AWESOME or AWFUL: Tow Truck Driver REFUSES To Service Woman Who Supports Bernie Sanders

Well, things got interesting pretty quickly on a North Carolina road this week.

According to reports, a woman who was involved in a motor vehicle accident with a tractor trailer thankfully was fine after that. But, there was one minor problem. Her Toyota Camry wouldn't turn over. If you find yourself on the side of the interstate and your car won't start, your next move is to get the damn thing towed out of there.

But what happens when the wrecker shows up and doesn't help you out?

That's exactly what happened when Kenneth Shupe, the owner and operator of Shupee Max Towing, arrived on the scene and noticed that the woman who called had Bernie Sanders stickers and signage on her Camry. He decided not to service her and left the scene.

It doesn't seem as though any laws were broken or that Shupe will be brought up on charges. So, we've got to ask:

Is the tow truck driver's decision to REFUSE someone in need service due to their political affiliation AWESOME or AWFUL?

What say you, Spies?


A local tow truck driver said he refused to tow a woman’s car after he saw Bernie Sanders stickers on the vehicle.

Kenneth Shupe said he was called to pick up a woman stranded on I-26 in Asheville on Monday.

When he saw “a bunch of Bernie Sanders stuff” he said he told the woman, “very politely,” that he could’t tow her car because she was “obviously a socialist” and advised her to “call the government” for a tow.

"Every business dealing in recent history with a socialist minded person I have not gotten paid," Shupe said. "Every time I deal with these people I get 'Berned' with an 'e' not a 'u'."

Shupe, who runs Shupee Max Towing in Travelers Rest, said he is a conservative Christian who supports Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

delan - 5/5/2016 10:42:36 PM

+6 Boost

He *does* reserve the right to deny her service as a private business owner. However if I were in her position, I would thank him kindly and send him on his way. I wouldn't want some closed minded, insensitive, intolerant simpleton towing my car either.

nguyenvuminh - 5/5/2016 11:02:50 PM

+3 Boost

Well put delan. Having said that, I'm not sure whether I would be as even-keeled if it was dark, that woman was my wife and the road was desolate and she was harmed/raped as she was stranded and unattended.

MDarringer - 5/5/2016 11:02:58 PM

+1 Boost

Ridiculous move. His tow truck company will be in a world of hurt because of this idiot's actions.

TomM - 5/6/2016 7:57:54 AM

+5 Boost

In MY state (NJ) and many of the surrounding states (Ny and PA) Interstate and Parkway tows are CONTRACT tows. A tow service must bid on a license to tow from the highway - and at least in those cases - they cannot discriminate in such a manner. And no license means you cannot respond to the tows - nor make money on them.

In my state - since this was the owner of the company - he would lose his license without question. And deserve to lose it as well. Tow service on a major highway is considered an EMERGENCY response.

And of course - as well all know IT IS CHRISTIAN to deny help to someone in need.

HenryN - 5/6/2016 4:14:20 PM

+2 Boost

@ TomM: you were right all along until the last paragraph. TheSteve's comment applies here too: "Better to remain silent and be thought an idiot, than to speak and remove all doubt".

Agent00R - 5/7/2016 7:04:54 AM

+1 Boost

@TomM

Fellow Jersey-ite? 201 represent! ;)

TheSteve - 5/5/2016 11:21:08 PM

+5 Boost

Better to remain silent and be thought an idiot, than to speak and remove all doubt.

Put up a sign on your business that you're a firm Democrat or a firm republican, and you're sure to alienate some prospective customers. I'm in favor of keeping business and politics separate.

iamdabest1 - 5/5/2016 11:37:09 PM

-1 Boost

i get it, he doesnt want to work with DummycRATS, but why hurt business. i hope this foolish woman takes down that silly bernie sticker.

PUGPROUD - 5/6/2016 7:49:02 AM

+1 Boost

Putting aside his political leanings, I don't blame him I blame his parents for not teaching him better. Its one thing to favor one political party over another but a totally different thing to deny a person in need services you have been licensed by your state to provide. I'm no Sanders fan and far from it but if he worked for me the next two words he would hear are "You're fired."

Agent00R - 5/7/2016 7:05:35 AM

+1 Boost

Right there with you, @Pug.

rockreid - 5/6/2016 10:58:40 AM

+6 Boost

Sigh, yet ANOTHER "Conservative Christian" who doesn't seem to know really anything about what the character of Jesus actually said and did according to The Bible. In the Bible, Jesus tells a parable of "The Good Samaratin" who helps another person who culturally and politically was deemed "unfit" or "dirty." I think what these types of "Conservative Christians" really want is to re-write The Bible so it says what they THINK it should say. If this tow trucker is contracted with AAA I'm sure they will want to have a little talk with him.

trboaccord - 5/6/2016 1:53:53 PM

-3 Boost

Standing up for what you believe is your right he has the right to refuse her business its not being closed minded its standing up for what you believe is right...

HoustonMidtown - 5/9/2016 7:51:03 AM

+1 Boost

If he really follows the bible that closely, he won't have much business - he doesn't of course, which makes him a total hypocrite like most bible thumpers - they only pick and chose the things they want to...

pmrmd - 5/6/2016 11:16:37 PM

0 Boost

Its awesome. The political left has no problem boycotting and intimidating to get their way and has no problem absolutely ruining the lives of people who don't follow their own mindset. Maybe the little lefty can take it as a learning experience that they should respect others more lest they need the help from those same people.

HoustonMidtown - 5/9/2016 7:52:51 AM

+1 Boost

Take off your blinders pmrmd - exact same things can be said about the right...

MDarringer - 5/9/2016 8:32:43 AM

+1 Boost

@HoustonMidtown Take off your blinders. Left domestic terrorists--oops I mean protesters--go to Trump rallies specifically to cause violence. Yet there are no Trump supporters causing violence at Sanders/Clinton rallies. The Sanders people are the problem causers for Clinton rallies.

Agent00R - 5/7/2016 7:06:55 AM

+1 Boost

I see it this way, boys and girls. It's great he has the right to walk away from towing someone he doesn't want to; however, it is not the right thing to do.

Reality is that he's in the business of helping people in need. That should not be affected by political leanings.

40flash - 5/9/2016 10:07:14 AM

+1 Boost

All of you who think of yourselves as "tolerant" may want to re-think your position. No one tolerates people that they agree with. We don't tolerate them, we agree with them. We only have to tolerate those we disagree with. All of you who have picked a side and are throwing stones at those on the other side are displaying the opposite of the virtue you think you own.