Gretch: “Not About Me”

Her parents got gored by GM last week, and today Fox & Friends co-anchor Gretchen Carlson was more than ready to return the favor. (GM notified the Carlsons that their GM dealership, Main Motors, in Anouk, Minnesota, would be shuttered.) Introducing the segment with GM spokesperson Susan Docherty, Gretchen claimed, “I have disclosed on this show that my parents’ dealership in Minnesota is being shut down by General Motors: But, this morning the story is not about me or my parents: It’s about capitalism.”

Subsequently, Gretchen turned into a virtual Mike Wallace or, at least, her predecessor E.D. Hill (when crusading). First, she accused GM of being untruthful in its alleged assertions that it would “only terminate under-performing dealerships.” Second, she wondered (citing Rep. Carol Shea-Porter of NH) whether “profitable dealerships are being asked to close their doors because of the mistakes and mismanagement of corporate CEO’s in Detroit. Third, she acerbically commented, “The dealers were still making money…selling your product and…weren’t the ones going to Washington…asking for billions of dollars from the American taxpayers…[and] now it’s very easy to get rid of them…in this structured bankruptcy.” With blood-thirst in her eyes, Gretchen continued to go after Docherty and her employer GM with the vengeance of a mother bear robbed of her cubs.

As readers of Carpe Diem may know, the author believes that Gretchen generally is not best suited for the early morning hours of F&F. However, today was an exception. As Gretch aggressively defended her own with unsheathed daggers in her eyes, this viewer was riveted to the little screen.

*F&F (06/12/09) – @7:15 a.m.

GM: Gretch Motors Survives

For now the (Gretchen) Carlson family General Motors dealership in Anouk, Minnesota, started in 1919, was spared the feared franchise termination letter. Heralding the good news in a Fox and Friends on-set interview were Gretchen’s parents who were in town to celebrate the sixth birthday of their grandchild Kaia, Gretch and Casey Close’s daughter. However, tempering the elation, Gretch said, “Well, you skirted the first round”: Her mom agreed, “And now we’ll see. Now we’ll see.”

Congrats, Gretch and fam!

*After the Show Show: 05/18

Carlson’s CARping: Unfurl E.D.’s Flag

Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson got on her soapbox about the car industry bailout again today and on co-host Steve Doocy’s nerves as well. After last week scolding co-anchor Brian Kilmeade on his need to be upbeat on car sales to not deter future auto buyers, the daughter of car dealership owners continued her lesson today to her co-anchor Steve Doocy’s discomfort during a President Obama rescue plan segment.

As she began her discourse, Gretchen criticized the lack of auto industry experience on the President’s oversight group and then groused that GM CEO Rick Wagoner had been forced from his job while bailed-out bank bosses kept theirs. As the story progressed, Steve noted the need for GM’s management and auto workers to come to terms: Seemingly, oblivious to his remarks, Gretchen animatedly asked, “But my question also this morning–got lots of ’em–where’s the union in all of this? Steve snapped, “Yeah, that’s what I just said!” Then her tireless lecture began anew.

Perhaps, the F&F producers need to resurrect former co-host E.D. Hill’s flag (or a Gretchen symbol). For new F&F viewers, whenever E.D. would go on one of her jingoistic sermons on the virtues of God, country, mom, and apple pie, F&F would play the Star-Spangled Banner with flying fiag footage behind her: Cued, E.D. would redden, smile, and stop, realizing that she was belaboring the obvious to the chagrin of her co-hosts and her audience. For Gretchen, whenever she goes on one of her risible rants, the producers could play “There She Is, Miss America” with a Main Motors sign shown behind her.

Gretch’s Ox Gored Again

Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson is loyal to her family. And that’s a good thing. However, Gretch’s journalistic credibility seems somewhat strained when discussing the bailout of the Big 3 Automakers and the Citigroup bailout’s ramifications as to baseball players.

Most F&F viewers know that Gretch’s family are big Minnesota car dealership owners (Main Motors of Anoka since 1919) so her passionate defense of dealers and the need for a Detroit handout is understandable albeit tiresome. However, less well-known is that her hubby is CAA’s Casey Close, Forbes #5 Baseball’s Best Baseball Agent.

Today when discussing Citigroup’s bailout and the taxpayers’ consequent subsidization of Citigroup’s $400 million purchase of the name rights to the Mets new stadium, Steve Doocy suggested that maybe the Mets could play a free game as a token of thanks to the taxpayers. An amused Gretch said, “More on that later as to whether or not the players would do that” and then chuckled. Then Brian Kilmeade and Steve discussed a free Bailout Bowl between possibly the Mets and the Yankees. A pained Gretch asked, “But wait a minute! Why should the players have to play games because Citigroup screwed up?” Somewhat exasperated, Steve patiently explained, “Because their organization is winding up with half a billion bucks.” Gretch responded, “Oh.” Brian chided, “It’s called charity, Gretchen.”

Another ox gored, Gretch?

http://www.forbes.com/business/2007/06/20/mlb-greenberg-baseball-biz_cz_ps_0622baseballagents_slide_6.html?thisSpeed=15000

http://www.zimbio.com/Gretchen+Carlson/articles/5/Gretchen+Carlson+Carlson