1. VoxLocus | 10.17.08

If Joe the Plumber finds that Ohio comes to collect its tax lien: Thank John McCain.

If Joe the Plumber is in trouble because he doesn’t have a license: Thank John McCain.

Me? I pay my taxes and resent people who don’t.

But that aside, Joe the Plumber and his $40,000 income will be way better off if Barack Obama is elected.

And that lien from not paying the hospital? The one he did settle up?

He’d be a lot better of with Obama’s health plan, too.

But rightwingnut that Joe is, he even hates Social Security. Bet he won’t turn it down, though.

2. Evelyn Poerstal | 10.17.08

Isn’t the point really that under Obama he would pay less taxes at his current salary/ wages whatever.

McCAin should not make an example out of someone without first getting their permission. The whole things sounds very bogus to me.

3. Joe | 10.17.08

This does not seem non-partisan at all. It glosses over or interprets almost all of the substantive aspects of the story in favor of a republican position.

4. Robert | 10.17.08

at the very least, I think Joe the Plumber should have his owing back taxes paid by the two presidential candidates.

5. Joe-the-Tax-Cheat | 10.17.08

The guy owes the Federal Government almost 1200 dollars and has a lien attached to his home. And we are supposed to agree with McCain that this guy is persecuted ?

Interesting coming from a man who accuses his opponent of associating with people of dubious character.

Can you say hypocrisy ?

6. RAWhite | 10.17.08

It’s sad how we can always count on the media watch dogs to grind up anyone who departs from the party line as they see it. Pity we can’t do unto them when they do unto us.

7. RM | 10.17.08

The liberal-lefties just HATE ordinary folks. Maybe they would feel better if “Emil, the Wine-sipping Snob” had said the same things that Joe said.

8. chris | 10.17.08

Joe is really Joe the damn liar, which makes him fit right in with the repubs

9. DB | 10.17.08

Here we go again with the McCain Campaign. Now they know he’s not licensed, makes far less than 250k. Soit ends up being just a question. Now Palin is touting Joe th Plumber. No telling how far out of context she’ll take it. It seems to me it’s an easy thing. 250k or more you’ll pay more, under no. If you’re making 250 thousand a year, you can afford another 750+ dollars for the betterment of the country. Get over it.

10. Bob Fanning | 10.17.08

The “Joe the plumber” bottom in the Dow Jones Industrials

Government has forced it’s self on the boards of all of Americas’ surviving largest financial institutions.

In the Brave New World of absolute unchecked power, those who seek credit for housing or business will be obliged as a precondition to getting any sort of financing , to swear allegiance to the ‘Democratic’ party. This is already how mortgages are being facilitated through ACORN.

The “Joe the plumber” bottom in the Dow Jones Industrials tells us America looked over the Dodd/ Pelosi / Frank / Obama precipice and into their Abyss and said; “no thanks”.

Joe will go down in American history as the man who single handedly stopped a Communist coup d’ete by telling Obama “You can’t have the money out of my pocket for my American Dream so you can redistribute the wealth”.

The market is signaling in it’s forward forecasting that ;
1) the recession / depression that everyone is expecting will not occur.
2) Mc Cain will win and taxes won’t go up.

Disagree ?
Get Soros to bring out the sellers; they’re played out.

11. steve | 10.17.08

Joe the Plumber
The guy has no plumbers license ,he cant even pay a thousand or so in back taxes ,he is going to buy a plumbing business,go to school 1st get your license then wish in one hand and s_ _ t in the other on buy business good luck on getting a loan

12. Robin Greene | 10.17.08

The bottom line is pretty simple. Socialism and tax raises from Obama and god knows what else from this con-man or more of the same from McCain. I vote for more of the same. I’d rather know what is going to happen than risk fiscal and social disaster from B.O. Hey, B.O. stands for “the Guy Stinks”. How ironic and true.

13. basementfrog | 10.17.08

Palin and Joe the UN-plumber. Boy, McCain can pick winners can’t he. What would his cabinet look like?

But McCain was picked today….. HELPING VETS or Stabbing them in the back again. John McChicken, traitor and Coward

Sen. John McCain’s recently scored D on the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America report card, by members of the University of Iowa Veterans Association, The Daily Iowan reported. Sen. Barack Obama received a B on the IAVA report card.

“There’s a difference between the public John McCain who’s a POW and the John McCain who votes consistently against veterans’ benefits,” said sophomore Drew Hjelm, who supports Libertarian candidate Bob Barr. “I just don’t see why that’s not a big talking point for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s camp. … John McCain is way off-base.”

14. Billw | 10.17.08

The Democrats smearing Joe The Plumber are defining themselves for the dirty rats they are. Their tactics are like those of second graders.

15. Tania | 10.17.08

Joe the plumber sounds like a loser to me. He owes the State money on a tax lien. McCain’s people should vetted him out before they used him as an example. He’s dead beat tax payer.

16. Rich Franklin | 10.17.08

Poor Joe. All he wanted to do was ask a question. This is why we can’t get good people involved in politics. Who needs the KGB when we have the good old American media? Our forefathers said that a free and independent press was critical to the survival of our country. I don’t think that this is what they had in mind. God help us all.

17. Jeff | 10.17.08

Let me get this straight: McCain thinks Obama is responsible for a media circus outside the plumber’s house? The days of radio are over my friend. Welcome to the twenty-four hour cable news cycle….

18. Doc Holiday | 10.17.08

Crooks of a feather flock together.

Tax deadbeat Joe supported by Keating 5 crook John.
No wonder he picked an idiot for a veep.

