John McCain's Army Of Joes

National Review Online: Republican Candidate's "Regular Joe" Supporters Are Angry At The Media Treatment Of Joe The Plumber

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Byron York.

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Tito Munoz was ready to rock when John McCain showed here up at the Connaughton Community Plaza in Woodbridge, Virginia Saturday afternoon. Dressed in a yellow hard hat covered with McCain-Palin stickers, wearing an orange high-visibility vest, Munoz carried a hand-lettered sign that said CONSTRUCTION WORKER FOR McCAIN. He got a coveted spot in the bleachers directly behind McCain, where he could be seen in the camera shot along with the guy holding the sign that said PHIL THE BRICK LAYER and the woman with the ROSE THE TEACHER banner. He cheered a lot.

Everybody was playing on the Joe-the-Plumber theme. McCain spent a lot of time on it in his stump speech, using the now-famous Joe Wurzelbacher of Toledo, Ohio, as a stand-in for “small businessmen and women all over America [who] want to keep their earnings and not give it to the government.” McCain added that Obama’s response to Wurzelbacher - the assertion that it would be best to “spread the wealth around” - made Joe the Plumber “the only person to get a real answer out of Sen. Obama.”

The crowd laughed and cheered. But for them, Joe the Plumber is much more than a zinger in McCain’s stump speech. In recent days, the Joe the Plumber phenomenon has taken on a deeper meaning for McCain’s audiences, for two reasons. First, he is a symbol of their belief that Barack Obama is going to raise their taxes, regardless of what Obama says about hitting up only those taxpayers who make more than $250,000 a year. They know Wurzelbacher doesn’t make that much, and they know they don’t make that much. And they’re not suspicious because they believe that someday they will make $250,000, and thus face higher taxes. No, they just don’t believe Obama right now. If he’s elected, they say, he’ll eventually come looking for taxpayers who make well below a quarter-million dollars, and that will include them.

The second reason Joe the Plumber resonates with the crowds is what his experience says about the media. Everybody here seems acutely aware of the once-over Wurzelbacher received from the press after his chance encounter with Obama was reported, first on Fox News, and then mentioned by McCain at last week’s presidential debate. Wurzelbacher found himself splashed across newspapers and cable shows, many of which reported that he didn’t have a plumber’s license, that he wasn’t a member of the plumbers’ union, that he had a lien against him for $1,182 in state taxes, and that he failed to comprehend what many commentators apparently felt was the indisputable fact that Barack Obama would lower his taxes, not raise them. As the people here in Woodbridge saw it, Joe was a guy who asked Barack Obama an inconvenient question - and for his troubles suddenly found himself under investigation by the media.

In the audience Saturday, there were plenty of people who were mad about it. There was real anger at this rally, but it wasn’t, as some erroneous press reports from other McCain rallies have suggested, aimed at Obama. It was aimed at the press. And that’s where Tito Munoz came in.
After McCain left, as the crowd filed out, Munoz made his way to an area near some loudspeakers. He attracted a few reporters when he started talking loudly, in heavily-accented English, about media mistreatment of Wurzelbacher. (It was clear that Spanish was Munoz’s native language, and he later told me he was born in Colombia.) When I first made my way over to him, Munoz thought I was there to give him the third degree.

“Are you going to check my license, too?” he asked me. “Are you going to check my immigration status? I’m ready, I have everything here. Whatever you want, I have it. I have my green card, I have my passport - “

I was a little surprised. Did Munoz really bring his papers with him to a McCain rally? I asked.

“Yeah, I have my papers right here,” he said. “I’m an American citizen. Right here, right here.” With that, he produced a U.S. passport, turned it to the page with his picture on it, and thrust it about an inch from my nose. “Right here,” he said. “In your face.”

Munoz said he owned a small construction business. “I have a license, if you guys want to check,” he said.

Someone asked why Munoz had come to the rally. “I support McCain, but I’ve come to face you guys because I’m disgusted with you guys,” he said. “Why the hell are you going after Joe the Plumber? Joe the Plumber has an idea. He has a future. He wants to be something else. Why is that wrong? Everything is possible in America. I made it. Joe the Plumber could make it even better than me. . . . I was born in Colombia, but I was made in the U.S.A.”

The scene turned into a mini-fracas when David Corn, of Mother Jones, defended press coverage. Munoz was having none of it. Why, he asked, would the press whack Joe the Plumber when it didn’t want to report on Obama’s relationship with William Ayers, the former Weather Underground bomber? “How come that’s not in the news all the time?” Munoz said. “How come Joe the Plumber is every second? I’m talking about NBC, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, and CNN.”

A black woman with a strong Caribbean accent jumped in the fray. “Tell me,” she said to Corn, “why is it you can go and find out about Joe the Plumber’s tax lien and when he divorced his wife and you can’t tell me when Barack Obama met with William Ayers? Why? Why could you not tell us that? Joe the Plumber is me!”

