday -- after the operator claimed the 'X' placed over Vice President's Dick Cheney's face was "free speech!"

"We did it just to make a point. Tell them to stop lying, Bush and Cheney," the CNN operator said to a caller. "Bring our soldiers home."

The caller initially phoned the network to complain about the all-news channel flashing an "X' over Cheney as he gave an address live from Washington.

"Was it not freedom of speech? Yes or No?" the CNN operator explained.

"If you don't like it, don't watch."

Laurie Goldberg, Senior Vice President for Public Relations with CNN, said in a release:

"A Turner switchboard operator was fired today after we were alerted to a conversation the operator had with a caller in which the operator lost his temper and expressed his personal views -- behavior that was totally inappropriate. His comments did not reflect the views of CNN. We are reaching out to the caller and expressing our deep regret to her and apologizing that she did not get the courtesy entitled to her."

ZING!!!

Freedom of Speech for ALL!!!

*Disclaimer: Freedom of speech is not a right to all. Just all those who agree with us.

Free speech? Yes.
Unethical journalism? Also yes!

So let me get this straight--because a telephone operator who had nothing to do with the actual technical mistake lost his temper after hearing bullshit accusations from thousands of people with similar political leanings and similar intelligence levels as you, you think that proves that CNN did it on purpose?


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


Hold on a sec. I'm not done yet.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Wait wait, I've got it just about under control.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

No really, I've got it this time.

*snort*

Well we all know how journalism is unbiased and when people push their views onto television, it gets nasty.

So let me get this straight--because a telephone operator who had nothing to do with the actual technical mistake lost his temper after hearing bullshit accusations from thousands of people with similar political leanings and similar intelligence levels as you, you think that proves that CNN did it on purpose?


No, the fact that in the thousands of hours CNN has been on the air, it's NEVER happened before. EVER.

The odds of it being a coincidence are minute, to say the least.

So let me get this straight--because a telephone operator who had nothing to do with the actual technical mistake lost his temper after hearing bullshit accusations from thousands of people with similar political leanings and similar intelligence levels as you, you think that proves that CNN did it on purpose?


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


Hold on a sec. I'm not done yet.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Wait wait, I've got it just about under control.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

No really, I've got it this time.

*snort*


No man, a person operating the visual switchboard. He just put a nice little X over Cheney.

He got his ass fired for it too, and we're debating whether it was wrong.
I personally think its completely up to CNN to fire him, because they're a privately owned organization.

However, if a government agent comes up to him and says "I'm agent R from the super-secret government agency that you haven't heard of because it doesn't exist, please come with me," then that's wrong.

Well we all know how journalism is unbiased and when people push their views onto television, it gets nasty.
It's not a journalist that did that, it's a board op. A person at a table whos job it is to create graphics based on what their given. Board ops are silly cats and sometimes do things that are just for them. It's not a journalist who puts a graphic up. It's a techy.

No, the fact that in the thousands of hours CNN has been on the air, it's NEVER happened before. EVER.

The odds of it being a coincidence are minute, to say the least.
Let me let you in on a little something DK--even prominent right-wing pundits have acknowledged that this was a technical foul-up. The last time this topic popped up on this board, I even linked to one of them--Michelle Malkin. I'd link to her again, but I just finished the disinfecting of my laptop from the last time I visited there and I don't want to have to go through it again. But suffice it to say that a simple google search will confirm it.

But hey--why believe a mistake can happen when instead you can fall back on your idiotic Clinton News Network or Commie News Network or whatever other bullshit liberal media joke you're dropping on it this week.

No man, a person operating the visual switchboard. He just put a nice little X over Cheney.

He got his ass fired for it too, and we're debating whether it was wrong.
I personally think its completely up to CNN to fire him, because they're a privately owned organization.

However, if a government agent comes up to him and says "I'm agent R from the super-secret government agency that you haven't heard of because it doesn't exist, please come with me," then that's wrong.
I suggest you read the article again, and then edit your post to look less, well, less.:rolleyes:

what does that remind me of? oh, right, after the elections last year CNNs totaly unbiased editors assigned descriptive names to pictures of the president on the CNN website
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v446/efuseakay/Election%202004/Picture1c.jpg

Let me let you in on a little something DK--even prominent right-wing pundits have acknowledged that this was a technical foul-up. The last time this topic popped up on this board, I even linked to one of them--Michelle Malkin. I'd link to her again, but I just finished the disinfecting of my laptop from the last time I visited there and I don't want to have to go through it again. But suffice it to say that a simple google search will confirm it.

