Jump to content

Joe the Plumber

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Huedog (talk | contribs) at 23:25, 16 October 2008 (Remove quote not supported by citation). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher from Holland, Ohio, a city in the Toledo area, is an employee of A. W. Newell Corp, a plumbing firm[1], referred to 23 times (usually as "Joe the Plumber") during the third and final presidential debate of 2008 between Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama.[2]

Interaction with Barack Obama

A few days before the debate, while Obama was campaigning in Ohio, Wurzelbacher approached him with a question concerning the Senator's tax plan. Wurzelbacher was upset about his interpretation of Obama's tax plan and suggested that such a plan would be at odds with "the American dream".[3] Obama's plan would cut taxes for taxpayers making less than $250,000 and would raise taxes for those making above. Joe claimed to be on the cusp of moving across that cutoff point into the higher tax bracket, and felt that he should not have to pay higher taxes as a result. Joe suggested that working hard and making more money should not result in paying higher taxes than others.

Wurzelbacher likened Obama to Sammy Davis, Jr. in an interview with Katie Couric of CBS Evening News immediately after the October 15, 2008 presidential debate. Of his encounter with Obama in Holland, Ohio, Wurzelbacher told Couric: “I asked the question but I still got a tap dance…almost as good as Sammy Davis, Jr.”[4]

Discussion during the third 2008 Presidential Debate

Both debating candidates mentioned Joe the Plumber a combined total of 26 times. [5]

Press coverage

Wurzelbacher appeared on the Neil Cavuto's program Your World on Fox News. Neil asked if Joe was persuaded by Obama's plan. Joe said that he was not and that he was more frightened upon hearing it. Joe suggested that Obama's plan was socialist in nature.[3] Neil encouraged him by suggesting that he was impressive for stepping up to Obama and pressing his concerns without becoming 'star struck'. Neil also said, "You're my kind of plumber."[citation needed]

He also appeared on the Good Morning America program the day following the debate on Oct.16, 2008, Diane Sawyer asked Joe if he was taking home $250,000 now, Joe said with a laugh "No, not even close."[6] Sawyer asked Joe if he had been contacted by the McCain Campaign before his encounter with Obama. Joe said "I have been contacted by them and asked to show up at a rally" [7]

Wurzelbacher held a press conference at his home the morning following the debates, refusing to support either candidate. "I'm not telling anybody anything" about which candidate he prefers, he said, adding "It's a private booth. I want the American people to vote for who they want to vote for."[8]

Career

An Associated Press article revealed that Wurzelbacher does not have a plumber's license. He claimed he does not need one because he works for someone else. Wurzelbacher said he is the sole employee of a small plumbing firm that does residential work. This small firm is the business Wurzelbacher described to Obama as making more than $250,000 per year.[9] In his interview on ABC's Good Morning America on October 16, Wurzelbacher stated that his two current plumbing jobs were for a gas station and for a shopping center, Levis Commons. Both are commercial enterprises. [10]

The county Wurzelbacher and his employer live in, Lucas County, does require plumbers who perform work including sanitary drainage, water supply, storm drainage, and natural gas piping, to have licenses.[11] Neither Wurzelbacher nor his employer are licensed there, said Cheryl Schimming of Lucas County Building Regulations, which handles plumber licenses in parts of the county outside Toledo.[1][9]

Political affiliation

Although Wurzelbacher initially claimed to be "undecided" in his political affiliation, he is, in fact, a registered Republican and a McCain supporter.[9]

Prior tax history

There are two judgement liens against Wurzelbacher for non-payment of income taxes. Barb Loisie, deputy clerk of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, said, "There is a 99 percent chance he doesn't even known about the lien".[12]

In an October interview, Wurzelbacher said, "You know a lot of the stuff that our government is doing right now is all about taxation without representation and you know the last time that happened a couple guys got together and threw the Brits out."[13]

References

  1. ^ a b Vellequette, Larry (October 16, 2008). "'Joe the plumber' isn't licensed". Toledo Blade. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Vote2008/story?id=6047360&page=1
  3. ^ a b Rohter, Larry (October 15, 2008). "Plumber From Ohio Is Thrust Into Spotlight". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  4. ^ http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/10/16/politics/horserace/entry4525242.shtml
  5. ^ http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/31086839.html
  6. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6047458
  7. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6047458
  8. ^ "'Joe the Plumber' meets the press". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-10-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ a b c Seewer, John (16 October 2008). "'Joe the Plumber' says he has no plumbing license". The Associated press. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  10. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6047458
  11. ^ "Ohio Plumbing License". National Contractors Pre-Licensing Services, Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  12. ^ "Joe the Plumber Takes Center Stage at Final Presidential Debate", ABC News, October 16, 2008
  13. ^ 'Who is "Joe the Plumber"?', KARE11, October 16, 2008
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joe_the_Plumber&oldid=245778045"