McCain Accuses Obama Of "Smearing" Joe The Plumber

Sen. John McCain is tightening his embrace of Joe 'the Plumber' Wurzelbacher by accusing Barack Obama of "smearing" the media's newest populist fixation.

McCain told a rally in Miami:

You may have noticed -- there was a lot of talk about Senator Obama's tax increases and Joe the Plumber. Last weekend, Senator Obama showed up in Joe's driveway to ask for his vote, and Joe asked Senator Obama a tough question. I'm glad he did; I think Senator Obama could use a few more tough questions.

The response from Senator Obama and his campaign yesterday was to attack Joe. People are digging through his personal life and he has TV crews camped out in front of his house. He didn't ask for Senator Obama to come to his house. He wasn't recruited or prompted by our campaign. He just asked a question. And Americans ought to be able to ask Senator Obama tough questions without being smeared and targeted with political attacks.

The problem is that McCain has done just as much, if not more, than Obama to raise Joe's profile in the media -- initially raising his name and then referencing him numerous times in Wednesday's debate, as well as declaring him the debate's winner the next morning.

McCain adviser Matt McDonald said after the debate that Wurzelbacher was not even told in advance that McCain would raise his name during the third debate, and Ben Smith reports that "McCain's aides were cheerfully talking about how Joe would be dominating the morning shows the next day (though they weren't doing his booking)."

McCain even offered Joe a joking apology for the media frenzy during his appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman on Thursday. "Joe, if you're watching, I'm sorry."

More importantly, it's not true that Obama ever "smeared" Joe.

Asked for comment, an Obama camp called the charge of Obama smearing the plumber "made up."

The McCain camp may be hanging their charge on the oft-unscripted Sen. Joe Biden. Appearing on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno Thursday night, Obama's running mate said:

Let me put it this way: I don't know -- the neighborhood I grew up, even the neighborhood I live in now, which is a really nice neighborhood, I don't know many plumbers who are making $250,000 a year and worried about it. We're kind of worried about Joe the fireman, Joe the policeman, Joe the real plumber with a license.

Knocking the fact that Joe the Plumber is not, in fact, a licensed plumber might be a sharp elbow, but it isn't untrue. Or a "smear," as such. Nor was it something Obama himself said, as McCain implies in his prepared remarks.

Comments

[steffi]

Mccain was doing this all weekend on this stump speech with this "What about those attacks on Joe the Plumber" Joe didn't ask for all this media attention......

Then he goes onto imply that the attacks are on all small business owners.

[dimplesmile7]

I heard the McCain camp is thinking about taking Joe Nobody out on the campaign trail to address the hate crowds.

[chloe4455]

In a letter to the editor in the Chicago Tribune, Ayers wrote, "I condemn all forms of terrorism " individual, group and official". He also condemned the September 11 terrorist attacks in that letter. "Today we are witnessing crimes against humanity on our own shores on an unthinkable scale, and I fear that we may soon see more innocent people in other parts of the world dying in response."[24]..............Sounds like he was repentant to me senator mccain.

[Bitsko]

Joe the plumber says, "You know, when you can't ask a question of your leaders anymore, that gets scary." Senator 0bama answered your question, Joe. Did you ever try to get near McCain? Why don't ya go help Todd Palin fix up his house?

[ersf]

Joe the plummer, who complained about higher taxes, is not licensed and owes Ohio back taxes.
Once again, McCain did not vet the members of his ticket.

[DivergentMary]

This whole "Joe the Plumber" thing has me confused. Didn't Joe first approach Obama? How the blazes did he end up being the centerpiece of McCain's campaign? Once again, whatever Obama does, says, talks about ~~~ McCain steals it and presents it as his own. Does he have any ethics whatsoever?

[chloe4455]

McCain is such a hypocrite, it was he who FIRST mentioned "Joe the Plumber" on the debate not Obama. And it is McCain who CONTINUES to talk about him. McCain probably hired this guy to approach Obama and now he is using him to get Ohio votes. He is a really desperate man. Also, this Joe guy lied to Senator Obama anyway . Ohio , don't be fooled .

