Report Blasts "Joe The Plumber" Probe

Ohio Government Watchdog Says Campaign Figure's Privacy Violated Inappropriately

(AP)  An agency director improperly used state computers to find personal information on a McCain supporter who became known as "Joe the Plumber" during the presidential campaign, Ohio's government watchdog said in a report released Thursday.

There was no legitimate business purpose for the head of Ohio's Department of Job and Family Services, Helen Jones-Kelley, to order staff to look up the records, Inspector General Tom Charles said.

"All these searches were done in the midst of a national political campaign," the report said. "But we did not find any evidence that shows the data was accessed or information released in response to media requests in an effort to support any political activity or agenda."

Gov. Ted Strickland announced Thursday he was immediately placing Jones-Kelley on a one-month unpaid suspension after reviewing the findings.

Jones-Kelley said she accepts Charles' findings and should not have allowed the database searches.

"While there is a disagreement as to whether those searches were done for legitimate business purposes, my only intent was to fulfill my agency's fiduciary responsibilities to Ohio's families," she told the Dayton Daily News in a statement. "I am committed to implementing agency procedures which better protect confidential, personal information."

Strickland rejected a request from Senate President Bill Harris, a Republican, to fire Jones-Kelly for abusing her power.

Auditor Mary Taylor, the lone Republican holding a statewide office, also asked Strickland to fire Jones-Kelley or to ask for her resignation.

"We need to restore accountability and transparency in government and send a message to Ohioans that the misuse and abuse of personal information will not be tolerated," she said.

Strickland, a Democrat, earlier this month had placed Jones-Kelley on paid leave over separate allegations that a state computer or state e-mail account was used to assist in political fundraising.

The inspector general's report concluded that she used state e-mail to provide a list of names of potential contributors to Democrat Barack Obama's campaign.

Jones-Kelley, seen at left, told investigators she thought the e-mails sent on her personal BlackBerry were going through her personal e-mail account.

The report also looked into 18 background checks into Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, the Toledo-area man known as Joe the Plumber who became a household name in the final weeks of the presidential campaign after he asked Obama about his tax plan at a campaign stop near Toledo.

Eight of those checks were done without any legitimate business purpose, the report said. Charles recommended tighter policies on access to confidential information in state computer databases.

"The withering media attention that Wurzelbacher received does not provide justification for state officials and employees to have conducted the wide range of searches that were done on a private citizen," the report said.

The findings have been forwarded to the Franklin County prosecutor's office in Columbus.

Jones-Kelley has said the searches of Wurzelbacher's records were part of routine checks her agency conducts when someone suddenly emerges in the limelight.

She also said records were checked because Wurzelbacher had indicated he might buy a business and it was determined that he owed back taxes. She also said the department wanted to make sure appropriate actions were taken if he owed child support, received public assistance or owed unemployment compensation taxes.

Jones-Kelley's reasoning was at times contradictory, inconsistent and ambiguous, the inspector general's report said.

It also found no policies or procedures to support her claim that it was the agency's practice to look into someone thrust in the spotlight.

As Wurzelbacher's profile was elevated in Republican John McCain's campaign, criticism over the Ohio search rose to a fever pitch.

Republicans were furious that Wurzelbacher was targeted, saying that he was simply a private citizen who stood up and questioned the Democratic presidential candidate.

Wurzelbacher did not answer his phone Thursday, and his voicemail box was full.

Joe the Plumber was weak attempt by McCain to take attention away from the War in Iraq and his selection of "Caribou Barbie". If McCain would have talked about issues instead of listening to his handlers and attacking Obama he might of had a chance.

[simplemind2]

Actually I think IRS should get hold of the "Joe The Plumber" commercial video and conduct an extensive investigation into
every one of them appeared in that commercial and proclaimed they are "Joe The Plumber" to see if they either evaded or owed taxes!
Imaging had McCain and Palin won, Mr. Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, the Toledo-area man known as Joe the Plumber would become the "Folk''s Hero".
But - is he?
He is actually a tax evader and tax cheater!
So much for privacy!

[evian_ycnan]

1) You have no privacy. Get used to it.

2) Had Joe-the-Plumber wished to throw stones without breaking his own windows, he should have had the good sense to have given the name "John Smith".

[evian_ycnan]

If McCain would have talked about issues instead of listening to his handlers and attacking Obama he might of had a chance. -- Posted by baileycc at 05:35 AM : Nov 21, 2008

If McCain had spoken on the issues, Obama would have won with 70% of the popular vote.

McCain, like Bush, is 3rd generation worthless trash from dyanstic wealth, born with a silver spoon in each end and not one fvcking clue. The only difference between Bush and McCain is that Bush was a better pilot.

