After Debate, Glare Of Media Hits Joe

Washington Post: Revelations About "Joe The Plumber" Following Debate Reveal Downside Of Moment In Spotlight

(Washington Post)  This story was written by Robert Barnes.

"The real winner" of Wednesday night's debate, John McCain said yesterday at a campaign stop in Downingtown, Pa., "was Joe the Plumber."

That might depend on the definition of "winner."

Joe the Plumber, a.k.a. Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher of Holland, Ohio, is suddenly (sort of) a household name, featured in a McCain ad and sought after by networks news anchors and newspaper reporters. McCain would like to meet him in person this weekend, but Wurzelbacher's got a date on Mike Huckabee's Fox News show and might not have the time.

But the emergence of Joe has allowed the state of Ohio to locate the man it says owes nearly $1,200 in back taxes. His motives for confronting Sen. Barack Obama at a campaign stop in his neighborhood earlier this week are the subject of intense Internet speculation. The city of Toledo is preparing a letter to his employer seeking to determine whether he is violating city codes, and the plumbers union is on his tail.

"Joe the Plumber really isn't a plumber," said Thomas Joseph, business manager of Local 50 of the United Association of Plumbers, Steamfitters and Service Mechanics, whose national membership has endorsed Obama.

Wurzelbacher, 34, had already taken tentative steps onto the national stage after talking to Obama on Sunday as the Democrat toured his suburban neighborhood outside Toledo. Wurzelbacher told Obama that he wants to buy the plumbing company he works for, and that his potential income of more than $250,000 would make him eligible for increased taxes under Obama's proposals.

"Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn't it?" Wurzelbacher asked.

Obama's answer to that and a question about the flat tax -- that Obama thought it better to "spread the wealth around" -- captured the attention of conservative media and the McCain campaign.

"Joe wants to buy the business that he has been in for all of these years, worked 10, 12 hours a day," McCain told Obama at the start of Wednesday night's debate. "And he wanted to buy the business, but he looked at your tax plan and he saw that he was going to pay much higher taxes," deferring what McCain called "the American dream."

Joe the Plumber quickly became a metaphor for the middle class, and between them, McCain and Obama mentioned him more than two dozen times.

The result was an avalanche of attention: "CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric on the phone, "Good Morning America" awaiting an interview, reporters in the driveway of his modest home.

"I'm completely flabbergasted with this whole thing," he told reporters. He did not return a phone call from The Washington Post.

The morning also showed that the spotlight can be unwelcome. Reporters wondering who Wurzelbacher is quickly found that he owes the state of Ohio $1,182 in back taxes, leading sharp-tongued liberal commentators to say he was not so much concerned about rising taxes as paying taxes at all. (A spokeswoman for the state said it is possible Wurzelbacher did not know about the lien.)

Wurzelbacher also acknowledged to reporters that he did not have a plumber's license but said he did not need one to do residential work with the two-man Newell Heating and Plumbing Co., which does have a license.

David Golis, a manager in Toledo's office of building inspections, said that is incorrect. "We were just discussing that we will send a letter to the owner of Newell reminding him" of the city's requirement that all who do plumbing work be licensed or in apprentice or journeyman programs, Golis said.

Union manager Joseph said that Wurzelbacher applied for an apprentice program in 2003 but never completed the work.

And Wurzelbacher told reporters that the goal of buying the business was more aspirational than firm. He said his income is "not even close" to the levels at which Obama's proposed tax increases would kick in.

Even if Wurzelbacher's hypothetical were true, tax experts said it is unclear whether he would pay higher taxes under Obama's plan.

Wurzelbacher told Couric that it is Obama's approach to tax increases that are worrisome. "When's he going to decide that $100,000 is too much, you know?" the divorced father of a 13-year-old son said. "I mean, you're on a slippery slope here. You vote on somebody who decides that $250,000 and you're rich? And $100,000 and you're rich? I mean, where does it end?"

McCain senior adviser Matt McDonald said Thursday that the Republican nominee had mentioned Wurzelbacher's encounter with Obama in a previous speech, but the campaign had not said he would be the centerpiece of McCain's debate performance.

That Wurzelbacher is not a licensed plumber or that his situation is not relevant to Obama's tax proposal did not give him pause, McDonald said. "He's a guy who asked a question that needed to be asked," McDonald said. "He's not a campaign staffer; he's not a surrogate. He's not someone who was vetted, and this wasn't something orchestrated by the campaign."