19. underwood | 10.17.08

The question I’d ask is, why is McCain surprised when calling out a real-life person in a hugely talked about national debate for the highest office in the land causes the media to immediately seek out and scrutinize the person he chose? Why didn’t he wonder whether this person (who thinks “Social Security is a joke” that he shouldn’t have to pay for) might be a bit of a rabid anti-tax nut who was trying to bait Obama? “Joe the Plumber” is another one of McCain’s attempts at a table-turning stunt, and it’s backfiring because he’s thinking “this’d be a great stunt” not “this is a great policy.”

20. shame on you | 10.17.08

you write in this article how you should not be attacked for getting involved in the political process…and what do you do?? you not only attack him - you disect him to the last detail…your the sort of media the world could do without…..

earl

21. CommonSense | 10.17.08

Isn’t the point that we have the right to ask tough questions of our leaders and those who wish to be our leaders without the threat of being ridiculed, investigated, and/or Interrogated. Regardless if it’s John McCain or Barak Obama, we should be asking questions and not just accept the “party line.”

22. derek eddy | 10.17.08

This is why they say the first casualty of war is the truth. McCain is such a deceitful liar. He is hoping that people will think Obama is against working people like plumbers. Either McCain is too removed from society to know that plumbers don’t make that much or he is hoping the uniformed will think Obama is against the working man. the truth of course is that McCain is against the real Joe-the-plumbers out there.

23. Richard Prince | 10.17.08

The big problem here with John McCain is that he is a liar without conscience.

Joe the plumber is not being attacked by the Obama campaign. Joe the plumber puts himself forward (and McCain also) as just an average guy and people all over the country want to know what is so poignant, useful, or significant about Joe the plumber. And what the media found out is that Joe the plumber is a dubious character of questionable judgment. Even moreso, John McCain has made yet another huge, and I think cynical, miscalculations about the American people and what their needs and concerns are in this election by casting a false narrative around Joe-the-plumber. This manipulation both of reality and Joe the plumber is so sick

So McCain decides to lie and begins projecting accusations onto Obama. Typical small-minded incompetence from the candidate. We don’t need leaders like this in our time of crisis.

24. Annie | 10.17.08

Wasn’t it McCain who brought up Joe in the first place?

Maybe I’m not remembering correctly, though.

25. RichYan33 | 10.17.08

Hey, at least when the press asks questions of Joe he faces them unlike Moose-whacker Barbie. Joe would make a better running mate for McCain. He actually was able to form a thought and an opinion on his own.

26. Jeff | 10.17.08

I really don’t think this should even be a story. The guy and his story have been discredited totally. I’m a republican, but I’m free-thinking enough to see that this reeks of “Joe the Plumber” being a plant for the McCain Campaign. His name’s not even Joe! Joseph is his middle name. I can just hear the meeting…”let’s find an average guy….JOE! that’s it, joe. And he’s a….PLUMBER! Perfect! Average Joe Plumber.” Chomp Chomp….Not sure I’m voting this year.

27. Charlie | 10.17.08

I would guess that what Joe receives from the stipend for his Fox appearance will be an adequate amount to cover his back taxes. I find in incredulous that Obama is being called on the carpet for digging up his debt, license, etc. Who was it that brought up Joe in the debate after all.

28. Dennis | 10.17.08

Mr. Orr:

Yes he is a plumber. Belonging the plumbers union would make him a LAZY PLUMBER.

His position is that a business owner would be able to hire more people under a McCain administration than an Obama administration. A point which remains unanswered by you, Obama or any other democrat.

Your dismissive, denigrating attitude toward this hard-working and well-meaning citizen who was brought into this mess by your own Barack Obama reflects only your own bigotry.

Of course you’re not the only bigot dumping on this poor guy. I heard the saintly Bill Maher yesterday call him “Joe the liar”. Very nice. Very thoughtful and fair.

You and Maher that are going to end up handing McCain the election, you know that?

29. Inverse137 | 10.17.08

Ok, this dude doesn’t make over $250k a year. By all accounts he would be better with Obama. Less taxes, better health care, etc.

Now, even if he did make over $250k, which is a lot of money to net….I grossed $202k but my taxable income after deductions was only $149k…let’s for example say he NETTED $280k. The difference in taxes between Obama and MacCain for uber plumber Joe would be $900. Yes, folks, $900 on that additional $30k income.

And that is NET income, not gross.

Neo-cons are dumb. oh wait, look who their current leader is.

30. Joe-the-Tax-Cheat | 10.17.08

Let me get this straight ?

Joe Wurselbacher owes the Federal Government 1200 dollars.

Joe Wurzelbacher has a lien attached to his home.

John McCain says the media and general public are persecuting old Joe.

John McCain says one of his opponents associates with people of dubious character.

Can you say hypocrit ?

31. david | 10.17.08

Oh, and Joe the Plumber is formally from…. Arizona.

32. Gabe | 10.17.08

Let me see his real name isnt Joe its Sam. He isnt a even a plumber. The business he was talking about possibly buying doesnt even come close to making $250K a year according to its owner - he estimated $125K! and Joe …oh I mean Sam is in debt with a tax lien on his house and he makes like what $40K a year?

This is a stupid stunt.

33. Inverse137 | 10.17.08

RishYan33, #26…

Moose-whacker Barbie…LMFAO…

34. Paul Sobocinski | 10.17.08

Soon the economy will be flushed down the toilet (pardon the pun) and for the remaining fraction of people who still own a home, they won’t be able to afford a plumber anyways (licensed or not).

People really need to understand the big picture here. Any Economics major is taught a basic fact: Keynesian policy (government spending initiatives, tax cuts to middle class) is the only way to stimulate an economy out of a recession.

Fortunately, by November 4th, the Democrats will have control over the house, the senate, and the presidency. Which is just what the US needs, IMHO.

