Is Sarah Palin really a Joe Six-Pack? Am I?

There has been a lot of buzz about Sarah Palin's references to Joe Six-Pack and how she is one, and how government has to be on the side of Joe Six-Packs.

Palin, of course, is the Republican vice presidential candidate who is like a gift to the brilliant Emmy-winning Tina Fey.

By the way, Palin isn't bothering to identify with Soccer Moms, probably because she figures she has that vote locked up. My problem is when I think Joe Six-Pack, I think Homer Simpson (sorry, Homer).

Despite that, I started to wonder if I'm a Joe Six-Pack too, like Sarah. I watch a lot of sports. I might have a beer while watching, though never canned beer because the taste just isn't the same. I bring out the chips and salsa. I sometimes end up multi-tasking during the game, particularly if it's a blowout. I don't sit in a recliner while watching. I went to college. Hmmmmm. Guess I don't fit the cliche.

AP investigative reporter Sharon Theimer riffed on the subject and asked the appropriate probing question: If there truly is a Joe Six-Pack out there somewhere: Is he single?

But is Sarah really a Joe Six-Pack? Well, let's examine that cliche a little more. If she answers "yes" to at least 7 of these questions below, then maybe she is the cliche after all. Bottom line, though: I want politicians to stop using sports cliches to get votes. It degrades sports fans.

Are you a Joe Six-Pack?

1. Do you set everything aside on a Saturday or Sunday to watch the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA on your hi-def TV?

2. Do you drink at least six cans of beer while watching the game?

3. Is the beer you drink a low-calorie beer?

4. Do you have beard stubble because you just didn't want to shave as part of your Game Day ritual?

5. Are you more than 30 pounds overweight?

6. Does your significant other bake things or buy things for you to eat on Game Day but doesn't really love football, just you?

7. Did you skip college because, well, why do you need college?

8. Are you male?

9. Do you know the complete starting lineups of the teams you are watching, and their stats?

10. Are you trying to get the Joe Six-Pack vote because you know down deep the guys who might fall into this category could never vote for you because you're a woman?

-- Debbie Goffa

Photo of beer bottle by Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Lori]

I have been ranting for days over this one. Like many, I consider myself an average middle-class American. When I hear the phrase "Joe Six-Pack" I envision images like those of Homer Simpson and Al Bundy (Married With Children). I do not think of any of the men in my life in this manner and frankly I am really put off by it. What bothers me more is the way that we as Americans would be viewed by the world as a whole in response to the way that Ms Pittbull would portray us. I do not think it is in our best interest to have our country lead by someone that would represent us as a bunch of lazy, poorly educated individual sitting around swilling down the brewskis while shooting at the empty cans with our rifles! While I do agree that many of our international relations could be improved upon, redneck woman flirting her way to world peace is just not an option.

[Joe]

Joe Six Pack is not a reference to sports addicted couch potatoes.

Joe 6 pack refers to those individuals, making up a portion of the American working class that envision life from one 6 pack to the next. End of the day; Buy a 6 pack. Saturday night: Buy a 6 pack. The concept here is drinking through life, not watching sports.

[David Stokes]

Gosh! I somehow thought that she had seen Senator Biden with his shirt off prior to the debate and was giving him some sort of underhanded compliment. Wouldn't that be what we expect from her? The woman is definitely on the Homer Simpson end of the scale of intellect.

[NinaK]

Pilan and her "Joe Six Pack" theme. Number One, Sarah, we do not need Joe Six Pack making decisions for us or making our country's calls. Number Two, Sarah, has McCain asked you to promote his wife's beer distributing company by throwing the Joe "SIX PACK" around??? Number Three, Sarah, all your fixed smiles, winks, and draing your jaw to the left when you wink are not impressive whatsover; frankly, my dear, you look like a cheap puppet whose strings are being yanked a bit haphardly and a bit too tight!

[K.B.]

I always considered the term 'Joe six pack' to be more of a reference to more sportsman like men. Those of us that hunt, fish, go camping, are not afraid to wear flannel, actually use the 4WD function in our vehicles, eat red meat, watch sports, work hard, know how to use tools, can swing an axe, ETC.

