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November 22, 2005
CNN Resorting to Popcorn Frames?
Posted by Dave Blount at November 22, 2005 8:43 AM
Yesterday Vice-President Cheney gave an excellent speech (link via Mike's America), in which he blew away the cloud of distortions that the media and congressional Democrats have created in their attempt to cause an American defeat in Iraq that they can then pin on Republicans. Cheney made it obvious to any reasonable person that surrendering to al-Qaeda — as some Democrats have recommended, using cowardly euphemisms like "redeployment" — simply is not an option.
CNN had no choice but to broadcast the speech, and could not dispute the truth and logic of what Cheney said. But Drudge brought something interesting to light: in the speech as broadcast by CNN, large black X's appear over the Vice-President's face for less than a second at a time in what looks like a ham-fisted attempt to employ the subliminal "popcorn frame" tactic that used to be used to convince moviegoers they were thirsty for a Coke. Could this have been a deliberate — if somewhat childish — attempt to discredit Cheney in the minds of viewers?
Actually, this was very possibly an accident. But it does sort of remind you of USA Today's anti-Condi PhotoShop fun. Just to play it safe, I would advise avoiding the mainstream media.
