Critic's Notebook: So sad to see you go, Joe (the Plumber)

Joe the Plumber played out what may have been the final seconds of his 15 minutes of fame in an increasingly angry exchange with CNN’s Rick Sanchez, who wanted to know exactly why a man clearing way less than $250,000 was so worried about Barack Obama’s proposed tax plan. "Principles," Joe (a.k.a. Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, unlicensed plumber) answered, explaining that he didn’t like the idea of someone’s "hard-earned money" being taken away and given to those who "maybe didn’t get the breaks, maybe didn’t work so hard."

Sanchez, who is nothing if not zealous, wanted to know more. Why such touching concern for some unnamed rich folk? Did Joe think poorer Americans should be taxed more and rich Americans taxed less? Where did he think roads came from anyway? How would we fund firefighters or police forces without taxes?

Wurzelbacher spluttered and fumed almost as furiously as the candidate he supports and wanted to know why Sanchez was asking all these questions, why he wasn’t "vetting Obama," the way he was vetting him, Joe the Plumber. "I just asked a candidate a question," Wurzelbacher said, as he has said 1,000 times before. "Why don't you ask me a good question, like what I'm going to do next?"

"No, Joe," Sanchez informed him. "You endorsed a political candidate. You held press conferences. You thrust yourself into this campaign so you need to answer the tough questions."

Wurzelbacher once again referred to principles, suggesting that Sanchez look the word up in the dictionary since he seemed to be having so much trouble understanding. In fact, Wurzelbacher seemed about one indignant snort away from hanging up when Sanchez, perhaps sensing that this wouldn’t play so well on election day, began his polished pull back. "Well, good conversation," he said with his best wide and crazy smile as Wurzelbacher continued to makes sounds of outrage into the phone. "Thanks for taking the time."

Indeed.

-- Mary McNamara

Comments

[Leila]

Joe the Idiot

[Jim]

Obama’s tax plan is to remove the Bush tax breaks (the ones that were given to help build American companies and thus hire more people). Well guess what the rich are doing with their Bush Tax break? Thats right investing it in a place that has the best return. That being funds in China and India. So the Bush’s tax break money goes overseas to build plants that take away American jobs. A tripple blow. 1. Less Tax revenue 2. Less money in America 3. Loss of American jobs… Give the money to the middle class that will spend the money in America. That will creat American Companies..

[Joe the Canuck]

Man, it was the funniest damn thing I have seen in ages. Wurzelbacher could hardly form a sentence, let alone make a cohesive argument about the policies he espouses. While Joe was stumbling his way through the English language, you could see Sanchez flinching and biting his lip with the strain of trying to understand what was, frankly, jibberish.

Oh, well, everyone knows syntax has a left-wing bias.

[Frank Buzerak, Venice, Florida]

I am so sick of "Joe the Plumber" being constantly referenced by McShane and his cohorts. The press has let them get away with the insulting elevation of this phony, dishonest shill. He's like so many limited people that support the funding of the rich by denighing others a fair share of their income. How could anyone believe that the rich work "harder" for their money than all the struggling middle class people that are just trying to keep their heads above water.

Rich Sanchez should be proud that he exposed this attention seeking ego maniac for what he is, a babbling fool. God help this country when we show more respect for a "Joe the Plumber" and the light weight governor of Alaska than we do for intelligent thinking people.

[Isabel]

Joe the SmartAss, was he contracted by McCain's team?

Joe also promoted himself, last thing that I heard... he will write a book!!!
Welcome to our society....

It's just sad sad to meet you, Joe.

[PRINCIPLED JOE]

Jim, the rich had the tax break for awhile, and they still shipped the jobs overseas. They saved money on workers AND on taxes.

[Virginia Piery]

My husband and I are very upset that we have not received any of our voters' pamphlets with all the propositions and issues. We are registered voters and fell slighted that we are an oversight.

[Dex]

I saw this disgusting display unfold. I believe Jesus would totally disagree with Joe's Tax Principles (Matthew 19:24 & Matthew 22:17-21). Joe has seen way too many Bill O'Reilly/Sean Hannity shows (greedy Fox millionaires) . It is painfully clear that he and his family, along with his "well-off" or "rich" colleagues (not wealthy, like Gates) are one IRS notice or hospital bill away from being in the streets and he'll have his neocon "buddies" to thank.

[BAL]

You liberal freak! Nice work trying to pin the problems of America on a plumber. You liberals never know when to quit. Abortion? All for it. If McCain pulls the upset, I want to be the first to serve you crow.

[Mad Jayhawk]

We should take all the rich people's money and give it to the poor. Start with Obama, Oprah, Barbara, Soros, Biden, etc. Take their houses, cars, planes, servants, pools, condos, etc and sell them off and give the money to the poor. Why should these people get away with telling us that the rich should be taxed more in order to encourage class warfare when they pay so little themselves. Congress should pass a 'Let Them Be First' tax bill and take everything these people have and see if their tune changes about taxing the rich and giving it to the poor. Take it all I say. Take it now. Why should they get away with their little game?