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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPalin Family Brawl Witness Gets Fired for Talking to Good Morning America
The lurid, stereotypical tale of Sarah Palin and her family entering into an alcohol-fueled melee at a snowmobile party is starting to pick up in the mainstream media, with Good Morning America devoting an entire segment to the story this morning. In doing so, they talked to Eric Townsend, an eyewitness who attended the party at the invitation of his boss.
But Townsend, who also gave his account to Alaskan political blogger Amanda Coyne, was fired today for talking to the media.
Entertainment Tonight producer Elizabeth Applegate tweeted that shed spoken to Townsend this morning, who confirmed that hed been fired specifically for talking to ABC. Weirdly enough, Political Gates reported that Thompsons former employers, McKenna Brothers Paving, were the hosts of the party where the brawl took place.
Last Saturday, many members of the Palin family attended a Wasilla party honoring the champions of the Iron Dog snowmobile race, and their presence eventually sparked a 20-person brawl in which the Palins allegedly, wholeheartedly participated.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/palin-family-brawl-witness-gets-fired-for-talking-to-good-morning-america/
I hope they were stupid enough to tell him he was fired for speaking to the media and I hope he sues.
el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)Depending on what his contract states - and it would be difficult to stretch whistleblower protections to cover this.
Bryant
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)was a "no media" clause for employees.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)I think that's the norm in Alaska. He probably has no recourse at all.
ETA: I just checked. Alaska is an at-will state. Unless he had a specific contract, which would be rare in the paving business, he's out of luck. I hope someone hires him right away for his action.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Jenoch
(7,720 posts)RandySF
(57,651 posts)Taking a six year-old to a Kate night party where alcohol and maybe drugs devolves into a melee is Child Endagerment.
el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)gratuitous
(82,849 posts)And considering the clout of the people he bad-mouthed, it's probable that the paving company was trying to keep from crossing the Palins. Rumor has it they have a mean streak and can be pretty vindictive.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)grasswire
(50,130 posts)Enrique
(27,461 posts)now people will think they're a bunch of yahoos.
DUzy!
kelly1mm
(4,719 posts)the government. He was an (apparently) at will employee of a private business. Thus, he can legally be fired for what he says.
grasswire
(50,130 posts)no snark necessary.
kelly1mm
(4,719 posts)Oktober
(1,488 posts)As the host he probably wanted to keep it quiet and was hoping for more discretion from his employees.
logosoco
(3,208 posts)who would invite the Palins to a party.
(as a side note, I did have to sign a paper once that stated I would not speak to the media about my place of work...it was a daycare!). I added a note that said "in manners pertaining to the day care" because it was vague and I didn't want to get fired for talking to the media about anything else (in case they ever asked!).
Catherine Vincent
(34,485 posts)What kind of daycare was this that you had to sign a paper to not speak to media? Weird.
logosoco
(3,208 posts)He did not want employees talking to the media, some story (happened before I was there) where a parent was mad because her child was hurt and no one knew what happened. The parent went to the media, and one of the teachers said the child had the injury when she came in. Something like that, so he made everyone sign this paper.
Catherine Vincent
(34,485 posts)Iggo
(47,487 posts)...when I worked temp at a famous Hollywood producer's house a couple-plus decades ago.
They were un-be-LEE-vably nice to the help, though.
itsrobert
(14,157 posts)Reviews are welcome there. (Maybe not by them)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/McKenna-Bros-Paving-Inc/163776963682105?sk=reviews
daligirl519
(285 posts)but not fast enough!
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)the Griffter Klan getting their pound of flesh from some one who blew the whistle on them. Wasn't this Paving Company under investigation for corruption during the Crazed Snow Queen's failed rein as Governor?
Inquiring minds need to know.
Blue Owl
(49,918 posts)n/t
Blue_In_AK
(46,436 posts)monmouth3
(3,871 posts)it...
hughee99
(16,113 posts)They're always fun, but people so often miss the opportunity to ask those within earshot "Can someone help this person, they've forgotten who they are".
monmouth3
(3,871 posts)Everglades Club and used the DYKWIA. The police officer was pretty young and told him "No, and I don't give a sh*t." It went downhill from there but entertained all of us immensely..
Johonny
(20,684 posts)Free speech is an endangered species. Those intolerants hatin and taking on the Duck Dynasty patriarch for voicing his personal opinion are taking on all of us, Palin wrote
In claiming Duck Dynasty idiot shouldn't get suspended for sayin' stuff TV viewer might not like.
SoCalDem
(103,856 posts)tanyev
(42,360 posts)fired an employee of theirs because he talked to the media? I saw on a couple other blogs that they (the McKennas) are pretty tight with the Palins. Must be pretty tight to protect the people who trashed your party over an employee.
And now I'm wondering how many who might have gotten video of this were also employees of the McKennas...