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sufrommich

(22,871 posts)
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 02:39 PM Sep 2014

Palin 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 she’d spoken to Townsend this morning, who confirmed that he’d been fired specifically for talking to ABC. Weirdly enough, Political Gates reported that Thompson’s 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.

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Palin Family Brawl Witness Gets Fired for Talking to Good Morning America (Original Post) sufrommich Sep 2014 OP
He may not have grounds to sue el_bryanto Sep 2014 #1
He worked for a paving company,I'd be surprised if there sufrommich Sep 2014 #3
He's probably an "at-will" employee. MineralMan Sep 2014 #8
No TeaParty outrage about his 1A rights? Wait, they only defend 2A rights. If he'd shot someone: freshwest Sep 2014 #20
The 1st Amendment has nothing to do with this situation. Jenoch Sep 2014 #22
He witnessed a crime RandySF Sep 2014 #4
That might be enough - hadn't thought of that. nt el_bryanto Sep 2014 #9
Nah, family values and stuffs... freshwest Sep 2014 #21
No he probably can't sue gratuitous Sep 2014 #24
Sues for what? jberryhill Sep 2014 #2
Fired for what? Free speech? nt grasswire Sep 2014 #5
for besmirching the Palins' reputation Enrique Sep 2014 #7
... Habibi Sep 2014 #16
For about the 900th time here on DU, "Free Speech" protections are only against kelly1mm Sep 2014 #10
everyone knows that. grasswire Sep 2014 #32
Then why would the person I reponded to invoke free speech? nt kelly1mm Sep 2014 #33
The owner obviously has some relationship with the Plains... Oktober Sep 2014 #28
Maybe he will get a better job. I wouldn't want to work for someone logosoco Sep 2014 #6
?? Catherine Vincent Sep 2014 #11
A very crappy one! Owner was in it for profit. logosoco Sep 2014 #12
Oh, I see. Thanks! Catherine Vincent Sep 2014 #13
I had to sign one of those... Iggo Sep 2014 #29
Company's FB page itsrobert Sep 2014 #14
They are deleting negative comments. . . daligirl519 Sep 2014 #18
Just another example of Wellstone ruled Sep 2014 #15
No one disses the Palin's Purity Brawl Blue Owl Sep 2014 #17
As if this story hasn't blown up enough already... Blue_In_AK Sep 2014 #19
Supposedly she said to the crowd "Do you know whom I am?" Don't know if it's true or not but I love monmouth3 Sep 2014 #23
I haven't heard a "Do you know who I am" in years, and it was from another politician. hughee99 Sep 2014 #25
One of the Kellogg men got stopped down here (Palm Beach) for irratic driving coming out of the monmouth3 Sep 2014 #27
Irony being listening to Sarah Palin on her view of freedom of speech Johonny Sep 2014 #26
Apparently, what happens in Alaska, STAYS in Alaska SoCalDem Sep 2014 #30
So the guys whose birthday party got ruined by the throwdown at the hoedown tanyev Sep 2014 #31

el_bryanto

(11,804 posts)
1. He may not have grounds to sue
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 02:41 PM
Sep 2014

Depending on what his contract states - and it would be difficult to stretch whistleblower protections to cover this.

Bryant

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
8. He's probably an "at-will" employee.
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 02:49 PM
Sep 2014

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)
20. No TeaParty outrage about his 1A rights? Wait, they only defend 2A rights. If he'd shot someone:
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 05:12 PM
Sep 2014
He would have been just standing his ground and it'd all be A-OK!

RandySF

(57,651 posts)
4. He witnessed a crime
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 02:44 PM
Sep 2014

Taking a six year-old to a Kate night party where alcohol and maybe drugs devolves into a melee is Child Endagerment.

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
24. No he probably can't sue
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 05:33 PM
Sep 2014

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.

kelly1mm

(4,719 posts)
10. For about the 900th time here on DU, "Free Speech" protections are only against
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 03:05 PM
Sep 2014

the government. He was an (apparently) at will employee of a private business. Thus, he can legally be fired for what he says.

 

Oktober

(1,488 posts)
28. The owner obviously has some relationship with the Plains...
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 05:57 PM
Sep 2014

As the host he probably wanted to keep it quiet and was hoping for more discretion from his employees.

logosoco

(3,208 posts)
6. Maybe he will get a better job. I wouldn't want to work for someone
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 02:46 PM
Sep 2014

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!).

logosoco

(3,208 posts)
12. A very crappy one! Owner was in it for profit.
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 03:30 PM
Sep 2014

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.

Iggo

(47,487 posts)
29. I had to sign one of those...
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 05:59 PM
Sep 2014

...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.

 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
15. Just another example of
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 04:10 PM
Sep 2014

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.

monmouth3

(3,871 posts)
23. Supposedly she said to the crowd "Do you know whom I am?" Don't know if it's true or not but I love
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 05:16 PM
Sep 2014

it...

hughee99

(16,113 posts)
25. I haven't heard a "Do you know who I am" in years, and it was from another politician.
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 05:44 PM
Sep 2014

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)
27. One of the Kellogg men got stopped down here (Palm Beach) for irratic driving coming out of the
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 05:49 PM
Sep 2014

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)
26. Irony being listening to Sarah Palin on her view of freedom of speech
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 05:49 PM
Sep 2014

“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.



tanyev

(42,360 posts)
31. So the guys whose birthday party got ruined by the throwdown at the hoedown
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 06:27 PM
Sep 2014

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...

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