'Joe the Plumber' hearts Huckabee more than McCain

On the same day that Barack Obama shattered fundraising records and won the endorsement of Colin Powell, John McCain held a pair of lackluster rallies in Ohio, a battleground state that the Arizona Republican insists he must win if he is to capture the White House on Nov. 4.

This morning's crowd at Otterbein College, near the capital of Columbus, covered an indoor basketball court, but the adjoining court was left empty. McCain's afternoon event, at a half-filled convention center in Toledo, seemed even more desultory. The crowd barely responded at times to his applause lines.

McCain gave them little cause for excitement. He delivered the same stump speech both times, almost word for word, with little emotion. He rushed through both so quickly that he left both events ahead of schedule.

Perhaps he was upset about who didn’t attend: Joe the Plumber.

McCain first mentioned Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, the Ohio man’s real name, during the final presidential debate last Wednesday. McCain hailed him 21 times that night, and has praised him dozens of times since in interviews and speeches.

Wurzelbacher, as the world now knows, had approached Obama to complain that he wanted to buy the two-man plumbing company where he worked, but feared paying higher taxes. Obama, who had been canvassing Wurzelbacher’s street in Holland, Ohio, outside Toledo, responded that wealthier people pay higher tax rates under the U.S. system to help “spread the wealth.”

McCain seized on the comment to lambaste his Democratic opponent as a leftist -- and to paint Wurzelbacher as a typical working man who would face higher taxes under Obama. Never mind that independent reviews concluded that Wurzelbacher actually would receive a tax cut under Obama's plan.

On Friday, McCain aide Brooke Buchanan raised the stakes when she told reporters that the candidate had telephoned Wurzelbacher that morning and “would love it” if he would campaign at McCain’s side Sunday.

So where was Wurzelbacher today? Alas, gone for the bright lights of the big city. He took his son and his father to New York City and appeared Saturday night as a guest on “Huckabee,” the Fox News talk show hosted by former GOP presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee.

Not to worry. McCain is scheduled to campaign again in the Toledo area at midweek, and aides said the invitation still stands.

-- Bob Drogin

Photo credit: Associated Press / Carol Kaster

Comments

[ann]

All Joe did was ask a question. That's it. Leave the guy alone. I have one question myself. Do people realize how jobs are created? People like jobs but forget the employers and "big companies" have to actually create them. Do people want a hand out or a chance to work hard themselves by getting a job (through an employer) and earning their income? Personally, I would never want a "hand out", however, people who can't work should be taken care of. I think tax cuts can help companies big or small to create MORE jobs and get the economy going. There are also many private non profit organizations out there that are run only on contributions of individuals. If you tax these people who earn higher incomes, they cannot give as much to charity or organizations who they feel are run responsibly (unlike government run programs with so much waste). Lastly, if those who have worked hard for their earnings stop spending money - the trickle effect is many of the other businesses who are supported by these folks will also go under.

Cutting the waste and jump starting the economy is the only way to get things moving again.

[Joe Dutra]

Now there's an impartial piece of journalism! OK Bob, tell us how you really feel about McCain.

[jon]

haven't you wondered why the democrats always attacked palin? i think they lost out of touch with this race...if palin is not qualified, the more is barack...sigh...i think the voters just got to be wiser and smarter coz if you just listen to this democrats as if everything they say is true and factual but in reality they are just fooling the people..very deceiving...that's why i agree with the catholic bishop's attack on barack...barack is anti-life, anti-poor...how could you send someone to the presidency if he, himself is against the existence of a person especially those innocent, unprotected babies...besides the bishop is more credible than barack...the bishop promotes values and teachings from God not from a man's stand point of view...

[Richard Donaldson-Alves]

McCain is toasted toast, per kind favor of Ms Palin.

[steph johnson]

Your guys are all bought by Barack Hussein Obama who is sponsored by terrorist country like iran. Shame on you. Journalism at the bottom of all.

[Kelsey Golden]

If Obama and the assumed Democrat Congress allows the Bush Tax Cuts to expire in 2010, everybody will be paying MORE, not less. Obama is lying.

[Sandra S]

Well, it looks like even Joe the Plumber has given up on McCain. I will be so glad when this election is over. I'm tired of hearing about Sarah Palin, John McCain, and Joe the Plumber, Joe Six-Pack, Todd the First Dude and all the other clowning around this joke of a campaign is pulling. McCain's whole campaign has been like a three ring circus and it is time for the big top to come down. Good riddance.

[Slim]

Ah, what a pity, only a couple more weeks of entertainment from the good folks at the McCain/Palin travelling circus before they and the Republican Party in general follow the Clintons into obscurity.