[Thefamilyvan]

The problem with "Joe" is that he has issues he's not talking about. He has a 800 pound gorilla in his room called "racism". He probably has a big problem voting for anyone of color for President. Joe isn't talking about that.... that's "TABOO". So, he uses his anger at Obama to express his frustration at not feeling comfortable with an African American President who really wants to help him. After all, isn't he supposed to be better than they? What really bugs me is that the GOP trots him as the "average Joe" when he is not. The "average Joe" pays his taxes on time. This Joe does not. How can he be so "pro American" when he doesn't even pay his taxes? Joe... YOU'VE GOT ISSUES!

[Veratruth]

Yea...Hmmmm. How long has Obama's tax policies been in effect? Joe, how long have you been a plumber? Who has been helping you reach your goal for eight years? What has your president given you, Joe? Better yet ... what has your president taken from you? If you tried to save by investing safely in CDs you probably earned on average of approx. 3 percent yearly. If you invested in the stock market, what happened to the money you tried to save? Sure, we got a tax rebate, but did that make up for the money you lost? JOE, PLEASE vote for Obama/Biden, and help all of us who are making less than $250,000 a year. An Obama/Biden supporter and donor (earning much less than $250,000).

[TN]

Doesn't U.S. Congresspeople make about 250,000 a year. And we wonder why they take bribes and get bought and we can't recruit any good people. What if we paid them a million a year? Maybe we could attract some better talent. Maybe they would be less likely to take bribes if they made as much as Joe the Plumber. Maybe we could get some people who were actually intelligent from the private sector that would covet that job. It would save us Billions/Trillions.

[allwrite]

Salary for both houses of congress is $169,300 as of 1/1/08. Its easy to stand on the sidelines and lob criticisms at elected reps. So to all private sector types (and their champions) claiming innate superiority to elected officials, run for office and prove it. Otherwise, just shut up. Plenty of examples of less than stellar insight and decision making by supremely well paid company execs.

[TN]

When you tell the truth about republicans and it is negative, they call it a smear, or liberal media.

[nivek]

A republican that injects a plumber into his own presidential campaign? Which one,Liddy?

[tedbear]

I think Joe the Plummer might have been a paid questioner.

[DRicha8374]

I believe that also tedbear, they say he had been on other radio shows like Rush, saying he wants to stump the candidate.

[JNagarya]

Well, we can be certain he's a Republican: he violates the law, doesn't pay taxes he owes, and lies about taxes he isn't required to pay.

[drsmc41]

I, again, do not understand how Obama is being charged with "smearing" this guy. Even worse, why is he acting as if he couldn't "ask a question of our leaders?" McCain is the one who interjected his name, and continued to do so, at and after the debate. It makes no sense. I thought Obama answered his question...but now he's saying he can't ask questions of the leaders. This is sickening.

[JNagarya]

"Joe the Plumber" (real name Samuel) is free to ask Palin any question he wants.

[Zyzzygowski]

Would this be happening if Sen McCain hadn't raised Joe the Plumber at the debate. It was Sen McCain who opened the door that has led to Mr Wurlzbachers' current celebrity.

Sen McCain has spun this beyound all factual reality. He has also spun the comment made by Sen Obama about 'spreading the wealth.' Veiwng the video of the encounter, the context has to be fully appreciated. It wasn't Robinhood taking from the rich to give to the poor, or the redistribution of wealth. It was that everyone should share in tax reductions, not just the wealthy.

[MilitaryBrat]

Of course McCain starts off with a lie.

Obama didn't "show up in Joe's driveway to ask for his vote" at all. He was in the neighborhood, and Joe approached HIM and asked his question. And Obama answered completely and engaged Joe in discussion, and they ended shaking hands.

[samson24]

You are delusional.

[JNagarya]

And "Joe the Plumber" violates the law and doesn't pay his taxes -- which is why you defend him by engaging in PERSONAL ATTACK.

PERSONAL ATTACKS are DUMB.

[milo h minderbinder]

What exactly do you dispute? His description sounds about right.