35. Joe vs the Average Guy | 10.17.08

It was danced around by both candidates but I came away from that debate with the following question. Who does the government have more of an obligation to help, the person who has realized the American dream (Joe) or the one who is struggling to find it?

McCain believes it’s the one that already found it and Obama thinks it’s the one that is struggling to.

36. LiquidEdger | 10.17.08

Thanks for the laughs!

I am a Florida teacher who works 70-80 hours a week and receives no health-care benefits at all. I make about 30k per year and only the conservatives are to blame for the poor state of education. Joe, McCain and Palin have no clue about what big business does to the working man. Well…actually they do…they just support such measures.

Let Joe go without paying his taxes - I have always paid all mine. Now I find that Social Security has been privatized in Florida without my consent. In other words I had no choice when the schools which employ me decided to take away my SS and give it to organizations which constantly lose money. But the CEO’s make plenty.

Go Obama!

37. Rick | 10.17.08

I’m a former banker.

Good luck trying to buy a business today …. your tax lien & lack of a license notwithstanding.

38. bob J | 10.17.08

I am sure that everyone on this blog always pays every bill, has all licenses they have ever needed, never does anything wrong. Leave the poor guy alone he just asked a question and Sen Obama answered it, with a phrase he regrets.

39. Brad | 10.17.08

One thing I think that’s being missed is that this individual, Joe, is bringing up a very valid point, and the direct comments from Sen. Obama is what we should focus on. It’s not the specifics of Joe, but the belief structure of Obama. It’s not about his tax lein (and any potential tax cuts he may or may not get now or in the future), it’s not about is medical bill (which NONE of us have any right knowing), and it’s not about his license (lots of people work in many different professions without proper licensing).

The key we need to look at is the principles of Sen. Obama’s belief structure. Take money from the wealthy, give it to the not-so-wealthy in the form of tax CREDITS. Note, credits, not tax CUTS. Dems have never really been known to cut taxes, just provide credits. But I digress…

The principle of “spreading the wealth around” is tantamount to Socialism, like Joe said. It’s not if he’d be directly impacted… I know I won’t be adversely affected by it… right away. But my family’s income this year will likely be in the 70’s to 80’s. Far cry from the 250k benchmark that Sen. Obama has set out, but Joe brings up a valid point: Where’s it stop? At what point do they say “Well, we’re not generating enough tax revenue for the behemoth government we’ve created, drop the threshold for tax increases.”

It’s the mindset that redistributing wealth is okay. It’s not. It’s defeating the purpose of the free enterprise system and the concept of the American Way. What reason would I come up in this world from meager means and strive to do great things and make money when it’s just going to penalize me? It’s a betrayal of the very core values of our country, and it’s absolutely repulsive to think that he wants to impose this “robin hood” mentality on his fellow Americans. Last I checked, a family in CA making 260k a year aren’t villians… they’re living comfortably. Unless your definition of villian is someone who isn’t living paycheck to paycheck. To me, that’s just called prudent spending and saving.

Just some food for thought.

40. H. Whitten | 10.17.08

Joe-the-fraudulent-citizen is going to rue the day his name came out of John McCain’s mouth.

41. Dolgo | 10.17.08

This thing sounds a little fishy to me. Anyone else suspect that this guy might have been hired by the Repubs?

42. David B | 10.17.08

So if someone is considering to start a business that may have the potential to make more than 250K, and asks a simple question about it to a presidential candidate, he can be sure that he could be investigated by the media and fried if his question is one that gets the favored candidate in trouble. He needs to be sure that he is already licensed in the field he is considering. He needs to make sure his potential income is exactly the same as he is considering for his new business. He needs to make sure he is ready to do his part of being patriotic and fess up more taxes to provide socialized welfare to the not so needy.

This story and the reactions make me sick.

Has anyone got the BALLS to stand up and say that Obama wants to take money from upper middle class and GIVE it (YES GIVE IT) to non-taxpaying citizens. THis is WELFARE. Something for nothing. A hand out.

Kind of like the railroad bums getting a dime and a meal during the depression. My grandmother was one of those who’s husband worked for the post office and gave dimes and meals to bums. She had a chalked symbol on the side of her house.

What kind of symbol should we put on the houses of those who are paying for the welfare this time. Maybe the word “SUCKER!” Because if YOU vote for Obama and he gets in office, you will live in his socialist world.

Good luck with that!

43. sos | 10.17.08

John McCain seems to enjoy creating some of the most cancerous astigmatisms the world has ever known.
People with Grinchy-Grinch smiles are the ones who perfect their evil plans at the cost of the lives of others. They will not stop at any measure until they have carried out their wicked plans, and they will then will grin in your face and pat you on the head as they take your “very last crumb.”

What snake-like behavior to use this guy to make another sterile, useless point, and instigtate more negativity in an already overly aciduous climate of distrust and division. Shame on McCain!

44. JC | 10.17.08

You are all missing the point. If anything, his difficulty in paying back taxes exemplifies the pain that taxes are causing to the average Joe, plumber or not.

45. Tim | 10.17.08

Obama had one filmed conversation with the guy, and McCain pounded the name “Joe the Plumber” into our heads 1000x. Who’s to blame for the scrutiny this guy is receiving? And tell me conservative pundits don’t do the same thing. Crying unfair is hypocritical.

46. fred | 10.17.08

Joe should have kept his big mouth shut. Next time you republicans try to ask stupid questions you better be prepared to be destroyed.

47. zach | 10.17.08

This whole notion that Barack Obama “came to his house” is pretty silly. Obama did not go to Wurzelbacher’s house. Obama is not the media. No one said Joe doesn’t have to right to his own opinion. Barack is no stranger to tough questioning.

