Organizing for America | Notes From Main Street: There Is No Joe Six-Pack

There Is No Joe Six-Pack

By Bodie P - Oct 8th, 2008 at 8:12 pm EDT

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Tags: debate, demographics, economy, Joe Six-Pack, palin, politics

I watched the vice-presidential debate on Thursday night, and found myself troubled by the characterization of middle-class America (also known as Main Street) as Joe Six-Pack. Joe Six-Pack sounded like a factory guy, who sits at his kitchen table in his t-shirt and work boots and slugs down a brewsky just before he teaches The Little Woman a few manners. It shocked me a little to realize Governor Palin, who first made the reference, meant me, and people like me.

I know I was supposed to feel comforted,

pleased that she looked directly into my eyes, and that she chose to ignore the moderator questions to Speak Directly to Me. I was supposed to feel like she cared about me personally. But I didn't. I felt offended; she was presuming to a friendship and camaraderie that we simply don't have. And she got my name wrong.

Apparently not everyone felt that way; the pundits say she scored high in "likability." Maybe so. But one thing this election has made crystal clear is that the presidency needs to be determined not by who is most appealing, or has the greater command of slang, or can spout more down home truisms.

Here's the bottom line: There is no Joe Six-Pack, there are only a whole bunch of people out here, all with our own names, our own challenges, our own joys. We are not a homogenous mass who can be poured into Joe Six-Pack and Befriended, at least until the votes are in. We are more than that.

Whoever wins this election will not be governing a population of one--Joe Six-Pack--but millions. The world we live in is complex, and so are we. We don't need a Presidential team who is just like us. We need a team who is more that we are, one that has a vision, and a concrete plan for achieving that vision for all of us. Except Joe Six-Pack, that is. He'll be just fine.

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I agree | Report to Admin

By Michelle Oct 8th 2008 at 8:27 pm EDT (Updated Oct 8th 2008 at 8:27 pm EDT)

I completely agree with you about "Joe-six-pack"
Furthermore, I can't help but ask why is the supposedly Christian right assocating with a six-pack of beer???

Re: I agree | Report to Admin

By Bodie P Oct 8th 2008 at 10:56 pm EDT (Updated Oct 8th 2008 at 10:56 pm EDT)

Seems like pretty naked pandering to the perceived working class. All it does for me is reinforce the idea that the coiner of the phrase has no real idea of what the working class looks like post-1950.

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