What Joe the Plumber Really Means

Joe the Plumber is the latest of many colorful, mythic characters to grace the nation's presidential stage -- an individual who epitomizes how our nation conducts its politics. Our democracy is kabuki theater, replete with symbolic archetypal Americans, some used as scapegoats (Reagan's "welfare queens") others used for fearmongering (Harry & Louise) and still others cited as mythic idols (Joe the Plumber).

In the War Room of presidential elections, these figures are typically chewed up and ultimately spit out by both parties, the media and interest groups. The treatment is so hackneyed that we all knew what to expect the moment John McCain first mentioned "Joe the Plumber": We knew our email boxes would be stuffed full of press releases from advocacy groups about who Joe Wurzelbacher is and isn't, attacks from opp research outfits about whether Joe really is a plumber, pays his taxes and is an upstanding citizen; SNL-ish attempts to create Plumber Wars by pitting Joe the Plumber for McCain against Al the Plumber for Obama; and canned cable interviews with Joe to let him use his 15 minutes of fame to explain himself.

It's all so cliche that I simply deleted all the email and shut off the TV today, knowing what they all said without needing to read it -- knowing that almost all of the noise focuses on Joe Wurzelbacher the individual, rather than the significance of Joe the Plumber the archetype -- and how that archetype's cameo in presidential politics verifies both a tectonic cultural shift happening in America, as well as disturbing dissonance between politics and policy.

In my newest article for In These Times magazine, I examine how the deeper narratives being amplified in the 2008 campaign may be as important to working-class voters (represented by the image of by Joe the Plumber) as the candidates' specific issue positions.

Building off Aziz Rana's great n+1 magazine article, I look at how the political Establishment's framing of career "success" can psychologically attract and alienate voters in unpredictable ways -- and how those definitions often denigrate Joe the Plumber even as that Establishment purports to court him with "issues."

The tectonic shift is Joe's appearance at the highest echelons of politics, a presidential debate. The mere fact that we are talking about Joe -- that we are talking about class-based economic concerns - tells us we have, indeed, matured past the greed-is-good paeans of the 1980s and the "new economy" platitudes of the 1990s -- both themes that effectively said non-professionals victimized by corporate-written policies are the necessary victims of capitalism's "creative destruction." That politicians feel the need to show their rhetorical regard for Joe the Plumber may be evidence we are finally climbing out of the elitists' rabbit hole.

But the pressing question after the election will be whether the working-class is, as I write in the In These Times piece, merely "a sepia-toned backdrop in 30-second TV ads" or a genuine focus of national policy? Will we still have policies and rhetoric that assumes the inevitability of mythic professional dreams and Tom Friedman's white-collar nirvanas? Or will we graduate to a politics that acknowledges the value of non-professional dreams, and the obstacles to those dreams that have been legislated in our trade, tax and globalization policies?

This is a scarier question, because despite the fleeting campaign promises about hot-button issues like NAFTA and the Colombia trade deal, it's hard to tell what this election and the current financial crisis is actually forging in terms of an overarching mandate.

The consensus-ism of Obama and the change pledges of McCain paper over the fact that both them -- and both parties -- still genuflect to Big Money. We are, for example, watching the candidates promising to put Joe the Plumber first, just weeks after they both voted for a bailout bill handing almost 5 percent of our economy to Wall Street speculators. That kind of cynicism bleeds down into the national legislature as well. As congressional candidates campaign as rhetorical populists (stay tuned for my newspaper column on this tomorrow), here's Roll Call today:

"When Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) travels to Wall Street today to discuss overhauling financial regulations with industry titans, it will be something of a homecoming. She once held a seat on the New York Stock Exchange; in fact, Tauscher cut her teeth there early in her career as an investment banker. This time, she is making the rounds both as an emissary of House Democratic leadership and as chairwoman of the New Democrat Coalition, a centrist organization hoping a Democratic sweep in November will make it a pivotal group next year and beyond...If Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) wins the White House, [New Democrats] say their votes will serve as a business-friendly check on the more liberal impulses of a party suddenly in control of all levers of power." (emphasis added)

During this recession, it is comforting to tell ourselves that if we elect a certain president, our troubles will be over; that if we get the right politicians into office, we will have forced our government to prioritize the working class over the donor class -- Joe Wurzelbacher the Plumber instead of Bob Rubin the Speculator. And hell, who doesn't want to be comforted at a time when our 401k(s) are being devoured by the market monster that donor class built? Like drug addicts seeing only their next fix and not their disease, we perpetually convince ourselves that the imminent election is our ultimate palliative.

