Sarah Palin: Friend of Joe Drunk-driver

[Joanne98]

Here is some much needed context for Sarah Palin's claim that she represents Joe six-pack.


The Chicago Tribune is reporting that in 1996, when Wasilla police chief Irl Strambaugh pushed for an ordinance to close bars earlier than 5 a.m, Councilwoman Palin opposed the measure. Wasilla church leaders were shocked by Palin's position. A local pastor who supported the ordinance change, Gene Straatmeyer, was on the receiving end of a stern lecture from Palin who told the reverend to butt out.

Former chief Strambaugh claimed that Wasilla had high rates of drunken-driving and spousal abuse related to heavy late night drinking in the local bars. The DUI arrest rate, one arrest every two days, was "exceptionally large" for a town of six-thousand, according to the former chief. More than half of those arrests occurred between the hours of 2 a.m. and and 7 a.m. and most, he said, were for twice the legal limit.

Bar owners who opposed the earlier closing time were the greatest source of financial support for Palin's subsequent mayoral campaign. Two of the bar owners alone represented 15% of her campaign contributions.

Palin fired Chief Strambaugh after she won the election.

http://drx.typepad.com/psychotherapyblog/2008/10/palin-opposed-c.html

[Happyhippychick]

1. She's not just a friend - she's MARRIED to Joe Drunk-driver

Remember Todd's DUI arrest?

[all.of.me]

2. The whole Joe Six Pack reference condones more than social drinking.

To have heard it once in a playful way would be one thing, but it's repeated over and over, which makes it a negative. I wouldn't want a leader who constantly refers to alcohol.

[spindrifter]

3. She needs to know that America is a lot more than Joe Sixpack--

and he's not the one I choose to represent us at diplomatic talks.

[gmoney]

4. What about Joe Beer Pong? And Joe Roofie?

And when you're up all night drinking in Alaska, that could mean MONTHS of uninterrupted boozing!