videoA local tow truck driver said he refused to tow a womans 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 couldt 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.
Shupe said he has drawn a line in the sand not to do business with Bernie Sanders supporters.
Sanders is running for president in 2016 on the Democratic ticket.
I respect their beliefs, and I hope they respect my views, Shupe said Wednesday.
The womans mother Kelle McWade posted an angry message on Facebook after the incident, calling Shupe a bigot.
"Trump's motto is 'Make America Great Again'," McWade said. "And this kind of divisive behavior is not going to make America great again."
Below is Kelle McWades public post:
Heads up, friends.... Cass had a wreck in Asheville yesterday. She is fine, but the car was not driveable. We called our mechanic who was tied up in Easley at the time, so he sent ShupeeMax Towing to get her. Kenneth Shupee drove from Travelers Rest to Asheville, hooked up her car, and when he went around to the back, he came back and told her that he wouldn't tow her because she had a Bernie sticker on the back of the car. HE LEFT HER ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE IN NC, and DROVE AWAY. Spread this bigot's story far & wide. Btw, I'm guessing he's a Trump supporter. The only difference is that the Don would have taken the money, because he at least realizes that liberals' money spends just the same as anyone else's. Dumb (expletive) cost himself money driving all the way to Asheville & back for nothing. (Expletive).
Greenville Attorney Steve Sumner weighed in on the situation saying,"We may not like it and we may not agree with it but I don't believe any laws were broken."
Sumner said unlike race, sexuality, and religion, political affiliation is not a protected class.
"As long as there is no contract between the driver and the tow truck company then there is no legal obligation for the tow truck company to pick her up," Sumner said.
Shupees Used Cars LLC is in no way connected to Shupee Max Towing, and has nothing to do with the incident.