Basically the things that *use* to make a man. But thanks to the "metrosexual" movement, and those that came before it to "domesticate" men, these things are now considered barbaric or sexist. Ironically though, these are qualities that most men living outside urban areas still exhibit in everyday life. And those areas typically vote Republican anyway.

[Paul Stewart]

Joe Sixpack refers to the guys that have a 6 IQ, just like Palin. I doubt that Joe Sixpack is even watching, or if he was, he is watching shows other than Palin's debate with Biden. And maybe Palin thinks she can make him vote with the wrong head.

But seriously, does she think that Joe Sixpack likes to be labeled like that? Would he rather not be called blue collar or middle class? I mean, that would be less condescending.

I think its the Rovian Republican in her - wanting to label everyone and everything, like a commodity. To then analyze, toy with with and spin until the vote is gained. No holds barred - appeal to them with logic, lie to them, coerce them, beg them, scare them, do what you must, but just get the vote. And dam the consequences for America.

[Sandra]

Not to be politically incorrect, but I thought Sara Palin looked as though she has Tourettes syndrome with all the winks and facial grimaces. Can you imagine her sitting down with a Chineese dignitary and winking at him or her? Do we really need four more years of a "Washington outsider" like George Bush? Sarah, take your six pack and go home.

[Jerry]

Sarah needs to do something drastic, but it's too late now ... why would she choose to use such a stereotype, "Joe Sixpack", in a VP debate? This was not the proper event for it, and if a "Joe Sixpack" was watching, I think they would have found this labelling offensive.
Frankly, her stereotype came across as being condescending, and judging from the size of her estate, I'm not sure if she is like "Joe Sixpack" (not to say there are no "Joe Sixpack" millionaires).
I found her in the debate to be too choreographed, puppet-like and really not that knowledgeable in many areas --- where she clearly chose to avoid or not reply to the questions.

[Minnesota Woman In Search of Joe]

Thank you LA Times for raising this important question. I've been trying to solve the Joe 6-pack riddle too. I don't know quite who to picture -- Joe-with-a-beer-gut or Joe-the dreamy-hunk-with-6-pack-abs. So, I set out to find Joe here in northern Minnesota.

I started with Al, the guy who pumps my septic tank. Maybe he knows Joe. Nope. Turns out he's offended by the sexist characterization. He's too busy driving the poop-mobile and chopping firewood before the long winter sets in to hang out in either the bar or the gym. He's also very determined when he says he can't afford 4 more years of George Bush.

Then I asked a friend's husband if he knew Joe. He's a Republican so surely he must, right? Nope. He works 60 hours a week and was busy cutting down a dead oak tree for firewood. He's also well-educated, articulate, financially successful and a former teacher. Gosh darn it, he doesn't know Joe either but, on behalf of teachers everywhere, he asks that we pronounce all the letters included in the spelling of words, especially those pesky "g's".

Okay, so maybe rural Minnesota is suffering from a dearth of Joe's. So, I called my 25-yr. old nephew in Minneapolis, thinking maybe Joe's a hip younger guy hanging out in the big city. Billy wasn't out chopping firewood but he joins the ranks of the unemployed in a week so he's looking for work. (Anyone need a gifted chef?) He and his crew were also talking about Joe while enjoying a 6-pack. No Joe there but then what did I expect? These guys ride their bicycles everywhere to save money and the planet. They grow vegetables, care about the environment, and just try to get by on very little money.

One last stop before I abandon my quest to find this Joe 6-pack. My 81-year old friend Myron. Granted the gym-rat buff version of Joe 6-pack likely doesn't hang out at the Senior Center but maybe his Grandpa does. "What was that?" were his first words when asked if he watched the debate. Clueless, I asked for clarification. "It looked like she was having a seizure or spasm or a tic." No, Myron, you dear man. That was our Vice-Presidential hopeful (and hopeless) Sara. Myron is a man of modest means who worked very hard all his life. Surely he's run across Joe along the way. "I couldn't figure out what she was saying and who she was talking about," he replied, "and why does she talk funny?"

