Joe The Plumber: Obama Tap Dances Like "Sammy Davis Jr."

In a phone interview with CBS' Katie Couric, Joe Wurzelbacher said Barack Obama "tap dance[d] ... almost as good as Sammy Davis Jr." in their conversation. He also said he didn't actually make enough to fall into the group whose taxes would be raised under Obama -- but argued that it was a "slippery slope." Watch:

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Comments

[Fingerbo]

Who cares? This isn't news. This is distraction. Joe the Nobody can go back to obscurity now, please.

[Q45]

Nothing . Nothing Joe the Plumber said made any sense to me. If he doesn't make more than

$250,000 dollars like he said, Obama's tax plan would really help him.


Can he read? If he can, by doing that, it should answer a lot of his questions or maybe he just

wanted notoriety. The answers are out there for sure.

[HHUA]

That's ok Joe... We don't need you (or any of your ILK)!

We have the SUPPORT of not only YOUR UNION (if you really are a plumber(?)... without a license... hmmm), but here's a partial list of ENDORSEMENTS from several unions that represent "REAL" WORKING PEOPLE (not phony Republican plants, who happen to be tax-evading relatives of Charles Keating... Gotta LOVE that!).

"The Plumbers and Pipe Fitters union (UA)

"The Transport Workers Union (TWU)"

"The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers"

"The Teamsters union" (one of the largest and MOST powerful in the U.S.)

"The United Steelworkers union"

"The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO)"

"The endorsement of 25 former and current leaders of the National Farmers Union (NFU), leaders of the National Corn Growers Association, and State Executive Directors of the Farm Service Agency (FSA)."

"The Nebraska Farmers Union Political Action Committee, NEBFARMPAC"

And here's what the NEBFARMPAC had to say about their endorsement...

"In this race, the choice is clear,"... "Based on their voting records and their campaign position papers, Sen. Obama is in strong support of farm and rural issues, and Sen. McCain is in strong opposition,"

"The voting records show who supports family farmers and ranchers and rural communities, and who does not," Hansen said."

Could it be CLEARER which candidate supports REAL PEOPLE and SMALL TOWN "FAMILY" AMERICA?

Yes, keep relying on MILLIONAIRES like Hannity, O'reilly and Limbaugh for information... That will really help YOUR family... Knock,knock, is anybody HOME!!!

[LSP]

This entire situation needs to be investigated. It's looking way too suspicious! Too many things about this Joe the plumber guy are not adding up.

If "Joe The Plumber" is actually a shill and McCain knew it (which I feel is highly probable), then McCain needs to be held responsible for wasting time at the debate on this sham.

Time that could have, and should have been used to discuss the real issues.

[LemonMeringue]

As sick as I already am about hearing about Joe the Planted Phony Plumber, I am glad to notice that someone else is suddenly not on the front page of everywhere.

I am so sick of her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ZimboChick]

chest bump

[PAWA]

I watched the video of Sen. Obama's answers to Joe. Sen. Obama was anything but "dancing" in his response. I was struck by how he didn't dance around the question and did not simply tell this fellow what he wanted to hear. He answered the question honestly and completely.

The troubling thing about this whole "Joe the plumber" tax discussion is the presumption that it is somehow bad to pay taxes. As Thomas Friedman pointed out - the only alternative sources of revenue for government is either printing more money (inflationary) or borrowing money (increase the debt). The goverment's military, social security, transportation, medical programs that benefit us in some capacity are not free.

Moroever, I make a decent living and don't complain about paying higher taxes than someone who makes considerably less. That loaf of bread, quart of milk, and gallon of gas cost them the same as me; but it is a much larger proportion of their dispoable income. The country's working people (making less than $250K,) are the ones who ultimately make it possible for those earning at the highest levels to do so.

[LemonMeringue]

Those people sprinkle bags of Republican lies on their cereal and eat it for breakfast every morning.

They don't know an honest answer when they get it. If it makes sense, it must be spin.