But hey--why believe a mistake can happen when instead you can fall back on your idiotic Clinton News Network or Commie News Network or whatever other bullshit liberal media joke you're dropping on it this week.

Even CNN has admitted it has NEVER, EVER happened before.

It's probably not official policy at CNN - but there's nothing to stop a tech from doing it on purpose, which is extremely likely.

Let me let you in on a little something DK--even prominent right-wing pundits have acknowledged that this was a technical foul-up.
Actually, they said it was within the realm of possibility that it was a technical foul up. However it's never happened before. Ever. The probability that it was an accident is exceedingly low. It could both have been accident or malicious intent. If it were a faulty electrical switch, why didn't it happen more often as if it were faulty electronics it would be likely to do. Instead it happened once and exactly once. Just as it's in the realm of possibility for someone to be dealt a royal flush in poker, that doesn't mean it isn't likely they are cheating.

Even CNN has admitted it has NEVER, EVER happened before.

It's probably not official policy at CNN - but there's nothing to stop a tech from doing it on purpose, which is extremely likely.
Then why haven't they gotten rid of the tech? Because it was an accident. There's always a first time for an accident.

Does anyone know where there's a podcast of this. I'd just like to take a look at this so-called 'X'.;)

Then why haven't they gotten rid of the tech? Because it was an accident. There's always a first time for an accident.

No, it's more likely that you can't prove he did it on purpose.

No confession, no case.

I've talked to a couple of people who work at the local TV station, and they said it's absolutely impossible for it to be a mistake - it had to have been done on purpose. They think the management at CNN is trying to cover their ass.

Bet the tech won't be in a position to do it again, even if he wasn't fired.

Actually, they said it was within the realm of possibility that it was a technical foul up. However it's never happened before. Ever. The probability that it was an accident is exceedingly low. It could both have been accident or malicious intent. If it were a faulty electrical switch, why didn't it happen more often as if it were faulty electronics it would be likely to do. Instead it happened once and exactly once. Just as it's in the realm of possibility for someone to be dealt a royal flush in poker, that doesn't mean it isn't likely they are cheating.
Jesus Effing Chist--a human error can also be considered a technical foulup. You guys are so busy looking for reasons to hate CNN that you're jumping at bullshit. At least when I go after Fox, it's because they're putting bullshit out there and calling it news.

No, the fact that in the thousands of hours CNN has been on the air, it's NEVER happened before. EVER.

The odds of it being a coincidence are minute, to say the least.
Worst...arguement...EVER!

Worst...arguement...EVER!
Nope.

How is my comment :rolleyes:?

I'm serious. Its fine for CNN to fire the guy. Its not like it was on government orders.

Even CNN has admitted it has NEVER, EVER happened before.

It's probably not official policy at CNN - but there's nothing to stop a tech from doing it on purpose, which is extremely likely.
To play the otherside of that, though...

A red X is an editing mark, a throwback to when actual film was used and you'd draw an x on the frame you wanted out. The non-linear editing systems still use some of those old marks. It is entirely possible, if the event is live, that someone was marking edits as they went for later broadcasts and didnt realize they where going over the feed or if it was not live for them to use a tape that has edit marks on it.

How is my comment :rolleyes:?

I'm serious. Its fine for CNN to fire the guy. Its not like it was on government orders.
Because the person who was fired wasn't the tech who made the mistake--it was some poor schmuck answering the phones who got tired of hearing this kind of bullshit. Comprehension is apparently not your strong suit.

To play the otherside of that, though...

A red X is an editing mark, a throwback to when actual film was used and you'd draw an x on the frame you wanted out. The non-linear editing systems still use some of those old marks. It is entirely possible, if the event is live, that someone was marking edits as they went for later broadcasts and didnt realize they where going over the feed or if it was not live for them to use a tape that has edit marks on it.
Eh, what do you know? You only work in the business, after all. You'd have far more credibility if you ran a right-wing blog, you know. :D

Because the person who was fired wasn't the tech who made the mistake--it was some poor schmuck answering the phones who got tired of hearing this kind of bullshit. Comprehension is apparently not your strong suit.
You can see how desperate the management at CNN is. They don't want what probably was intentional on part of a techie to become a full blown incident.

Maybe they had better do some culling of people with certain political bent within their own organization.

How is this anything but a duh?

Nope.
In all the time *insert suspect* was alive, this is the first time he's been accused of killing someone...

He must be guilty.

