Sorry, Team Hollywood
Well, what do ya know? Seems the tape was real. Via Bill Quick at Daily Pundit:
I just got off the phone with Laurie Goldberg, Senior Vice President for Public Relations with CNN. Her statement confirms the authenticity of the tape recording and reveals the actions CNN took after learning of the incident:
"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. "
You really have to be amazed at the luck of the CNN switchboard operator. Frustration mounting from call after call from folks complaining about the X, and he happens to snap on the call that has a tape recorder owned by a PR firm on the other end. Perhaps he launched such a tirade at several callers. Very unprofessional, and Kudos to CNN for cleaning house.
Who knows? Maybe he has a future at MoveOn.org.
As to the rest of the entire X matter, I'm gonna be stubborn and say this changes little. It remains not just my personal but also my professional opinion that the X appeared as a result of scenario like the one I posted yesterday, or something very similar. And although Team Hollywood gets vindication on the authenticity of the call, it doesn't prove that CNN as a network set out to paste an X on Cheney's face. Moreover, much of the remainder of Team Hollywood's press release simply appears to be hyperbole: For example:
Millions from across the country telephoned CNN to alert the network about an accidental "X" over the Vice President's face, only to be told that the "X" was intentional against the present administration. CNN callers flooded the Internet and online communities with calls to boycott the network.
Out of "millions" of calls, why no one else making the claim? I'm sure that CNN also got more than a few calls from other news organizations (i.e., competitors), and most would be taping the call. Where are the stories? And how would anyone outside of CNN's call center be able to make any claim as to the content of "millions" of calls?
The statements catering to bloggers don't wash as well. When I spoke to Preska Thomas (which occurred Tuesday just prior to Bill Quick's call), she told me that bloggers were among those who had called complaining of CNN's call center. Where are the posts from these bloggers?
So with the one exception of the tape (really great work, Mr. Quick - hats off to ya!), I stand by my earlier assessment - there's still no indication that the X was much more than a glitch.
That is, unless the Trilateral Commission issues a report stating otherwise.
Side note: Thanks to Alexandra for the link and the kind remark.
