Why Hate Joe The Plumber?

Why do average, everyday people have so much hate for this guy?

I have seen it here, at other forums and on TV.

All the guy did was ask Obama a question, next thing you know he has a probe up his butt and people start hating on him.

He could have been any one of us standing in front of our house.

If we can expect this kind of treatment for simply asking a question we are in for a long, troubling 4 years.

It wasn't Joe's fault that Obama outed himself on national tv.

[edit on 29-10-2008 by deathhasnosound]

Because he dared ask Obama a "hard" question.

The same thing happened to an anchorwoman that asked Biden a hard question.

The Obama campaign does not like hard questions.

I think people hate Joe the plumber because he asked the perfect question that all the others were tip toeing around. It was a very blunt and honest question that called for a blunt honest answer. The answer would make one of the candidates look bad. So, people for that candidate would be ticked off.

I understand the question he asked too well. My husband is a business owner. We wanted the same question asked. Not because we wanted to know the answer, we already knew that. The first thing business owners do is look at the tax plans. We wanted everyone else to know the answer.

People get pissy when their candidates look bad in any way.

I don't see too many average, everyday people hating Joe the Plumber. I see the media hating Joe for getting Obama to admit what his goals are. Every average, everyday person I know supports Joe and is appalled at how the media and the Obama campaign have gone after this private citizen. Attacking an average person like this has only strengthened peoples resolve to oppose Obama and his socialist ideas.

We are beginning to see Obama's true colors here, and sadly it's just happening this close to the election. We have attacks on private citizens, we have comments about spreading the wealth. Then we have the definition of rich going from $250,000 a year, to $200,000 a year, to $150,000 a year! People are starting to wake up to the fact that Obama is not who he claimed to be, and that his ideas are just plain wrong for this country.

And we owe a lot of it to Joe.

Who hates Joe the Plumber? I don't know of anyone who does.

Neither have I seen the Obama campaign attack him.

He has been "placed" by McCain to be a victim of Obama, but there's no evidence to support that. If anything he has been used by McCain. And he seems to be willing, so I don't have a problem with him. He's a tool of the McCain campaign. By choice.

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
He's a tool of the McCain campaign. By choice.

This sounds a bit bitter, dare I say, hateful?

I for one, as an Obama supporter, do not hate Joe in the slightest.

The question he asked was actually a valid question, for those small businesses that are right on the quarter-mil boundary.

I do have an issue with the fact that Joe entirely mis-represented himself, in that he was not actually wanting to buy the company and the company does not make the amount of income that Joe claimed. That is the part that makes him appear to be a McCain 'tool', whether or not he knows it or intends to be.

Joe was thrust into the spotlight by McCain, not by Obama. He asked Obama a question, and got an answer. He may not have liked the answer, but that happens. I don't like a lot of answers politicos give, including some that Obama gives. Wah.

(Edit to use the right word...)

[edit on 29-10-2008 by Open_Minded Skeptic]

reply to post by deathhasnosound


I think that saying "He's a tool" would be bitter or hateful. In context, it means nothing more than he chose to allow the McCain campaign to use him to benefit their camp. I fail to see how that would be considered hateful.

Originally posted by Open_Minded Skeptic
Joe was thrust into the spotlight by McCain

Proof? Evidence?

Do you have any reason to believe that Joe was anything more than a regular guy who asked Obama a question when he saw him walking through his neighborhood talking to people.

I'd like to see some evidence that he was used by McCain from the very beginning as so many Obama supporters are claiming.

I'll just wait.

reply to post by Karlhungis


It sounds like he said tool in the context of a tactic/strategy/implement.

This is true. McCain is the one who thrust him into the spotlight.

THe video clip of Him talking to obama would have disappeared and been forgotten had McCAin not repeatedly brought him up in the debate.

Now saying that he's unwilling, or his life was ruined? How is that, I've seen him on Several news shows giving interviews... he's traveling around with the McCain campaign, and has said he is considering running for congress in 2010. That doesn't sound very unwilling to me...

actually sounds... kind of opportunistic.

I don't think people hate him... I think they might be critical of him, but not hate...