48. Mystgreen | 10.17.08

Did Joe want to be the McCain posterboy? All of the backlash on Joe can be simply blamed on McCain who put him in the spotlight of the debate not “Obama’s People”. He became big news because of McCain and everybody started looking at Joe. The ‘McCain People’ are still trying to milk Joe and keep him in the spotlight

49. Bill | 10.17.08

The moral of the story is, if you aspire to be successful, realize Obama has no qualms about taking some of your excess money from you to redistribute to those less ambitious than you.

This applies to you if you plan on making your money in plumbing, medicine, or selling grilled chicken on the side of the road.

50. SG Kinne | 10.17.08

Thisiwhole story and the first couple of comments miss the point entirely. Forget about Joe, and the media frenzy following him. What should be scrutanized is Obama’s statments…Spreading the wealth or sharing the wealth. He followed that up with “I would’nt mind paying a little more.” Every reading this, ask yourself, would you mind paying more? If the answer is no, you wouldn’t mind, then just sit down, write out a check to the IRS and mail it in. Whatever extra you think you deserve to send. If the answer is yes, you would mind paying more, then I think you know where you really stand.

51. kc | 10.17.08

“Joe” was simply trying to make Obama look bad. He admitted it.

Bottom line - much ado about nothing. In fact, “Joe” would likely be better off under Obama’s tax and health plans.

52. rich | 10.17.08

Yet again, truth does not matter to the republican party.

53. watchin from a distance | 10.17.08

Who cares what Joe does or if he has a license. All he did was ask a question. These elections bring out the crazy stupid in everyone. Demobots and Republicons alike. Lets stick with the facts… No more idiotic stories of Obama playing with his acorns or dating reformed terrorists. Enough with the whole McCain will eat your children storyline. Lets stick with the facts and make an informed adult decision.

54. John W | 10.17.08

Is it just a simple question regardless plumber or not: Will tax raise cut-off line at 250K hurt many small business owners so badly that they can’t run their business at all?
The answer is NO, if they can make that much profit at all.

55. nojoe | 10.17.08

1. Voting is FRANCHISE. If you no pay taxes - you no vote. (in a just society)
2. How can he buy the business with no license?
3. Joe’s a plumber just like Palin is fighting off the Russian Hoards “rearing their heads” up in the Yukon.

56. rick | 10.17.08

say what you want about Joe but the real story is Obama’s response. He wants to redistribute wealth. That sounds like a fine idea as long as it comes from people who make more than you. How many of you would back the Obama plan if the cutoff was 40K rather than 250K?

57. robert mack | 10.17.08

Joe “the Plumber” has no one to blame but himself for the attention he’s currently getting. He’s seems the be a not-very-bright Republican who thought of a way to get Obama in trouble with a question the will make other not-very-bright Republicans conclude: higher taxes will hurt middle class Americans if it would hurt a plumber. The problem people with that conclusion that some people don’t seem to get is that NO plumber can make $250,000.00 per year (and so, this whole thing was a gimmick ill conceived by a … well, a plumber and not another Rove). Even Obama seemed to be taken by surprise by the question and failed to give the guy a quick and simple answer: if you make over $250,000.00 per year, yes, you will be taxed, no matter if you’re selling hotdogs at the corner of the street.
Now he’s complaining of getting too much attention like Britney? Oh well, that’s what you get for opening your mouth and letting stupid things come out. Isn’t that how Britney got in trouble, too?

58. Randall | 10.17.08

I don’t like Joe being attacked either. I’m a businessman struggling to make a living. I voted for the Bushes 4 times and Reagan twice. I’m concerned about McCain’s intelligence though . Why would you bring up a person in your speech without having him checked out? Same with a VP pick? Or canceling Letterman? Or going back to help the bailout bill and he couldn’t even convince House Reps from Arizona or Alaska? You don’t make sudden moves like that. It is almost like he’s in panic mode!!!

59. Dose of Reality | 10.17.08

I’d rather have “an idiot for a veep” than an idiot at the top of the ticket.

Wonder why the Repubs picked Palin? Because she’s at least as qualified to be President as Obama himself. Consider carefully the juxtaposition here. The Dem ticket is *UPSIDE DOWN*.

Obama’s “claim to fame” is as a community organizer with/alongside ACORN (think: voter fraud) and as President of the Harvard Law Review (think: student organization). Obama’s “government experience” is minimal activity in state/federal Senates.

Give me a break. I heard a talking head say Obama has as much experience prior to Presidency as Abraham Lincoln. Well, I didn’t know him personally, but I’ve read a lot about him, and Barack ain’t no Abe.

60. 91X | 10.17.08

I wish people gave a ratzazz about the country and quit worrying about being a Dem or a Rep. They both lie. They both smear and it sounds like kindergarten when they say “but he started it”. There are plenty of fingers to point at both parties for the country’s problems. I dodn’t see how people can say Obama is about change when he has never crossed party lines, thats politics as usual to me, not change. McCain has just as problems as Obama. Just pick your poison and shutup about it.

61. David | 10.17.08

Republicans are always worried about the welfare of the business owner first, and then maybe the people working for them. The majority of people work for someone else so the owners are always in the minority. McCain isn’t really worried about Joe until he owns a business. Working class people can go without healthcare, health & safety regulations, a living wage, etc. But if they own a business then it is so important that what they want, they get. Worry about their families, their lives. The employee and his family is ALWAYS disposable. When are working class people going to get tired of being someone else’s disposable tool?

