Joe the Plumber Meets Sarah the Energy Expert

Now that we know "Joe the Plumber" isn't licensed as a plumber, isn't capable of buying the business he works for, earns far less than advertised and has a financial lien against him over state income taxes, it begs a question: why did this stranger personally deceive Barack Obama last week in Toledo and why did John McCain then incessantly invoke his name in the final presidential debate?

First question answered: Joe obviously wanted his 15 minutes of fame, and a look at the transcript shows that Obama has begun to sniff this out.

After McCain brought him up the first time, the candidates discussed their tax plans. The Plumber then disappeared for a while, and they addressed other topics. Later, however, McCain brought him up again, and we got another cup of Joe, leading to this from Obama:

OBAMA: "I just described what my plan is. And I'm happy to talk to you, Joe, too, if you're out there. Here's your fine -- zero. You won't pay a fine, because..."

That's dryly amusing of Barack. By that point, after 92,000 McCain references to "my old buddy Joe," Obama was showing a hint of exasperation, and was starting to question the very existence of this Joe the Plumber. Turns out the senator from Illinois was on to something. Joe's a real person, certainly, but a charlatan touting fake bona fides.

Second question answered: How McCain's operation could make this guy the centerpiece of the third debate without nailing down his credentials is campaign malpractice, plain and simple.

It's a pattern reminiscent of offering the vice presidential slot to the governor of Alaska. The closer we get to Halloween, McCain shows himself to be more and more frightfully unprepared.

Read more reactions to the Obama-McCain Presidential Debate from HuffPost bloggers

Comments

[jchflorida]

Republicans ( and Bill Clinton) seem lost in the world of instant internet fact finding . Throw some B.S. on the wall and it will be you tubed and googled in a nano second and tossed right back in your lap .

[78704blue]

You'd think that after Watergate that the 'Pubs would avoid "plumbers". The last time, it got them the loathed Jimmah Carter.

[robbie44]

Step right up ladies and gentleman and prepare yourselves to meet "Joe the plumber",he slices,dices and did i forget to mention that he cant afford to pay his taxes under the current republican tax plan?

[Audrey85]

I love it. Thank you because after all the negatives, your post made a lot of sense. I said how ironic is it that Joe would meet Obama and McCain...sounds like a plant. Hmmm. Again Thank you, I needed that laugh!

[robbie44]

Step right up ladies and gentleman and prepare yourselves to meet "Joe the plumber",he slices,dices and did i forget to mention he that he cant afford to pay his taxes under the current republican tax plan?

[NationalTreasure]

This is silly season.

McCain's campaign and the republicans trotted out Joe the plumber who is related to Charles Keating and paraded chipmunks arond Hofstra.

Joe the plumber's connection to Keating only reminds Americans of McCain's shady activty during the savings and loan scandal and the chipmunks reminded Americans of McCain's facial scars, and the looming potential of a melanoma cancer related death.

Whomever, is advising McCain's campaign should be sued for malpractice. McCain should be asking for his money back from the people he has let run his campaign.

[mydogshakespeare]

John said he doesn't have money... maybe Cindy should be asking for HER money back!

[Miss Mamselle Hepzibah]

This morning, on THE DIANE REHM SHOW on NPR, gigantic amounts of time were spent discussing ol' Joe (or rather, Sam). The pub callers/emailers were spending so much time on poor joe and his beleaguered employees that I almost started feeling sorry for him! Joe and his ilk are just another example of the sad and sorry campaign practices of the grand old party poopers. However, I think one is really gonna bite them on the patootie!!

MMH

[milo h minderbinder]

There's no real reason for the media to keep talking about this guy.

But there's no question McCain will keep bringing the guy up every day, even though the guy ISN'T looking at buying a business, and even though he DOESN'T make 250k per year...meaning that this guy is actually an example of the 95% better off under OBAMA.

I guess when your campaign is doing horribly, you try and change the subject - talking about a plumber might help McCain distract people from the economy?

[SixBlocksAway]

I think Joe's 15 minutes of fame are going to be a lot longer than he bargained for with all these skeletons tumbling out of his closet!