Dick Cheney Rated X by CNN?

Dick Cheney gave a stirring speech live from the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC on Monday and it was carried by all the cable networks.  But in an odd incident TV's tuned to CNN saw a large black 'X' repeatedly flashed over the vice president's face.

Has CNN given Dick Cheney an X-Rating?

Matt Drudge sniffed out the issue and appeared on Fox News to out CNN.  Appearing on Hannity & Colmes, Drudge said the X's appeared for "less than a 15th of a second" each. "It was almost subliminal," he said, according to TV Newser.

"However, when you slow down the tape you see Dick Cheney's face with a large X on it." "I think they've gotta give an explanation," Drudge added. 

Drudge runs this item with a screen shot:

Vice President Dick Cheney Rated X by CNN?

At 11:04:45 AM ET Monday CNN was airing Vice President Dick Cheney's speech live from the American Enterprise Institute in Washington -- when a large black 'X' repeatedly flashed over the vice president's face!

The 'X' over Cheney's face appeared each time less than a second, creating an odd subliminal effect.

As this DRUDGE REPORT screen capture reveals, 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."

One top White House source expressed concern about what was aired over CNN.

"Is someone in Atlanta trying to tell us something?"

A CNN spokesman did not return repeated calls late Monday night.

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TV Newser carries this excuse from CNN:

A CNN spokesperson explained:

"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."

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Ha!  Unless a third party can grab a CNN screen shot of any other shots during the day with a big black X across the screen- that excuse is really difficult to swallow.

--CK Rairden