There's only one conclusion I can draw from my quest to find this elusive Joe who seems to be commanding so much of Ms. Palin's time and attention. Like so much of what she says, it's just more empty words from a woman who neither reads or listens. A woman who thinks all mothers want their children to speak poorly and believes that treating the Office of the President like it's a reality TV show certainly can not represent the best of America.

Then again, if Sara Palin is speaking directly to Joe 6-pack and he doesn't really exist, isn't that a little like a tree falling in the woods? O, is that expression a bear defecating in those same woods? Wait a minute... we don't have any woods or any bears and man is not responsible for global warming.

Sara Palin -- please stop insulting the men of Minnesota with your sexist discriminatory comments! They don't appreciate it and neither do the women who would rise up en-masse if a candidate for the highest office in our country referred to them as "Betty Big Butt."

A belated thank you to the LA Times for giving us all a checklist to use in locating Joe!

Terry Kalil
Detroit Lakes MN

[s.m. cook]

Joe Six Pack is a euphemism for a drunken, uninformed bigot.

[Confused]

The thing that confuses me regarding Palin is not Palin herself. About Palin herself, I am simply in awe that someone was found -- and it had to be on the most remote fringes of society -- that speaks "Bush" better than Bush himself, and who makes our current president sound almost intellectual in comparison. No, what confuses me regarding Palin is the women who support her. We live in an era where it is almost criminal to be male, and the coup de grace is to put a former beauty queen on the ballot and to have women supporting her. Personally, I cannot think of a greater irony. Nevertheless, that being the case, the only logical conclusion is that any woman who votes for Palin and supports feminist values can only be taken seriously if she happens to be a professional table top dancer.

[DB]

I would vote for Homer Simpson before I'd let Sarah Palin in the White House. She's a typical cheerleader type... nice house but nobody's home.

[RB]

No idea who Joe Six Pack is nor why she has brought it up several times.

But then again, I have a hard time understanding those who reside north of the 100 mile border. For example, I read she actually smiled at Joe Biden when he finished relating his tragic single parent experience.

I reckon that misplaced attitude is one of the far north deals similar to "...Oh, watcha got there? A ski pole in the eye? That must really smart. Well, gotta go, taker easy....".

What was JM thinking?

ps...no offence to all my childhood friends within the 100 mile border!

[JJM]

As a foreign observer, I'm amused at the barely concealed spite for Sarah Palin.

It is almost inconceivable that anyone would call Senator Obama an "uppity Negro" (or worse), yet Palin appears to be fair game for some very, very nasty invective.

I can only assume some prejudices are more fashionable than others.

[Farmkid]

Terry - Thanks for your post. I was raised about an hour or so north of you up Highway 59. While I have spent my adult years about as far away from northern MN as possible (not spitefully...just where life took me) I still consider that corner of the world my home. And there is something that rises up inside of me as I watch this truly bad actress, Sarah Palin, painfully attempt to 'speak my language'. People have said that she must have been force fed the movie Fargo over and over to try to pick up the local dialect, but I think it must have been reruns of the Beverly Hillbillies. Who talks like this?

What's even more nauseating is to witness the not-so-invisible hand of the likes of Karl Rove as they use this actress to fan the flames of fear and division for their own political gain. They are the textbook definition of demogogues and if they have their way, they will continue to lead us down the path away from Jefferson/Madison and toward Mussolini. And then the silly 'doggonits' and winks will be the least of our worries.

[Alaskan Crabcake]

If you are looking for Joe Six Pack on the streets of America you won't find him. That is because he is off in Iraq defending the rest of you liberals against Ben Laden. There is nothing a good soldier appreciates more than a woman who has a cold one ready for him when he comes home after fighting terrorists in a hot desert for 12 months. When Sarah gave us that wink we knew she was talkin' about me. I can not wait to pop open a sixer and watch her and Todd dancin' at that fancy ball in Washington.

We may not know how to use fancy words, remember the names of newspapers we read, or supreme court decisions, but when it comes to kickin' some terrorists [ edit ] that wants to take our children and enroll them in a radical islamic day care or if Putin wants to raise his head into Sarah's airspace then by God he is going to have deal with Joe Six Pack.