Appearing on CBS's "Late Show With David Letterman" on Thursday night, McCain mentioned the attention Joe the Plumber was getting and said, "Joe, if you're watching, I'm sorry."

Earlier in the day in New Hampshire, Obama said McCain advocates tax plans that favor the rich.

"He's trying to suggest that a plumber is the guy he's fighting for," Obama said. "How many plumbers do you know that are making a quarter-million dollars a year?"

Wurzelbacher has made that he is conservative and no fan of Obama -- he told Couric that Obama's answer to his question was a "tap dance" that was "almost as good as Sammy Davis Jr." -- but declined to say who he will be voting for Nov. 4.

That is between him and the lever in the voting booth, he said.

[d_moran-2009]

Sam "Joe" Wurzelbacher sought to confront Barack Obama on national television. He portrayed himself as a hardworking taxpayer who would be harmed by the democratic candidate''s tax plans. He was further thrust into the spotlight when his encounter with Obama was embraced by John McCain during the final debate. What a fortunate happenstance that Joe''s troubles meshed with one of the McCain campaign themes.

Does Joe earn $250,000 a year? No. Not even close.
Is Joe planning on buying a business? Nah.
Is Joe a licensed plumber? Nope.
Does Joe pay his taxes? Apparently, the answer is no.
Do Joe and his family have longtime ties to the GOP? Yes.

Joe Wurzelbacher brought this scrutiny upon himself.

[d_moran-2009]

Sam "Joe" Wurzelbacher sought to confront Barack Obama on national television. He portrayed himself as a hardworking taxpayer who would be harmed by the democratic candidate''s tax plans. He was further thrust into the spotlight when his encounter with Obama was embraced by John McCain during the final debate. What a fortunate happenstance that Joe''s troubles meshed with one of the McCain campaign themes.

Does Joe earn $250,000 a year? No. Not even close.
Is Joe planning on buying a business? Nah.
Is Joe a licensed plumber? Nope.
Does Joe pay his taxes? Apparently, the answer is no.
Do Joe and his family have longtime ties to the GOP? Yes.

Joe Wurzelbacher brought this scrutiny upon himself.

[harbinger09]

Who says that a plumber can''''t grow his business to make the $250,000 threshold? There are plenty of people like Joe at this time, people that are behind in taxes, mortgage payments, utilities, car payments and many other bills. And those are the same people that Obama and Bidden are parading around making fun of? Is that is Presidential? The worst part is that Obama approached him, he went to his neighborhood, his house and was asked a question that showed to the rest of America a real view of his Socialist plan.

Posted by torresc1 at 11:44 AM : Oct 18, 2008


No one says a plumber can''t grow their business to 250K or beyond. But Joe is NOT a plumber. He is a scrub. A plumber wanna be. He has stolen a job from a legitimate union plumber, he failed to pay his taxes, he is not registered to vote, and he only makes (supposedly) around 40K a year. So from claiming he is a plumber to saying he planned to buy the business--this man is a fraud--we don''t make fun of real plumbers--but America does not like or respect phony people.

[harbinger09]

"Joe the Plumber" is lashing out at the media for analyzing his personal life since he suddenly became a focal point of the presidential race last week.

Joe Wurzelbacher, a plumber from Holland, Ohio, told Mike Huckabee on his Fox News talk show Saturday that he is upset by the attention and has been unable to work with reporters crowded on his front lawn.

"The media''s worried about whether I''ve paid my taxes, they''re worried about any number of silly things that have nothing to do with America," Wurzelbacher told the former Republican presidential hopeful on his show, "Huckabee."

Actually, Joe, failing to pay your taxes IS America''s business.

Being a scrub who steals jobs of legitimately trained union employees IS America''s business.

Failing to pay your hospital bills makes you a deadbeat and makes the rest of us have to offset your debt--so that IS America''s business too. Real Life 101 Joe--you get involved in politics and try to shill for either side--you will go under the microscope--and if there is any dirt there--it will be mixed with the sweat of your brow and become MUD all over your face. Are YOU learning yet?

[mitch5511]

Why did Joe the Plumber lie? He has only himself to blame now. The truth wins out in the end...always. BTW, plumbers do not make $250,000+ a year in individual income taxes. Unless it''s a large company employing several plumbers, the likelihood of breaking that ceiling is nil. The average Journeyman plumber salary is $42000 so this whole conversation is out of the realm of reality.

