He got the job either via his daddy (who worked for the same company) or Gov. Palin pulling strings for him. It was an apprenticeship for which a high school diploma or GED is required, per federal regulations because it’s subsidized with federal tax dollars. Somebody who DID have the required qualifications but lacked Levi’s connections, got bumped out of consideration for this job to make room for unqualified Levi so he could continue to be used as a campaign prop. And thanks to the “rabid Palin haters” who drew media attention to Levi’s ineligibility for the job, somebody who actually deserved it got it when Levi was “hounded out”.
Not trying to be unsympathetic to others who may have been more deserving, but I don't recall hearing stories of people who felt denied because Johnston was offered this apprenticeship. I admit that doesn't mean they weren't out there, but I can't imagine that there is a lot of competition for the harsh working conditions of the area. It seems to me that it would be more of following a family tradition, as with fishermen, steel workers in the northeast, or textile workers in the southeast, that is, factory families -- like father, like son.
So back to my point -- that Johnston was used as a pawn to attack Palin, probably by the same people who were inundating her with ethics complaints. So now, it's just a different bunch of enablers still using Johnston to attack Palin.
Requiem for an Alaska oil-worker? Is Johnston destined to be handed off from one user to another for the rest of his life?
-PJ