[jon]

the americans should be cautious and vigilant about barack because he really is a socialist...

[Toni]

Is there a campaign whose "heart" isn't in the race as much as McCain's? "Joe the Plumber" had an expiration date of Thursday afternoon, after he was exposed as a tax cheat, a fraud (for not being a licensed plumber) and a registered Republican whose motivation for opening his trap remains known only to himself and GOP operatives. It's bad enough people really don't care what he thinks anymore, but for McCain to act like this guy is manna from heaven is a sign of a campaign that's letting an elderly candidate believe the house isn't on fire.

[Jill Again]

John the Politician has a couple of wee problems with Joe the Plumber. 1) Seems old Joe is not the guy he says he is. 2) Joe would actually benefit more from Obama's plan, which pretty much guts McCain's argument using Joe 3) Joe doesn't have the money to buy a business, since he has unpaid medical bills and a lien to deal with 4) What kind of money would it take to buy a 2 man firm, where he is one of the employees, and doesn't have a license. And then there's that pesky issue - what happens if Joe does buy the business, and his only employee, the one with the license to be a plumber, quits?

[jon]

i believe and stand on the attacks of the catholic bishop against barack...its not only true and factual but to compare the intergity between the two persons the bishop is more credible than him and the bishop stands for the truth for the good of the people...lets not be misled by this barack man...

[Mariah O'Donnell]

Who cannot see what a complete mess McCain is?? He selects this man, Joe the Plumber as the focus of his debate topics. But, he doesn't know that Joe isn't a licensed plumber, the firm doesn't even make $250,000 a year, Joe doesn't make anywhere near $250k and to top it off he owes back taxes.

This is the same type of lack of research that Bush used to get us into Iraq, left thousands in New Orleans and has ended the US in the worst economic condition since the Depression and has taken the rest of the world along for the ride.

McCain is shifty, has no policies, is running the same campaign as Bush has done and if Americans elect him they will more sorry then any other decision in their lifetime.

Get over the racism, choose to be a winning county and choose Obama. I have filed my overseas voting ballot for Obama from Dubai where we are truly hoping the US gets with the program.

[TJ]

Joe The Plumber should stay home and take care of his "business", a license to plumb, pay his taxes, and clean up his "act."

McCain and Palin need to go to confession. Or be re-baptized, or whatever, or have her pastor exorcise her again. Their soul is lost and cannot be found.

[Winemaster2]

Looks like there is no end to this conservative republican malignant narcissism, chronic scapegoating and uncorrectable grab bagging of sacrificing others with coercion, reckless abandon and impunity, when it comes to their bona fide BS to promote their own outward/hypocrite self image of good. McCain as well Samuel J. Wurzebacher are not any different when lying and pretending.

McCain with his elite heritage of son and grand son of admirals with Washington DC political and Military connections has had preferential treatment all his life as did George W. Bush.

Wurzebacher the so called plumber has his own set of made up BS. When in fact this SOB makes no more then $50,000 a year. Has tax liens and unpaid DMV moving violations, suspended DL and warrants for his arrest.

Yet these conservative republicans keep on stretching their lies to cover up previous lies.

If McCain the fake war hero has any common sense or decency he should have listened to what Collin Powell said.

[zach]

" Taxes are always a redistribution of money. Most of the taxes that are redistributed go back to those who pay them, in roads and airports and hospitals and schools. And taxes are necessary for the common good. And there's nothing wrong with examining what our tax structure is or who should be paying more or who should be paying les, and for us to say that makes you a socialist is an unfortunate characterization that I don't think is accurate. " - Colin Powell

If Joe's whole arguement is taxes then why would he vote against a man who's going to give him a tax cut? and vote for the man who will not?

[Jed]

I am NOT looking forward to this election. McCain does not excite me, and Obama scares me, particularly those who are invisibly behind him. McCain has Palin, but Sarah falls short of Mitt Romney in adding confidence to this ticket.

I will vote, but it may just be a write in candidate.

Governor Romney for 2012!

[Maggie]

I once had great respect for Colin Powell. I remember thinking on 9/11... the only person I trust in this crisis is in Lima!! He disappointed me by not standing up to Bush on Iraq. His UN speech was the beginning of the end for me. Even after feeling he had mislead (or made to mislead) the nation, never in a million years did I think Colin Powell would compromise his principles in such a way as to publicly back the man who stands against the administration he served, and a war he actually believed in. Not to mention his long friendship with McCain. My husband set me straight: "Honey, he's Black." Wow. I had forgotten.

