CNN fires operator over Cheney's giant 'X'?

Internet reports say network claimed mark over face was 'free speech'

Reports circulating Internet blogs claim CNN has fired a telephone operator working for the network who allegedly defended a mysterious, giant "X" appearing over Vice President Dick Cheney's face as "free speech."

"We did it just to make a point. Tell them to stop lying, Bush and Cheney," the CNN operator said to Preska Thomas, co-founder of the marketing firm Team Hollywood. "Bring our soldiers home."

"Was it not freedom of speech? Yes or no?" the CNN operator explained. "If you don't like it, don't watch. ... Tell your president to stop lying."

Thomas recorded the phone conversation, and provided a copy to Bill Quick of the Daily Pundit blog, who writes in an entry dated Nov. 23, "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.

In a broadcast last Tuesday, CNN insisted the mysterious "X" that flashed over the face of Cheney during a televised speech the day before was created by a technical malfunction � a "computer bug" � and not a human operator.


Audio of the call is available here