Could "Joe the Plumber" Turn This Election?

Meet Joe the Plumber


Last night after the debate, I put up a humorous post on Joe the Plumber (Joe Wurzelbacher), who became the central point in said debate. We're not laughing now, and the Obama campaign and their allies on the left are not laughing either.

In the wake of last night's interview, when "Joe the Plumber" was mentioned by both candidates over 30 times, the press has descended on Holland, Ohio to interview the 34 year-old plumber.

And they are not liking what they are hearing.

It seems that Mr Wurzelbacher is letting them know in no uncertain terms that he doesn't like Obama's tax plan. He is also sounding off on taxes in general, the War in Iraq (he favors it), his weariness with people apologizing for America's actions, border security (he wants the borders closed) and on and on. In short, Mr Wurzelbacher is a guy I'd like to have a few beers with-and I'd gladly pick up the tab.

Diane Sawyer of Good Morning America has interviewed him already today, and Joe wouldn't let her put words in his mouth like when she tried to imply that he didn't want to pay taxes at all.

Today, we have this from "Just Plain Joe Biden from Scranton, PENNSYLVANIA (with all its electoral votes):

"We're worried about Joe the guy who owns the gas station, the barber, the grocer," Biden told Diane Sawyer. "Ninety-eight percent of the small business people in America make less than $250,000 a year, and they're going to get a real break under our plan. Joe the plumber, whose making over $250,000, is not going to get any more additional tax cuts with us."

Response from Wurzelbacher: "I don't make any $250,000 a year-not even close."

And the lead head on the Daily Kos now is:

"So Joe (whose name is Sam) the Plumber (who isn't a plumber) was used by McCain to attack Obama's tax proposal, though Joe/Sam actually pays less tax under Obama (if he actually got around to paying his taxes.) Brought to you by the same people who think character attacks are more important than issues."

Then, predictably, I turned on Keith Olbermann, and guess what he was talking about.

"Joe the Plumber"-and not in kind terms.

Says Keith: (I am paraphrasing)

"His real name is Sam."

"He doesn't want to pay any taxes whatsoever."

"Lucas County has a lien on him."

"There is, in an Ohio telephone directory, a listing for a Robert Wurzelbacher (no relation), who is........a stepson of .......Charles Keating. (Dragnet theme music, please).

Did Keith (or one of his staffers) actually search the Ohio telephone directories to dig up this tidbit? I haven't seen such great investigative journalism since watching the movie, "Pelican Brief".

Even the old Gray Lady, the New York Times, has done a hit piece on Joe.

"He doesn't have a plumber's license. There are two liens placed on him." He compared Obama's "tap dancing" (evading his questions) to Sammy Davis Jr. (obviously a racist).

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/us/politics/17joe.html

And this from the AP:

"HOLLAND, Ohio – Joe the Plumber's story sprang a few leaks Thursday. Turns out that the man who was held up by John McCain as the typical, hard-working American taxpayer isn't really a licensed plumber. And court documents show he owes nearly $1,200 in back taxes."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081017/ap_on_re_us/joe_the_plumber

What is that I hear about the Right-Wing Republican Attack Machine?

Notwithstanding the above attacks, guess what? Today, everybody seems to be talking about taxes. That is a good thing because Obama's tax plan is all smoke and mirrors. Here we have a big government liberal (who McCain mistakenly called "Senator Government" last night)who wants to spend a gazillion bucks on a bunch of liberal programs, re-distribute wealth, and he says he will cut taxes for 95% of the American people!!??!

Look for the following to happen:

1 The mainstream press interviewers will get out of Holland, Ohio as fast as their feet can take them. No more interviews.

2 The left and the press (like Olbermann) will try to dig up dirt on Joe (which means the investigative reporters and Obama operatives will hang around).

3 McCain and his campaign will use him big-time, which, if Joe is willing, they should.

4 Maybe, just maybe, we will have a story-book ending from some b-movie, in which Joe the Plumber becomes the man who turned an election.

Last night in my posting about the debate, I expressed disappointment that no one brought up illegal immigration, and I asked jokingly; "I wonder what Joe the Plumber would have said." Today, I got my answer.

Here's to you, Joe-and watch your back.