But it's not -- if we don't acknowledge the deeper problems, inconsistencies and hypocrisies. If we perpetuate denial -- if we, for instance, obsess over the personal foibles or heroics of the individual Joe Wurzelbacher and not the far more important class meaning of the archetype Joe the Plumber -- then we are helping guarantee that the more things "change" the more they stay the same.

Comments

[flipper314]

I am shocked that the media isn't looking at this man as a political plant. He doesn't really make any sense and has a big voice in right wing radio in his hometown. The business he is buying does 100k of business, the owner says that he doesn't plan on buying it from him, makes 40k per year, and is behind on his won taxes. Perhaps it is a ploy on his part to help the Republican Party on his own or possibly he was given the information directly from the McCain camp to bring up the 250k thing and try to make it about every man.

[dosaybe]

we just need to change a term. Working class no longer applies to so many of us, that we need the label to be more inclusive:
UsedtobeWoring Class, or Not/Working Class, or Nearlyworking Class, or WouldbeWorking Class, or ICan'tReme­mberGoodJo­bs Class.

I personally can't afford to have Joe the plumber fix my plumbing. My eighty three yr old fil and his 80 yr old wife recently dug their own trench by hand with pick and shovel for a new sewer line because they couldn't afford the fee for a contractor. 30 ft of ditch four feet deep, day after day, blister after blister.

[lwaxanatroi]

"Gee, I wanted to be a pioneer and take my family across the plains in a covered wagon, but I was afraid the presidential candidate would raise my taxes, so I stayed home." "Gee, I wanted to go win World War II and defeat Hitler, but I was afraid the presidential candidate would raise my taxes, so I stayed home." "Gee, I could have been the first man on the moon, but I was afraid the presidential candidate would raise my taxes, so I stayed home."

Talk about a nation of whiners! Now in addition to cowering and giving up our constitution in the face of a few wacko terrorists, we are now cowering in the face of a 3% tax bump. Didn't we used to be the home of the brave?

[illinoisan]

Excellent point!

[rf-hawaii]

Are we a `nation of whiners', or is the Republican party out of touch?

[johnwinner]

The Perfect World only exits on paper. The ideal of democracy is an ilusion, since it depends on a citizenry all of whom are equally informed and sharing similar values but having differing personal interests which get negotiated and resolved by election. But this is only possible in a small, self-contained society. In America, unfortunately, our choices will always be between 'not-so-dumb' and 'just-plain-stupid' - it's something you're just going to have to live with, or go crazy, or spend your life on the outer margins.
The illusion of democracy is a humane illusion, one worthy of perpetration; but if you're smart enough to know it's not working, you're smart enough to know it can never work. At which point th best way to avoid cynicism or nihilism is to accept that the illusion IS humane and to help perpetrate it. When a patient has an incurable illness, perhaps all a doctor can do is prescribe placebos. At least thepatient feels better; perhaps tha's all one can hope for.

[RoloTomassi]

For the millionth time...this is a REPUBLIC, NOT A DEMOCRACY; these two concepts are far too dissimilar to be used interchangeably.

It's not that I disagree with your sentiment, but the simple facts puts your premise at odds with the basic functionality of the system.

[Sketchartist]

It's a republic founded on democratic principals.

[Sketchartist]

ALL ideals "only exist on paper". That is why they are called "ideals". They provide a DIRECTION - not a literal destination. As the saying goes, they lead to progress, not perfection. Democracy is an ideal, based on principals that have always been worth working and fighting for - not just more "illusions" to be "perpetrated". Democracy, in fact, is both an ideal and a principle. Perpetrating illusions and placebos without principals got us into this mess in the first place.

You speak of doctors and patients whom they may as well lie to because the are going to be dead anyway., but your metaphor doesn't work. We will still be here, and others will be here after us. If that doctor works hard toward his or her "ideals", there may be less of a chance that you, I, or those to come will die from what killed his previous patients.

