Thread: Joe the Plumber? Not a plumber. And not even called Joe

All may be true. What I don't like is how the libbie press seizes on anything to dam McC. I note they conveniently left out BO's reply to the man: something akin to "we have to distribute the wealth." Whatever the guy's situation, that neatly sums up what BO would do as prez. Hey, why try to make your dream when the govt will just take any extra on taxes.
Taxes will go up under BO, and not just for the wealthy if BO wants to complete his programmes, especially healthcare. Hello, socialist America. Chavez would likely be one of BO's first state guests.

His middle name is Joe. How disingenuous of the Times to type his name as Samuel J Wurzelbacher and not acknowledge his middle name is Joe. They go on to say it's unlikely he would ever earn $250k if he ever raised the money to buy the business. Why not? Which country taxes so heavily that a plumber with employees can't bring in over $250k?
Why would the media, Biden and the Obama campaign attack a common citizen, the kid of guy they are supposed to be batting for? It's because of Joe's quote on a news show:

Joe to Obama: I'm getting taxed more and more trying to experience the American Dream.

Interviewer: Did he win you over?

Joe: No not at all. The answer actually scared me even more. He said he wants to distribute wealth. I mean, I'm not trying to make statements here but, that's kind of a socialist viewpoint.

Two other interviews with Joe here if anyone is interested:

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Joe the Plumber: Obama’s plan a “socialist slippery slope”

Joe mentions the "S" word, socialism, again on Good Morning America with Diane Sawyer. He also advises people to listen to what other people have to say but don't believe every word they say, find out the facts for yourself. That kind of puts the kibosh on the mainstream media's action. They are used to acting like the go-between between people and the truth; kinda like the Catholic Church used to do with God. The media replaced the church and the internet is replacing the MSM.

BIDEN: Let me put it this way: I don't know -- the neighborhood I grew up, even the neighborhood I live in now, which is a really nice neighborhood, I don't know many plumbers who are making $250,000 a year and worried about it. We're kind of worried about Joe the fireman, Joe the policeman, Joe the real plumber with a license.

Beating up on a average guy who doesn't have access or resources to fight back. Making jokes about how much money he earns. Maybe Biden should accuse him of drunk driving. https://teakdoor.com/us-domestic-issu...tml#post773720

And Joe might be wishing he never asked his question.

Eyes averted when a Democrat passes.

I tuned in right when McCain was going on about Joe the Plumber. I thought this is bad. He sounds like he's stuck and can't remember where he supposed to be headed with the subject. Fortunately, he pulled out of his spin and wound up doing a pretty good job. Not great but pretty good. Throughout the different topics covered by the moderator and during points brought up when the two candidates addressed each other, McCain rattled off legislation after legislation he had worked on. It's his one strength.

Here's a brief snippet from a article on the "patronizing" by the candidates toward the "workin' families."

More than ever on the campaign trail, the candidates are dropping their G's. Hardworkin' families are strainin' and tryin'a get ahead. It's not only Sarah Palin but Mr. McCain, too, occasionally Mr. Obama, and, of course, George W. Bush when he darts out like the bird in a cuckoo clock to tell us we are in crisis.

All of the candidates say "mom and dad": "our moms and dads who are struggling." This is Mr. Bush's former communications adviser Karen Hughes's contribution to our democratic life, that you cannot speak like an adult in politics now, that's too austere and detached, snobby. No one can say mothers and fathers, it's all now the faux down-home, patronizing—and infantilizing—moms and dads. Do politicians ever remember that in a nation obsessed with politics, our children—sorry, our kids—look to political figures for a model as to how adults sound?

Link & Entire: Declarations - WSJ.com

Joe The Plumber has turned to be Joe The Asshole , another sad ploy in the lame attempt of the John McCain war machine.

Less than 2 weeks.

...Footage of the encounter soon made it to YouTube and caused a stir with conservative bloggers...

Conservative bloggers in repeating unsustantiated guff non-shock. In other completely unsurprising news; the sky's blue* (*except for when it's not) and water's known to be wet.

