red states rule
11-12-2007, 12:38 PM
The doom and gloom BS was flowing on ABC This was actually presented as "news" folks
ABC: High Gas Prices Cancel Church, Christmas and Doctor Visits?
By Scott Whitlock | November 12, 2007 - 11:55 ET
In one of the more hyperbolic reports to air on "Good Morning America," ABC's Bianna Golodryga fretted that November's unusually high gas prices could lead to poor health, less church and no Christmas. On Monday's program, Golodryga warned viewers that unnamed "reports" allege that "some people are foregoing routine visits to the doctor and are opting for cheaper foods, like eating pasta and peanut butter, as opposed to protein, fruits and vegetables, in order that they can save as much money as possible" at the pump.
The ABC reporter also managed to find an extreme example and introduced America to Juan Martinez of Phoenix, Arizona. According to Golodryga, the spike in prices has taken "a toll on the family's relationship with God." It seems as though the Martinez clan is cutting back on religious attendance due to the 40 mile journey trek to their church. (Are there no closer places to worship in the Phoenix area?) Additionally, GMA featured footage of Golodryga shopping with Martinez as she lamented, "...Even holiday gift shopping won't be the same." Apparently, there will be less Christmas presents this year.
Now, gas prices are certainly high for this time of year. (The average price in mid-November 2006 was $2.23.) However, Golodryga has a propensity for over-the-top rhetoric. The extreme nature of Martinez's $538 November gas bill is an example of selecting a worst case scenario. But this kind of dialogue isn't new for Golodryga. In October, the Business and Media Institute noted her odd assertion that slow sweater sales signaled an impending economic crisis.
On Monday, she began the segment in front of a New York City gas station that seemed to be doing reasonable, if somewhat slow, business. The GMA correspondent ominously intoned, "I want you to take a look at this practically empty gas station behind me. Shocking because it's usually packed with cars this time of morning." According to Golodryga, this was "another example" of Americans altering their routines in the face of high gas prices. Of course, she seemed to ignore the fact that many Americans had November 12 off in honor of Veterans Day.
The ABC network also helped out in the panic department. A graphic gloomily asked, "Can you Survive $4 a Gallon?" Perhaps in an attempt to conjure up images of bread lines, co-host Diane Sawyer teased the piece by promising to investigate what "your fellow Americans are doing to get by." At that point, another GMA graphic declared that the gas situation is going "from bad to worse."
When gas prices inevitably correct downwards, can viewers expect GMA to report on all the Americans who will be rolling in money, ramping up their church attendance and splurging on gifts?
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/scott-whitlock/2007/11/12/abc-high-gas-prices-cancel-church-christmas-doctor-visits
ABC: High Gas Prices Cancel Church, Christmas and Doctor Visits?
By Scott Whitlock | November 12, 2007 - 11:55 ET
In one of the more hyperbolic reports to air on "Good Morning America," ABC's Bianna Golodryga fretted that November's unusually high gas prices could lead to poor health, less church and no Christmas. On Monday's program, Golodryga warned viewers that unnamed "reports" allege that "some people are foregoing routine visits to the doctor and are opting for cheaper foods, like eating pasta and peanut butter, as opposed to protein, fruits and vegetables, in order that they can save as much money as possible" at the pump.
The ABC reporter also managed to find an extreme example and introduced America to Juan Martinez of Phoenix, Arizona. According to Golodryga, the spike in prices has taken "a toll on the family's relationship with God." It seems as though the Martinez clan is cutting back on religious attendance due to the 40 mile journey trek to their church. (Are there no closer places to worship in the Phoenix area?) Additionally, GMA featured footage of Golodryga shopping with Martinez as she lamented, "...Even holiday gift shopping won't be the same." Apparently, there will be less Christmas presents this year.
Now, gas prices are certainly high for this time of year. (The average price in mid-November 2006 was $2.23.) However, Golodryga has a propensity for over-the-top rhetoric. The extreme nature of Martinez's $538 November gas bill is an example of selecting a worst case scenario. But this kind of dialogue isn't new for Golodryga. In October, the Business and Media Institute noted her odd assertion that slow sweater sales signaled an impending economic crisis.
On Monday, she began the segment in front of a New York City gas station that seemed to be doing reasonable, if somewhat slow, business. The GMA correspondent ominously intoned, "I want you to take a look at this practically empty gas station behind me. Shocking because it's usually packed with cars this time of morning." According to Golodryga, this was "another example" of Americans altering their routines in the face of high gas prices. Of course, she seemed to ignore the fact that many Americans had November 12 off in honor of Veterans Day.
The ABC network also helped out in the panic department. A graphic gloomily asked, "Can you Survive $4 a Gallon?" Perhaps in an attempt to conjure up images of bread lines, co-host Diane Sawyer teased the piece by promising to investigate what "your fellow Americans are doing to get by." At that point, another GMA graphic declared that the gas situation is going "from bad to worse."
When gas prices inevitably correct downwards, can viewers expect GMA to report on all the Americans who will be rolling in money, ramping up their church attendance and splurging on gifts?
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/scott-whitlock/2007/11/12/abc-high-gas-prices-cancel-church-christmas-doctor-visits