“I am Joe the Plumber!” Munoz chimed in. “You’re attacking me.”

“Wait a second,” Corn said. “Do you pay your taxes?”

“Yes, I pay my taxes,” the woman said.

“Then you’re better than Joe the Plumber,” Corn said.

That set off a general free-for-all. “I’m going to tell you something,” Munoz yelled at Corn. “I’m better than Obama. Why? Because I’m not associated with terrorists!”

And so it went. I walked away for a few minutes to strike up a conversation with the woman who had jumped into the debate. Her name was Connie, and she said she had been born and raised in Antigua, in the West Indies. “I immigrated to the United States over 20 years ago,” she told me. “It’s my home. America has become my home. I came here freely of my own free will because I loved it, and I loved what it had to offer, and I don’t want to see it ruined.”

I asked her whether it was difficult, as a black person, to support McCain at a time when probably 90 to 95 percent of black voters support Obama. “I have always been a conservative,” she told me. “I’m mad. I was extremely upset to see the way the media went after Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber. . . . To see the drive-by media and the Obama campaign attack two ordinary Americans simply because one of them managed to get Barack Obama to tell the truth, it was shameful and disgraceful.”

Meanwhile, the great debate was continuing, with Tito the Construction Worker and David the Journalist trading points. Much of it wasn’t terribly informative, but there was one lovely moment when a shouting match turned into a lesson on the fundamental meaning of American constitutional rights - and the immigrant was the teacher.

“Let me talk,” Munoz said to Corn. “I know the Constitution, and I know my First Amendment - ”

“I’m not the state,” Corn said. “I can’t take that right away from you.”

“No, no,” Munoz shot back. “Even the state, the state cannot take that right away.”

“Right, right,” Corn quickly agreed.

“Nobody can take that away,” Munoz said.

And indeed they can’t.

[carlylaine]

ainttaken: It''s not about color IT''S ABOUT POLICY. Any person of truth will tell you that. I have had many people tell me that they are afraid of being called a racist...which is what you guys have planted that in our brains with your unrelenting jabs if someone doesn''t believe YOUR way. This is why, we as conservatives, must defeat the LIBERAL GIANT...

[carlylaine]

Ok, so now everyone knows. I don''t multitask well. I misspell much when I am at work. But you guys keep me pumped til I leave...so thanks heaps..and please forgive my misspellings.

[carlylaine]

smclimans got it EXACTLY RIGHT--the left and the media attacked Joe. That is really low and dirty politics to attack a private citizen. Why would OBAMA''s group do that?...to take attention off the major deep TAX question that Joe the Plumber uttered on camera in front of everyone ibn the world. If DEMs do that on the campaigne trail...imagine what they will do once the EXALTED HE gets in...

HEY! GUYS THIS IS ANOTHER ''WAG THE DOG'' FROM THE LEFT!!!!

...sorry little c-mo6 you are the idiot.

[element51]

ainttaken.....I hope you get this post. Last night I posted what I meant to be a joke about your johnson and I intended to just kid you a bit. But something came up and I had to leave the computer and never got back to clarify things. You and I are solidly on the same side so please don''t take offence at my joke. I do not make it a practice of attacking people who I totally agree with. Sometimes something is posted that lends itself to humor and I like to laugh. Sorry if you felt that I was insulting to you. I truly do apologize if I did.

[nojoy01]

it aint about taxes
its about color
and these overcompensators with the half inch weenees will feel even smaller if Obama gets elected.

posted by ainttaken at 11:33 PM : Oct 22, 2008

ROFLMAO Room temperature IQ heard from again

[c-mo6]

Here''''s the real story with "Joe the Plumber"

The liberal media is attacking an ordinary citizen because he had the audacity
to ask the liberals "messiah" tough questions that the liberal media will not ask.

The liberal media took offense that "The Chosen One" was embarrassed
by an ordinary citizen asking tough questions of "Him".

Rather than following up on these tough questions that were asked of "the messiah",
the media has decided to attack the ordinary citizen instead.

Pretty much sums it up




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Posted by smclimans at 08
If your''e an idiot

[janetlynn12]

This is McCain''s kind of hero.

Art Thomason - Oct. 16, 2008 06:20 PM
The Arizona Republic

"Joe the Plumber," who rose from anonymity to the national spotlight when Arizona Sen. John McCain made him a cause at Wednesday''s presidential debate, left a trail of tax liens and court records in connection with minor infractions in Ohio and Arizona, including Mesa.

His real name is Samuel Wurzelbacher, he lived in a west Mesa apartment and was summoned to appear in South Mesa Justice Court twice, the first time in November 2000 on a notice forcible detainer, a written demand to vacate an apartment he was renting.

The second case, dismissed in November 2001, involved an issue between Wurzelbacher and Montgomery Ward Credit Corp.