[connapa]

The fact that he had a lien on his property due to back taxes is in court documents which are public records and therefore accessible by anybody. The only thing that using the state computers did was to expedite the search.

[earache4]

That''s all perfectly legal under Shrub''s ''Patriot'' act....

[rixmix98]

Seems to me that goofy Joe brought this on himself when he stepped into the limelight and pretended to be somebody of importance.

Next issue?

[cbs_oliver]

Joe the plumber was a perfect poster boy for the Republican party - a liar and a tax evader who sought acclaime for making deceitful statements and accusations against someone else.

It never bothered the Republican party that he wasn''t who he presented himself to be and that his claims were false. Those factors were in line with normal expectations for them.

Too bad.

[bracemic]

Like many others, this woman sold out for Obama for this election, even jeopardizing her career. Now that Obama has been elected, do you think he gives a *** about what this woman did for him? Does he sincerely care about any of us?

[pcreversed]

Leave Joe alone, all he did was ask a good questio of a candidate. Is this how we treat a citizen for wanting to know something about the person that wants our votes during an election. This is pathetic and the media should be sued by Joe for being such pains in the azz

[emmonnier]

mr22587... does mommy know you are on the computer again

[rixmix98]

Posted by mr22587

You truly are an idiot.

Posted by usclimey at 07:51 AM : Nov 21, 2008



Can never be said too often.

[pjc27]

She shouldn''t have, and yet, she did & assured we were entertained by Joe the loser for longer than we should have been.

I think we have bigger problems than Joe the loser anyway. Glad he, and failin pailin, are both gone!

[jtdev1]

Why is everyone still calling him a plumber? He''s a LIAR!

He portrait himself as something he is clearly NOT and never had any intention of becomming...

Reminds me of that Jeff Gannon, or whoever that gay boy was they planted in the Whitehouse press pool was...

America, Impressed with Liars! (thats why we had GWB for so long...)

[thechooch1]

mr22587

You need some professional help! The campaign is over, it ended a couple of weeks ago. You would be screaming even more than you are if Barack were trying to be the president now instead of waiting until he is sworn in. If he were picking "new" people for his transition team you would be screaming about their experience. You can''t have it both ways.

[emmonnier]

mr22587, I believe you are truly unAmerican, you obviously never served in the armed forces of this great nation, if you did you would have been taught that even if you don''t respct or like the person, you should show respect for the office. President elect Obama was elected by due process, now it''s up to us, meaning the entire nation to stand behind him and do what we can to get this country back on track.

[excoachken]

This is much like firing Dan Rather, because he used a bad source. Rather did not lie about Bush going AWOL to avoid a trip to Vietnam, but his source did not tell the truth about where the information came from, so just like CBS, when we find out that Joe is NOT a plumber and does NOT own a business, Ohio Republicans decide to KILL THE MESSENGER!

[louiville2]

Another leftist fascist thug exposed. One down millions to go.

[differnet]

And now hypocrisy rules the Democratic Party as well as the Republican. Of course, like the Republicans, the Democrats will find all sorts of justifications and rationalizations for allowing their party''s representatives to behave in unacceptable behavior.

[grumpas]

It had to be the ignorant thing McCain did in his campaign. I was so sick of hearing about ''Joe the Plumber'' I wouldn''t vote for him. When has McCain or any Republican cared about a working person in this country?????? NEVER!!!! Some people like Joe just aren''t bright enough to figure it out.

[emmonnier]

Well mr22587, you prove with your own words that your comments are no longer to be taken seriously. It would appear that some vital part of your DNA actually did run down someones leg....

[louiville2]

Posted by mr22587 Jones-Kelley of course I wonder how many others she has investigated/abused because they didn''t fit her ideas?

[emmonnier]

mr22587.... stercorum pro cerebro habes

[emmonnier]

louiville2..... probably not as many as the GOP has for the last 8 years

[thechooch1]

Come on now, when the McCain campaign brought out "Joe the plumber" what did anyone expect? Of course people are going to look and see who this guy really is! He wasn''t vetted just like the VP candidate. I am not justifying Kelley''s actions, but if she hadn''t done it someone else would have investigated the non-plumber.

[susand1948]

What a bunch of simpletons and nitwits. All you think about is slamming someone lower than yourself; you cannot see what is really going on here.

RISE UP - STAND TALL AND LOOK OVER THOSE BLINDERS.

She abused her power. There is no justification no matter what the outcome of that abuse is - she should not have used her position to gain info to slam someone. REGARDLESS of his political beliefs he has a right to privacy just like you lame brains do.

