[huerta]

TPM: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmem...ns.php?ref=fpb

This morning, the Governors Highway Safety Association released a report noting that the number of pedestrian deaths has slightly increased. The group, which looked at the first six months of 2010, made two hypotheses as to why: One, that pedestrians and drivers are more distracted by cell phones and the like; and two, that there are simply more pedestrians these days.

"A focus on liveable communities, or 'get moving' health and fitness programs may
increase walking and pedestrian-vehicle conflicts," the report reads.

The Daily Caller and the Washington Examiner jumped on that part of the report, claiming it was an attack on First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign.

...

"That makes it seems like we're blaming Michelle Obama's program," GHSA executive director Barbara Harsha told TPM. "That's ridiculous."

"We want people to walk more, and to exercise," she said. "We just want people to be aware, to pay attention to traffic and traffic signals."

Harsha also noted that the GHSA has no data to show that more people are walking -- it's just a theory.