Court officials said files of both cases were destroyed because of their age and connection with minor issues.

In addition to Arizona, records show that Wurzelbacher faced liens and judgments in Holland and Toledo, Ohio in 2007.

[element51]

ainttaken.....As opposed to guys like you with those giant one inchers?

[closethippy1]

FROM THE ARTICLE ABOVE:
%u201CI immigrated to the United States over 20 years ago, it%u2019s my home. America has become my home. I came here freely of my own free will because I loved it, and I loved what it had to offer, and I don%u2019t want to see it ruined.%u201D
I asked her whether it was difficult, as a black person, to support McCain at a time when probably 90 to 95 percent of black voters support Obama. %u201CI have always been a conservative,%u201D she told me. %u201CI%u2019m mad. I was extremely upset to see the way the media went after Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber. . . ."

I''ve noticed how many of the people who immigrate to the US are simply a bunch of fascists who come to the US because no one cares for their politics back home.
The same thing happens with many born-again Geezus freaks who are laughed at in their home countries so they come the US.
I hope that when Obama wins they''ll understand the US is not the fascist dreamland they were hoping for.

[ipublius]

I am praying for the Joes of our country. Those ne''er-do-wells that don''t pay their taxes but worry about them being raised. I pray that the Lord would bless them and give them what they need and not what they want. They need an Obama administration that knows how to stimulate the economy by investing in the working people of this country. Instead of pandering to the leeches who don''t pay taxes and then complain about how high the taxes are. Perhaps if the Joe''s of this country were HONEST, the current tax rates would be sufficient. But since they do not feel obliged to pay their share, the rest of us have to pay more, it is the fault of the scofflaws like Joe that weigh our government down. They utilize public services but do not pay. They want their lifestyle protected but are unwilling to pay.

We the people are forming a more perfect union. If you don''t want to help, get out of the way.

[godseyesore-2009]

What dolts.

[IndianEd]

Oh by the way, I intend to vote for Richard Nixon for President. I realize he''s has passed away, but so has my future under the current administration.

[IndianEd]

I work for a small electrical repair company as a "gofer", since I am not licensed to be an electrician. The company is worth about $250,000 and as soon as I increase my bank balance above the 49.95 it''s at now, I intend to buy the company. I know that the first year we will net 250,000 and that will get me all the money back. I don''t feel I should pay any more tax on that than I pay now on my 49.95. Just call me "Joe the almost electrician".

[enriquecaliente]

Lemmings

[walt1944-2009]

I am wondering what John McBush McCain''s "Army of Joes and Janes" is thinking NOW about all that money they donated to the neocon Fascist Nazi RNC to elect McBush, and having $150K going to Sarah "Shoppergate" Palin for a new wardrobe and makeover for herself and family!

I would bet it would take a "Joe or Jane" 4 or 5 years to see that kind of money, provided they were working, of course!

It must be nice to not have to worry about paying for anything, just letting the stupid neocon Republican voters pay for it, no matter how illegal it might be!!!

Meanwhile, I have heard that Obama''s campaign people passed the hat around to buy him a new pair of shoes, and NOT the $500 pair that the "champion of the middle class" John McBush wears either!!!!

SIG HEIL, I HAVE TO PAY FOR MY CLOTHES, I THINK!!!, BUSH!!!
sig heil, WHERE DID I PUT MY $300 SLIPPERS???, McBush!!!
sig heil, I''M JUST A "POOR, OLD, HOCKEY MOM"!!!, Palin!!!

[markangeloo]

A wealthy person upon death
counts their friends not their money.

[markangeloo]

Country Joe Stalin says
dont worry poor workers
of the United Soviets of Amerika
the free market capitalists
have stolen all your dollar$ already.

[nojoy01]

Posted by nojoy01

reap what you sow
aside from that I made a few points you chose to ignore why?

Posted by ainttaken at 01:34 AM : Oct 21, 2008

I responded to the two ''points'' in the one post. Yes, I saw your other ''points''. But the all appeared to be the rants of an angry, belligerent, self-righteous, ill informed, hateful person with out any intent to help correct/heal our country. It appears that all you are interested in is spewing venom and not in trying to help cure any problems. All hate, all venom, and NO constructive suggestions.

[elz523]

To sum up, all of these Joe''s have something in common. Given their gullible support of John McCain''s wrong-headed policies favoring the rich, they can each be called Joe the *******.

[element51]

u3const.....This reporter is left wing????Are you kidding? This is an article from the NRO, one of the most right wing rags in existance. Check it out and you''ll find that the corporations who own the networks ALL gave more money to the republicans than to the democrats. Why do people like you come on spouting all your nonsense but never bothering to check your facts. You listen to what Limbaugh says and just accept it as truth when in reality he wouldn''t know the truth if it bit him on his fat arse. All you do is show your ignorance and it really gets boring after awhile.