You can see how desperate the management at CNN is. They don't want what probably was intentional on part of a techie to become a full blown incident.

Maybe they had better do some culling of people with certain political bent within their own organization.
Ah--so it's McCarthyism you're after. What would you have them do--ask every person who works there "are you now or have you ever been a member of the Democratic party?" How much more unAmerican can you get?

No such thing as free speech
and this proves it

-snip-

Maybe they had better do some culling of people with certain political bent within their own organization.
Balls. Just came out and said what witch you where after.

Ah--so it's McCarthyism you're after. What would you have them do--ask every person who works there "are you now or have you ever been a member of the Democratic party?" How much more unAmerican can you get?

No, you need to ask people to leave their partisan politics at the door - or be fired.

Because the person who was fired wasn't the tech who made the mistake--it was some poor schmuck answering the phones who got tired of hearing this kind of bullshit. Comprehension is apparently not your strong suit.

According to Cnn, it was the Tech who did it. And, if he's the person in charge of the department that made the mistake, he takes the rap for it until someone is proven to be guilty.

Somebody has to be blamed. Always.

To put it more accurately, a private organization and a public company has every right to hire whoever it wants to - and fire them as well.

If you're running a news network, and want to present an image of being neutral, you would fire people like the techie who did this. Even if you only suspected him of doing it on purpose, you would at least transfer him to a job where he would never edit anything again without review.

If you're a left-wing news, you would never hire Republicans - and if you're right-wing news, you would never hire Democrats.

I bet there are NO Democrats working for the Rush Limbaugh show - and NO Republicans working for Air America.

No, you need to ask people to leave their partisan politics at the door - or be fired.
Might as well tell people to leave their souls at the door--and does this apply only to CNN or will you go after Roger Ailes at Fox as well? Nope--I think you said what you meant to in that post--you want a fucking witchhunt, and anyone who disagrees with you gets purged. Well fuck that.

Might as well tell people to leave their souls at the door--and does this apply only to CNN or will you go after Roger Ailes at Fox as well? Nope--I think you said what you meant to in that post--you want a fucking witchhunt, and anyone who disagrees with you gets purged. Well fuck that.

Well, Mara Liason and a few other NPR liberals were hired deliberately for "balance".

Still don't see a single Republican on Air America, do you?

According to Cnn, it was the Tech who did it. And, if he's the person in charge of the department that made the mistake, he takes the rap for it until someone is proven to be guilty.

Somebody has to be blamed. Always.
You're not reading, and I can't be bothered anymore. Bye now.

You're not reading, and I can't be bothered anymore. Bye now.

I am reading dumbshit...
"We did it just to make a point. Tell them to stop lying, Bush and Cheney," the CNN operator said to a caller. "Bring our soldiers home."
If the operator didn't do it, do you think he'd make comments like that?

Well, Mara Liason and a few other NPR liberals were hired deliberately for "balance".

Still don't see a single Republican on Air America, do you?
You just keep digging the hole deeper. How do I want to take you out here--by pointing out that you just acknowledged that Fox News was an inherently biased organization just like Air America? or noting that the comparison between the two is bogus because Air America doesn't claim to be a news organization? A more honest comparison--not that you know anything about honesty in this kind of discussion--is one between Air America and the EIB network--Rush Limbaugh's baby. Don't see any liberals or Democrats on that one, do we?

You just keep digging the hole deeper. How do I want to take you out here--by pointing out that you just acknowledged that Fox News was an inherently biased organization just like Air America? or noting that the comparison between the two is bogus because Air America doesn't claim to be a news organization? A more honest comparison--not that you know anything about honesty in this kind of discussion--is one between Air America and the EIB network--Rush Limbaugh's baby. Don't see any liberals or Democrats on that one, do we?

I was comparing Limbaugh to Air America if you were reading my posts. And I believe that there are no news organizations that have no bias - any that says it is unbiased (Fox), or is defended by people who say it is unbiased (NPR) is lying to the public.

I am reading dumbshit...
If the operator didn't do it, do you think he'd make comments like that?
The board op or editor or whoever did the x is not the operator in the article. The article refers to an operator who takes viewer calls, an operator in the 'dial 0' sense, not the operates a board sense. The article isn't about the X per se except as a catalyst for a telephone operator to flip out on a caller. The board operator, the techie,-that persons fate is not even mentioned in the article.

Board ops don't often field viewer calls.