This is for the real Americans, this guy Joe represents most of us, the middle class, mainstreet and the respect that now Bidden and Obama are showing is a disgrace, now why did he not stop people from laughing at him at his rally when he pokes fun at Joe The Plumber. I''m sorry but this goes to show me the type of Presidential respect he has for the middle class. This man as most of Americans respect this country and are known to love it, this is the land opportunity and why should our dreams be made fun of? How dare he put this mans pursuit of Happiness down the toilet. Who says that a plumber can''t grow his business to make the $250,000 threshold? There are plenty of people like Joe at this time, people that are behind in taxes, mortgage payments, utilities, car payments and many other bills. And those are the same people that Obama and Bidden are parading around making fun of? Is that is Presidential? The worst part is that Obama approached him, he went to his neighborhood, his house and was asked a question that showed to the rest of America a real view of his Socialist plan.

[harbinger09]

To: Posted by medmom04

My Gawd you are an angry person - please stop associating yourself with Liberals. We don''''''''''''''''t want your kind...


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Posted by oleander8


Just who is the "we"? Stop speaking for anyone but yourself. Liberals NEED her kind--so that at least some of you will have a backbone and will stop kneeling in front of the Republican party ready to service their political d1cks from any ***. Sometimes anger is exactly what is needed to fight fire with fire. If you had more of those kind in Congress--maybe the war would have stopped and at least someone would have attempted to impeach Bush. There is nothing wrong with that poster--stop being a weak sister.

[harbinger09]

mcliar-if he were a "low life whatever" he wouldn''''t have outstanding medicaL bills, you elitist snob. He would be on medicaid and really be sucking on the government TEET.


Posted by Xlib at 02:44 PM : Oct 17, 2008


Get a clue. Except for large cities, most cities would NOT allow Joe to get on Medicaid. Medicaid is an adjunct to Welfare. It is often limited to only unmarried women with children under the age of 18. Only larger cities allow men to get on Welfare or to get Medicaid. Men with disabilities get Medicare.

[harbinger09]

This man asked a legitimate hypothetical question of a politician and the media is going to destroy him with their scrutiny. Even if he were a ''''plant'''' - he asked a good question and Obama gave a detailed explanation of what his tax will do. Leave ''''Joe'''' alone - he did nothing to deserve the notoriety.

Posted by oleander8 at 02:41 PM : Oct 17, 2008


Joe opened his big fat mouth when he had a lot to lose. He lied about being a plumber. he was working illegally in the city of Toledo. He was taking a job away from a person who bothered to finish the apprenticeship/journeyman plumber program.

he exposed himself and a look into his finances where we discover he owes money for back taxes and for not paying Medical bills. Like most Republicans and just like McCain--he shot off his mouth to try to make himself look stellar but did not think and weigh the consequences first. It never occurred to him that he would have a lot of scrutiny if his story even gained local traction--once it did--he is exposed to be a fraud. He got in Obama''s face to try to discredit Obama''s programs--instead he is the one who got discredited and McCain once more looks like an misinformed, did not bother to get informed FOOL.

[harbinger09]

mcliar-if he were a "low life whatever" he wouldn''''t have outstanding medicaL bills, you elitist snob. He would be on medicaid and really be sucking on the government TEET.


Posted by Xlib at 02:44 PM : Oct 17, 2008


A low life is anyone who does not pay their bills. Him not paying means all our premiums go up--most illegals do not have health insurance. Joe is in the same boat as they are. He is a drain on the rest of us--and he is a cheater. He has no business working without the right credentials. Somewhere in Toledo are a few apprentice or Journeymen plumbers who maybe cannot get a job--now they know at least one cheater that kept a job from them--Joe. The fact is, Joe is the legal equivalent of an illegal alien. Lying and cheating to take a job away from the person who actually earned a place for it--then trying to defraud or coast on the system by not paying his bills or taxes--if he was an illegal--the right would be singing a different tune--his sneaking to keep that plumber job is no different than illegals line jumping the immigration line--just as deceitful with no regard for anyone except himself. I hope Newells, is closed down or they fire Joe--let the GOP take care of Joe--he can join the millions of other GOP Joes just like him.