Joe The Plumber Vs. CNN's Rick Sanchez: "You're Asking Me Insane Questions"

Joe the Plumber, in his last media tour of (one can hope) this election cycle, took to CNN this afternoon to make the case for his candidate John McCain. Only things didn't exactly go as planned. Host Rick Sanchez began asking a whole host of questions on sensitive topics like: Why don't you have a plumber's license? Why haven't you paid your taxes? Why is a hospital in South Carolina asking you for $1,100 in payments? And why does someone making far less than $250,000 have a problem with taxes being raised on those in the top income brackets?

Joe, not surprisingly, was none too pleased with having the grilling turned on him. "You're asking me all these insane questions," he said, shooting back that Sanchez never applied the same scrutiny to Barack Obama. Joe called Sanchez's inquiries "ridiculous" and at one point pleaded, "Why don't you ask what I'm going to do now?"

Here is the clip:

And here is the transcript of the heated/humorous exchange.

Why are you vetting me out and you haven't done this for Obama? You are asking me all these insane questions I asked a question of an elected public official and you are going to ask me these questions? That's kind of ridiculous man.

You have gone on the air and endorsed John McCain, you are no longer just joe private person, you have thrust yourself into this campaign by holding news conferences talking to reporters and endorsing a candidate. You have to be asked the tough questions my friend. That's the way it works in this country

Well, ask good questions then. Why don't you ask what I'm going to do now?

Both individuals, it seems, make valid points. But did Joe really think he could go on the stump, call Obama a socialist and a fatal threat to Israel and not expect any push-back?

Read more about Election 2008 coverage here.

Comments

[tgram]

Joe-the-Plumber is right...these questions are unnecessary. The media should have gone after McCain for pulling Joe on the trail. Joe had nothing to offer on the campaign trail because his questions to Obama were hypothetical and so the whole discussion should have been viewed from that point of view. But, no, McCain wanted to embarass Obama and have this character Joe run around Ohio campaigning about Obama's tax plan. Well, it didn't work, and it's a shame that the McCain people used Joe just like they used the Palin family...anything to win.

Many are being nice to McCain today and saying nice things because he lost the election, but it was stupid stunts like this that caused him to lose. McCain should retire and give up his Senate seat. He is no longer, nor will he ever be "The Maverick."

[anaicram]

hahaha. too funny! I believe Joe is moving to Alaska. See, once McCain made a fool of Joe, there was no stopping him. He couldn't believe how far and fast Joe took off with the nonsense. McCain looked confused "what the h*ll just happened??? Oh no, first Sarah, now Joe!*. So unfortunately, we were stuck with listening to Joe trying to justify his non-existence. When you build a glass house, please remove all stones from the front, back and sides and ensure there's non within a 100 radius of your glass house.

[rasthedestroyer]

seems like joe the plumber is outta work again.. maybe he should get a license???

[nclayla]

Please - lets all let Joe the infamous Pseudo Plumber crawl back from where he came. Too muhc time and energy has already been wasted on this person.

[toolootool]

First off, alot of people making that much money do NOT work nearly as hard as the average "joe". People with low paying jobs work their asses off for almost nothing, and they do so while working for big corporations making the bulk of the profit. This guy can't even afford his medical bills but is willing to defend the very people who are digging us this hole of poverty.

I believe people like joe the unlicensed tax-dodging plumber are living in a constant state of denial, they truly believe they will be rich one day and that they are somehow special. We are all in this together joe, and in this country lately the rich have been riding on the backs of hard working americans, while we receive no benifits. So, joe, you are basically up there punching yourself in the face day after day, living in a dreamworld. And unfortunately, ~47% of the population shares your illusion. Luckily the rest of us voted the other way as Obama won :D !!!

[Marilynleigh34]

Feel like a big man now? you would probably never say any of that to his face. Coward.

[robthomaseyes]

I'd say all that (and more) to that loser's face, and I'm female.

[Graywolf48]

I've read Joe is now unemployed. I also read Joe collected welfare at one time. Apparently he owes hospital bills and back taxes and he has the guts to talk about "principles"? Not paying your taxes or your bills may not be a very principled action. Perhaps Joe should take his own advice and not just look up principles but do a little additional reading on what constitutes a principled man. Then he should just go away. I trust he'll never accept any help from the public sector, and for him that is how it should be.