[Annemarie]

"Your guys are all bought by Barack Hussein Obama who is sponsored by terrorist country like iran. Shame on you. Journalism at the bottom of all." STEPH JOHNSON

Shame on you, Steph...an ignorant comment coming straight from nasty anger, with nothing to do with the truth. How many times do you have to be told the truth? Despite what McCain-Palin tell you, it's been explained and debunked over and over again; Obama is not a terrorist, his fleeting involvement with Bill Ayers in Chicago had nothing to do with terrorism, and everything to do with education, and on the Woods Foundation along with Ayers and Obama were 6 or so prominent Republicans - - are you going to call them all terrorists with connections to Iran? His campaign was launched in the Ramada Inn. OK

Now, WHO, WHICH CANDIDATE has been involved with an anti-American organization with funding ties to Iran? Answer: Sarah Palin.
Todd Palin was a member of the Alaskan secessionist party, AIP, for 7 years. Sarah attended their events, spoke at their conventions and is rumored to have been helped by then AIP chairman, Chryson, get elected to Mayor of Wasila. This year she sent a video to their event telling them to "Keep up the good work!".
The "good work" being breaking Alaska away from America...I guess that means Alaska is one of those "un-American" states Palin referred to last week!

This is how a story in the Anchorage Daily News, entitled "The Palin's Un-American Activities", talks about Vogler, the AIP founder, and his terrorist connection to Iran:

"Vogler's greatest moment of glory was to be his 1993 appearance before the United Nations to denounce United States "tyranny" before the entire world and to demand Alaska's freedom. The Alaska secessionist had persuaded the government of Iran to sponsor his anti-American harangue. That's right ... Iran. The Islamic dictatorship. The taker of American hostages. The rogue nation that McCain and Palin have excoriated Obama for suggesting we diplomatically engage. That Iran. "
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/10/07/palins_unamerican/print.html

Hope that sets the record straight. The only candidate with a terrorist connection to Iran is NOT Obama, but SARAH PALIN.

[Annemarie]

John McCain may have Joe-the-Plumber in his court, but Barack Obama has all the plumbers in America!

The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the US Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry, already endorsed Obama In January 2008.
Once again, McCain just doesn't get it. He's out there misrepresenting Obama's tax policies to the conservatives at his events and claiming that Obama doesn't understand Joe-the-Plumber's plight, and that Joe would not do well under Obama's plan. Whereas the national asociation of plumbers have already identified Obama as the candidate who BEST REPRESENTS THEIR INTERESTS, and they disown Joe-the-Plumber as a spokesperson for the proud plumbing professionals in the industry, since he's not a licensed plumber, a licensed journeyman or even a plumber's apprentice and shouldn't be calling himself a plumber, or planning to buy a plumbers' business.

Notwithstanding, if Joe-the-Plumber was all he said he was....he would actually do slightly better under Obama's plan.

You're good at talking the talk, John McCain. But it's Barack Obama that walks the walk for real American plumbers!

[Ferris Anderson]

I think it's amazing how easily people throw around that socialist label, and then think they understand it. Alessandro Machi mentioned job creation, in that as a socialist republic America would fail to create jobs. First let me address the socialist question, Bill Clinton presided over one of the largest tax increases in American history and one of the largest economic expansion in American history. This basic fact flies in the face of anyone who says a nation can not tax itself into prosperity. The notion is false. Second folks keep calling Obama socialist, yet they won't comment on the candidate who is actually proposing the largest amount of socialism: McCain. What do you think the stupid plan for mortgage bailout is? Socialism (and of the worse sort)! What do you think McCain's healthcare plan is? Redistribution of wealth (and it redistributes your wealth not to the needy but to the wealthy. Many Americans are ill-educated and don't really understand what socialism is. It's a testament to how bad or educational system is (thank goodness sen. obama has a plan to fix our schools). What do you think the Wall St. bailout was? Welfare for the wealthy! In America you are suppose to accept the risk and consequesces of bad investment judgement! The republicans brouoght us welfare that benefits no one but the people who created our current economic climate. this really bad form of socialism was produced not by democrats, not by barack Obama, but rather by George bush and the republicans. Finally i wonder if Mr. machi has ever had the opportunity to go to Western Europe or Austrlia or Canada, or any other western nation? I wonder if when he went there he observed people working, business operating, and generally having the things that make society occurring? have you? Because if you have then you've witnessed a social democracy! people do work and economies do expand under socialism. Today some of the worlds strongest economies are social democracies. When you call Obama a socialist and then paint a picture of a Soviet gulag you just make yourself look extremely stupid. Ofcourse we know what you really want to say when you say words like: elitist, socialist, terrorist. these are code words my friend. Unfortunately for you America's not buying in to your particular brand of hate any longer.

