Only In America Kids... Joe The Plumber A.K.A Joe The Congressman

[Lee]

Joe the Plumber, the unlikely folk hero of the US presidential election, has signalled his willingness to dip his own toe in the political waters, by running for Congress in two years time.

Samuel Joe Wurzelbacher's campaign confrontation over tax with Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama has been seized on by Republican John McCain, who has made the issue a centrepiece of his campaign during the final week of the race.

But now Joe the Plumber has bowed to growing pressure from grassroots Republicans in his home state of Ohio to consider launching his own campaign.

Mr Wurzelbacher told conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham that he is thinking of challenging Democratic Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur in her Toledo area seat in 2010.

"I'll tell you what, we'd definitely be in one heck of a fight but, you know, I'd be up for it." Miss Ingraham then offered to help him with his PR strategy if he does eventually stand for public office.

On Saturday, he confirmed his intentions in a further interview with Fox News but made clear that he has not yet had talks with Republican leaders in Ohio, who have previously said they would welcome him running.

Joe the Plumber hit the headlines during the third presidential debate when Mr McCain drew attention to Mr Wurzelbacher's claims that he would be worse off under Mr Obama's tax plan if he buys the plumbing business he currently works for.

Since then he has become the signature voice of "ordinary Joes" on the campaign trail, in high demand on television and talk radio, where commentators say he has often made a more persuasive case for Republican economic plans than the McCain-Palin ticket itself.

Mr Wurzelbacher seems unabashed that it has since been proved he would be better off under Mr Obama's tax plans, saying he does not approve of the Democrat's proposal for government handouts for the less well off.

In another interview last week he described Mr Obama as "very average" when they met.

As he became a symbol of Middle America, reporters pored over his past and discovered he owes taxes and is not actually a registered plumber.

It has now emerged that officials in Ohio are investigating whether government computer systems were illegally accessed to acquire personal information about him. Information on Mr Wurzelbacher's driving licence was pulled from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles database and further data obtained from a child support agency.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...-Congress.html

Wow, this dude really knows how to milk his 5 minutes of fame.

Next we'll have a book and movie deal, after he sues the government for allowing someone to access his private information :eek:

Regards,

Lee

[chadknowslaw]

Joe works as a plumber without a license PLUS he owes back taxes. Hard to mount a successful campaign with skeletons like THAT in your closet.

Joe the Plumber is crock full of shit. He does not seem to be in any position to buy the 2 person business he is working for, and even if he could, the additional taxes he might have to pay under the Obama plan vs. leaving Bush tax cuts in place are nominal. Obama's plan is to let the Bush tax cuts on $250K plus incomes expire and go back to the Clinton-era rates.

What this really means is that for the first $250,000 in taxable income, the tax stays the same. On everything OVER $250,000, taxes would go from 36% to 39%. A person earning $350,000 would see their taxes rise by a total of $3,000. That is not really enough to make a difference, and what Obama is proposing is the same top tax rates we had under Clinton, when we had budget surpluses. Hardly socialist and hardly significant enough to stop a true entrepreneur.

Understand that taxes are imposed on profits, not on revenue. If Joe works as a plumber, and after paying his expenses, his materials, and his employees he still has a _profit_ of $250k he is one incredible plumber. I think Joe's "dream" is a bit drug-induced.

Joe the Plumber has about as much chance at winning a seat in Congress as I have being seated on the Supreme Court.

[basschick]

ah, joe the plumber...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lee-ca..._b_137582.html

[Squirt]

The Republicans love throwing that guys name around and conveniently forget to mention what Chad posted above.

His name isn't Joe, he doesn't pay what taxes he owes, he's not a licensed plumber, and he makes about $40k a year, not $250k (that's what Palin made last year). Yet "Joe" presents himself as a law abiding citizen named Joe, who's a plumber, and capable of buying a $250k business while being concerned of the tax implications, and already owing back taxes. Oi !

Only in America could a man run for office with that kind of history, and that's just the stuff we know about :crazy: