Leave a Comment

Better Watch Your Back Joe...
Politics Daily — ... The Toledo Blade noted online this morning, as this became a media obsession: "Linda Howe, executive director of the Lucas County Board of Elections, said a Samuel Joseph Worzelbacher, whose address and age match Joe the Plumber's, registered in Lucas County on Sept. 10, 1992. He voted in his first primary on March 4, 2008, registering as a Republican. ...

Free Joe the Plumber
Jules Crittenden — ... it. Let Joe go … he’s out there, in the hearts and minds of Americans, working for you already.  And Joe. Don’t talk to any more reporters. Just pretend like you’re a Norman Rockwell painting. Strong, silent, earnest type. That “Sammy Davis Jr.” remark may just be the kind of innocent thing an ordinary American might say, but before you know it, they’ll be making “Archie Bunker” remarks about you. And that’s the ones who are being nice. But maybe Joe the Plumber’s gonna be all right. Toledo Blade :… after the debate, Mr. Wurzelbacher expressed some embarrassment that he was ...

No vetting for Joe
Ben Smith's Blog — Matt McDonald told me yesterday that they hadn't created Joe in a test tube and weren't planning to media train him, and while he's navigated the media swarm pretty ably, the lack of polish -- and vetting -- also shows. To wit: His opposition to taxes appears to extend to not paying them. And his opposition to regulation appears to extend to licensing requirements. Still: Driving the day!  

"Joe the Plumber" Isn't Licensed
Shakesville — According to The Blade, the latest star of the campaign, Joe Wurzelbacher, aka "Joe the Plumber," isn't licensed or registered as a plumber. ...

Joe No Like Laws
Hoffmania! — ... Joe no license. Joe no like pay taxes. WAIT. Joe NO PLUMBER! ARRRGGHH! Joe's another McCain fairy tale. The Toledo Blade: "Joe the Plumber" isn’t a plumber — at least not a licensed one, or a registered one. A check of state and local licensing agencies in Ohio and Michigan shows no plumbing licenses under Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher’s name, or even misspellings of his name. Mr. Wurzelbacher told reporters Thursday morning that he worked for Newell Plumbing & Heating Co., a small local ...

McCain Planning to Spend Time with ‘Joe the Plumber’
Political Punch — ... to Spend Time with ‘Joe the Plumber’ October 16, 2008 3:17 PM “I'm probably going to call him this morning," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., told Fox News Channel's Carl Cameron. "I thought he would probably be up late. I heard that his -- that his phone lines were pretty well were flooded. But I think we're going to be spending some time together.” Interestingly, "Joe the Plumber" is not named Joe (his full name is Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher) and according to the Toledo Blade he's not a licensed plumber . The Blade also reports: "Linda Howe, executive director of the Lucas County ...

The Flyover View: Average Joe The Plumber?
Hotline On Call Part Deux — The local press in OH is in high gear the day after John McCain used Toledo resident Joe "The Plumber" Wurzelbacher as the cornerstone of his message in the debate last night. And after a night's worth of vetting, the plumber McCain hoped to showcase as an average Joe who would be hurt by Barack Obama's tax proposals turns out to be something of a mystery man. From the Toledo Blade: [Wurzelbacher] isn’t a plumber — at least not a licensed one, or a registered one. ...

"Joe the Plumber" isn't licensed
The Reaction — ... According to The Blade, the latest star of the campaign, Joe Wurzelbacher, aka "Joe the Plumber," isn't licensed or registered as a plumber. ...

Joe the Plumber safe from GOP lawsuit
Corrente — ... “Linda Howe, executive director of the Lucas County Board of Elections, said a Samuel Joseph Worzelbacher, whose address and age match Joe the Plumber’s, registered in Lucas County on Sept. 10, 1992. He voted in his first primary on March 4, 2008, registering as a Republican.” ...

Kill The Messenger: The Attacks Begin On “Average Joe” - With New Videos
Pat Dollard | Young Americans — ... He noted that there were TV satellite trucks parked outside his house. He’s in high demand for interviews. That explains this recording on a phone number that comes up for him on some searches: “Joe Wurzelbacher does not live here. Don’t call for Joe Wurzelbacher anymore.” ‘Joe the plumber’ isn’t licensed Local man focus of presidential debate By LARRY VELLEQUETTE and TOM TROY - (Toledo Blade) “Joe the Plumber” isn’t a plumber — at least not a licensed one, or a ...

Scary Oppo Research Targets Joe the Plumber
Tennessee Guerilla Women — Speak your political views at your own peril. That seems to be the moral of the Joe the Plumber story. It appears that John McCain did Joe Wurzelbacher of Toledo, Ohio no favors by making him the star of the final presidential debate. The opposition research on Joe the Plumber is coming in fast and furious. Reportedly, Joe Wurzelbacher runs a plumbing business, but he is not a licensed plumber. Joe the Plumber objects to the Democratic progressive tax policy, but he has a lien on his house for failing to pay back taxes under the Republican regressive tax policy. (That's the regressive Republican tax policy that gives tax breaks to ...

