Googling Joe the Plumber

First published at WashingtonTimes.com

Joe the Plumber came up in tonight's debate at least 23 times.

 

So naturally, reporters who haven't already attempted to track down Joe Wurzelbacher were doing so right at 10:30. Here's what popped up on a Google search for the Ohio man's name: sponsored links from the McCain campaign and RNC.

 

 

A "Joe the Plumber" search brings up McCain, RNC and union SEIU links.

 

 

I think this Joe the Plumber might be making some good money in the coming days.

 

I noted earlier the Republicans also have bought sponsored Google links for a search on ACORN. A quick spot check shows the RNC's "Barack Book" comes up in a Google search for Obama Ayers.

 

Even more interesting, a search for "Obama muslim" (keying off false email rumors - he is Christian) finds both the RNC and McCain have sponsored links.

 

 

Here's a larger image:

 

 

UPDATE, 11:30 P.M.: A half-hour later, Joe the Plumber's worth has increased - among travel agents and yellow page ads - and Obama has also bought his name.

 

 

 

Also worth noting, the more searched a term is on Google, the more expensive it is to buy these ads. So I wonder if McCain will be quickly priced out?

 

— Christina Bellantoni, national political reporter,
The Washington Times

 

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Comments

[HappinessHacker]

10:50 AM on 10/18/2008

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

The real story the press needs to dig into is the shills!!!

HappinessHacker.com - Atlanta

[vegangoddess]

03:40 AM on 10/16/2008

Interesting how Ben Smith's blog over on Politico says that "Joe Plumber" isn't registered to vote.
I also think he's another plant. The way he's been speaking on interviews is not how people really speak. Saying "we" and "people" need to know more. Why not " I "? Also saying that O tapped danced around his answers on the lawn in Ohio...hmmmm he gave him a 5 minute answer at least. He's fake, mark my words, he's getting paid by the RNC.

[snarkopolitan]

06:53 PM on 10/16/2008

Update: Joe the Plumber is a registered Republican who voted for McCain in the primaries.....he is also not a plumber. And his first name isn't Joe. Other than that, he's the perfect regul....oh, and he WOULD receive that tax cut, even if he does make a quarter million dollars. Other than that, he's the perfectest regular non-Joe that ever just happened to compare a Senator running for president to Sammy Davis Jr.

Now why would he think of Sammy Davis?

BTW, I've an illustration of him here: http://snarkopolitan.blogspot.com
along with some other political jokers, particularly one with a beehive.

[xrepublican]

01:23 AM on 10/16/2008

The internets toobs are already on it.....

this guy has the same (very unusual) last name as someone tied into the Keating 5 and is already owner of more than one business
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/16/02217/845/591/632001

and is - real shocker - NOT registered to vote.....
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/16/04943/642/556/632036

you can't make this stuff up.... reality - the ultimate farce

[johnlclark]

01:02 AM on 10/16/2008

I had to go to the "gop" from googling joe le plombier and just HAD to vote for the winner of this debate. It's just good to know the reps are wasting the $8M they had to borrow in these ways. It's too bad they couldn't afford tv ads during the Cowboy/Cardinal game... I guess that's my money at work: pissing McCain off (but he didn't have to piss during the Obama ads).

Seems that "Joe" is talking to the ultra-right about Obama's "socialist agenda":
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org

[cmerry]

12:59 AM on 10/16/2008

Joe is certainly receiving his 15 minutes of fame. You mention the Google search, but the websites will be popping up soon. I think this is the first....http://www.joetheplummer.com