GMA’s Champion: Support Environmentalism at Your Wedding

Photo of Scott Whitlock.
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On Monday’s "Good Morning America," ABC weatherman Sam Champion again promoted the liberal environmental agenda. This time, he hosted a segment on the phenomena of green weddings that, according to Champion, "more and more Americans" are embracing.

Additionally, the piece featured footage of such an event. One of the participants in this green wedding just happened to be an employee of the Sierra Club, a left wing environmental organization:

Sam Champion: "Weddings are, of course, about celebrating a couple's love for one another. And now some couples are taking that just a little step further, not just sharing their love for one another but also sharing their love for the world around them and the environment. It's the latest trend more and more Americans are finding. And a way to go green, making a commitment and a statement with style."

GMA Graphic: "It’s Cool to Be Green"

Story Continues Below Ad ↓

Champion: "We've all seen those trendy, glamorous celebrity weddings. Well, how about a new idea for planning your vows? Green weddings. For the couple who wants to say ‘I do’ while being very conscious of the planet, like Ana Swinson and Matt Cherry. Check out the video of their green wedding held in Atlanta last fall. The ceremony was outdoors, so no lights were necessary. The music was acoustic, their’s from a pair of ukuleles And the only electricity? Between the couple themselves. The reception held inside Atlanta's old trolley barn, partly because of the couple's interest in mass transit. You see, that's how they first met. Candles and lit pumpkins provide most of the light. All cans and bottles are recycled and cherry tree branches given out as party favors. All showing a wedding can be both green and great."

Champion somehow forgot to mention that Anna Swinson is also the BEC [Building Environmental Community] Organizer for Sierra Club. Now, if Swinson was a member of a conservative group, and the piece related to a right-wing position, would the GMA co-host have let the association go unmentioned? Also, if this trend really is sweeping America, why did ABC have to go to an environmental representative to find an example?

Champion has quickly developed a habit of promoting liberal "green" causes. In January, he hosted a piece that hyperbolically wondered, "Will billions die from global warming?" And this was only a day after he touted a climate change study that, according to Champion, got together to blame it on humans. (Presumably, he meant this in a good way.)

The April 2 segment, which aired at 8:41am, also featured an interview with Millie Martini-Bratten, editor of Brides magazine. She showed Champion how to use bamboo plates and scrap wood for a wedding. Left undiscussed: Just how many women will want to have a bamboo wedding. The weatherman also instructed Americans to remember not to be wasteful on their wedding day.

Champion: "Okay, first of all, and, you know, I love the whole idea. But I gotta say that when I heard this, I thought it isn't going to be very pretty. We’re going to have people look at something and tell them to try it, but it’s not going to end up being beautiful. But this is beautiful. This is–"

Millie Martini-Bratten: "I know. That's what's so great now is that there are lots of great style ideas and this is just simple. You see the edge cut off the tablecloth and we turned it into a napkin ring for the napkin, so everything is feeding back into itself. The other idea that I really love, these are bottles that have been recycled for the wine glass, for the water glass and the wine glass. They've been recycled, polished down."

Champion: "Now, you can't do this at home with your glass-like skills. This is–"

Martini-Bratten: "No, you can’t do this at home, but it's not difficult to do either. And you can see, they're very, very pretty and stylish. And, of course, we've kept the green theme. And we have soy candles burning in this glass. And soy, of course, is not made with petroleum, so it's not releasing any toxins into the air."

Champion: "And since we want to talk to people about using less petroleum, when you’re thinking about buying candles, you don't think about that. You don’t think about that’s where candles come from. Soy based candles do not. Ah! Good green tip."

Martini-Bratten: "And it's romantic."

Champion: "All right. And then, you know, the flowers and decorations here, to think about things that are live. And you've tied the whole thing into bamboo because bamboo once it's cut to make something like plates, quickly regrows. So we won’t have to worry about that."

Martini-Bratten: "Exactly right. So, these are bamboo trays that we’ve turned into plates. And the wood on the forks is teak."