Lying to someone who is dying may be the kindest thing to do, but let us, the living, get to work toward the "cure" and not escape through illusion, lest we meet the same fate.That's how progress has always been made.

[char renee]

barack obama was in "joe the plumbers"n­eighborhoo­d" going door to doorand as a american citizin he asked obama a question .and all of a sudden it's a conspiracy against obama?it's pathetic,and it's even more pathetic we know more about joe the plumber in just 3 days then we do about barack obama.the media did the same thing to sarah palin!

[biglith]

Keep repeating that mantra, it's all you have.

[johnpherson]

Pathetic? Brights know what's what and who's got no clue. Go feed Ms. Heath-Palin's dinosaur caveman.

[alenaspoppa]

"we know more about joe the plumber in just 3 days then we do about barack obama."

The pronoun you meant to use was "I". Please do not use "we" in instances in which you were too incurious or intellectually stunted to go and find out things on your own.

Barack Obama has been in the national spotlight for nearly two years during this campaign. He's given countless speeches, been involved in numerous debates both in the primary and the general election, written two books and numerous articles. The information available to those who ACTUALLY want to know more about Obama (rather than people who are just pounding a disingenuous GOP drumbeat) is plentiful. Just try reading once in a while or, failing that, turn on your TV (something other than FAUX News, please).

[bluerednot]

UGH! Joe the plumber is largely a FRAUD - he is like some character out of an Arthur Miller play - or Ibsen or what ever - you pick. He is NOT really what he presents himself to be, he is laying blame for his potential future inability to archive his fantasized "greatness" on a contorted / distorted / misinterpretation of proposed programs.
He is not just some noble "average guy with a plan" - as it turns out that he has no "plan" -he is a classic brazen "Big Fish" story teller - and upon close examination, has a whole tool shed full of axes to grind -

[HarryParatestis]

you mean that the difference between him and Palin is that she made it, and he hasn't? to me they are peas in a pod. think about it.

[bluerednot]

Interesting - I see the similarities - but Palin is concerning because of her ability to absorb others into her process and wield the power of position that she has gained.

[webmaker02]

Harry Paratestis needs to learn to read. "Joe" the Plumber, whose real name is not Joe, is related to Charles Keating, who's been in bed with McCain for years. They were partners in defrauding the government on the S.& L. debacle, and Joe is definitely a plant for McCain, lying like all Republicans lie.

[JScott]

and that bit about the taxes isn't 3% of 250000 only 7500, jeez at that income level that really isn't much, it's like whining about crumbs, and I make nowhere near that much, people at that income level can PAY IT, I'm pretty sure Warren Buffet would agree. And probably they would be able to get deductions and an income tax return so the net amount would probably be less.

[DoTheMath]

McCain can't win if we cast our votes in our own best interests. Obama, with help from the economic meltdown, has finally broken through the trickle-down spell that has mesmerized so many people into voting against their own best interests for so long.

"Joe the plumber" is McCain's attempt to recast that spell, to - against all odds - make regular people identify with someone who would not benefit from Obama's tax plan. Just think, the spell intones, this could be you. You could be on your way up the economic ladder, and BAM Obama gets in your way.

Notice that finding someone regular people could identify with, but who would not benefit from Obama's tax plan, was so difficult that no one did. The best they could find was a guy who said he might be on the brink of being in that situation. But it’s unlikely the situation "Joe" described would really result in Obama raising his taxes since, unlike a real small business owner, he confused revenue with profit to reach the $250,000 threshold. This may explain why no real "Joe the plumber" small business owners are griping about Obama's plan.

The fact that "Joe" isn't even really in the situation he said he was in, let alone his misinterpreted version of the situation he said he might be in, should by all rights blow up in McCain's face. It should reinforce the reality that Obama's economic approach benefits more people than McCain's approach.

[ehr]

coke or pepsi.

[betabeta]

Everyone that hasn't seen it, please watch the undedited conversation between Joe and Obama, it was awesome! Go Obama:

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6031110

[capitalismisntamoral]

It's pretty clear that Joe the plumber is a flat tax advocate.

[DASChicago]

VOTE for CHANGE!
OBAMA/BIDEN IS THE TICKET!!!!