Joe Six Pack is part of the rich history of the supreme court and if the legislative branch can create jobs then people will not have to worry about health care in a country where a team of Mavericks can put lipstick on and show Russia that comin' into our air space is like letting Katie Couric take care of your pitbull.

[JRogers]

Joe Six-Pack is the American the rest of the world hates. This woman is an embarrassment.

[ken]

"Posted by: Farmkid | October 05, 2008 at 07:15 AM

If you are looking for Joe Six Pack on the streets of America you won't find him. That is because he is off in Iraq defending the rest of you liberals against Ben Laden. There is nothing a good soldier appreciates more than a woman who has a cold one ready for him when he comes home after fighting terrorists in a hot desert for 12 months. When Sarah gave us that wink we knew she was talkin' about me. I can not wait to pop open a sixer and watch her and Todd dancin' at that fancy ball in Washington. "

#1 Bin Laden isn't in Iraq.
#2 Iraq did not attack us on 9-11
#3 I can think of many things that would be better than a beer after coming home after 12 months in the desert.
#4 Explain to me how Bin Laden was a threat to the liberals as opposed to the conservatives? and why our troops are not going after Bin Laden.
#5 Were you home schooled?
#6 Talkin' and Dancin'? Hey you forgot the 'g' just like Sarah, you must have been.
#7 I could go on, but your just thinking of that sexy librarian who winked at you at the debate.

[Paul]

i'm from a country in the Far East and i've been following the run-ups to the US elections with keen interest. From what i've been reading and seeing on internet media, from the way the two camps portrayed themselves and answered questions put forth by journalists, i sincerely think that you can not let this woman enter the White House. Even if she was running against only herself in this campaign, it'd still be an awfully bad idea to consider her qualified as a vice-president of the U.S. You have a very good alternative in the Obama ticket. I truly think that you will be rewarded with at least 4 years of very good governance with Obama in the White House.

[Randy]

It seems rather irresponsible for Palin to be refering to Joe Sixpack for votes and even making reference to "the Joe Sixpack's like me" while running for the second highest office in this country. The last I remember we were at war with drinking and driving as well as teens abusing alcohol and Palin gets on the national media acting like its a real neat thing to be Joe Sixpack. This is not a responsible or mature message to be sending out to our nation, when every day people are killed and hurt by drunk drivers. I think organizations like MADD should request she appoligize for this lack of consideration on Palin's part.

[ARAndrews]

Governor, I know Joe Sixpack; Joe Sixpack is a friend of mine, and, governor, you're no Joe Sixpack.

[Mike Witczak]

I like Sarah Palin and she did not invent the term Joe Six Pack. My gosh, there are web sites and stores called Joe Six Pack. Get with it!

[edwards]

Sarah Palin heartily embraces the idea that she represents Joe Six Pack, but now the Governor from The Nation’s Icebox has warmed to a new role – that of gunslinger for the McCain campaign. She’s taking on the classic role of vice presidential candidates – being the attack dog of the ticket, allowing the man at the top, McCain, to claim his hands are clean. The problem for McCain/Palin is that time is running out and Obama/Biden are leading in nearly all the polls. On top of that, the Democrats have more money to spend. If you want to help the Republican ticket, grab the web domain SarahSixPack.com and generate some excitement (and cash) for America’s newest GOP star and for her visibly discouraged running mate.

[lisa]

I couldn't figure out WHO she was referring to. I asked everyone I could before coming here to learn the description for JOE SIX PACK.

I thought maybe Joe worked out alot?

PLEASE, we need America back. 1-20-1009 THE END OF AN ERROR.

[Claira]

Sarah Palin needs to go back to Alaska and bury her head in the snow! She's put the Republican party to shame and embarassment!! Weeknight sitcoms don't have anything compared to Sarah Palin. She gets ridiculously funnier everytime I see her on the tube or read about her. Give it up already Sarah - You just don't got it to be in public office. America is on to your fake front and lack of experience!