CNN Continues to Dismiss
FTC Report on Price Gouging
Anchor bemoans results but weeks earlier
called for higher gas prices with gas tax hikes.
By Ken Shepherd
Business & Media Institute
May 24, 2006
On the May 24 American Morning, CNNs Miles OBrien
dismissed a new
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
study that found no systemic price gouging by the oil industry. Yet
the same reporter recently suggested raising gas taxes.
The results are in from a price gouging
investigation, and theres not a lot of good news for the little guy
in this one, OBrien teased at the opening of the 7 a.m. hour of
the May 24 American Morning.
OBrien,
who specializes in space program reporting, did not launch into an
explanation as to why it was unfortunate that the oil industry
didnt really take advantage of consumers following Katrina.
On May 23, American Morning contributor
Andy Serwer
similarly disparaged the FTC study saying it boggles the mind.
A few weeks earlier, OBrien suggested
higher prices would be good for the little guy. On the
April 25
American Morning, OBrien said high gas prices could be a good
argument for a gas tax to finance alternative fuel research.
We have enough gas taxes, dont you think, co-host Carol Costello
replied.
Well, maybe we could have more, OBrien retorted.
While OBrien has exhibited a bias in favor of paying government
more at the pump, other news outlets have reported on the cost of
gas taxes. On the May 24 The Early Show, for example, reporter
Vince Gonzales filed a story on what anchor Julie Chen called the
shockingly high gas taxes in states such as New York and
California.
In a time of high prices, gas taxes can really bite into an average
motorists budget, Gonzales reported, noting that drivers in
California and New York pay more than 60 cents a gallon in tax
from state and federal levies.
The Business & Media Institute recently
documented how ABCs Dan Harris also reported on the
windfall that government receives from gas taxes.
