Various media outlets have jumped on the comments of Phil Gramm, an advisor to John McCain's presidential campaign, that when it comes to the economy, "we've sort of become a nation of whiners." However, these same organizations, such as ABC News, have done their part to promote such things as fretting over no more Christmas presents. For instance, on the November 12, 2007 "Good Morning America," reporter Bianna Golodryga hyperbolically warned that "some people are foregoing routine visits to the doctor and are opting for cheaper foods, like pasta and peanut butter, as opposed to protein, fruits and vegetables, in order that they can save as much money as possible." She added that for certain individuals, "Even holiday gift shopping won't be the same."
Now, this is the same program that on Friday's show observed that "conservative icon" Phil Gramm's "words have been damaging at a time when McCain is trying to convince voters he feels their pain." Certainly, GMA has done everything possible to assure viewers that the economic situation, which isn't a recession, is destroying their lives. On April 22, 2008, Ms. Golodryga (see file photo above) showcased a man who had been forced to skip church because of gas prices. She then intoned, "Some people even say that they are changing their diets, cutting down on costly prescription drugs or walking instead of driving to the local grocery store."
On July 3, 2008, previewing Fourth of July barbequing, GMA reporter Sharyn Alfonsi argued that hot dogs "could take a big bite out of [Americans'] wallets." As MRC intern Lyndsi Thomas pointed out, this was at a time when hot dogs were routinely on sale for less than a dollar, buy one, get one free.
CBS's "Early Show" has also gotten into the whining act. On July 2, 2008, the program covered the announced closing of 600 Starbucks and correspondent Ben Tracy asserted that with the economic slowdown, "After filling up their gas tanks, some coffee lovers don't have enough left to fill up their cups."
So, when discussing former Senator Gramm's comment about whining, media outlets should examine their own role in this debate. After all, telling viewers that Christmas and church are cancelled and hot dogs and coffee are unaffordable might have an impact on how Americans view their economic situation.
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.
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Pasta and peanut butter?
July 11, 2008 - 12:43 ET by SickofLibsPasta and peanut butter? Heck, we can't even afford that.
Last night we had boiled sheetrock.
Is that better then fried?
July 11, 2008 - 12:53 ET by general companyIs that better then fried? We cant afford the water for boiling.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Good one!
July 11, 2008 - 13:02 ET by SickofLibsGood one!
People are buying peanut
July 11, 2008 - 12:52 ET by DraglinePeople are buying peanut butter but not protein? That sounds difficult.
The left whine's unless the ball's in their court.
July 11, 2008 - 12:54 ET by CrashWere Clinton in office they'd be the ones calling conservatives whiners. These are same leftist mouthpieces declared that "GAS PRICES SHOULD BE HIGHER TO FORCE PEOPLE TO CONSERVE" to "HELP SAVE ENVIRONMENT" and to "STOP GLOBAL WARMING".
Changing diet
July 11, 2008 - 13:02 ET by ScrapironWith the price of fuel driven out of sight by the ignorance of democrats a lot of people's diets will be changing. We, the rednecks, will not be shipping as much food to the 'elites' who live in the cities since we can no longer afford fuel for the equipment to produce the food, and the redneck truckers can't afford the fuel to deliver what little excess we raise. If you desire meat you might want to start checking the neighborhood for cats and dogs. I suggest you start learning how to prepare grass clipping and roots to satisfy your hunger. I'll raise enough to feed my family and myself and you can do what you have to do.
"The only thing standing between you and lower gas prices is a Democrat"
Old, Retired and glad of it.
My son hauls seafood from
July 11, 2008 - 14:34 ET by ricklailMy son hauls seafood from Washington NC to places like Baltimore, Phillie and to Fulton Fish Market in NYC. Their business hasn't slowed a bit. I don't know what the elite are complaining about. They are getting their fish, oysters, shrimp, clams, crabs, etc.
Be kind to your kids. They'll be choosing your nursing home.
I don't see how this is whining
July 11, 2008 - 13:09 ET by shawn228Food has gotten very expensive and many people are feeling the pain at the pump especially if they have a long commute.
A latte' a day a Starbucks cost $35 bucks a week and many people cannot afford it.
I wonder if a Dem was the President right now, if conservatives would be as forgiving about the state of the economy.
Some folks can dish it out but cannot take it
A chicken in every pot, a
July 11, 2008 - 13:49 ET by MassConservA chicken in every pot, a latte in every cupholder.
If someone is complaining that they can't afford $35 a week for a cup of coffee, I call that whining.
the nation is going through tough times now
July 12, 2008 - 11:10 ET by shawn228It is not just 35 dollars for Starbucks. People are getting layed off, American auto giants are losing billions of dollars, there is not much job security these days. We are at war.