62. Kathy | 10.17.08

So what if Joe is a Horse Breeder and he was just asking a hypothetical question? Maybe he didn’t want his other Horse Breeding buddies knowing that he went to an Obama Rally, so he claimed he was a plumber. And who said all your taxes have to be current in order to ask a question? Obama still hasn’t given proof that he is an American citizen and you guys are worried about Joe owing $1200. Unbelievable!!! Wake up and smell the coffee. I believe this is just a foretaste of what is to come if “that guy” becomes the president. Do you want all the presidents men raping your past, present and future just because you asked a simple question?

63. Dave the Stone Mason | 10.17.08

Am I wrong or didn’t McCain bring Joe up? Got his last name wrong too, that can happen to many old curmudgeons. Used him as an example 20 or so times, then cries foul when people want to know what kind of guy Joe is. I don’t think any of Joe’s personal business should be out there. McCain put him in the public eye. Unless someone shows me something, somewhere that shows Obama brought up Joe the unlicensed plumber, then Joe’s demise falls on McCain and Palin. Just becuase Joe and Barack had a healthy conversation doesn’t mean a thing, I am sure they both, Obama and McCain, both talk to people daily that don’t get brought up in front of 60 million people. I want to see less of Joe, and more of that crypt keeper haired lady from Minnesota…she is the “base” and she’s hilarious, I wonder what skeleton’s are in her closet, or gnomes on her lawn…why won’t McCain talk about what Obama’s plans will do to her?

64. Bowel | 10.17.08

This hole things deserves a flush! I feel like I’m watching a bunch of toddlers try to make it to the poddy without an accident.

65. JMM | 10.17.08

The point is not where in life the man is now. The point is where he wants to go. The point is where is dreams lie. He see’s a massive roadblock in his dreams for himself and his family in Obamas political ideas. Personally, I do too. It’s a shame that instead of analyzing the theory behind someones political ideas, liberal America is perfectly happy just tearing apart the lives of those that disagree. I will never understand how a government based on the tax idea of work more pay more, work less pay less ever gets off the ground.

66. Mike Hunt | 10.17.08

So we’re just about all going to get our taxes lowered, except the few who make 250+ who will only pay a little more, and meanwhile we all get health insurance and “lower costs”? Just exactly what endeavors can government run better than private sector? And who pays for all that? Corporations are not people, so evidently it’s the entity we work for that has to cut costs somewhere else to stay alive. Sounds like Joe will pay more if he buys in, or he could be out of a job if he doesn’t. That is, if he doesn’t run away from the “journalistic” pressure to toe the line first.

67. For your Info | 10.17.08

Don’t judge other people. You all don’t know Joe’s circumtances.

68. miamian | 10.17.08

Joe’s another unfortunate puppet. This race is a class war and I can’t get over how many of my middle class friends think they’ll somehow benefit from a Republican president who will just make his fat cat friends fatter. The middle class are being used but I guess that’s nothing new. It just shames me to think it’s so easy to dupe and con the American people. Thank God (yes some liberals do believe in him/her) Obama is going to be our next president. I’m not sure if my Republican friends will denounce their citizenship but I am certain they’ll continue to shop at Wal-mart and blame their inability to rise above on Obama.

69. John | 10.17.08

Can we not see that there are more issues to this than taxes? What kind of IDIOT takes an example like “Joe” and seeks to dissect the individual rather than the point that is being made? America has one of the highest business tax rates in the world.

“The wealthy” are already footing more than their fair share of the bill. Taxes, healthcare, and immigration are related. There are many thousands of small businesses that have great difficulty covering employees with insurance.

Unscrupulous insurance companies drop clients when they actually need health care, or raise the rates for any given company so high that the business owner has to both drop the insurance, and buy a cheaper, lower quality plan, or eventually be forced to scale back the size of his business. Unreasonably high insurance rates cause a decrease in employment, and hurt the economy.

If you read Obama’s healthcare plan carefully he is so focused on the individual that he actually hurts the business owners. By involving the Fed to the degree he suggests, we will eventually have to convert to a socialized health care system because the quality and availability of care will drop due to government involvement. There will be fewer jobs because taxes will be raised on business owners to fund this mess. His ideas sound great at first, but when you look closely, it’s a finger in the dam approach.

Eventually, the dam is gonna break.

70. Dan | 10.17.08

C’mon people, leave poor Joe alone. He asked Obama a simple question. McCain is the one who put the spotlight on him. Joe is like a lot of Americans; hurt by the economy, hurt by lack of adequate healthcare and unsure of where the candidates stand on the issues. The fact that he makes less than $250,000 a year and will pay less taxes under Obama is the real issue, the real answer to his question. McCain needs better vetting by his staff. Nuf sed!

71. Greg | 10.17.08

I don’t see how McCain can blame Obama for the media attention that Joe the Unlicensed Plumber is getting. It was McCain that brought him up at the debates, it was McCain that featured him in negative advertising, and it was McCains campaign that is using it a part of their talking points.

The Obama campaign is not trying to harrass Joe, but the attention McCain has placed upon Joe as his prime example of small business should be checked out by independent sources.

Turns out Joe is not a small-business owner, and even if he were making the kind of money that he hypothesized, he would only see a tiny increase in his taxes ($766) which would be offset by Obama’s tax-rebate for small business owners.

Also, Joe can’t complain about the attention, especially if he is doing the talk show circuit and joining the Republican campaign rallies.

72. Bill Betts | 10.17.08

You hacks are way to liberal and pusillanimous for me to add a comment here.
Joe is not the point. The point is that any tax increase will cause a deeper recession and maybe a depression. You youngsters here have been spoiled by the life your parents made for you but their parents suffered beyond any description you are able to comprehend. However, when Obama becomes President you may very well find out because every reputable economist that studied his plan agrees it will send us into a depression.

Good Luck kids. I have terminal cancer so I won’t be here to suffer that but I do feel sorry for you unenlightened socialist.

