“When I hear her refer to the average American as Joe Six-Pack over and over again, I feel like throwing something at the television! She makes it sound as if you don’t identify yourself as a Joe or Jane Six-Pack, you’re not part of the middle class. Personally I’d rather have a cranberry martini.”
So says a woman at a “debate party” we attended Friday night, the day after the vice-presidential debate. The party was really just a bunch of friends getting together for dinner and talk, and the talk was about Sarah Palin and her middle class joes.
“I agree,” says a man near her, “I think my wife and I are pretty much average American middle class but I resent being referred to as Joe Six-Pack. I find it a demeaning description. I mean Joe Six-Pack? What is that supposed denote?”
Another couple felt the same way.
“The term is derogatory on so many levels. It sounds like a bunch of Friday night boozers playing drinking games.”
“I am a hockey mom and I am nothing like her,” said another woman present. “She is an embarrassment to sports mothers everywhere.”
All the couples there were pretty much in agreement. Sarah Palin had gone a bit far.
Sarah Palin with her folksy humor has done more harm than good to McCain’s campaign. Her catch-phrases such as “gotcha” news media, Joe Six-Pack, mavericks, and constantly referring to herself as a “hockey mom” are becoming nothing more than fuel for Tina Fey and the cast of Saturday Night Live. Actually Tina Fey would make a better running mate for McCain than Palin.
Calling middle-class Americans Joe Six-Packs is derogatory and says nothing good about us. The image conjured up by those words is not how most Americans want to be seen.
If by Joe Six-Pack Sarah Palin means someone who doesn’t read political newspapers or magazines, is stumped on the basics of foreign policy, doesn’t know what the Bush Doctrine is, cannot give definitive answers to serious questions, and truly has no clue as to the real problems facing the country then there is only one person who fits that description. No one else would want to.
And calling yourself a maverick is not the best analogy for a winner. It describes someone who runs against the grain. Better to be a thoroughbred, run your own race, and stand nobly in the winner's circle..
Some middle class Americans don’t want to drink what Joe or Jane Six-Pack are drinking. Some would rather have a cranberry martini.
That doesn’t make them any less middle class Americans.
***
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Copyright ©2008 by Kristen Houghton. All rights reserved
Comments
Cranberry martini? Hmm. Well, I'm sure if this group of drinkers advises Ms. Palin that they feel neglected, she will amend her next Jos-six pack speech, and give a "shoutout to all you cranberry martini guys"--- She's cool like that.-:) Thanks vin@wwwwegotsarah.com
what's the matter, you can't find anything substantive so you must wine about her colloquialisms? If you were a tolerant independent that doesn't want to find fault for your own agenda, why does this hit your nerves? Another self proclaimed feminist that only wants women who think exactly like them to be considered modern? Don't be so scared. I , a jane six pack that doesn't drink will be a good citizen and respect who ever wins the office, I hope you will do the same
Well done, ma'am. Never liked beer anyway, I'm more a Daniels guy. I might try acranberry martini if u would join me Kristen.
Anyway, God help us if ol' six-pack Sarah gets in-lowering the standards in Washington again.
My name is Joe but my last name is not Six Pack. I live across the street from Joe Sixpackers. They are loud, vulgar, and rude. If Plain wants to be a joe sixpack, (no capitals needed here), then let her drink her brew, kill her moose, and be self-righteous.
For God's sake! I'm not going to say oh my gosh, gosh darnit, or any other cutesey poo Palinism. Joe Six Pack? No way for this Joe.
BTW I am a train conductor and not an eliteist.
McCain and Palin Love Joe Six-Pack. You Betcha.
See http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/mccain-and-palin-love-joe-six-pack-you-betcha/
The point here is that when Sarah Palin talks about Joe SixPack she is talking about people as lowclass as she is. College degree notwithstanding, Sarah Palin is a typical example of Joe SixPack-a religious fanatic person who can only parrot what others tell her and wants to believe the hardworking middle class aspires to be just like her. No country is made up of Joe Six Packs. God help the USA if it is.
I'm a hostess at a restaurant and I'm no Joe SixPack, honey!
Well done, ma'am. Never liked beer anyway, I'm more a Daniels guy. I might try acranberry martini if u would join me Kristen.
Anyway, God help us if ol' six-pack Sarah gets in-lowering the standards in Washington again.
Look, you Joe Six Pack people have got to understand that not everyone is a Joe Six Pack. No one is insulting you except Governor Palin by labeling you beer-swilling commoners, you know that right?
Middle class is made up of more than beer drinkers.
I hate the term joesixpack. It sounds so lowclass!
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