We are Americans and we can get through these tough times, but to be concerned is not whining
Some folks can dish it out but cannot take it
shawn
July 12, 2008 - 11:26 ET by BlondeWake up! The deep kimchee in which the American automakers in Detroit find themselves is a result of years and years of unionized labor. You know, those unions to whom the democrats incessantly pander?
One third of the cost of the Bird's original sticker price was to fund the bloated pension plans of the auto workers. So, they can whine all they'd like, they did it to themselves for being greedy. Seriously, how can a factory line job be worth a 100K plus a year?
Now, if the economy is so horrible, how come there were monstrous lines to buy the new Iphone? Hmmm...could it be a matter of priorities?
It's ignorant to point to "poor" people who have to do xxxyyyzz (you fill in the blank) to afford gas, all the while downloading tunes, paying for cable, buying Starbucks, and whatnot.
Yeah, everyone has to be a little more careful with their expenditures, be a little more cognizant of how one runs the errands (I always did that anyway, not to save gas but to save TIME, far more valuable to me than gas). So what?
It's the media that is doing the whining. Phil Gramm's only mistake was omitting the media's culpability in this so-called recession (it's not).
Read some economics texts and then let me know if we're in a recession.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Hi blonde
July 12, 2008 - 11:36 ET by shawn228I did not say we were in a recession, I just said we are in some tough times.
The dow dropped under 11,000, healthcare cost are skyrocketng, gas is over 4 dollars a gallon nationwide, food prices are climbing, Mortgage company including the big ones are taking massive losses.
I just don't believe being concerned is whining.
Some folks can dish it out but cannot take it
Being concerned
July 12, 2008 - 11:46 ET by BlondeLike I said, we can all amend our lifestyles, or not, to cope with difficult economic times.
However, the incessant bleating by the media, featuring anyone (hookers & strippers come to mind) who is "hurt" by the economy....all the while appealing to big government for a fix, certainly is whining.
As I said, that was Phil Gramm's error, not fixing the whiners more precisely. It's the media who is doing the whining, supposedly on behalf of us bitter people.
Maybe it's because of your age, Shawn. You haven't been an adult in tough times before. Most of us here have. When I bought my first home, our mortgage rate was 12%, and we were damned pleased...that was about 2% under the market.
I guarantee you that if Obama is elected, it will be a return to the Carter economy, and if you think we're having "tough times" now....batten down the hatches fella. Can you say depression?
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
The only thing we're missing
July 11, 2008 - 13:18 ET by SickofLibsThe only thing we're missing is the Dust Bowl, the locusts, and the first reported case of suburban cannibalism.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for one those protein-packed 'fish falling from the sky' storms.
I've been coveting my
July 11, 2008 - 13:31 ET by ForeverOnTheRightI've been coveting my neighbors garbage it's so bad for me. boo hoo :-(
High gas prices I must admit have been a pain, but lets blame those in congress who are in the pockets of the environmentalist but the “eeevil big oil” companies. Too many regulations and the ban on drilling just to put a grin on the face of the environmentalists has cost us all!
Gramm is right about us becoming a bunch of whiners and our MSM leads the way. Stop complaining and do something for ourselves and don’t expect the “below 9% approval rating” congress to do something, or do something right without political posturing and what will get them elected next again.
Taking notice of Americans whining
July 11, 2008 - 15:24 ET by NorthCoasterWhile I was on vacation I talked with folks along the way. One person in particular noticed how the level of whining was related to how much people had to lose. He was currently working at a $10.50/hr job and said that in Maine, that was all that had been available for years. He said that he didn't feel bad at all about the whiners losing their high paying jobs because they didn't truly appreciate how good they had it. I can only assume that over the years he has run into some overbearing loadouths with more money than sense.
Hypocrisy
July 11, 2008 - 15:57 ET by JDWWhen was the last time big government did not whine about doing with less?
There are no budget cuts.
JDW
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They always use the"Some people"line
July 11, 2008 - 22:30 ET by the strugglerSome people say Al Franken is funny too.
demoncrats
July 12, 2008 - 22:57 ET by cocodrieIn the 60's president Kennedy sent his liberal henchmen down here to tell us how poor and deprived we were. They complained that all we ate was beans, pork, chicken, vegetables and the like. you have not lived if you have never eaten a good plate of red beans, pork chops, fried chicken, or a good dish of greens. $4.00 per gallon of gas is not as bad as $64.00 per gallon Starbucks coffee.