73. Mike the Plumber | 10.17.08

It’s obvious that the Democrats have succeeded in getting their party to respond to online news articles in a massive way. It has biased the media (more than normal) and frankly the republicans have failed to respond as effectively. Talk Radio is not as pervasive in our society as movie stars and mainsream media. Most likely a super majority in congress, and ultimately a democrat-leaning society for a while. I hope they are right.

74. adam | 10.17.08

Does any of this affect the licensed,tax paying, hospital bill paying citizen Joe Six Pack?

75. Lee | 10.17.08

“Sen. Obama said that he wants to spread the wealth and he wants government to take your money and decide how to best to redistribute it according to his priorities,”

76. Jephte | 10.17.08

Wow! McCain throws this guy under the bus, then blames Obama for the scrutiny he is facing.

I guess in the world of GOP politics Media = Liberal = Democrats = Obama. Does this mean that “Conservative” media is leaving Joe alone?

Leave Joe alone!

77. Ken Barber | 10.17.08

(Yawn) so typical of the Left. Ignore the message, attack the messenger.

The point is that Obama will raise taxes on the very group of people who are already paying too much. The point is that Obama believes it is Government’s proper role to “spread the wealth” (his exact words).

In other words, Obama is a Socialist.

That’s the point. All of the ad-hominem attacks against Joe the Plumber are just yet another Red Herring thrown by the Democrat leadership.

78. Kathy | 10.17.08

Hhhhmmm… Why can’t Middle Class America Joe afford to pay his taxes and hospital bills? Could it have something to do with the eight years under Republican leadership? (Hey Joe, how’re ya gonna afford to buy that there business with no money anyway?) Under an Obama administration his taxes would be more affordable and hopefully health care too (making becoming a small business owner more likely of a possibility).

Seems pretty typical of the McCain campaign to latch onto and run with a whim that might appeal to the general public. It’d be even better if Joe was really Josephine the Plumber!

79. Mark | 10.17.08

“Joe the Plumber” is not the point of the issue. Does every blogger that has commented concerning this issue not have a dream of having their own business, and succeed at that business.

Are you willing to hold the business down from growing so you don’t surpass the “Robin Hood” threshold of taxation?

The only difference in Obama’s “Robin Hood” approach is Robin Hood actually gave it to individuals that were down on their luck and needed a helping hand to get through tough times and back on their feet. They had pride!!!

Today, Obama wants to give it to those with no ambition who have for generations lived on the welfare system and won’t work. Mr. Obama will stifle the desire for indivual success and breed drones with no ambition.

“Joe the Plumber” could be anyone of millions of people wanting to achieve in this life.

80. independant Joe | 10.17.08

There are two sides to every argument. One may see Obamas plan as ’spreading the wealth’
while another sees it as ’sharing the burden’. Lets remember that Bush gave a tax CUT to higher earners and Obama seeks to simply restore the old rate. I am Joseph the Carpenter. I earn about the same as Joe the Plumber. I was self employed during the Clinton administration and did quite well, earning almost double what I make now, and I employed 3 others at about what I earn now. When King George was selected by the Supreme Court all that began to change. I am no longer self employed but lucky to have a steady job. If I thought I could go back into business and succeed in the present economy I would and I would GLADLY pay higher taxes to more FAIRLY share the burden. Under McCains plan I have no shot at all. Under Obamas there is at least a small chance. I’ll take Obama!

81. Daniel | 10.17.08

I appreciated the humorous article about Joe. Things are getting pretty serious these days and we need to have some fun every once in awhile. Joe is clearly a regular guy with dreams, work to do, and a skeleton or two in his closet. Let him first cast a stone who is without skeletons in his/her closet. Meanwhile Joe, to get to those dreams you need to clean up that closet.

Best of Luck!

82. roscoe p. coaltrain | 10.17.08

Stupide amerikans, you only have a little more time to cling to your plungers and your illusion of freedom before I take over. signed, Barak Hussein Obama

83. Robert | 10.17.08

Wow,

Most of these Joe bashing LIB’S delevering their blows to a person they know nothing about, but seem to take others words as the gospel. This kind of thinking is what will get Obama elected, uninformed people that are being pulled around by their nose ring. One sided media coverage at it’s best, and I am sure if the media were to dig into the lives of the people beating on Joe we would be hearing some interesting things. Don’t throw rocks in a glass house.

84. Harvey | 10.17.08

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the last time I checked both business and individual tax payers pay taxes on their taxable income, not their gross income. Therefore question should really be how much money will Joe the Plumber be able to earn before he has to pay taxes on a taxable income of 250,000 + dollars.
Seems to me that if Joe is like most start up small business he may not see any profit at all in his first year of business. In fact doesn’t the tax code allow a business to declare a loss for up to five years. So Joe the plumber could show a net deficit for five years before even being exposed to the possibility of paying a tax.
Then there is the issue of overhead. Will Joe be the sole employee of his business? If not what salaries will he Pay? What about equipment? Insurance? Licenses? Fees? Uncollected income? Loss? workers Comp? Etc. Etc.
Seems Like Joe might have to earn in excess of 1/2 a million dollars before he actually can claim 1/4 of million in income. Gee whiz Joe all of that and you still don’t want to pay taxes! Sounds like a Republican to me!

85. Nikos Retsos | 10.17.08

Joe the Plumber was ballooney! John McCain thought he could fix the leak of
his voters that have been flowing into Obama’s lawn lately using him. Didn’t happen. Joe the Plumber is not a rich guy ready to buy a company. He is poor, and his question to Obama was hypothetical. Even if he could get the company for free, he couldn’t operate a plumbing business without a plumbing license.
And the ultimate insult of the debate: Americans look for someone to fix the leaks on Wall Street that have drained their investments and pensions, and Joe the Plumber can’t do it, neither can McCain who favors more Wall Street deregulation!

