Posted on 03/13/2010 12:29:13 PM PST by GOP_Lady
Exploring an overblown media frenzy.
"On the very day Toyota was making a high-profile defense of its cars, one of them was speeding out of control," said CBS News--and a vast number of other media outlets worldwide. The driver of a 2008 Toyota Prius, James Sikes, called 911 to say his accelerator was stuck, he was zooming faster than 90 miles per hour and absolutely couldn't slow down.
It got far more dramatic, though. The California Highway Patrol responded and "To get the runaway car to stop, they actually had to put their patrol car in front of the Prius and step on the brakes." During over 20 harrowing minutes, according to NBC's report, Sikes "did everything he could to try to slow down that Prius." Others said, "Radio traffic indicated the driver was unable to turn off the engine or shift the car into neutral."
In fact, almost none of this was true. Virtually every aspect of Sikes's story as told to reporters makes no sense. His claim that he'd tried to yank up the accelerator could be falsified, with his help, in half a minute. And now we even have an explanation for why he'd pull such a stunt, beyond the all-American desire to have 15 minutes of fame (recall the "Balloon Boy Hoax" from October) and the aching need to be perceived as a victim.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
The Sykes scam is a good analogy for the entire Government Motors’ dumping on Toyota (a chief competitor).
We are seeing fascist economics unfold before our eyes.
Reminds me of the “exploding Pinto” stunt the news outlets pulled way back when.
...or the chevy pickup gas tank scam.
Just amazing the lengths people will go when there is no death penalty for costly scams.
Because most of the "media" are whores for the government, and the government owns a competing car company.
No mystery here.
I do hope Toyota sues James Sikes, the irresponsible MSM and the 0bama administration while they’re at it.
I never get why the dispatchers, police and reporters refuse to ask the simple questions — like, have you turned off the ignition or how about shifting into neutral?
Basically the state attracts parasites because they know if they scream loud enough, the cowards here will give in and hand them a free lunch: a house on the beach, an unearned income, a posh do-nothing job at 90k a year (none of these examples are made up, and the people in the government here are basically no different from him).
The financial implosion of California is the result of massive handouts that amount to a giant ponzi scheme benefitting the worst of the worst. The game is now ending.
Jim Sikes is just one of millions who are about to find out they don't have the skills or the character to afford the lifestyle they think they're entitled to.
The dispatcher did tell him to put the car in Neutral, but he refused.
Yes, I was thinking the same thing. When you look at how Barry rose to prominence by smearing rival Jack Ryan for Illinois Senator you can see the same strategies now being applied to the car industry. Axelrod must have some devotees installed at GM.
Thank you.
Bingo! Great post.
Calif is a capital of workmen’s comp scams. You are 100% correct that the game is ending in CA and grifters like Sikes are desparate.
Wasn’t the balloon boy clan from CA who wanted to be on Tv and they moved to Colorado. Sikes Prius was probably going to be repossesed. He was one grift after another. CA is the home of porn and has been for decades.
If you cannot make it in Hollywood there is always porn then prostitution then a state job or politics then scams then God knows what.
The next time I’m running late I’m gonna claim that my Yukon’s pedal stuck and I couldn’t get it stopped until I got to whatever place I was going.....:)
[I might even get a totally cool police escort to Wal*Mart, maybe!]
Eureka! Thinks Jimmy. I'll scam Toyota!
Bzzzt...off stage, sorreee Jimeee...we're on to ya
I was taking a break from the news and missed the initial story. hubby told me about it the evening it was reported and seemd to believe it...until halfway through. He hesitated at the whole “unable to shift into neutral” thing and grimaced. When he got to the “all failsafes failed” part he was obviously getting skeptical. He just read this article. He does math. He appreciated it. Yep, it’s a hoax.
Toyota might also consider suing the ABC/CBS/NBC/MSNBC/HLN and whatever news outlets they also deem culpable.
that might be the photo of the reporter, I’m not sure.
Anyway, this is a feeding frenzy of a car company that choses not to use Unions, and we KNOW what THAT means..!
At first I didn’t know why you posted that picture. I thought it was a mannequin. Then I see it’s the author. Creepy.
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