I'm Not A Plumber, But I Play One On TV
Hotline On Call Part Deux — ... And that's not the only record that's missing from Wurzelbacher's file. He doesn't have a plumbing license required by the city of Toledo to practice, according to a staffer with the Toledo Division of Building Inspection. Wurzelbacher, who now works for Newell Plumbing & Heating Co., said the owner, Al Newell, has a plumbing license and that ...

Spreading The Hate
Blue Crab Boulevard — ... The media and the left (redundant) have busily spent the day personally destroying “Joe the Plumber”. Unions have bashed and lashed him, his unpaid tax lien has been aired out and they are busy doing just about everything else they can to discredit him. Aren’t you glad you didn’t ask the Messiah a question? Why the brutal assault on a minor figure? Simple: Obama made a mistake. ...

Fact-Checking the Angry Progressive Mob
The Sundries Shack — For those bloggers on the left who have decided to root through his life and wave every bloody chunk of his life over their heads like deranged savages, here are a couple facts. Fact One: Plumber Joe did not seek out Barack Obama. He was outside playing football with his son in his own yard when Barack Obama decided to do a little house-to-house canvassing. Barack went to him. He did not go to Barack. Fact Two: Plumber Joe did not force Barack Obama to say that he wanted to “spread the wealth”. Obama said that all by himself in an answer to ...

Joe the Plumber & His 15-Minutes of Fame
Patterico's Pontifications — [Guest post by DRJ] Some people are doing everything they can to discredit Joe the Plumber: Democratic Underground is convinced Joe is a Republican plant. The Toledo Blade says Joe isn’t a licensed or registered plumber and he does have a tax lien on his house. Andrew Sullivan #1 complains because Joe uses his middle name. Andrew Sullivan #2 issues a correction [emphasis supplied]: “Correction “Joe” the “Plumber”, pace HuffPuff, does not ...

SET UP: TEN YEAR REPUBLICAN SCHEME PUTS COVERT "GOPERATIVE" JOE THE PLUMBER IN EXACT HOUSE WHOSE DOOR BARACK OBAMA WAS DESTINED TO KNOCK UPON
Ace of Spades HQ — SET UP: TEN YEAR REPUBLICAN SCHEME PUTS COVERT "GOPERATIVE" JOE THE PLUMBER IN EXACT HOUSE WHOSE DOOR BARACK OBAMA WAS DESTINED TO KNOCK UPON Karl Rove, You Magnificent Bastard! ...Mr. Wurzelbacher was playing football in his front yard with his son, Joey, on Sunday afternoon when Mr. Obama made an unscheduled stop to go door to door greeting voters and asking for their support. I got news for you: Whatever door Obama knocked on, Joe "The Plumber" Wurzelbacher (aka Agent X-88 Delta) would answer. Agent X-88 (and his "son," the midget French acrobat/psychic assassin "Joey") lived in all the houses in the neighborhood, each connected to the rest by a series of ...

Links for 2008-10-16 [del.icio.us]
FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog — ... race. Joe the Plumber: No new taxes -- and no old ones, either - Politico.com Joe the Plumber really is no fan of paying taxes. According to records from the Lucas County (OH) Court of Common Pleas found by my colleague Avi Zenilman, Samuel J. Wurzelbacher has a lien placed against him to the tune of $1,182.92. The lien is dated from January of '07. ++++++++ But, Joe the plumber is not running for office. And, a tax lien can be paid off. toledoblade.com -- 'Joe the plumber' isn’t licensed Mr. Wurzelbacher said he objects to ...

links for 2008-10-17
FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog — ... (tags: republicans racism barack_obama) toledoblade.com — 'Joe the plumber' isn’t licensed Mr. Wurzelbacher said he objects to Mr. Obama’s plans to raise income taxes on incomes above $250,000. He said he ...

Joe The Plummer Story Exposes Gross Media Double Standard
Nice Deb — ... And that’s not the only record that’s missing from Wurzelbacher’s file. He doesn’t have a plumbing license required by the city of Toledo to practice, according to a staffer with the Toledo Division of Building Inspection. Wurzelbacher, who now works for Newell Plumbing & Heating Co., said the owner, Al Newell, has a plumbing license and that ...

Graeme Frost Antagonist Michelle Malkin Complains That The Media Is ‘Going Full Force’ After Joe The Plumber
Think Progress — Yesterday, after Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) had made Ohio plumber Sam Joe Wurzelbacher a central figure in the political debate, the media dug into who “Joe the Plumber” is. The media scrutiny revealed, amongst other things, that Wurzelbacher owes back taxes, isn’t actually licensed as a plumber and “makes less than $250,000 a year, which means he would receive a tax cut if Obama were elected president.” The right wing is now claiming that reporters are on a “mission to tear down Joe the ...