Champion: "And the chairs and everything there also done from recycled or scrap wood put together. And it comes up with a beautiful package."

Martini-Bratten: "The table is recycled also. This scrap wood coming together. It looks almost like marquetry. It looks like a work of art."

Champion: "Gorgeous. Now, tell me about the food, because that's got to be difficult to kinda try and get everything organic in your food planning."

Martini-Bratten: "Well, organic, of course, is chemical pesticides, no chemical pesticides and having it locally grown. Which means it’s really fresh and it’s really tasty. And the good news is, you can have a wedding cake that's really fresh and tasty and organic now, too, as well as organic sparkling wine. And a wedding cake is a tradition at every wedding. And this is a real style statement, too.

Champion: "And one of the things we’re talking about with the cake, I mean, it's wheat-free, dairy-free, gluten free--"

Martini-Bratten: "Gluten free. Sugar free. And allergen-free and organic. And it tastes great as you’ll see in a moment. And we’ve used as decoration, the bamboo, again we have it as our– "

Champion: "So you can tie it all together."

Martini-Bratten: "Tie the whole theme together and sort of telegraph your, your feeling about wanting to be friendly to the environment."

Champion: "It’s kind of thinking about what you do that's so wasteful. And at a big event like a wedding, you don’t have to turn the whole wedding into a green event. But one or two things. [Motions towards plant decorations.] This is– This is a great idea, not using all the fabric that just gets thrown away."

Thanks to Mr. Champion, Americans now know not to selfishly think of themselves on their wedding day.

—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.


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It's actually the first

It's actually the first time I hear about this but it doesn't sound that bad and I am glad to hear many americans find this appealing. I would like to know more about organizing such a wedding, I figure it's not such an easy task.

Groomsmen gift ideas

Oh please Sam...get a grip wo

Oh please Sam...get a grip would ya?

Figures they didn't identify who the bride was and her relationship with the Sierra Club...isn't that convenient?

...and the beat goes on...and on...and on...

Just loved the Supreme Court ruling today too...

Now they are scientists too.

Btw...People have been married outside for years....and years ...and years...barefoot too in some cases.

Pass the cherry blossoms you imbeciles.

At least these two whack jobs

At least these two whack jobs got married. This could have been some ceremony to celebrate their oneness with Mother Earth. Oh, wait, that's what it was.

Well, we have the flipside

Well, we have the flipside to a green wedding represented by MTV's Super Sweet Sixteen, which teaches all teenagers to be obnoxious, spoiled morons that should spare no expense to make their 16th birthday the pinnacle of their and their parents' lives. So this report just provides "balance." :-)

OK, that was pretty good.

OK, that was pretty good.

Two thumbs way up Bal

Two thumbs way up Bal

"And we have soy candl

"And we have soy candles burning in this glass. And soy, of course, is
not made with petroleum, so it's not releasing any toxins into the air."

Hey, that's great. Because I just hate it so much when I go to weddings and they've got those big 55 gallon barrels of North Sea Brent burning everywhere.

"And you've tied the whole thing into bamboo because bamboo once it's cut to make something like plates, quickly regrows."

I've got something like that in my yard, they're called weeds. I'm not making plates out of them though.

ooops!

ooops!

Soy candles, how dare they! D

Soy candles, how dare they! Do you know how many of the worlds poor could be fed by all the soy used in candles? Shame on those greenies!!!!

The liberal MSM has become an enemy of the USA.

Not to mention that they ar

Not to mention that they are constantly clear cutting the panda's food source!!! Shame shame.... Tsk, Tsk.

Soy candles, how dare they! D

Soy candles, how dare they! Do you know how many of the worlds poor could be fed by all the soy used in candles? Shame on those greenies!!!!

The liberal MSM has become an enemy of the USA.

In my area if I were to do th

In my area if I were to do this my neighbors would call the Department of Homeland Security because they would believe illegals were living among them and then my kid would disown me. This sounds like the official ceremony of Vermont.

