Joe Sixpack!!!!!!!!!!

[xoprincessmomxo]

Thank you for the story. It's always nice to know there are human beings lurking behind the candidate fascades.

Yeah, I wish more of them would show that side. While I was never a Bob Dole fan, that was one of his biggest flaws was coming across as so robotic, when after the election his true self came out and he ended up being, dare I say it, kind of likeable.

 

[4cruisin]

So, I have a question.

Since dh is a blue collar worker and I am middle management, neither of us drink alcohol, don't have kids and work our butts off to make a decent living and yet seem to be working harder and getting less for it.............

Where is our candidate?


Just by basic elimination, I am voting for Obama/Biden because there is no way the republican party deserves 4 more years in the White House and on top of that, it scares the crap out of me to think that McCain and his advisors thought that SP would be a qualified vp candidate. Talk about poor judgement.

I will give her credit though because I thought she would implode last night and she actually managed to not look like a complete novice.

 

[singingpixie]

I'm not sure how to respond to that. Just because that's your stereotype of blue-collar workers doesn't mean you should project your views onto others. I know it's certainly not my view of blue-collar workers, and I doubt most of the country has that view of America's workers. But I could be wrong.

By using the term "Joe Six-Pack" to refer to blue-collar workers, Sarah Palin is stereotyping that way. I find it offensive for her to label them that way, because I know that the description is inaccurate. I'm not projecting anything.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

And another off topic meeting that surprised me was the candidates wives. We hosted Michelle Obama at our coffee shop a few months after Christie Vilsack (Tom, the governor of Iowa who ran for POTUS for a short time). Christie never thanked us for letting her come, acted very stuffy or shall I say "elitist", and just came across as thinking that she had better things to do than be in our little town. And she only had to come about 1 1/2 hours to get to our town! Biden's wife was very kind, though when my sister asked her about something that Joe had said, she said she "doesn't like to get into Joe's politics". I can understand that, to an extent, but she should have supported him more in some way. Michelle on the other hand, was absolutely engaging. She thanked us about a zillion times for hosting her and gave hugs and handshakes. She was very sweet.

 

[blu3d3vil]

I think that Obama is keeping it very straight in front of the cameras to downplay the "inexperienced" labels that are being attatched to him. When he spoke in our town, my sister was the one who introduced him and was backstage with him. She said he was really funny and silly. A side that more Americans should see! In fact, when he found out that she was a dance teacher, he talked about his girls being in dance and how he couldn't keep up with him, and then did a little ballerina turn with his hand on his head. He was constantly joking, and talked openly and kindly with every person he came into contact with there. Out of all of the candidates that came, he was by far the kindest and most down to earth according to my sister.

Of course, he's a politician. They are all that nice when you meet them. They have to be to keep their jobs.

 

[Brianne]

Phrases like "joe six-pack" are why I hate labels so much. And in this ridiculous day and age of sound bites, everyone's always looking for that one thing that'll stick in the minds of the voters. In this case, I don't think it was for the better; Palin really needs to reconsider using it ever again because I'm not seeing many who like it.

And for the record, I'm a middle-class, minivan driving, viola mom who hates beer, shopping and shoes. When you find a label that fits me, let me know?

 

[asta]

Of course, he's a politician. They are all that nice when you meet them. They have to be to keep their jobs.

I have met several politicians and surprisingly not all of them come across as nice or even try to be decent. I think it does speak volumes to their character on how they behave when they are not "on stage". On the other hand, this may not make them the best leader. Character is important but is not everything.

 

[taximomfor4]

And I cringe when I hear the phrases Joe Sixpack, Hockey Mom, Soccer Mom. I'm an average middle class, middle aged American woman and I am none of those things.

...same here...and really, HOCKEY mom?? I certainly am nowhere near able to afford to put my kids in hockey. Nor soccer, unless it's cheap small-town rec league soccer.

 

[LanaJayne]

Please go back and read my post again. Where did I say anything at all about Obama and Biden? I said I think SP's life is probably closest to my own.

I'm glad your life is so comfortable.

Comparing herself to "Joe-Six Pack" when the Palin's annual family income is almost a quarter million dollars, and they own 2 vacation retreats seems really condescending to me. While she may have had a modest upbringing, so did Biden and Obama. According to the Associated Press her family income was a very comfortable 6 figures before she became Governor.



http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i4qcqPId4Evh_9YMcUMDI7L6WOuQD93I1U4G0
The Palins' assets seem enviable: a half-million-dollar home on a lake with a float-plane at the dock, two vacation retreats, commercial-fishing rights worth an estimated $50,000 or more and an income last year of at least $230,000. That compares to a median income of $64,333 for Alaskans and $50,740 for Americans in 2007, according to the Census Bureau.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I hear you. Jon Stewart summed it up for me a few months back when people were all bent out of shape because Obama was an "elitist."

