CNN'er fills Gas Tank for 2 families without a Credit Card (Cash No Good)

[RamboLiberal]

Gas station solidarity
CNN's Ed Lavandera in Kountze, Texas
Posted: 12:15 p.m. ET

We dropped below half a tank of gas a few hours ago as we made our way to cover a story we're chasing north of Beaumont. We finally found a lone gas station still open, but you could only pay at the pump with credit cards.

Next to me were two families piled into a Cavalier and a Prelude. They didn't have credit cards and were holding what looked like a few wadded up dollar bills. When they realized their cash was no good there they started getting nervous.

They just wanted to drive north as far as the gas tank would take them. So I told them to swing their cars around to my pump. We filled up their tanks on my credit card -- almost 50 dollars worth. I'll remember their smiling faces for a long time as they resumed their journey north again.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/23/scene.blog/index.html

And a little funny from media Bistro.

And my favorite: "On-air correspondents aren't allowed to drink red or purple Gatorade because it shows up on their lips."

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/

[qanda]

1. That was a very nice thing for them to do

[TahitiNut]

19. Well, maybe those cute coeds will remember to bring daddy's card next time

:evilgrin:

[Horse with no Name]

2. That is wonderful

I'm sure he will write it off as a business expense, but the gesture was wonderful and those people will never forget it.

[Clark2008]

11. Who cares if he does?

It was a fantastic thing to do. He may have saved some lives and I don't care of the Bush Administration doesn't get their fucking taxes off of it in the long run.

[SammyWinstonJack]

29. It's a good deed and I don't really care who pays for it. A wonderful

thing was done for those in need.

[rodeodance]

3. a good deed for the day. good for them.

[BlueJac]

4. Helping thy fellow man has it's rich rewards....

fantastic!

[undergroundrailroad]

5. That was very kind.

Undergroundrailroad :hi:

[RepublicanElephant]

6. Ed Lavandera is...

...one of more respectable journalists on cnn.

[musette_sf]

7. I haven't heard this "cash is no good" bit before!

WTF????? Cash is no good? Another slap in the face to the poor and indigent of the South, courtesy of Bu$hCo. "Sorry, you can't get gas to evacuate unless you have a good credit rating. You don't deserve to leave because you are poor. And don't expect us to help you in a disaster, because you were TOLD to evacuate, so it's not our problem."

:wtf:

[etherealtruth]

9. Sure looks that way

:puke:

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. Maybe the station was unmanned, with the operators evacuated.

But with the pumps still turned on, a credit card purchase could activate the pump.

That's the only way I can think of cash not being accepted.

[tammywammy]

16. I've seen this before

during the night at a few stations near me. They're closed inside, but the pumps are on, so you can pay at the pump.

I'm suspecting that the employees of that particular station were evacuated, but they left the pumps on. I don't think that someone walked inside and their cash was refused.

[Systematic Chaos]

15. No, it's not what you think.

The booth part of the store was most likely closed, meaning that the pumps were open but there was nobody there to accept the cash and then set the pumps at the register. It's possible for a station to do that, although I would think it risky in the case of an emergency.

[karlrschneider]

8. A business (or anyone else) can NOT legally refuse cash as payment.

Like it sez on the money "legal tender for all debts, public and private."

:grr:

[RamboLiberal]

13. I think it's cause the people at the station are so afraid of those

outside they locked themselves in and they're not one of those stations with the payment window. I saw something like that yesterday on one of the cable news shows.

[karlrschneider]

20. Ah, maybe so. I'm getting too provincial I guess...there aren't any

of those around here. I haven't driven in a car more than about 20 miles from home in 15 years or so. When I fly, there's always somebody at the "gas station" when I fill up the plane. :-)

[Rainscents]

10. This is kind of story what I like to hear... Good for CNN and thank you

for helping people who need help!

[Sgent]

14. From what I've heard

many of the gas stations are closed, but the automatic pumps w/ credit card machines are open.