Well, thanks Sam.  That's ju

Well, thanks Sam.  That's just terrific!  Soy Candles, bamboo trays and teak forks.  Actually, this could catch on..  but I don't think I'm gonna go long on beans just yet. 

Gore is in the Air

Spring has officially sprung on the media cukoo clock.

Ahhh, a green wedding; how romantic.

Will Mother Nature be available to perform the ceromony or does she still have that persistant fever?

And after releasing the free-range doves to end the green ceremony...... a pleasant walk to the green honeymoon hut.  Oooh-la-la....pop in a autographed copy of An Inconvenient Truth into the enviro-friendly hand crank DVD player to set the mood, grab your greenie, belch out a few bars of Gore is in the Air and Gorbasms all around.

Gore is in the Air - To the tune of 'Love is in the Air' (amazingly, only a few words needed changing from the original lyrics)

Gore is in the air
Everywhere I look around
Gore is in the air
Every sight and every sound

And I don't know if I'm being foolish
Don't know if I'm being wise
But it's something that I must believe in
And it's there when I look in your eyes

Gore is in the air
In the whisper of the trees
Gore is in the air
In the thunder of the sea

And I don't know if I'm just dreaming
Don't know if I feel sane
But it's something that I must believe in
And it's there when you call out my name

 - Chorus -

Gore is in the air
Gore is in the air
Oh no no
Oh no no

Gore is in the air
In the rising of the sun
Gore is in the air
When the day is nearly done

And I don't know if you're an illusion
Don't know if I see it true
But you're something that I must believe in
And you're there when I reach out for you

Gore is in the air
Every sight and every sound
And I don't know if I'm being foolish
Don't know if I'm being wise

But it's something that I must believe in
And it's there when I look in your eyes.

I wonder if the teak used o

I wonder if the teak used on the utensils was from old growth teak forests, or sustainable harvest young growth teak plantations?

Teak is a great wood. I just wonder how the use of teak plays into the whole enviro-friendly thingy.


Give a Democrat Party free America a chance!

Ideally they want us all to l

Ideally they want us all to live like the Chinese under Mao.  Everybody dresses, talks, eats and lives together in a dull repititious life. 

......except for the elites.

Mid...You ever notice how Kim

Mid...

You ever notice how Kim Jong Il is the only fat N. Korean?

The liberal MSM has become an enemy of the USA.

I guess I live the Mao life

I guess I live the Mao lifestyle. I walk eight miles a day to work and back.

I also lost 40 pounds doing so, even have two Yuenglings a day. I no long need my hight blood pressure meds, or Lipitor.

You guess keep supporting the terrorists -- buy Saudi oil.

I'd rather support a strong L

I'd rather support a strong Loonie. After all, most of our imported oil comes from Canada...Alberta, to be more specific. Keep on endlessly crowing about your lifestyle choice (brought to you by "freewill") in a bid to boost your self-esteem. "HAV3 TH3 BRIDG3S OF INSANITY B33N CROSS3D AND FOR3V3R R3TRACT3D???."  - Meshuggah, "3ntrapm3nt", from Catch Thirty Thr33 (2005)

I wonder how much energy it t

I wonder how much energy it takes to produce a worthless show, lets say like "GMA"?

So we have the science for in

So we have the science for indoor heated arenas for ice skating and hockey events and have had this technology for how long?  I guess we should have kept Reagan's Star-Wars Program funded.  I guess we could just instruct Al Gore to keep his mansion windows open during the cooling season as a start.   Maybe his credits can help pay for ice machines in the poorer nations.

Spiffs Green Marriage? umm no

Well isn't this cute? Here I am getting married this weekend, and these fools want me to be green about it. My marriage will be anything BUT green! First of all, the 24valve, 4.6L, V8 Mustang is BLUE, not green. Secondly, I bet it costs a lot of money to keep that heated private pool, and champagne glass Jacuzzi going. Oh and the amp draw form the rotating bed and... well it's not very "Global friendly" $-)

Islam should have it's religious status revoked until it can prove it's not a hate group.

