Fox & Friends discussed McDonald’s' reported drop in profits by speculating that calls for a higher minimum wage were to blame. Meanwhile, they ignored what the company said was the reason.
The discussion opened with co-host Steve Doocy noting that McDonald’s had reported a 30% drop in its corporate profits.
“Well, it turns out workers’ wages might be to blame,” Brian Kilmeade said.
Well, it turns out they probably are not to blame. As Media Matters pointed out:
McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson “owned up to some corporate image problems” as an explanation for the drop in profits, according to Reuters. The AP also detailed the fast-food company’s image problems.
But guest Maria Bartiromo, of Fox Business, validated the conjecture:
BARTIROMO: Well, the issue really is, this is the implication of raising the minimum wage for certain companies. I mean, something’s got to give. The money comes from somewhere. So, at some point, a company will say, “OK, we have a higher expense rate because we’re raising the minimum wage we’ve got to do something somewhere else.” In this case, they are going to automation. They are changing certain jobs to computers.
Co-host Ainsley Earhardt furthered the meme: “So it’s really biting them in the tail. They were complaining, saying, ‘We want more money,’ and as a result, McDonald’s saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to lose some of you guys, and we’re going to replace you with machines.’”
“The fact is it’s not just about $10 an hour,” Bartiromo added. “It’s about $10 an hour plus a benefit package: you know, benefit, vacation and of course, we know the expense of ObamaCare. As a result, companies have to do something. So it’s either go toward automation, hire fewer workers, take some workers to part time vs. full time. …Something’s got to give somewhere.”
Nice touch throwing in the ObamaCare, don’t you think?
Meanwhile, as Media Matters also noted, nobody mentioned one other thing: The McDonald’s CEO is fine with a minimum wage hike.
But what would he know?
(H/T reader Eric J.)
Watch the discussion below, from yesterday's Fox & Friends.
Just listen to those two middle-aged LIARS on Red Eye Radio in the wee hours. When they’re not complaining about Obama and the administration LYING, they’re blathering about watering their lawns, filling their pools and eating every day at McDonalds.
Slanthead Hannity — even though lately he’s been crowing about loosing weight, his “Ninja” workouts — still verbally drools over a Big Mac, super-sized, over-salted fries and a 64-oz Coke. Just last week, during his multi-day non-stop attack on Tom Frieden, the worst sin the CDC director ever committed was “trying to take away my Big Gulp” [while Health Commissioner in NYC].
The right to eat and drink the junkiest crap is an American right, just as sacred as the right to carry loaded assault weapons into churches and kindergartens. Ask anyone on Fox… they know God put those rights into our Constitution!
On FNC (and other outlets), asking for a decent wage at McDonalds is just as treasonous as secular holidays, banning Jesus from public schools and giving women a chance to decide their own health issues.
While McDonalds is reporting a “significant decline” in 3rd quarter profits for this year, should McDonalds (the corporation, not individual franchises) ever report a quarterly LOSS, Hannity et. al. will no doubt blame it all on Obama!
P.S… for a “holiday” gift, how about giving Seanny a copy of Eric Schlosser’s 1991 classic, “Fast Food Nation.”
Mickey D’s and other fast-food restaurants are still popular with employees who work in metro areas like NYC.
McDonald’s problems are a combination of several reasons, one them being the increase prices, that’s the real price hike. The Dollar menu no longer has items for a $, the Big Mac and Quarter Pounder with cheese are around $5 which can be very expensive for families. They also have increased competition that didn’t exist like during the days when Burger King was a distant second. You also have a generation that is simply burnt out of the familiar taste and now have many selections of fast food choices.
Remember McLean Deluxe? It was a low calorie hamburger that didn’t sell. I can give them credit for trying what can be called more healthier choices but no one goes to McDonalds for healthy eating.
Considering what the McD’s CEO said about their poor image problem and his stance on raising the minimum wage, Bartiromo should be highly embarrassed about what she was putting out there. For crying out loud, the Reuters and AP articles were published before she went on F&F yesterday. Plus, she could have reached out to a McD’s spokesperson for a definitive statement as to whether min. wage was actually the problem for the 3rd qtr. drop. This segment shows that she really doesn’t do her homework before speaking on a subject. I don’t suppose a correction will be forthcoming, eh? LOL!
The 4 of them deliberately mislead their viewers. Looks like actual facts take a back seat when the 3 stooges and a politicized business yakker are looking to catapult right-wing propaganda. They all have egg on their face.
Here’s a secret-these Fox “News” suits will hire freelancers to work at the studios.
But, that’s FoxNoise for you: Always putting the horse before the cart.