[Abby1]

Joe The Unlicensed and Now Unemployed Plumber is a hypocrite. He spouts his babble about higher taxes, however, he is part of the problem. Since, he did not pay his fair share of the taxes, his burdened is shifted upon others to pay, therefore increasing our taxes. Since, he did not pay his hospital bill, the hospital will either get public funds to cover his cost, make private paying customers pay more, and/or ask for higher reimbursement from contracted insurance carriers. If the insurance carriers give the hospital higher reimbursement, then the higher cost is shifted to the employer groups. Finally, the employer groups shift the higher cost to their employees. So, Joe The Unlicensed and Now Unemployed Plumber, you are personally responsible for the upcoming tax increase. I hope you are happy that you have personally contributed towards the problem of higher taxes.

[psue321]

You know poor Joe is sitting in his living room right now with a beer, wondering why his friends John and Sarah haven't called him today. Have some pity for the poor fool. NOT!

[one4obama]

Oh what a hilarious visual you have left us with today! Thanks

[scared4ALL]

Talk about visuals. I little bit ago I pictured when one of you spoke about the rich riding on the backs of middle class. Now that really ticked me off! I really didn't expect that comment to give me such a strong picture in my mind litterally like it did.

[SirHenryClinton]

I, for one, am lookin forward to seein more of Joe the (Republican PR shill) plumber. I'm lookin to see more of that sexy Sarah too. They've really helped the party this year, more than they can imagine, (wink).

[nikolena]

Here's my problem with Joe's logic. It's all good and well for him to talk about how people who make over 250k a year work hard for it and should be able to keep their money. Does that mean that everyone who makes below 250k are nothing but lazy moochers? Do we also not deserve to keep "our money" as well? My husband and I don't make anywhere near 250k, but we work d*mn hard for our money too.

I don't begrudge the government their fair share of taxes because it's taxes that provides the military that protects us, the roads that get us from place to place, and the common protections that we don't even think about like clean water, food, and air...things that we "all" benefit from no matter what our income. It just irritates me to no end that some (not all) rich folks and wannabees like Joe the Plumber holler about taxes being a punishment for doing well, and about how they made their fortune all on their own without any help from anyone, yet they are one of the first ones to run to the government to protect their trademarks and copyrights, and to get their tax loopholes, and to stabilize the stock market...whatever.

Hey Joe, maybe we should do it your way and not pay taxes at all. And then the next time disaster happens, you'll be like the rest of us moochers...on your own without a safety net.

[btanner]

There are people making more than $250k who don't have to work at all because they have trust funds or something. Based on his logic, should these people get taxed more because they don't work? Second, there are lots of people making over $250k who support O's idea of taxing them more. In the end, his opinion is just that, an opinion driven by selfishness rather than putting our country first. I don't think fighting for lower taxes necessarily equates to patriotism. But that's just my opinion.

[Abby1]

Joe The Unlicensed Plumber, please SHUT UP. We do not care about what you think or what you are going to do. You continue to thrust yourself in the limelight and spout your unintelligible babble. You deserve every bit of scrutiny that you have received. PLEASE PAY YOUR TAXES AND HOSPITAL BILL.........BECAUSE THE REST OF US WILL GET STUCK PAYING FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING DEBT OBLIGATIONS.

[FlamingLibrul]

Hoo boy, only the Republican party could so gleefully celebrate ignorant mediocrity. Even after finding out JTP is essentially a fictional character, they keep right on chugging with him. Thank God sanity prevailed.

[2351]

I think that they call it I G N O R A M O U S!

[Marilynleigh34]

you should know!

[robthomaseyes]

Joe the Liar can't even SPELL the word....

[DonTampa58]

Say good bye Joe. Guess you can stick a fork in that record deal too.

[Dystopic]

unlicensed plumber - makes me think of the DeNiro character in Brazil....

[jurneeka]

Just as suspected...the day after Election Day and nary a peep from our old buddy, Joe.

I expect to see him years from now on one of those VH1 specials called "We Love the 2000's" or "Whatever became of...?" Whatever he ends up doing, I rather doubt that he will be the owner of a plumbing business.