"Doesn’t elite mean good? Is that not something we’re looking for in a president anymore? … The job you’re applying for — if you get it, and it goes well, they might carve your head into a mountain. If you don’t actually think you are better than us, then what the **** are you doing? … Not only do I want an elite president, I want someone who is embarrassingly superior to me. I want someone who speaks sixteen languages and sleeps two hours a night hanging upside down in a chamber they themselves designed."

Did someone mention my beloved Jon Stewart? Anyway, back to the question at hand. Glad I'm not the only one who does not like the term "Joe six-pack".

 

[Chicago526]

Did someone mention my beloved Jon Stewart? Anyway, back to the question at hand. Glad I'm not the only one who does not like the term "Joe six-pack".

My DH is the exact type of person SP has in mind when she says "Joe Six Pack" and he thinks it's the dumbest thing he's ever heard, that that she's a total fool.

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

I could care less if Governor Palin is a soccer mom or not.

For my family McCain/Palin is not only the best choice but the only choice.

 

[Jenvenza]

It is a stereotype and I, too, find it offensive.

although.....

DH and I talked about having a drinking game last night. Each time she said "maverick" we had to chug a beer.

I was texting my husband saying if this woman says the word Maverick one more time.....

 

[just4today]

I'm glad your life is so comfortable.

Comparing herself to "Joe-Six Pack" when the Palin's annual family income is almost a quarter million dollars, and they own 2 vacation retreats seems really condescending to me. While she may have had a modest upbringing, so did Biden and Obama. According to the Associated Press her family income was a very comfortable 6 figures before she became Governor.



http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i4qcqPId4Evh_9YMcUMDI7L6WOuQD93I1U4G0
The Palins' assets seem enviable: a half-million-dollar home on a lake with a float-plane at the dock, two vacation retreats, commercial-fishing rights worth an estimated $50,000 or more and an income last year of at least $230,000. That compares to a median income of $64,333 for Alaskans and $50,740 for Americans in 2007, according to the Census Bureau.

"Closest" is a relative term. Since you know nothing about my life, the sarcasm is uncalled for.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

I'm with the rest who think "Joe Six Pack" is a stupid term. I hate it. Where I'm from, "Joe Six Pack" has kind of a negative connotation. Joe Six Pack = redneck. Someone needs to tell SP to stop using it. Oh, and stop using "maverick" while you're at it, too.

 

[yeartolate]

Maybe she should wink at joe sixpack and see how that goes.


BTW, I am assuming she is talking beer --- the phrase to me says the guy after work drinking a six pack of Coors after work. Does taht sit well with me? Not really.

But maybe she should wink at this Joe six pack ...........

http://www.sixpackabsguru.com/

 

[daisax]

"Joe Six-Pack" is absolutely a condescending term... it has ALWAYS meant the goober who lives for the 5 o'clock whistle and his beer, long before it ever became a political term. Even politicians used to use it negatively to describe voters they had to pander to on blue collar issues.

Only recently did politicians (led by the nose by political operatives who spend their lives promoting this nonsense) adopt it as some kind of silly populist rallying point, like "soccer moms" and "main street" and "family values."

"Hard working Americans" is what blue collar workers were always referred to when politicians were courting them. However, now that up is down and down is up, God forbid you appeal to the basic intelligence and character of the electorate without reducing them to folksy stereotypes.

 

[marybet]

I was listening to clips of the debate. Palin said that she and McCain will help average familes, like her and Todds. But there is really nothing average about her and Todd. They have 5 children, that's way above average, they have a large home on a lake with a plane. They have 2 vacation homes and make $230,000. Average, I don't think so.

Maybe what she really meant is that she and McCain will help people who make more than $230,000, own more than one home, and have a lot of children. How many here fall into that category?

 

[Mickeyistheman]

Joe Six Pack to me makes no sense.

If you say a guy has a 6 pack that is usually about his physique. Maybe that is just cause I am from Jersey

I do think she did well but again she did not have high expectations so of course she did better than expected.

 

[minniecarousel]

I thought she sounded unintelligent last night with her dropping the "g's" at the end of so many words. I also thought she was condescending with the winks! GWB billed himself as a "common man" and just a regular guy (minus the beer) and look where it got us!

No thank you!

I was a soccer Mom-type (when my kids were children) and I don't identify with her AT ALL!

Yeah - Joe Six-Pak isn't a flattering image in my mind! If that's what she thinks of middle America, we're in trouble!