I was comparing Limbaugh to Air America if you were reading my posts. And I believe that there are no news organizations that have no bias - any that says it is unbiased (Fox), or is defended by people who say it is unbiased (NPR) is lying to the public.
Nowhere in this conversation have you even mentioned Limbaugh, much less compared him to Air America. Your quote above clearly compares Fox News to Air America, even though the two supposedly have completely different goals when it comes to news dissemination. Quit trying to weasel out of this DK--you want a witch-hunt, and you got called on it.

Well we all know how journalism is unbiased and when people push their views onto television, it gets nasty.

Journalism - unbaised? Bullshit!

Nowhere in this conversation have you even mentioned Limbaugh, much less compared him to Air America. Your quote above clearly compares Fox News to Air America, even though the two supposedly have completely different goals when it comes to news dissemination. Quit trying to weasel out of this DK--you want a witch-hunt, and you got called on it.

Now take it back
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10000030&postcount=32

Journalism - unbaised? Bullshit!

I think he might have been a wee bit sarcastic there...Don't worry about it, but you should try and back yourself up.

Now take it back
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10000030&postcount=32
Fair enough. I hadn't responded to that post and didn't see it.

You just keep digging the hole deeper. How do I want to take you out here--by pointing out that you just acknowledged that Fox News was an inherently biased organization just like Air America? or noting that the comparison between the two is bogus because Air America doesn't claim to be a news organization? A more honest comparison--not that you know anything about honesty in this kind of discussion--is one between Air America and the EIB network--Rush Limbaugh's baby. Don't see any liberals or Democrats on that one, do we?

The point is that everything is "inherently biased..." there are no real neutral media networks, no matter how hard they try to portray themselves as such.

And you still don't realize that it doesn't matter. At all.

Someone gets fired for portraying their views. So what? It happens.

what does that remind me of? oh, right, after the elections last year CNNs totaly unbiased editors assigned descriptive names to pictures of the president on the CNN website
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v446/efuseakay/Election%202004/Picture1c.jpg

Haha. Serves him right.

Nice...

No, you need to ask people to leave their partisan politics at the door - or be fired.

If you want to enforce that equally then Fox News Channel would be suffering from a significant staffing shortage.

No such thing as free speech
and this proves it

Why? Because the guy at CNN got fired for NOT doing his job?

Yes, it was an acident. Just for your enjoyment, try these:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051123/tv_nm/media_cnn_dc

Good break down of the incident here:
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Internet_CNN_X_story_debunked_1122.html

Here's an actual look at the thing, WITH pictures:
http://intoxination.blogspot.com/2005/11/mysterious-x-solved-updated.html
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2608/1155/1600/cheney.jpg
http://thedanreport.blogspot.com/2005/11/cheney-x-revealed.html

But, since you only believe 'unbiased sources that are not liberal' try Michelle Malkin here: http://michellemalkin.com/archives/003970.htm who comes to the same conclusion.

As for your 'THE PHONE OPERATOR! HE IS CNN AND TEH 3\/1L!!!!' bit, the Daily Pundit has a great take on it here: http://www.dailypundit.com/newarchives/006044.php

I direct you to this in particular:
As I continue to try to get through to somebody at CNN for comment on this, I came across a verbal disclaimer that sometimes plays before you get a live person. It advises that those answering the phones at the main CNN HN number are essentially call-takers, and "don't speak for CNN." I don't know if the CNN employee in the call above is one of those call-takers, but I'd hazard a guess it's a likely possibility. In which case this would not, of course, be an "official" CNN position. Still, the message conveyed under the CNN purview remains startling, to say the least.
-Daily Pundit, emphsis mine.

So, yes, it was an acident. The id10t who answered the phone in that matter has been fired, but CNN didn't put an X on Vice-President Cheney's face on purpose. Get over it and yourself.

P.S. Google is your friend.

Alright, so the X was an accident. Perhaps we can all agree on that (though I doubt it). Regardless, the phone operator's lapse of professionalism is, I think, justifiable reason to fire him.

Regardless, the phone operator's lapse of professionalism is, I think, justifiable reason to fire him.
I can agree with that, yes. No matter how I particuarly feel, it's not my place to express my personal opinions about something when I am de facto representing a company or other public group.

It seems a fantastical coincidence to me, like the "wardrobe malfunction." (shrugs) I believe that every news organization is biased, and your best bet is to get your info from several news sources, if you're really interested in what's going on. I look on CNN and Fox News as punching bags for the Right and Left, respectively. It's a normal human weakness that, like so many other normal human weaknesses, are repeatedly jumped on and made political hay out of.