Hey Spiff!Wear that tuxedo we

Hey Spiff!

Wear that tuxedo well....and have fun!

Pedal to the medal to the honeymoon suite!

Pedal to the metal

Absolutely! This is going to be such a fantastic time. I will have to avoid all news while Im down there too.. Can't have the green squad cramping my style. ... this whole GW thing is really getting out of hand too. Anyway, I've got some things to do tonight in preperation for the big day. I will be on and off tonight. Hopefully my tax refund will arrive between now and when I leave. That is unless it's already be caught in the GW trap in transfered to a "Carbon credit" fund I don't know about..

Islam should have it's religious status revoked until it can prove it's not a hate group.

Congrats, Spiff

Hey Spiff, are they asking you to sign a pledge to limit yourself to two kids or less?  Congrats!  PS, I bet the Mustang probably had some small role in getting you to this day.

When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised if a circus breaks out.

Child pledge

lol! Nope. But I think they said something about a privilege of life tax.. heh heh! ..probably not too far off on that one..

Islam should have it's religious status revoked until it can prove it's not a hate group.

Spiff, just swing into a chee

Spiff, just swing into a cheesy roach infested motel and you only need a quarter for the vibrating bed (before you ask, yes I was there...many years ago) and look at all the carbon credits you will save toward the loved one's future when you die.

BTW, does this mean we will not be hearing from you Friday OR Saturday night???

Good luck to you and yours, may God Bless your relationship to be ever lasting, take care and enjoy.

"To bad Ignorance isn't painful..."

Ditto that SS.Been thinking '

Ditto that SS.

Been thinking 'bout your upcoming commitment of a lifetime on and off all day.

Many happy years...

Strum those strings softly....

Best of wishes and luck for a lifetime.

Thank you, BT

Thanks BT. Thank you very much, friend.

...wait a minute! I won't be able to play my guitar for a WEEK!! It's very much worth it though.

Islam should have it's religious status revoked until it can prove it's not a hate group.

Carbon credits..

Well, I am not usualy on NB during the weekends anyway, but that would be a correct assumption! Thank you for the blessings everybody!

PS. The Shhhweet Mustang is.. a rental. Doh! I can't take My 97 Lumina 600 miles. It will croak before we get there!

Islam should have it's religious status revoked until it can prove it's not a hate group.

SSS...Congrats are in order!

SSS...

Congrats are in order! May you enjoy love and happiness for the next 95 years.

Do me a favor...whenever you drive the Stang please do some burnouts in my honor. Anything to piss off the greens!

The liberal MSM has become an enemy of the USA.

Clear thinker

No problem! I was planning on it! Just think back to Foxworthy's line on the Blue Collar Comedy Tour when the clerk asks him if he wants the extra insurance $-)

Islam should have it's religious status revoked until it can prove it's not a hate group.

;- )Have fun!The liberal MSM

;- )

Have fun!

The liberal MSM has become an enemy of the USA.

Hey, Spiff. First of all cong

Hey, Spiff. First of all congrats. Enjoy the day. It goes by so fast. Secondly make sure you let the 'stang idle for a while....

If I could go back and do it all over again, I would have ordered the SUV limo (what do those get like 4 miles to the gallon). "Jeeves, one more time around the block please." Then I would have used more candles... lots of pollution emitting candles. Cigars all around... Heck you can smoke two at a time right? We'd of course have steak, steak and more steak. Wow, having an anti-green wedding would be a lot of fun. Maybe the Ms and I will have a 5 year anniversary blow out!!

GMA Graphic: "It’s Coo

GMA Graphic: "It’s Cool to Be Green"

Oh.  So green must be the new black in the fashion world.  Just so the tragically trendy can pretend to be 'hip' and 'with it'.  It's all about the fashion, y'know.

(I can be fashionable and socially conscience as well!  Kewl!)