"Joe The Plumber" Speaks: "It's Pretty Surreal"

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Who is Joe the Plumber?

He is Joe Wurzelbacher, an Ohio man looking to buy a plumbing business who came to symbolize the notion of "spreading the wealth" in Wednesday night's third and final presidential debate between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.

Earlier this week, when Wurzelbacher got a chance to speak with Obama when the candidate visited Toledo, he told Obama that his tax plan would keep him from buying the business that currently employs him.

Sensing an opening in the debate, McCain cited that exchange when the candidates were asked to explain why their economic plans are better than their opponent's. McCain said Obama's plan would stop entrepreneurs from investing in new small businesses and keep existing ones from growing.

"Joe wants to buy the business that he has been in for all of these years, worked 10, 12 hours a day. And he wanted to buy the business but he looked at your tax plan and he saw that he was going to pay much higher taxes," McCain challenged Obama.

"You were going to put him in a higher tax bracket which was going to increase his taxes, which was going to cause him not to be able to employ people, which Joe was trying to realize the American dream," McCain said.

McCain then looked directly into the TV camera and said: "Joe, I want to tell you, I'll not only help you buy that business that you worked your whole life for and I'll keep your taxes low and I'll provide available and affordable health care for you and your employees. And I will not stand for a tax increase on small business income."

Obama denied that was true.

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"Not only do 98 percent of small businesses make less than $250,000, but I also want to give them additional tax breaks, because they are the drivers of the economy," Obama said. "They produce the most jobs."

So what did Wurzelbacher (pronounced whur-zell-BAHK-er) think about being at the center of the debate?

"It's pretty surreal, man, my name being mentioned in a presidential campaign," he said minutes after hearing McCain utter his name.

In Toledo on Sunday, Wurzelbacher told Obama that he was preparing the company, which earns more than $250,000 a year, and said: "Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn't it?"

Obama said that under his proposal taxes on any revenue from $250,000 on down would stay the same, but that amounts above that level would be subject to a 39 percent tax, instead of the current 36 percent rate.

"And the reason why we're doing that is because 95 percent of small businesses make less than 250 (thousand). So what I want to do is give them a tax cut. I want to give all these folks who are bus drivers, teachers, auto workers who make less, I want to give them a tax cut," he said.

Wurzelbacher protested, saying he's been a hardworking plumber for 15 years and why should he be taxed more.

"It's not that I want to punish your success," Obama said. "I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you that they've got a chance at success, too."

At a later point in the discussion, Obama said: "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody. But listen, I respect what you do and I respect your question, and even if I don't get your vote, I'm still gonna be working hard on your behalf because small businesses are what creates jobs in this country and I want to encourage it."

Wurzelbacher's name came up again when the debate turned to a discussion of health care policies.

He said Obama's reaction on the tax question left him feeling uneasy.

"I didn't think much of it the first time I heard it," Wurzelbacher said, adding that he still thinks Obama's plan would keep him from buying the business.

About McCain: "He's got it right as far as I go."

Even so, Wurzelbacher declined to say which candidate would get his vote on Nov. 4.

"That's for me and a button to know," he said.

___

On the Net:

McCain: http://www.johnmccain.com

Obama: http://www.barackobama.com

Comments

[TruthBruce]

Joe the "Unlicense Plummer"!

Joe:
i have some good advice for you, .. move to Alaska. Joe you can help governor Palin
establish that natural gas pipe line. Also i would bet you would not need a plummer's license ithere!
best of luck to you. I was on the bus when you got ran over on november 5th. That was the unkindest thump i have ever experienced! Good luck in Alaska joe!............Bye

[jalene1106]

This is to Joe the Plumber:
I'm "Jill the jobless" ... single mom....are you hiring??

[Ningnang]

Personally myself I have had a hard time believing it was all a mere coincidence and don't put anything past the McCain campaign after what I have witnessed thus far.

Where did Samual Wurzelbacher come from? Where was he born? Who are his parents? It's as if he were hatched out of an egg somewhere.

Coincidence? Quite possible, anything is possible?
Last night while I was brushing up on my history of the Keating 5 and reading about John Glenn's life history on Wikipedia I came upon a photo of a young John Glenn...Ironically at the same time "Joe the Plumber's" image comes onto my TV screen and the striking resemblance between the two (using the words of Cindy McCain) sent a cold shiver down my spine.
Any relationship there? You decide:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Glenn
"On July 18, 1921, John Herschel [Sr.]and Clara Sproat Glenn, of Cambridge, Ohio, had a son [John Herschel Glenn Jr], whom they named after the father. Two years later, the small family moved to New Concord, where they constructed a home, which would double as a boarding house for students from nearby Muskingum College. Meanwhile, John senior opened a plumbing business."
(taken from:First American to Orbit Earth, By Nick Greene)

[mfaith]

Who is "Joe the unlicensed plumber"? Please review the second presidential debate, the one that took place in Nashville... is that "Joe" sitting in the front row? If not, he may have a twin! Ironic because, that debate took place before his unveiling to the media, and ironic because i just heard on the news that our guy "Joe", just signed a country media/recording contract.... could that be in Nashville? So, can it be that ththe GOP has positioned "Joe" all along?