Taping an appearance on Late Show with David Letterman yesterday afternoon, Mr McCain admitted that he had not yet spoken to Mr Wurzelbacher, and apologised for the press attention he had received after the debate

This is interesting. John and Dave kissed and made-up have they?

'...that's kind of a socialist viewpoint...'

The American Boogeyman. USA!...USA!...USA!

Doesn't matter if Joe is a Sam or if Sam is a real plumber.
0bama answered the question honestly, "we need to spread the wealth around."
Go ahead and smear Joe. The real issue here is with 0bama's rare honest moment. "Spread the wealth" came out of 0bama's mouth, not "Joe's."
"Spread the wealth" doesn't bode well with many Americans - no matter how hard you try to dismantle the integrity of Joe The Plumber. 0bama said it and it will cost him votes.

^ Agree with Wiley, as I stated above or on another Issues thread. The whole point is Obama's answer, which was not included in any libbie media articles. Distribute the wealth. Not with my hard-earned money, honey, I hear hard-working Americans say.

No doubt the 5% of Americans who will pay more tax under Obama (the richest 5%) bitterly resent spreading the wealth, and of course they will determine the outcome of this election. With the odd exception granted, Pinko's like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and George Soros.

But not those poor souls in the Investment banks, to whom 10% of the $700bn public bailout funds have already been allocated so they don't have to sell their Ferarri's and Holiday homes in the Hamptons.

Honestly, diehard Republicans are so out of touch these days I think they must exist in a parrallel universe. Try selling the woes of the Investment Bankers to some guy who is at risk of losing his job, and/or house. Maybe even find someone who can't give their child much required medical treatment, because they can't afford it. I'm sure the plight of the Bankers will shake them to the core.

^The poor get poorer and the rich will do anything in their power to hold onto the wealth.

since when have politicians allowed the truth to get in the way of politics

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

^The poor get poorer and the rich will do anything in their power to hold onto the wealth.

Exactly , is Jet some some of American multi millionaire? do misunderstand this simple equation.....

Here's an interesting contrast:

Obama on top as presidential hopefuls head for conservative country

...The Republican returned to what is likely to be his theme for the final days of the campaign, that Obama wants to "spread the wealth around" - part of a comment that Obama made to a voter who asked about his tax plan.

"When politicians talk about taking your money and spreading it around, you'd better hold onto your wallet," McCain said at a rally in Miami.

Obama maintains he would cut taxes for 95 per cent of earners while raising them for the richest Americans, those making more than $250,000 a year...

Cindy McCain earned $6.8 million last year

WASHINGTON - Republican presidential candidate John McCain's wife, Cindy, is reporting $4.2 million in income for 2007 in newly released tax returns.

Cindy. McCain paid $1.1 million in taxes - a tax rate of 26 per cent. She reported nearly $530,000 in itemised deductions...

Could it be that Sen. McCain's concerned for his own wallet? Obama's pledging to cut taxes to the vast majority of Americans and McCain's telling them to 'hold onto your wallets'!? It's only 5% of the wealthiest people that stand to pay anymore tax i.e. those that can afford to pay more. Cindy McCain had half a miilion dollars in tax write-offs for one year; substantially more than most people earn in total for the year and Obama's pledges are something to be worried about!?

Yeah right, if you're already loaded and can't stand the prospect of only owning 7 homes instead of 8.

Reminds me of the Dubbya quip: 'Some people call you the rich and elite, I call you my base'.

"we need to spread the wealth around."

Another piece of the puzzle which makes up the picture. People don't mind paying their taxes. I don't mind. Like I said, if Obama had a track record in the Congress so a person could guage where he is coming from, but we don't. We get "we need to spread the wealth around." Add that to the rest of his history and it makes a person wonder what we are in for. Pass it out, spread it around, got any more, you aren't holding out are ya?

Good luck, hard-working Americans following your dreams.
Fek it. Close your biz, go on welfare and stay home and watch Oprah. The govt will take care of you.

You just showed your total ignorance of the UK system.

Have you been reading the Daily Mail?

