MSNBC on Tuesday showcased the northeast's dangerous blizzard conditions by sending journalist Rehema Ellis out on the roads to report while driving, often taking her hands off the wheel. As she repeatedly averted her gaze from the highway, Ellis explained, "Andrea, it's a mess out here....We've got, maybe, a quarter of a mile of visibility."
"Other than that, it's whiteout," she added. Perhaps aware that constantly looking at the camera, and not the snowy roads, exemplified distracted driving, Ellis justified her actions: "As you can see, there's nobody out here and no one's supposed to be out here, except folks like us who are supposed to be sharing with our viewers the information of what's going on out here and why it is a very good reason that the travel ban is in effect."
With no sense of irony, Mitchell advised, "Safe driving. Keep both hands on the wheel."
This isn't the first time MSNBC has encouraged unsafe driving. On February 8, 2011, journalist Kerry Sanders took his hands off the wheel and looked at the camera while driving and scolding the trend of "car surfing."
A partial transcript of the January 27 segment:
ANDREA MITCHELL: Travel bans have been lifted in New York and New Jersey, but many restrictions are still in place across parts of New England, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Joining me now from the road, NBC's Rehema Ellis driving on the Mass Turnpike, heading towards Rhode Island. Rehema, how are the road conditions?
REHEMA ELLIS: Andrea, it's a mess out here....
ELLIS: We've got, maybe, a quarter of a mile of visibility. Other than that, it's white out beyond....
ELLIS: As you can see, there's nobody out here and no one's supposed to be out here, except folks like us who are supposed to be sharing with our viewers the information of what's going on out here and why it is a very good reason that the travel ban is in effect.
...
MITCHELL: Thanks so much. Safe driving. Keep both hands on the wheel.