HELEN JONES KELLEY has made a really bad choice AND showed others to ignore their integrity and just get what they want. She SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THAT POSITION AND PLACED IN A NON SECURE POSITION WITH NO AUTHORITY OVER OTHERS.

If she does not take responsibility for her actions and pay the consequences %u2013 In the long run YOU WILL.

[louiville2]

Your lame attempt at racially insensitive "humor" merely advertizes your sexxual inadequacies on a public forum. Maybe you should seek professional help for your problem(s) -- assuming you can afford it, or have private insurance, hmmmmm?

Posted by imprisonrove

Is this some deep seated narcissistic exercise in search of "narcissistic supply" by someone who like Obama, Hitler, Stalin grew up with an abusive absent father?

Just checking ;)

[antoniof123]

I think she should resign however, I also believe that the GOP who have done the same like Gonzo should have resigned faster or Rummy or the multitudes of nut cases but they tried to stay on.

Maybe it is time that the GOP started to act instead of just giving us lip service. I remember Senator Vitter and he did not resign but Spitzer did. Is there a difference I don''t know just an observation.

[ronjjj157]

Seems very few people are actually addressing the abuse of a government employee using a state owned computer for unethical and ILLEGAL use. In most states much less than this would be a firing offense.

[okaussie]

Joe "the Plumber":

Man when''s that recording session gonna happen man cuz i''ve been brushin up on my Nickleback lyrics. "caugh, caugh" Waaay Ohhhh Waaay Ohhhh Waaay Ohhhh Waaay damnit the teleprompter''s broke!!!

[irreverent1-2009]

There has been credible evidence that Homeland Security has eavesdropped on Americans not related to terrorist activities. Also our government allows via internet and other sources; insurance companies, HMO''s and financial institutions to track all kinds of personal information. Joe the Plumber relished his fame and notoriety in the midst of a Presidential election that he is still trying to make into his golden calf so I believe that for the benefit of Americans at large to know what he was all about trumped his expectation of privacy.

[frankie2fing]

This is grey area... Yeah, maybe she did exceed her boundries, but what about the idiot? She actually DID abuse her powers as Governor, not for a noble search for truth, but to get back at someone. "Joe the Plumber" lied about EVERYTHING for a politcal agenda and we are supposed to feel sorry for him? Come on you GOP hacks, give it a break... the woman is getting a suspension. I know that is not enough, you want her fired: After all, women should not be in the workplace anyways, their place is in the home. What a bunch of Neanderthals.

[a_witness-2009]

Back to the point. Jones-Kelley should be fired now.
She got caught...
----------------------------------
You know why she won''t be fired! She is Black and a woman. Short of shooting the Pope nothing is going to happen to her.

[likeitis5050]

Jones-Kelley has said the searches of Wurzelbacher''s records were part of routine checks her agency conducts when someone suddenly emerges in the limelight. (and yet so many questions still remain unanswered re: Obama...oh well...he''s so cute!!)

Jones-Kelley''s reasoning was at times contradictory, inconsistent and ambiguous, the inspector general''s report said.

It also found no policies or procedures to support her claim that it was the agency''s practice to look into someone thrust in the spotlight.
(She had to....history was compelling her to do what ever it took to keep this man from taking opportunities away from Obama...and history will forgive whatever damage Obama does because...doggonit...he''s black!!! Dummy down or revamp the system but make sure the black man wins and represents!!! Should she still have a job....no. But her man won so what difference does it make now? All is fair in love and politics...she''d do it again in a heart beat. Unrepentent seems to be a theme in Obama associations and related events...I guess the ends justify the means...unless you''re Joe The Plumber. But so what!!! A black man won!!! And the world cheers...not unlike the collective cheer when OJ got away with murder. Find a black person now who thinks he was REALLY framed...REALLY innocent...and able to keep a straight face while saying it.)

[inketolstoy]

"I am committed to implementing agency procedures which better protect confidential, personal information."... but only if you agree with my political agenda. Crazy dems supporting her sound just like crazy repubs supporting Cheaney. Anybody out there still hoping for change with the new administration?

[aggiekat2004]

Gosh, I was hoping since the election was over that I would never have to hear the stupid-azz phrase "Joe the Plumber" ever again. Boy, was I wrong.

At least we don''t have to listen to Caribou Barbie anymore.

There IS a God.

[cheetah-man7]

Who cares? What did they find out about him via their illegal search: Joe the faux-Plumber is an idiot!

