McCain Discovers Plumber No Ordinary Joe

Politico:

John McCain hung his final presidential debate performance on an Ohio plumber who campaign aides never vetted.

A day after making Joseph Wurzelbacher famous, referencing him in the debate almost two dozen times as someone who would pay higher taxes under Barack Obama, McCain learned the fine print Thursday on the plumber's not-so-tidy personal story: He owes back taxes. He is not a licensed plumber. And it turns out that Wurzelbacher makes less than $250,000 a year, which means he would receive a tax cut if Obama were elected president.

McCain likes to say that he isn't George W. Bush - and in this case of bungled public relations, it is clear he is not. The famously-disciplined Bush campaign operation would likely have found the perfect anonymous citizen to illustrate a policy proposal, rather than spontaneously wrap itself around an unknown entity with so many asterisks.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[HappinessHacker]

Why doesn't the press investigate GOP's use of street shills? It's wide spread and obvious.

In a down economy desperate people will do lots of evil things for money or favors.

The G.O.P. is paying street shills to try to mold opinion in Atlanta, their slick story lines have the ring of Moonies from days gone by. Joe the Plumber looks and sounds just like them.

HappinessHacker.com

[NURREDIN]

Joe the plumber is a fraud. He's a relative of Robert Wurzelbach­er,Charles Keating's (THE KEATING FIVE) son-in-law, and former V.P. of American Continental,the parent company of Lincoln Savings and Loan. Robert did a little time for his part in the scandal,but is still a heavy Republican donor. This guy was a plant. I can't believe McCain was so dumb that someone from Ohio (like me) wouldn't recognize this guy sooner or later.I can't wait for the media to get a hold of this on Monday!

[Puller58]

There needs to be a follow up where the tax authorities have a camera crew follow along as they knock on Joe's door and grill him. Then let McCain whine about that.

[lola85]

McCain/Palin and their surrogates are showing their true selves to the American people and the world with their divisive campaign. Take a close look if you haven't been paying attention. THEY BLAME OTHERS, instead of taking responsibility for their actions. They divide and bring negativity to an already LOW time in the our country.

This IS NOT LEADERSHIP. McCain/Palin: Divisive and erratic and negative--this is the administration that they would have.

Obama/Biden represents REAL CHANGE and restored dignity to our country. Get out and VOTE, VOTE VOTE!!!!!

Obama/Biden '08
Keep HOPE alive

[drsmc41]

Obama is blamed for everything. Right?

[milo h minderbinder]

Knowing McCain, he'll probably desperately cling to this Joe guy even after it's general knowledge that the guy will do better under Obama.

Same as he did with the "bridge to nowhere", sold it on Ebay, the health care "fine", the "overhead projector" and many other things.

McCain knows it's a lie, the public knows it's a lie, yet he refuses to let go. Really John, why do you keep trying something long after it is a proven failure?

[V4Vigilance]

1. Joe the Plumber doesn't pass the smell test, IMHO.

2. My favorite comment so far, "If your campaign was hip deep in sh it, you'd call a plumber too."

[toochie50]

What a fraud. Of course it was a setup - why did Faux news have it on their website starting on Monday - how did this guy get such easy access to speak with Mr. Obama? It's all very fishy.

[milo h minderbinder]

Because Obama was walking through a neighborhood knocking on doors.

This guy absolutely is a fraud, he made up his whole story in order to lie about Obama raising his taxes. But I don't see any way the party could have set it up so Obama ended up going to his house.

[chinacatsunflower]

he didn't. "joe" spotted obama and approached him.

[whawhawha]

"...rather than spontaneously wrap itself around an unknown entity with so many asterisks."

Hmm...what does this remind me of...it feels so familiar. No, wait, wait, it's gonna come to me.

[drauz]

I think Joe was prep'd for this little info-op by McCain's campaign... the whole affair is simply more evidence of how well-crafted & executed his campaign is. And a sterling example of how a McCain Presidency would operate.

[milo h minderbinder]

How would that have been possible considering Obama knocked on this guy's door?

Take off the tinfoil hats already, guys.