[ecoflame]

17. Ed Lavandera seems a big bear of a guy...

Anyone with a checking account could do the same with your check card. They apparently didn't have that but anyone could do it, just take their cash if you want or need to.

And no one needs to come down on him at all saying, 'so what.' It's this kind of small shit, these small happenings that help alot of people to keep going to the next bullshit thing or the next day. Ed will remember; I'm sure those people will as well.

It's time to start being kinder to each other. Rudeness, crudeness and this administration are on their way out. We either take care of each other & this planet or not - then, it's just over.

[Maru Kitteh]

33. Lots of banks will not let you open a checking account if you have bad

credit. Most of them pull a credit report for you to do ANY kind of business with them at all now.

[nytemare]

18. Wow, last year in FL with our storms, many stations ONLY took cash.

That is different.

Good of them to help the folks out.

[tammywammy]

23. I think it's because these are unmanned stations

No one's there to take cash, but pumps are on and can take credit cards.

[nytemare]

30. Jesus, I have a migraine so I can't really think straight.

And that makes a lot of sense. Duh on my part.

[tammywammy]

32. Nah, that's okay.

:P

I'm only thinking straight because my family's evacuated and are all safe right now. I was quite a basketcase yesterday waiting to hear if they made it in.

[nytemare]

38. Glad everybody is safe.

Dealing with these storms is very difficult.

[dweller]

21. Big Ed Schultz named Ed Lavandera today

his new hero.

Ed told that story on his show today. It was impressive.

dp

[Glenda]

39. I heard that too on Big Eddie show! n/t

[Lisa]

22. there have been a lot of reports of CNN people doing things like this

Jeanne Meserve, who was covering the Superdome, was lending out her phone to anxious people trying to reach their families. Some crew members looked after people's dogs after they were abandoned. Another woman (who had grown up around Gulfport?) was giving away her own food and water. And now Ed buying gas for people.

I know that some folks have criticized journalists for "not doing more" (evacuating people in their vehicles, etc.) -- but they are already trying to do their jobs, and more -- and to expect them to cover for FEMA and other agencies is overlooking that.

[CornField]

24. Probably a station nice enough to leave the pumps on

after they have locked up and left. We have a station here in town that does this. That way, if you have a card, you can still pay for and pump gas.

In other words, the station owners probably weren't even there and left the pumps on as a good-will gesture.

Edited to also say Kudos to the CNN crews. All the journalists I've met along the way have been doing everything they can to help the people in need.

[Suich]

25. Stories like this...

restore my faith in human nature!

[LibDemAlways]

26. A while back I was pumping gas

at my local station when a guy pulled up in a truly tired-looking old car. He walked up to the window and paid $2.00, apparently all he had. The guy in back of him in line saw what was happening and said to the attendant, "Here's a $20.00 - make it $10.00 for me and $10.00 for the guy who just gave you the singles."

The guy in the old car could not have been happier - thanked the man profusely for his generosity.

There are still people out there with a heart and some compassion. Glad to see at least one works at CNN.

[Lochloosa]

27. I stopped on I-95 and helped a couple that were out of gas...

Not from the hurricane...just sitting there. He was a professor of economics from Norway visiting the US...loved it here. He had run out of gas because in Europe there are stations in the middle of the interstates and he did not know to get off at an exit. He thanked me and tried to pay me for stopping. I would not take his money and told him about my step-father. He was a mechanic and would stop and help anyone stranded. When they tried to pay him he would always refuse and told them the next time they saw someone on the side of the road to stop and help them. I loved that man.....

[Mitt Chovick]

28. Good on CNN

:applause:

[all.of.me]

31. this is what it's all about

sadly, it's rare or without strings attached.

[cynatnite]

34. Why is cash no good?

I've heard this on a couple of occasions since this started.

[Maru Kitteh]

36. gas stations are left unattended as workers flee - pay at the pump only nt

[cynatnite]

37. makes sense...thanks! n/t

[Straight Shooter]

35. Another reason to have at least 1 credit card: emergency use.

You just never know when you're going to need that blasted piece of plastic.