The ticker? McCain thought that he could use Joe the Plumber’s wrench to twist Obama’s tax brackets and put Obama on the spot. But is was a blunter.
Joe the plumber became the spot of media spotlight, and he was a fluke. He is a pauper and cannot pay even his tax bill of $1200, let alone buying a $250.000 plumbing business without a plumbing license. The whole story turned out to be a boomerang for McCain at a time that he thought he had a miracle on his hands with Joe the Plumber. Nikos Retsos, retired professor in search of a Wall Street plumber

86. Michael | 10.17.08

Joe wanted to ask a question: a loaded one.

Seems to me he knew he would never make $250k, but he is one of those idealogues for whom reality has little bearing. His aim was to corner Obama with one of the Republican talking points. Even if it were pure fantasy. I bet he had Limbaugh blaring across his living room at the time. “Joe the Plumber” is the ultimate GOP fantasy man and they are not about to let the reality of his fabrication intrude on their moment.

It shows how out-of-touch McCain and the Republican pundits are to believe that a blue collar guy living in a house like that is pulling $250k in earnings or is prepared to buy a business that would allow him to earn that much. Most Americans earn $40k. And many were given exploding mortgages on $450,000 homes. That is the reality our country faces today.

87. Rockermann | 10.17.08

I can’t believe how EVERYONE, on TV, on the blogs, EVERYWHERE have missed the point completely. It has nothing to do with Joe, but it everything to do with Obama’s answer he gave Joe. “Spread the wealth…”, that’s the concern. That’s what everyone should be worried about. It didn’t matter if Joe ask the question or if a talking frog asked the question. The POINT to all of this is the answer Obama gave. And it scares the heck out of me.

88. jim | 10.17.08

Joe has not paid his taxes - why? I’ve paid my taxes, I don’t like it, but I do (I also support Obama). So why is Joe so special that he doesn’t have to pay his. As for the attention, Joe has no one to blame but himself - afterall he approach Obama in front of TV cameras and basically presented a fabricated story in the hope of creating a nice sound bite. The fact that people have picked up on him, and upon investigation found that he was less forth right than first presented is his fault. Joe is reminescent of celebrities that want publicity, but then crys foul when the media follows them around. Joey - you can’t have it both ways.

89. AF Veteran | 10.17.08

“Billw | 10.17.08

The Democrats smearing Joe The Plumber are defining themselves for the dirty rats they are. Their tactics are like those of second graders.”

Nobody’s smearing Joe. Of course the McCain camp is making it look that way. I was an independent about a month ago but I have to say, watching McCain, it’s a wonder he has anyone voting for him. I mean playing the victim at the debate as if Obama’s the one that’s been negative the whole time. Give me a break. Going negative is all that’s worked for McCain. Even this Joe guy had to admit that Obama’s plan works better for his current situation.

90. Tom the Unemployed | 10.17.08

Boy, things sure have gotten sour in this country. We have those that believe that Joe is a liar because he may have a dream of owning a business and might believe that Adjusted Gross may be higher than Dunn and Bradstreet thinks it will be. I doubt that Joe referred to D&B when trying to figure out what his Gross would. Even better - maybe the current owner was stretching the truth if he thought he had a buyer.

We also have those that think Joe is a hero for asking the question. Maybe Joe was just being an average “joe” and asking a question.

And as far as Chris calling Joe a Damn Liar, Maybe Chris should try a little less iar[sic] before proclaiming liars.

91. Just An American | 10.17.08

Talk about slice and dice. Come on people dial it back.

Joe the plumber has no license, welcome to the world of contracting.
Lots of good technicians work under a master plumbers license. How do you think apprentices learn their trade.
As for owing taxes to the government, so what, many people do. The lien guarantees that the government gets paid if the house is ever sold. Furthermore they’ll rack up late fees in the interim that would make a mobster blush.
One poor guy asks a question about something he’d like to do, an attempt to be involved as a citizen. He’s then quickly crucified, called a liar, a dead beat tax payer, a political plant.

Walk a mile in a mans moccasins before you pass judgment upon him.

92. steve w | 10.17.08

Would someone please identify for me all these Democrats who have been harassing Joe the Plumber? I’ve been following things pretty closely and I have not heard Barack Obama or anyone associated with his campaign say anything negative about Joe. And when did Obama show up on Joe’s door and hassle him?

It’s one thing to make accusations based on provable facts, but accusing someone without facts to back it up is irresponsible and in some cases even libelous. It’s okay to feel one way or another about McCain or Obama, but lying about either one of them is always wrong.

93. eric | 10.17.08

I can’t believe everyone is ready to attack a working man over politics. Remind me to never tell you any of my business. Someone will always find something not to agree with in another persons life. You critisize a man for oweing back taxes and a lien on his house. At least he is trying to better himself and is working on taking care of his family, or is that a bad thing too? I’m thinking th 95% of america that will get a “tax break” under obama’s plan are probably in a very similar situation than Joe, whether it be taxes, credit cards, losing a home. Whatever he finally decides what that tax break point is going to be. Obama is compared to Clinton and his administration. The administration that didn’t know what sex is. Here is a new one. obama’s adminitration will be the one that doesn’t know what screwing is. As he screws the American people, killing our economy, and giving the U.S.A. a whole new meaning of being a powerful nation.

94. ChiJim | 10.17.08

Exactly how is this Senator Obama’s fault? Senator McCain was the first to mention Joe’s name. How do you expect the media sharks not to circle when he was mentioned approximately 24 times during one of three debates? Joe the Plumber has now had more interviews and has been vetted better than Sarah Palin.