McCain Accuses Obama Of "Smearing" Joe The Plumber
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com — Later this afternoon in Miami, Sen. John McCain will attempt to tighten his embrace of Joe the Plumber by accusing Barack Obama of "smearing" the media's newest populist fixation. In remarks as prepared for delivery, McCain is set to say: "You may have noticed -- there was a lot of talk about Senator Obama's tax increases and Joe the Plumber. Last weekend, Senator Obama showed up in Joe's driveway to ask for his vote, and Joe asked Senator Obama a tough question. I'm glad he did; I think Senator Obama could use a few more tough questions. "The response from Senator Obama and his campaign yesterday was to attack Joe. People are ...

McCain Accuses Obama Of "Smearing" Joe The Plumber
The Huffington Post | Full News Feed — Later this afternoon in Miami, Sen. John McCain will attempt to tighten his embrace of Joe the Plumber by accusing Barack Obama of "smearing" the media's newest populist fixation. In remarks as prepared for delivery, McCain is set to say: "You may have noticed -- there was a lot of talk about Senator Obama's tax increases and Joe the Plumber. Last weekend, Senator Obama showed up in Joe's driveway to ask for his vote, and Joe asked Senator Obama a tough question. I'm glad he did; I think Senator Obama could use a few more tough questions. "The response from Senator Obama and his campaign yesterday was to attack Joe. People are ...

Meet Joe the REAL Plumber
Firedoglake — ... Sen. John McCain, meet Joe the plumber. Unlike Samuel Wurzelbacher, Joe's given name is…Joe. And, unlike Wurzelbacher, he's a licensed plumber. Joe Moenck, a plumber in Zumbrota, Minn., is a member of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters (UA) Local 6—which, like all building and construction trades unions, has high professional standards for its members—such as making sure they hold a license to practice their craft. Moenck was dismayed to see McCain repeatedly trot out "Joe the Plumber" during this week's presidential debate ...

so set ‘em up, Joe
Firedoglake — ...  and about that onerous tax burden.* It's sort of an abstract concern for Joe Mr. Wurzelbacher said he objects to Mr. Obama’s plans to raise income taxes on incomes above $250,000. He said he makes no where near that much money but he would ...

More “Facts” for a Press With an Election to Win
damnum absque injuria — ... Or the way he says he backs the middle class and then goes and attacks Joe the Plumber after Sen. Obama’s asked a tough question. What’s that all about?” In fact, Obama did not attack Joe the Plumber; rather he criticized McCain for suggesting that the Ohio plumber who wants to purchase the plumbing business where he works is in the same economic shape as most working class voters. It sure is comforting to know that “in fact” Obama and his followers never attacked Joe the Plumber . The Ass. Press said so, and even dropped in an f-bomb ...

Educators to McCain: Cut It Out, Now.
Blah3 Feed — ... Communication, Temple University (215) 204-1880 or hsimons@temple.edu Michael S. Stohl, Chair, Department of Communication, University of California, Santa Barbara (805) 893-7935 or mstohl@comm.ucsb.edu Endnotes 1 See: This article in the Washington Post The NewYork Times article can be accessed here. 2 See: Fatcheck.org ; Google News and Dallas morning News. 3 Unlicensed: Toledo Blade Taxes would decrease: Factcheck.org Back Taxes owed: ...

‘Joe the Plumber’ looks to cash in on his 15 minutes of fame.
Think Progress — Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, aka “Joe the Plumber,” has signed a deal to write a new book entitled “Joe the Plumber: Fighting for the American Dream.” To capitalize on his recent fame, Wurzelbacher is planning to release it on Dec. 1 – less than two weeks from now. The New York Times reports that the book “will address Mr. Wurzelbacher’s ideas about American values.” Wurzelbacher, who had failed to pay his taxes and wasn’t licensed as a plumber, revealed during the campaign that he was once on welfare but is opposed to welfare programs. He also said, ...

To Save the Republic, Tax the Rich
Commondreams.org Views — ... of American society doubled, from 11 percent to 22 percent.” Joe the Plumbers Beyond the predictable defenders of privilege, however, many average Americans still support Reagan-esque tax cuts even when those policies have amounted to “class warfare” against the middle- and working-classes as well as future generations who are getting stuck with the bills. This is where “Joe the Plumber,” a mid-30-ish Ohio man named Joe Wurzelbacher, comes in. Though Wurzelbacher wasn’t even a licensed plumber last year, he became Sen. John McCain’s symbol of an American everyman, someone ...