[theratt]

$250k is on the NET INCOME. I'm not sure if this is clear to enough people. When you are a small business, there is so much stuff that is deductible, that taking home $250k is huge. When I was self-employed, my net was less than half of my gross and I didn't even have any employees. The way McCain makes it sound is if your company does more than $250k in business, your taxes go up. I hope Obama makes this clearer. Maybe I just haven't heard it. I would love to have net income of $250! Sweet, sign me up for a tax hike.

[GunneraGirl]

Is 'Joe the plumber' a republican plant?

[InedaName]

You know, GunneraGirl, that was my first thought this morning when I heard Rush Limbaugh segue seamlessly from a story about Joe The Plumber into a live ad for Rinnai tankless water heaters. I am completely serious. It could very well be some kind of stealth marketing ploy.

[MSCADDY]

Good Job for McCain to try to detract the issues with Joe, just like he tried with his running mate with no substance. Why don't they play some replays of his comments of her qualifications. Do we really , want to take a chance on the possibility of her running the country.

[MSCADDY]

Good job for McCain to distract the country from the real issues , to Joe , just like they tried with his running mate with no substance. Why don't they do some replays of his answers of her qualification.

[shf]

I run a small two person business out of my home, and were we to be making $250K, I'd happily pay the small percentage of additional tax that would be assessed upon us. Give me a break and do the math. It's a few thousand dollars, Joe. With revenues that high, the additional tax is not that a big ouch and certainly not enough to keep you from hiring outside help or updating your equipment. Walking in his shoes, I feel no sympathy for Joe or his plight. $250K? You're doing much better than so many others. Suck it up and get over not so pitiable situation.

[go-green]

I am surprised that no one has pointed out that Arizona is 49th in the country for education--or at least that is what the teachers at the grade school, middle school and high school where my children attend in Arizona remind us at the beginning of every school year. I guess that shows how well vouchers work. I am surprised that McCain didn't refer to the Arizona voucher system but maybe because it isn't working here. I wish that journalists would look closer at McCain's record here in Arizona. He hasn't worked hard for solar technologies. He has numerous lobbyist working for his campaign that are tied to big oil. He talks most about drilling and barely mentions solar when discussing energy, surprising from a Senator from a state with over 350 days of sunshine.

[whit4brains]

UA - The United Association of Plumbers - first union to endorse Obama for POTUS -

http://www.ua.org/ua_endorses.asp

[msbudhan]

I am not astonished that Joe the plummer is a republican that have took less time to seek knowledge.Under Obama's tax cut Joe the plummer would not have a tax increase.You have to make $250,000 in profit to get a tax increase under Obama's plan.Profit is the key word.Do your research under both candidates.McCain would spend 1 trillion and Obama would spend roughly 800 billion.
Find the truth facts answers website.Joe the plummer owes tax lien at this moment and is not even in the bracket of complaining for tax increase since he no way makes $250,000 as yet in profit.Typical republican cry wolf.Read the fine print after the blinks.

[pearl89]

After watching Joe the Plumber on GMA this morning, I have to wonder why this guy would side against himself? If as he says, he is not making close to $250K why would he not want a tax cut? I was also struck by his arguement that because he works hard and becomes successful, why should he have to pay more taxes? I am insulted when people talk about how hard they work and those that don't should get a job. Well, most people have jobs and most people work hard, but most people don't make $250K. Daycare workers, teachers, social workers, waiters, custodians and countless other professions/occupations work just as hard as Joe for a lot less money.

As to paying more, the American tax code is based on those who make more, pay more. I think this is another example of repubs using smoke and mirrors, to protect their interest group - the wealthy. Trickle down economics - I don't feel trickled on...i feel tinkled on, tho. One of the reasons the repubs didn't want to pass the bailout plan was because of the cap on CEOs. McCain who is constantly railing against pork, doesn't mention that they put a lot of pork in the bailout plan, so the repugs would vote for it . I hope we do know who they are and that they won't be sent back to Congress at the end of their current terms.

[SurrealPumpkin]

"You say "trickled", we say "tinkled" let's call the whole thing off!