[likeitis5050]

There has been credible evidence that Homeland Security has eavesdropped on Americans not related to terrorist activities. Also our government allows via internet and other sources; insurance companies, HMO''''s and financial institutions to track all kinds of personal information. Joe the Plumber relished his fame and notoriety in the midst of a Presidential election that he is still trying to make into his golden calf so I believe that for the benefit of Americans at large to know what he was all about trumped his expectation of privacy.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by irreverent1


Amen!!! And yet the media dummied up when it came to the same vetting process for Obama...can''t have it both ways...either you vet or you don''t. Obama got a pass...Joe was not running for anything..why was he vetted and Obama was not?

[redhawk1021]

So when did Republicans start caring about privacy?

Or is this yet just ANOTHER double-standard from conservatives?

[stevex47]

Meanwhile boosh and company is illegally eavesdropping on millions of American''s.

Mission Accomplished.

[walt1944-2009]

It has been learned that Sarah "Shoppergate, Hockey Mom" Palin intends to make another run at the White House in 2012, but this time for the title of "Great Emperess".

In fact, she has already chosen her running mate who will not be a part of the Washington establishment, but in fact will be none other than "Joe, the Plumber"!!!

With "Joe" being chosen for vice-Emperor, Palin expects that he will appeal to what will be left of the middle class, if it still exists, in 2012.

SIG HEIL, I LIKE PLUMBERS, SINCE THEY STOP LEAKS!!!, BUSH!!!
sig heil, YOU BETCHA!!!, Palin!!!

[stevex47]

"why was he vetted and Obama was not? "

Ya, nutjob. They sure vetted playboy palin.

[redhawk1021]

''Republicans were furious that Wurzelbacher was targeted, saying that he was simply a private citizen who stood up and questioned the Democratic presidential candidate.''

More like, they were furious that the whole Joe the Plummer thing sank like a rock.

Again, since when do Republicans give a CR@P about privacy? Please, your president has been eavesdropping on whoever he pleases for years now.

That said, if privacy laws were broken and they find the party responsible, that person should be immediately fired and criminal charges brought against them.

[omega40]

''''Republicans were furious that Wurzelbacher was targeted, saying that he was simply a private citizen who stood up and questioned the Democratic presidential candidate.''''


At what, that he is an unlicensed, tax cheat and fraud operating under an assumed name? LOL, only the Republican party would be stupid enough to believe that jerk represented the average citizen of this country.

[superdem]

Rowdydfw - You''re "Obslime-a" nickname is really beat, dude. Not funny. Calling the President of the United States a communist - wow, pure genius ! Let''s bring back the McCarthy days ! Wooohooo - you have heard of him, right ? Now - Obama has been elected to state offices, the U.S. Senate, and now President of the United States. And you say he''s not vetted ? Where have all the newspapers been ? Where have all his political opponents been ? He''s been investigated plenty. Meanwhile, "Joe the Plumber" who''s name is NOT Joe, who is NOT a plumber, and who is NOT about to purchase his boss''s contracting business, who was NOT a moderate considering voting for Obama but was instead a rabid Republican who supports the War in Iraq - NOTHING about this man is what John McCain told us on national TV, yet John McCain and Sarah Palin pushed him into the political limelight as some kind of model American who''s views we should all share. Then when people look into his case, his privacy has been violated ! You don''t think we have a right to know if the icon being pushed on us is a total phony ? McCain could have found a real plumber with real concerns, but NOOOOOOO - Republicans don''t do that, they just lie to you, it''s easier and it''s on YOU to figure the lie out.

[cariboubarbi]

Joe the plumber isn''t even a plumber.

Joe the plumber also lied about wanting to buy the business. He''d have to go through the long process of getting a plumbers license first.

Even if he bought his boss''s business, he still wouldn''t make anywhere near $250k.


As it turns out, no matter what he does, he''s going to get a tax cut from Obama and wouldn''t have gotten squat from McCain.

[redhawk1021]

Where is O-BOY ???

Posted by mr22587 at 10:09 AM : Nov 21, 2008

If, by that name, you mean president elect Obama he is currently putting together his cabinet so he can start addressing the problems of the nation - many caused in large part by the current Republican administration.

[violist47]

Please note: it is "Sieg Heil", not, as many of you are writing, "Sig Heil". "Sieg" means "Victory". "Sig" means nothing. "Heil" means "Hail" as in "All hail MacDuff."

[redhawk1021]

From now on it is just BOY.

Posted by mr22587 at 10:12 AM : Nov 21, 2008

Well, it''s a free country. You can do and say whatever you''d like regardless of how idiotic it makes you look.

Keep digging conservatives.

[cariboubarbi]

Joe the plumber is a liar and a fraud which made him the perfect mascot for McCain''s campaign.





lol!