British style Socialism? The whole political spectrum is so far to the right that any concession to the middle range tax payers, that bear the burden of tax, at the expense of the upper range and corporate tax payer, that have evidently had it so good for years, is screamed down as socialism.

This whole 'spread the wealth' issue is being scaremongered by the right as more benefits for those that add nothing to society, when the real recipients will be the hard working low to middle income earners, that will surely need help in the coming years.

The naked greed and bigotry that this issue has brought out in people is symptomatic of a desensitised and selfish world.

^
British style socialism is much further to the left than anything the USA is familiar with, although it seems Obama is about to redress this.

The greater burden of tax in the UK falls on the middle class, first in the form of VAT and then in the form of income tax. It is those earning the average wage who pay, proportionally, the greater amount of tax. Necessities such as food do not bear VAT.

This money then gets redistributed to those "in need". The problem here is that the current benefits system can provide some of those who do not work with a higher living standard than some of those who are paying taxes and not working becomes an option.

You do understand that the National Insurance Contribution paid by the employee and employer on the "average" salary exceeds 20% ? That money doesn't go to provide luxury lifestyles for the wealthy, they can afford private healthcare anyway. What you seem to advocate is taking money from the wealthy, and from corporations, to support the middle-class. The middle class receive salaries already, and the problem is not how much they are paid but how much social security they have deducted. Having excessive social security deducted doesn't benefit the corporations or the wealthy - the social security money heads downhill. If anything, excessive deductions place upward pressure on wages.

I recall working hard, paying my National Insurance, and then finding the doctor's surgery so busy with "regulars" on the rare occasions I needed a doctor that
I had to make an appointment several days away. I ended up taking out private healthcare simply to get medical treatment that would enable me to continue working. This is the reality facing middle-class America today. You will only have free healthcare when doctors , nurses and orderlies work for free and the drug companies donate their products to the free government hospitals. Otherwise somebody will have to pay, and that will be the ones who are paying the taxes.

I am not getting into an argument over the rights and wrongs of providing free healthcare, food and housing for those who have no employment. I do find it absurd that people talk of "free" healthcare though. It is only free at the point of use. I sit and watch in disbelief as middle class America lines up to be sheered by Barak the Barber.

Originally Posted by Thormaturge

Originally Posted by attaboy

"we need to spread the wealth around."

....... it makes a person wonder what we are in for.

It is as clear as the nose on my face what America is in for. British style socialism. As a Brit here it is:

A) Free healthcare = those who work pay extra tax so that people who don't pay tax can get free healthcare. It isn't free for those who are working. The "free" healthcare gets so clogged up with people with time on their hands that those who are paying need private healthcare in order to get treatment.

B) People with good jobs are "lucky" and should help those who are "unlucky". Heck, why should people who are lucky have better houses and cars than those who are unlucky? Better tax them some more and spread the wealth around so that the unlucky ones don't feel left out.

What bugs me most, however, is that one of the major criticisms of G W Bush is that he has little understanding of the world outside America... and America now looks set to elect a President who has even less.

There's a reason why Obama fans don't want to emphasise middle names. Joe the Plumber may be a tad trite, but Hussein the President isn't likely to have much appeal either.

"We want to take money and put it back in the pocket of middle-class people," Biden said in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America."

Noting that wealthier Americans would indeed pay more, Biden said: "It's time to be patriotic ... time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut."

Originally Posted by Thormaturge

B) People with good jobs are "lucky"

Agree with your other points, Thorm, but I wouldn't consider us "lucky". Worked hard to get where I am. Luck only came into the equaton because I worked for it.

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

Originally Posted by Thormaturge

B) People with good jobs are "lucky"

Agree with your other points, Thorm, but I wouldn't consider us "lucky". Worked hard to get where I am. Luck only came into the equaton because I worked for it.

Blah Blah Blah .

What type of great success do you think you are ?

I'm retired here at 37 with a monthly income of around 200,000 baht give or take exchange rates.


And I fully support what Obama is proposing, McCain will simply be supporting his Bush cronies with absurd corporate tax breaks.