[Norma]

I'm sure glad you pointed out that his name really isn't Joe--everyone who uses a nick-name or his middle name should go to jail. You know, guys whose real name is Robert but go through life being called Bob by their friends or Bobby by their grandmother. And the audacity to want to better himself! The nerve. This is really good investigative reporting. How are you on Kenyan birth certificates?

[Stacy]

To Alessandro:

Do YOU know how jobs are created? You think companies magically create jobs to fill the void of a tax cut? Jobs are created based on supply and demand. A company creates products or services that people want or need. When demand is increased, these companies hire more people to increase their supply. And which group is largely responsible for creating said demand? Ding! The middle class - that 90% of people in the middle of the salary bell curve. Doing everything possible to make life better for the middle class means they are (and feel) more financially sound and are willing to spend that extra money they're keeping from Obama's economic, healthcare and tax plans. That, in turn, increases demand, companies profits and hire more people to increase supply. Giving large corporations huge tax cuts doesn't mean squat when nobody can afford to buy their products or services. We've had 8 years of Bush tax cuts for big business - IT HAS FAILED. Look around, does this look like it's working to you?

Back on the topic of "Joe the Handyman" (without a plumbers license, he can't legally be called a plumber anymore). Joe tried his own brand of "gotcha media" in an effort to slander Obama by concocting some made up story about buying his company and profiting so greatly that he'd fall under Obama's tax increase of the top 2% of earners. In fact, he makes $40k a year (with no license and thousands in tax liens), has NO plan to buy that company and in fact, even if he could somehow swing it, he's admitted that the company would cost 250-280k, but the income would be much lower than that - less than half. He's admitted, in more than one interview now, that he would, in fact, be better off under Obama's plan. Not only at his current salary, but even if he DID buy that business. Basically, he completely PROVED how Obama's plan would be better for the vast majority of small businesses (98% make less than $250k in income). Obama has said all along that making less than 250k would mean no tax increase and making more would. So Joe didn't expose any deep dark secret that hasn't been laid out in black and white for months now. He only (unwittingly) illustrated how the bulk of small business owners would really benefit from Obama's plan more than McCains. Good for you, Joe!

[Sharon]

I have had it with John McCain-Sarah Palin and their lies. Yes lies. They must really think we are ignorant and won't check out the validity of their claims. These two are walking a very dangerous road - quite worried we will start seeing violence because of them and thier dirty campaign tactics..Some problems have already started.

John claims Obama is going to tax Joe. Obama will be giving Joe tax break. John McCain gives him lots less of a break. If he bought that plumbing business which makes less than $250,000/year he would not be affected by Obama's plan. And health care benefit are not required to be provided by small businesses. He will how ever see less of break from John McCain. Go to repspected nonpartican Tax Policy Center.

[Thinktwice]

Enough of the moronic name calling by the McCain/Palin camp. It is a great and beautiful thing to see that America, even in these difficult times, is growing smarter, more informed, and less inclined to believe the ignorant hateful muck that the Republicans are throwing around. We are growing in numbers, and in our level of engagement with the political process.
I think it is entirely possible that THIS time, the REAL silent majority of America will wake up and do something about it.

[Phil]

JOE THE PLUMBER IS A TYPICAL REPUBLICAN HE WANTS TO KEEP ALL HIS MONEY AND LET SOMEONE ELSE PAY HIS SHARE.
However I would like to contribute to Mc Cains campaign,
a buss ticket to Alaska for Sarah,"one way "

[Larry linn]

He Joe, if you don't pay your taxes, why do you think that your are entitled to vote?

[Audrey Lister]

I would just like to know who wrote this article, because I was at both Otterbein and Toledo at both speeches, and they were so packed that hundreds of people were turned away, and the crowd was incredibly enthusiastic at both speeches. He did a wonderful job and this article was written terribly.

[Huckapedia]

Joe the Plumber is a fan of Mike Huckabee!

How many Huckabee Fans are in your home state?
Tons of statistics about Mike Huckabee Fans!

>>> Google: Huckapedia

[gina51]

"Joe the not a plumber" who wants to be left alone, has signed a recording contract with Aaron Tippen and is involved in a book deal. Besides campaigning with John McCain the man who wants to be left alone is doing pretty good for himself. McCain looked like an idiot calling out for "Joe the not a plumber" to join him on stage but "No Joe"...