[fromero]

Is Joe the Plumber coming to campaign in Charlotte, NC anytime soon? I"d like to hear him speak and ask his opinion on the Fed"s Open Market Account and his take the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. I also hope that he"s being well remunerated for his campaign appearances. A man on plumber"s wages can"t afford to take too many breaks from his regular job.

[thechef1955]

Very ironic for individuals who are just like Joe the Plummer! When an individual really operates a business they know that taxes and other operating expense are not taken out from their own pocket. In every dollar that you make it is considered as a gross income (100%) and out of it the operating expenses (certain percentage) are taken out where the result is the profit margin (another percentage that represent your mark up). Why in the earth that tax becomes a big issue? A certain percentage is assigned for the tax purposes which does not affect your net profit. Is Joe the Plummer really a businessman? I don"t think so! Because if he is, he knows what I am talking about here; this issue had been exploited for two reasons only. One is to smear a presidential aspirant for the wrong reason and secondly to steal the spotlight of the show. Result! Joe the Plummer was born!

[chenzveng]

Is there an accountant in the house?

"Joe the Plumber" won't pay more taxes if the business he is supposedly buying has gross revenues over $250K. He will only pay more taxes if his Adjusted Gross Income on his personal taxes exceeds $250K. As any small business owner knows, the PROFIT that you can actually take, is usually only a small portion of the total overall revenue for the year. So in the case of my small business, for instance, gross revenue is around $4M annually. However, after expenses, employee salaries, etc, the net profit at the end of the year combined with my salary drawn results in less than $200K of taxable income, which would result in a tax break under the Obama plan. And that's before deductions.

Even if my adjusted Gross income (after deductions) exceeded $250K, the rolled back tax rate would go from 36% back to 39%. But it would only be on the amount of AGI that exceeds $250K, not on the entire amount. So, taxes on the first $250K would remain unchanged. But if AGI, let's say, reaches $300K, then you would pay an extra 3% on $50K for a total increased tax of $1,500. No small amount of money for the average American, but for someone with an AGI of over $300K, is it really that substantial? When I get my income level to that point, I will gladly step up, provided its being put to good use...but that's a different conversation.

[txshldm0007]

Is "Joe the Plumber" story a "wag the dog" story? plant by the Republicans? It is very curious who timely this was right before the debate.

Republicans are very good in "fabricating" news to serve their purpose?

[lion1]

Joe the Plumber is a FRAUD

[thechef1955]

Very ironic for individuals who are just like Joe the Plummer! When an individual really operates a business they know that taxes and other operating expense are not taken out from their own pocket. In every dollar that you make it is considered as a gross income (100%) and out of it the operating expenses (certain percentage) are taken out where the result is the profit margin (another percentage that represent your mark up). Why in the earth that tax becomes a big issue? A certain percentage is assigned for the tax purposes which does not affect your net profit. Is Joe the Plummer really a businessman? I don"t think so! Because if he is, he knows what I am talking about here; this issue had been exploited for two main reasons only. One is to smear a presidential aspirant for the wrong reason and secondly to steal the spotlight of the show. Result! Joe the Plummer was born!

[lion1]

Why doesnt the Republican Party put JOE the PLUMBER as Republican nominee candidate instead of John McCain for the US Presidency?

[pepin1]

It doesn't matter if he is licensed or not. He owes some taxes and Joe is his middle name, who cares a lot of us go by our middle names and owe some taxes. He asked a valid question to Obama and when Obama gave the answer it showed us all exactally what he plans on doing with our $. He's been lying all along (hum, imaginae that!!!) No one forced Obama to give the answer that he did but now that we all are starting to see him in a new light he has to down grade Joe (who is the average middle class American a lot like the rest of us).verbally which is exactally what he will do to the rest of us if we don't all agree with him. If you disagree with Obama he will crush you. What Obama's camp. is doing to Joe is appauling. They aren't just going after the politicians now they are going after American citizens.
That should tell us all something. God help this country!!!!!! Obama will never have my vote!!!!!!!!

[LightningJoe]

Amazing, pepin1. Obama gave "Joe" the straight scoop on his tax plan -- which is not unfavorable even for a "Joe" who DOES have to pay out a 3 % increase in his business taxes. Obama told the man the truth, which is that the REST of us will NOT have to pay more taxes.

Now that should be a GOOD THING for the economy, shouldn't it? Why else has the government been sending taxpayers all these "stimulus" packages, if not so we'll have more to spend? They didn't send the money only to people who make more than a quarter-million dollars, did they? The bulk of the nation's spending money is spent by those who make less than that.

If that strategy is NOT going to have the effect of building the economy, then someone ought to tell that to Congress. If, on the other hand, putting money in the hands of the consumer does help the economy, then giving ordinary workers a tax break should do the same, right?

