Talking to "Joe the Plumber"

Remember "Joe the Plumber" from the campaign?

Sounds like Joe has gotten bitter at - well - everyone.

*Warning - language in the article *

Raw Story - "Joe the Plumber" on McCain

More commonly known as "Joe the Plumber" -- even though he held no such certification when McCain endowed him with the title -- Wurzelbacher has thrown a fair amount of hatred toward the Arizona politician and the Republican party as a whole since the 2008 presidential campaign ended. But it's his recent comments to Pennsylvania public radio that really take the cake.

"I don't owe John McCain [beep]" he said, according to reporter Scott Detrow. "He really screwed my life up, is how I look at it."

Joe goes on to say how McCain used him. If truth be told - McCain did use him.

But, Joe let himself be used. He could have said, "Hey, I'm just a guy with an opinion. Leave me out of all of this." Instead he went on to try and milk his 15 minutes of fame by a bunch of appearances and even a book.

Now, he's still trying to do it and actually has some grudging praise for Obama.

Yet, when confronted with the fact that he's still trying to milk his image as that face of middle America -- even going so far as to autograph pieces of PVC pipe during a rally for Republican Sam Rohrer, who is running for governor of Pennsylvania -- Wurzelbacher seemingly bristled.

"Wurzelbacher says it's his duty to take advantage of the platform he's been given," Detrow wrote. "He wants to talk up the issues he cares about, and encourage the grassroots tea party movement."

Wurzelbacher also reportedly said that while he believes Obama's "ideaology" to be "un-American," he credits the president for being "one of the more honest politicians."

Looking back, yeah - Joe was used in a way. However, I think he saw this as his 15 minutes of fame and tried to turn it into something more.

Now, Obama has the whitehouse, McCain is still a Senator. Palin is making money hand over fist. But Joe is left out in the cold, on the one hand saying they used him and on the other still trying to milk his 15 minutes of fame.

His 15 miuntes of fame lasted about 14 too many.

Perhaps he has finally woken up to see he was played as a patsy by the Republican fringe.

Ever notice that a drowning person will usually try to drag under those who attempt to save them?

Say it isn't so.. Joe! Dude is blame shifting. Things didn't go the way he hoped and instead of taking responsibility for it, he blames McCain. Big Whoop. Just stay home.

For those who don't know (including me) who was Joe the plumber? can you give us a little insight in to this mysterious man? what did he do to get his 15 minutes of fame ?

reply to post by franspeakfree


en.wikipedia.org...

Hopefully soon we'll be saying Sarah who?

[edit on 15-2-2010 by kinda kurious]

reply to post by franspeakfree


I usually don't like using them as a source - but Wikipedia gives as good a history on Joe as I could find on shot notice.

Wikipedia - Joe the Plumber

Short version of Joe - Managed to make a comment about his thoughts on Obama's tax policy to Obama himself during the election. This led to Obama's "spread the wealth" comment. Then the McCain ticket grabbed Joe and used him as the "common man" in their campaign.

Wait, so what became of Joe the Plumber's country music debut that was in the works, or his career as war correspondent from Israel during Operation Cast Lead? What about his book, his specialty line of plungers, t-shirts, coffee mugs, thermoses, thongs, boxer shorts, hats, tote bags and other assorted junk? His career as public speaker and hopeful for running for the House of Reps?

John McCain did more for that goofball's life than his own parents did. Joe the Plumber, cultural phenomena to some, giant question mark and scratch on the head in puzzlement to others.

Originally posted by franspeakfree
For those who don't know (including me) who was Joe the plumber? can you give us a little insight in to this mysterious man? what did he do to get his 15 minutes of fame ?

The quick notes of it: during the campaign, Obama was wandering around random neighborhoods for some PR...answering questions to average people in a middle class neighborhood.

Some dude named Joe (plumbers assistant) came up and asked him some questions, it was actually a cordial meeting on general philosophical disagreement. Basically the news was that Obama didnt impress this guy not because the guy didn't see the value in the plan laid out, but because he simply had a philosophical difference which mirrored republican talking points almost word for word...also, with the chaos, Obama let out a dumb statement that reflected a light distribution of wealth..Joe didnt really do much, it was Obama's gaffe that made the news (before which Obama was a near jedi master with not tripping up on wording).

Joe was thinking he was becoming superfamous with his philosophies...some of which include:
-Who cares if Iraq had WMD's, we went and fought and that was cool...(war is totally cool in joes mind)
-All forms of socialism should be eliminated...any and all fed programs. He sited social security as an example. (come to find out, he was on unemployment several times...also hard to be a fan of war when you believe that big social program should also be eliminated)
-The jews have taken over America.
-Obama looks like Sammy Davis Jr. to him(and appearantly he found that funny)
-etc etc etc...bunch of tard philosophies he kept spouting off in front of cameras...he also said he may run for Congress considering he clearly was a star.

His 60 seconds of fame helped the Rep party, the following 14 minutes of talking in front of the camera identifying who he was damaged it 10 times worse than the initial help (like Sarah Palin...initial cheer, then months of scary as hell get to know her moments that wrecked the whole campaign).

Joe was the precursor to the Tea Party Movement. Joe was, as far as the MSM was concerned, the symbol of the 'little guy'. The GOP co-opted him to balance their 'rich white guy' image. When he became superfluous they kicked him to the curb and went on to hijack the Tea Party movement. SOP. Joe's problem was that he wasn't smart enough to see this coming from the outset.

Joe the plumber should go back to being an "average Joe". Politics is a cut throat game only the really smart and well connected should play. Used and thrown away --welcome to reality Joe.

Number one, this nub should know state laws, you cannot start a plumbing or eletrical business in the state of Ohio without licensing, but maybe he was going to get his licensing?
Also I must be confused cause I tought joe the plumbers statement was about providing or errrr well shafting his employees on healthcare? something about Obama was trying to make all small businesses offer it to their employees and J T P thought it was unfair, or something to that affect.

In any case this guy was an idiot, and he was/is not typical of a average joe, because and average joe starting a small business making 250 thousand would certainly have the basic decency not to shaft their employees of health coverage, this was a guy who thought or was attempting to become a corporate big wig, and he's sour he didn't get the chance simply because he wasn't intelligent enough in the first place, and didn't have the capital in the second. He's a disgrace.

Joe the Plumber has fallen for his own PR hype. The Republicans seized on him because he seemed like an "ordinary" American, sort of an Everyman. Someone who wasn't a rich old white guy, which the opposition was claiming was the main component of the Republican party. Someone who was a true populist, brimming with homespun wisdom.

Unfortunately for the Repubs, the man they were portraying as the quintessential American turned out to be dumb as a post.

If Joe can be said to have a strategy at all, it's probably to try to align himself with the Tea Partiers. To do that he has to turn on the man who gave him whatever five minutes of fame he was probably ever going to get.

If people dismissed him as a lightweight before, they're not going to be impressed by his turncoat treachery now. Even Sarah wasn't dumb enough to bite the hand that fed her -- she campaigned with McCain in Arizona when he needed her.

Another link to the story:

thedailybeast.com