Tow Truck Driver Refused To Help Bernie Supporter

Tow truck driver Ken Shupe of Shupee Max Towing refused to help a stranded motorist Monday, May 2 because she had a Bernie Sanders bumper sticker on her car.

Cassy McWade was in a car accident on Interstate 26 on Monday. According to the Huffington Post, Shupe is a 51-year-old tow truck driver who describes himself as a “conservative Christian.” McWade is a 25-year-old woman who has disabilities, young enough to be Shupe’s daughter. Yet when he saw the Bernie Sanders bumper sticker on her car, he decided that he could not in good conscience assist her.

“I’m a conservative Christian. I’ve just drawn a line in the sand. I’m not going to associate or conduct business with them.”

McWade was headed home to Travelers Rest, South Carolina, on I-26 when her car was hit by a tractor-trailer. Her car wouldn’t start, and a first responder helped her move the vehicle to the side of the road. She attempted to call her regular mechanic, but he was unable to come, so Ken Shupe of Shupee Max Towing was contacted instead. Shupe started to hook up Ms. McWade’s car to his tow truck, saw her Bernie Sanders sticker, and then unhooked the car, telling her he wouldn’t be able to tow her.

McWade has impaired mobility, a result of Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome. She had a handicapped placard hanging from her rear-view mirror, which Shupe didn’t notice when he saw her Bernie Sanders sticker. He claims she was unaware that she was disabled, but he would not have towed her car even if he’d known, although he would have stayed with her for safety’s sake until another tow truck could arrive. Shupe said McWade was “sitting there in a very safe area… with her air conditioning on and her car locked, she was perfectly fine.” He also pointed out “there’s a huge difference between being disabled and drawing disability.”

https://www.facebook.com/HuffingtonPost/posts/10153887027781130

McWade had to wait another two hours before a tow truck driver showed up who cared more about helping a customer and earning a fee than her political affiliations.

Social media commentators have pointed out how very unChristian Shupe’s actions were, some quoting the Bible, and some swearing at him in language that would make a sailor blush. Several have reminded him of the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Shupee Max Towing is either the priest or Levite in Luke 10:25-37. He sure isn't good Samaritan. @AAAnews drop this fellow if you use him.

— Oshma (@oshma) May 5, 2016

Well-known blogger Patrick McKinnion, of Bad Fiction – a look at bad movies and worse politics fame, quoted Matthew 25:40 to him.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1724186914462312&id=1724000857814251

McKinnion also pointed out on his Facebook page that Shupe’s actions may count as an ADA violation. Fox Carolina News quoted Asheville attorney Steve Sumner that Shupe’s actions were not illegal, as “unlike race, sexuality, and religion, political affiliation is not a protected class.”

“We may not like it and we may not agree with it but I don’t believe any laws were broken.”

In addition to the scorn and vitriol poured upon Shupe on Twitter and Facebook, Shupee’s Used Cars has been getting some misdirected heat. Although both businesses are in Travelers Rest, South Carolina, and the names are similar, Shupee’s Used Cars is no relation to Shupee Max Towing.

https://www.facebook.com/lacey.lindsey.73/posts/1606323999687028

Since Monday, Shupe’s story has varied slightly, depending on which news service is reporting the story. According to the Washington Times, the Almighty spoke to Shupe.

“Something came over me, I think the Lord came to me, and he just said get in the truck and leave. And when I got in my truck, you know, I was so proud, because I felt like I finally drew a line in the sand and stood up for what I believed.”

The Washington Times also reported that the tow truck driver had had payment problems from customers who supported Sanders in the past because of “their entitled attitudes.” Friendly Atheist confirms Mr. Shupe’s statement that he felt it was God’s will to leave a young woman stranded on the side of the highway.

Fox Carolina News claimed Shupe said when he “saw ‘a bunch of Bernie Sanders stuff’ he said he told the woman, ‘very politely,’ that he couldn’t tow her car because she was ‘obviously a socialist’ and advised her to ‘call the government’ for a tow.” That was not mentioned by the Huffington Post or other sources.

Was tow truck driver Ken Shupe exercising a businessman’s right to refuse service to unwanted clients, or was he being unChristian for refusing to help a damsel in distress?

[Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images]