So why would you think that a given strategy works if the Republicans like it; but not if it's proposed by a Progressive?

Oh, and the idea that Obama's camp is "going after" "Joe" is sheer paranoid fantasy on your part.

[ozofjakes]

I personally don't care if Joe the plumber does not have a licence or if he is a tax cheat, what he represents is the major holes in Obama's tax plan. Obama has talked about cutting taxes for small business, but he probably thinks a small business is the hot dog vendor out side the smithsonian. Also, he has given no indication of how much that cut would be for businesses, just for individuals (see the tax plan on his web site) He talks abnout cutting taxes for corperations who create jobs in the US but again no mention of how much that would be.

I personally work for a business that groses about 35-40 milion anually. Due to the number of people we employ, (about 100) we are considered a small business. Over the last 2 years ( under a democratic majority) we have seen our sales drop between 20-30%. There have been layoffs and we are now all working on reduced hours. Any new taxes will undoubatly cause them to have to make even more cuts and we are cut to the bone and bleeding more daily. Spread the weatlth around mr Obama? if all the welth in the US was re-distributed to everyone in the US we would all recieve 44 thousand dolars, less than most middle class families make in a year. Welth re-distribution is not the answer, we need less tax and less government,

[hmorris]

The hypocrisy is that the media, and other like minds, cares more about investigating "Joe" than Obama's past. And all because they didn't like the question? By the way, I was late paying my credit card bill a couple times and I'm a designer but my degree is in something else. I hope to own my own business someday but I make less than Joe right now. Just thought you should know the facts. Obama isn't really giving us a tax cut ... he used the words tax cut instead of refundable tax credits. More than a third of all Americans don't pay income taxes at all. Maybe I'm a plant.

[Bluebayou101]

The important thing about this whole brouhaha is that it shows what poor judgment McCain has. He makes a national issue about this man without doing the appropriate research on him. Just like he didn't do the appropriate research on Palin. I don't want to have a president who makes decisions in this manner.

As for Obama's effect on small business, he's clearly concerned that small business should continue to be an engine for keeping people employed. Here are his plans for giving aid to small business during the troubled times ahead:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/10/obama_proposes_small_business.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/obamasmallbusinessrescueplan.pdf

[webmachiavelli]

Nothing like missing the point entirely when commenting. What you are missing is the majority of America doesn't care if the guy does have a lien, is related to Keating or lacks some license. Joe the Plumber is essentially an anecdote of who Obama's tax policy will hurt. Trust me when I say there will be a lot more people affected by it than you might imagine. This isn't going to hurt a lot of people a city like Dallas but in LA, San Fran, and NY it will touch more people on average that those fly over states.

Senator Obama has only himself to blame for being exposed as the socialist that most republicans feared him to be since he stepped into the race. He worded his answer like Bush would have and now he is paying the price for it.

[avargas]

McCain clearly has a 'vetting' problem. McCain's plumber has some problems of his own too:

"Joe the plumber," the Toledo, Ohio, man whose complaints about Barack Obama's tax plan were highlighted by John McCain in the final presidential debate, owes the state of Ohio almost $1,200 in back income taxes.

According to records on file with the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, the state filed a tax lien against Samuel J. Wurzelbacher for $1,182.98 on Jan. 26, 2007, that is still active.

He also apparently doesn't have a plumbing license.

[1differentdrummer]

Can you imagine someone who can't get up $1200 to pay his taxes being able to get up the $3-5 mil it would take to buy a business that nets $250,000 a year? Sam (Joe) was a plant, maybe paid. Here's another phony deal from the king of phony. Does he work at a plumbing company that is for sale? Nah, I really doubt it. John's a phony.

[bruster55]

"Joe the Plumber" is just another attempt from John McCain to defraud the people of the United States of America

[svourconstitution]

The biggest fraud that is occurring right here and now is Barack Obama. You are being snowed by this guy and have the corrupt media on your side. They refuse to do their job and "question authority" as you liberals always say. You give this guy a pass on everything.

The real fraud is taking place in the mainstream agenda driven media. You can congratulate yourself for not having the courage to question it. There is no PERSON running for the top office of the greatest nation in the country who should have this kind of unchecked pass. We owe it to the constitution to have our checks and balances. But you people fall at this guys feet without question and NOBODY is investigating all of the questions that are unanswered. Instead they are talking about Sarah Palin's wardrobe. WOW, what a priority. Sarah Palin is the subject of mean, cruel hateful reporting and gets all the criticism for not being intelligent yet Joe Biden misquotes historical facts, predicts great international crisis in which Barack will be tested and we should all trust him even though it won't seem like the right thing to do. He tells a paralyzed man to stand up. He talks about a "great President" during the great depression who addressed the nation via the TV. Neither of which existed. Yet once again a PASS. The truth is, MOST people are on to the the bigger fraud and that is Barack Obama.