Originally posted by nyk537
Proof? Evidence?

You're kidding, right? Did you watch Presidential Debate 2008 #3?

Do you have any reason to believe that Joe was anything more than a regular guy who asked Obama a question when he saw him walking through his neighborhood talking to people.

Nope, nor did I even imply that I think otherwise.

I'd like to see some evidence that he was used by McCain from the very beginning as so many Obama supporters are claiming.

Then I suggest you go find an Obama supporter that is making that claim and ask them about it.

reply to post by nyk537


Had you ever heard of Joe the Plumber before McCain repeatedly brought him up (to the tune of a dozen or so times) during the debate?

McCain even said his full name on national TV...

He could have easily just commented on the footage, and not bothered to reveal the man's name.

Then all the reports about Obama "coming up to him, even when he didn't want to talk to him" are bogus...

watch the video, Joe tries to get his attention several times, and when he does, asks his question...

I'll see if I can find a full clip... at first glance most youtube videos only show him asking the question...

I won't disagree with either of you. What I was referring to (and I apologize OMS) are those who imply that Joe was a "plant" from the very beginning, and was given that question ahead of time by the McCain campaign to try and "entice" that answer from Obama. There is no doubt McCain used Joe (to his advantage I might add) after the comment, but not before.

I apologize for implying otherwise of you. I just find those claims to be bogus.

reply to post by nyk537


It seems just as easy to believe that he was a plant as it is to believe that it was just a coincidence. Neither side can be proven at this point. Suspecting that he was a plant doesn't really qualify as hate does it?

Candidates have been using plants forever. Why is it out of the question that this man could possibly have been one as well? Considering that he is actually traveling with the campaign now makes it even more likely doesn't it? Or does that make it less likely?

I don't really care either way but I wouldn't be surprised at all if he was a plant.

reply to post by nyk537


No sweat... the challenges of written communication raise their heads again...

I've not personally heard any of the "previous plant" allegations of which you speak, so I cannot and won't comment on that.

Whatever Joe's original motives might have been, he's now being used as a distraction from discussing actual issues. I don't know if this was planned or serendipitous, but as this thread demonstrates, it's working like a charm.

nj2day is exactly right. McCain brought him up in the 3rd debate and mentioned him, I believe, 21 times in that debate. Since then, McCain and Palin have constantly mentioned him in their stump speeches and ads.

"Tell us how you're like Joe the Plumber" (McCain.com)

And while I'm tired of hearing about him, saying he's a tool does not come from hate or bitterness. I feel kind of sorry for the guy to tell you the truth. He DOESN'T make enough to be taxed by Obama and he's not who he represented himself to be. He was inundated with media trying to find out more about him and his privacy was completely shot. That's pretty sad.

Or it would be for me. He seems to enjoy the spotlight as he's hired a publicist.

Originally posted by Karlhungis
reply to post by nyk537

 

It seems just as easy to believe that he was a plant as it is to believe that it was just a coincidence. Neither side can be proven at this point. Suspecting that he was a plant doesn't really qualify as hate does it?

Candidates have been using plants forever. Why is it out of the question that this man could possibly have been one as well? Considering that he is actually traveling with the campaign now makes it even more likely doesn't it? Or does that make it less likely?

I don't really care either way but I wouldn't be surprised at all if he was a plant.

I think it would be near impossible for him to be a plant...

after all, how would the McCain campaign known exactly what street Obama was going to walk down to send people in advance, and comb the block for a person that is suitable to their needs?

The fact that Obama walked down his block is pretty verifiable if you check public records for his address...

If he had not been a resident of that particular block, I'm sure someone would have found out and cried foul by now...

I'm not prone to buy the "plant" theory.

Now was he a Stalwart McCain supporter before he talked to Obama? I'm inclined to say yes...

This is pretty funny Dem's calling him a plant,weren't they the ones doing the interviews?,To me he is just an average Joe,now because he asked a legitimate question his life is in turmoil because of these so called liberals,they are quick to point fingers ,but in reality should be pointing at themselves

reply to post by nj2day


See, that shows how much I follow this. I have only seen the headlines. Thanks for the clarification.