[char renee]

we saw the whole thing,the point is obama wants to tax companies that keep jobs and the economy going in a crisis.only 55% of hardworking americans who bust their butt to support their family "surposebly"will get a tax cut .while 40% goes to lazy people who wanna run to the mailbox@the end of the month.

[char renee]

we saw the whole thing,the problem is.obama wants to raise taxes to companies that create jobs and keep the little economy we have going.when u see obama talkin to"joe"then u look@obama's record barack is known to say he will cut taxes,but in fact he has voted to raise taxes for the middle class.

[RoloTomassi]

Yours is a misinformed opinion; you should do something about that.

[webmaker02]

Why do you keep repeating lies that have been debunked already? You know that they aren't true.

Oh, I forgot, Republicans all believe that if you repeat a lie as often as possible, it will become true. You need to click your ruby slippers and go back to Oz.

[knowBuddhaU]

Bravo! Encore! Woohoo! Best essay I've read in a long time. Outside of Harper's, of course.

You make a clear distinction between an archetype's two basic manifestations: its denotation (Joe whatsisname the human) and its connotation (Joe "The Plumber" Everyman). By a sleight-of-mind trick of mythic proportions, whole nations or voting blocks can be tricked into accepting a celluloid hero for the real thing.

"Barack Obama is a man" is a denotation.
"Barack Hussein Obama is an Islamo-fascist terrorist stalking horse" is a connotation.

McCain's words in the debates denoted a level of courtesy not connoted by his comically contorted visage. His words denoted civility, his face connoted contempt, as if he were mugging to a Higher Power, to Friends in High Places, etc.

[PacificGatePost]

With all the lamenting going on about the economy and the markets, why is this being ignored? ....It was at the root of the problem.

WHO SHOULD OVERSEE THE FIX and WHO SHOULD BE HEADING TO JAIL?

If you’re a Congressman who fed at the trough of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, give the money back. Plus, what the executives did was illegal. Taking their cash favors was morally bankrupt.

Some executives and some in Congress should see jail time, starting with all Senators who took cash from Fannie and Freddie?

[kasinca]

Fannie and Freddie are not what brought down Wall Street. You are not getting the full picture.

[RoloTomassi]

You're missing the forrest for the trees...se­nsible-sou­nding GOP talking points are a method of misdirection.

[Rog49Thomas]

From the news I take it that Joe the Plumber is going to have net income of over $250,000 per annum.

Am I the only one out there who thinks that having that level of income might disqualify him as a member of the "working class"?

Perhaps someone from the Republican Party might consider good ole Joe as the working poor.

[capitalismisntamoral]

I think they also want to confuse a business with a revenue of $250k/yr which isn't that
much if you have employees to pay, business expenses, etc
vs. *income* (e.g. salary plus profits for a single-owner business) of $250k.

Of course, this would make Joe a member of the ownership class, not the working class?

Ok, so the idea of wanting to become a business owner - nice idea/American dream and
all that. Just not too realistic for most people/voters. Most of the people have to be workers.

McSame and the Repubs are trying to confuse people (as usual).
He talked about Joe wanting to buy the plumbing business.
An employee making enough to buy the business?
Is he going to get a loan ? ( ! )

[DavidHealy]

You might also note that businesses are not taxed on gross revenue but on net income, the revenue left after necessary and ordinary business expenses are deducted. In addition, most small businesses are not taxed directly as businesses but the net income is passed through to the owner who declares it as personal income on his/her 1040.

If Joe is planning on netting $250,000 then he would be far wealthier than the usual Joe Six Pack wage earner.

[bascombe]

yep! Joe is a fraud!

[LiberalDemIda]

I'm so sick and tired of the DLCers and I share your skepticism about having a Dem VETO majority, David.

I still have hope, however, that Obama will be a different kind of Democrat and hope this will be the case. Those DLCers and "New" (read:Repub-lite in a new jacket) Democrats gliding into office on his coat tails will turn around and betray everything he's trying to change and for their part, try to stop him from making any changes IF they have a veto-proof majority.

That's why I'm not so crazy about the idea of getting a Dem veto-majority in Congress.

Hopefully Obama is what he says he is and hopefully he's smart enough to enact change with slick, quick moves to outsmart them as he outsmarted Hillary in the primaries.

It is, after all, his mantra: Hope and Change that I, for now, will rely on.