From The Road
October 19, 2008 5:05 PM

Say It Ain't So – No Joe in Toledo

By
John Bentley
Topics
John McCain
(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley:


(TOLEDO, OHIO) – He's become the rallying cry for John McCain, mentioned numerous times in every speech he's made for the past week – Joe the Plumber's questioning of Barack Obama.

"He's the only person to get a real answer out of Sen. Obama about his plans for our country," McCain said of Joe Wurzelbacher, referring to his questioning of Obama about his tax plan. "We learned more about Sen. Obama's plans from Joe's question than we've learned in months of speeches by Sen. Obama."

Obama told Wurzelbacher that he would cut taxes for the vast majority of Americans, but that since the company he wanted to buy makes more than $250,000 a year, his taxes would go up. Even though McCain uses the anecdote far more often than Obama does – thereby keeping Joe in the public eye – McCain apologized today for all the publicity he's received.

"Joe didn't ask for Sen. Obama to come to his house, and he didn't ask to be famous. He certainly didn't ask for the political attacks on him from the Obama campaign," McCain said. "Joe, if you're watching, I'm sorry you're being put through this. No American should be put through this for asking questions of a presidential candidate."

So where was Joe today? The man who lives just outside of Toledo was taking in the sights of New York City, according to the McCain campaign.

Add a Comment See all 23 Comments
by newslink October 20, 2008 7:39 PM EDT
I am questioning Joe the Plummer. Why is this man''s comments are important?Is MCcain going to help him with his bills? Has he registered to vote? Lets hear about his background.
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by mlr_08 October 20, 2008 11:38 AM EDT
Another example of slime-ball tactics in the McCain-Palin campaign. The hilarious thing about the whole scenario is the guy gives a better interview than Palin and comes across as more knowledgeable than she is. Otherwise, just another sleazeball sham.

"Joe" has admitted that under all circumstances, he''d probably be taxed less under Obama. He simply prefers McCain. Here are some more interesting facts about "Joe":

Take the time to Google "Wurzelbacher Brothers" of Cincinnati. Owned by Richard, brother of Robert. And guess what? It''s a PLUMBING company! Go figure.

Joe the Plumber (Joe Wurzelbacher) of Cincinnati, Ohio may be related to one Robert Wurzelbacher -- ALSO of Cincinnati, Ohio -- who happens to be Charles Keating''s son-in-law.

Robert Wurzelbacher was implicated in the Keating 5 scandal, and sentenced to 40 months in prison in 1993.

Wurzelbacher is also a huge Republican donor.
Reply to this comment
by obgyn33 October 20, 2008 5:19 AM EDT
John McCain put Joe aka Samuel in the spotlight, at the debate not Senator Obama.
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by obgyn33 October 20, 2008 5:18 AM EDT
Senator Obama went to Ohio but he did not go to Joe''s house.
Reply to this comment
by obgyn33 October 20, 2008 5:16 AM EDT
First of all Joe sought out Senator Obama.
Senator Obama did not go to Joe''s house.

McCain was the first to bring up Joe in the debate, so any intrusion into his life was as a result of that, not Senator Obama. Joe aka Samuel should stop being a phony whinner acting like you can''t ask a leader a question.

Joe would bnefit greatly with Senator Obama''s plan not with McCain. He would also get health insurance under Senator Obama.

People do not like Joe aka Sanuel, because he is a liar.

When people hear your story and allow their hearts to go out to you, then find out the story was basically a lie, and you are a republican talk radio junkie who set out to ask a question of the opposition to try and make them look bad, people are not going to like you.
It''s people like Joe who do not pay their taxes that help contribute to the financial mess this ciuntry is in.

Joe pretends he can''t go to work because the TV news trucks are outside his house but he had no problem accepting some first class airline tickets to New York, laying up in a free hotel suite, shopping and accepting freebies, while in hopes of getting his own TV show,and interviewing at FoxNews. I just hope he pays his taxes with the money he''s been getting.

Nothing is keeping Joe from going to work except his desire for freebies and attention.

There are so many honest, hard working Americans who deserve the attention Joe aka Samuel is receiving.
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by vwkgcv71 October 20, 2008 3:24 AM EDT
There party is completely losing it. This election can''t come soon enough. Now we have Huckelbee serenading Joe The Liar in the FOX (faux) news studio.
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by mikec4prez October 20, 2008 3:09 AM EDT
Hey, has anyone heard about the new president nominee! Michael Douglas Carlin has set his mind to be kind and create world peace. With his book "A Prescription For Peace", he has great ideas of saving the environment from another great depression. If you want more information about how Michael Douglas Carlin will save our world, go to www.mikecarlinforpresident.info.

Reply to this comment
by mikec4prez October 20, 2008 3:09 AM EDT
Hey, has anyone heard about the new president nominee! Michael Douglas Carlin has set his mind to be kind and create world peace. With his book "A Prescription For Peace", he has great ideas of saving the environment from another great depression. If you want more information about how Michael Douglas Carlin will save our world, go to www.mikecarlinforpresident.info.

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by kate1149 October 20, 2008 3:08 AM EDT
Colin Powell said it all, Palin is a radical conservative and not qualified to be VP, the Republican Party is running on a very narrow ultra-conservative platform that is turning moderate Republicans away, McCain is running an unfair smear attack against Obama and using unethical tactics and accusations, and Powell is fearful of the type of neo-conservative judges that McCain might appoint to the Supreme Court further eroding our individual rights in America. Any one of these things should be enough to persuade Independents and moderate Republicans not to vote for McCain, but together, they present an overwhelming case for why John McCain and Sarah Palin are not fit to lead a deverse nation that is made up of all races and religions not just white and evangelical.
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by sjbj2322 October 20, 2008 3:01 AM EDT
I think its funny that John McCain is apologizing to Joe for this situation and blaming it all on Obama''s campaign. Are we seeing a pattern here. Let''s see....he picks Palin before truly vetting her and now has Republicans abandoning ship first and foremost because of his VP selection. Then he faces the third and most important debate of his political career and he doesn''t vet Joe before blasting his name across the airwaves countless times but its the Democrat''s fault. Right John! The McCain/Palin campaign has become the most pathetic example of politics as usual.
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