Who is Joe Six Pack?

Who is Joe Six Pack?

Throughout the final weeks and days of the 2008 presidential campaign, vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has portrayed herself as a vocal advocate for “Joe Six Pack Americans.” The reference is in keeping with Palin’s folksy, straight-talkin’ rhetoric, but has left many people wondering exactly who Joe is?

He’s a hard-working, patriotic, tax-paying American.

This is likely the definition Palin was hoping most people understood. Joe is the everyman that makes our country great. He works hard. He has strong values, does the right thing and loves his country.

He’s a good ol’ boy who likes to hunt and fish.

This Joe is a white redneck from a red state with a truck that has a gun rack. His friends look like he does and Joe doesn’t much care for outsiders.

 He’s a beer drinker.

Joe likes to drink. As his name implies, he doesn’t just enjoy one beer, he prefers the whole six pack. I’m not saying Joe’s a drunk…I’m just saying.

Though there are some positive images associated with the name Joe Six Pack, there are also some obvious negatives. In the minds of many, Joe is not black, latino or any ethnicity other than white. So when Palin says she is for “Joe Six Pack Americans,” she sends a not-so-subtle message that she is against those who don’t fit that description.

Is Joe helping or hurting the McCain Palin ticket?

Only time will tell, but an exclusionary approach seems risky at best. At the time of this writing, John McCain trails Barack Obama in the polls by double digits. In order to win the election, most pundits believe he will not only need to win the votes of his supporters but also convince current Obama supporters to change their minds. McCain and Palin can only do this if they appeal to those minorities, independents and democrats who may be having doubts about an Obama/Biden administration.