95. Taxes do not equal socialism | 10.17.08

Can everyone (you, #12) please get over the idea that paying taxes is the same thing as Socialism?? Putting armor on soldiers so they can fight our wars - costs money. Fixing bridges so the people of Minnesota don’t have to worry about collapsing into a river - costs money. Helping the people of New Orleans when the waters rise - costs money. What’s patriotism if not standing up for the people of our country? I for one am a patriot and a Democrat and I’m more than happy to pay my part. Go Obama.

96. Michael | 10.17.08

What no one seems to bring up is that these are the Bush tax cuts to be reversed, which were never paid for in the first place. The money was borrowed from CHINA, and handed out to guys making $250,000+. Is that what America stands for? Handing out candy borrowed from China?

Vote Obama and stop this nonsense.

The irony is that reversing this policy is being called “Socialism” by the Republicans. But we borrowed those handouts from the COMMUNISTS! Our country has become a joke around the world. Pay your taxes and your bills, people.

97. Celina | 10.17.08

What on earth has this campaign come to??? Why the heck are we focusing on a man with a silly media given nickname when we should be focusing on the state of our healthcare, the economy, the environment, our future etc? This man asked a question, yes, a good one but what is the big deal, many people ask questions of candidates. Why are we giving him more that 15-minutes of fame? He is not a licensed plumber and after he pays back the taxes he owes the government then he might be able to get a loan to buy the plumbing business he spoke about–only if Obama is elected, mind you. Let’s please focus on what truly matters.

98. tsm | 10.17.08

Look, is it pleasant for the guy to guy his dirty laundry exposed — of course not. But let’s face it, the guy’s cockamamie story was injected — by McCain — as a centerpiece of the debate about federal tax policy.

The guy lives in a modest house outside Toledo and works as a plumber. Accordingly to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for licensed plumber is $47k.

No way this guy earns $250k or that the two-man plumbing shop nets $250k. But the guy hops up on a soapbox and, based on nothing more than clichés, starts spouting off about how much his taxes will go up under Obama.

Obama calmly and rationally explained this to him. However, McCain deceitfully uses this “average Joe” guy as some synecdoche about how the middle and lower-middle classes will supposedly be paying more in taxes. (Joe is the only person in America who doesn’t realize that he ain’t upper-class.)

Seems to me that Joe’s nuttiness and Mcain’s deceit is fair game.

99. Wake Up People!! | 10.17.08

Unless he was working for the government he more than likely was not liable to pay tax on his constitutional right to exchange labor for private property. We are being manipulated by our government into forking over as much as they can get their greedy, get rich off of “public service” hands on. Our government is corrup and getting worse by the day. Don’t take my word for it (or theirs for that matter). EDUCATE YOURSELF! End the Fed 11/22/08 rallies country wide.

100. Texas Son | 10.17.08

Let’s look at the tax tables from 2006 shall we?

If a two worker family earned $7/hr all year long (weekdays only), they would gross $29120.00 and pay $3610.00 in taxes.

If I make $201,000.00 I’ll pay $24,010.00 in taxes.

I’m paying $20,430.00 MORE in taxes than that other family. My taxes are almost as much as their entire family income!

Tell me again why I should be paying more?

101. watchin from a distance | 10.17.08

right wingers, left wingers, buffalo wing-ers,

I think too many of us ask for our party’s official rule book and forget that we should be voting on the best candidate.

102. Say it ain’t so Joe… | 10.17.08

Walk away Joe!! No. Run away. The media is going to ruin you if they haven’t already. McCain is clinging to Joe simply hoping he can sway a few more undecided voters.

It’s purely politics. McCain is grasping for straws at this point. I’m surprised he didn’t go into Cardiac arrest during that last debate.

It’s like listening to a young child while he’s sitting in a corner trying to explain his way out before punishment.

He’ll give about 1/2 of an explanation about any given question then his subject changes to one that can only be described as a tattler, bringing up half-truths or even completely off-the wall remarks about the given topic of discussion.

McCain’s demeanor alone is losing him this election, not to mention his choice for VP. But that’s another blog. :o)

103. RW | 10.17.08

Here is what really happened here. Either this Sam Joe or whatever name he is using today was either a McCain plant or at the very least a right wing nut job trying to embarrass Senator McCain on Fox News (if you can call it that with a straight face).

Obama met many people while he was campaigning in Joe’s neighborhood. Most of them were cordial even if their politics differed from Senator Obama’s, but not Joe he was looking for a fight.

However instead of an argument he found a good listener and an understanding man in Senator Obama. While go was blowing off about stuff that didn’t even really pertain to him Senator Obama calmly reached out to Joe to explain the issue.

He didn’t dance around the issue as Joe later commented he calmly and straight forwardly answered Joe’s make believe question. Then Senator McCain without any vetting of Joe decided to make this pretend business owner a centerpiece of the presidential debate.

Now it turns out Joe isn’t a plumber at all, he is just wannabeplumber, and it turns out that Joe can’t even pay the state income taxes that he owes making $30,000 or $40,000.

So its no wonder Joe is concerned about the taxes on the fictional business that he will most likely never own. This is just another McCain shoot from the hip move, and another time he has shot himself right in the foot.

104. Risheard | 10.17.08

Joe-the-Plumber or any other name tag that will be placed on him has every right to speak out and let everyone know where he stands. This IS a Democracy, is it not? So a lot of people disagree with him and that is their right I don’t agree with a lot of things my wife says and she certainly doesn’t agree with everything that I say. God forbid. But that is what we have elections for so people can vote for a person that agrees with their way of thinking.

105. Kimberly | 10.17.08

Unbelieveable. Isn’t the point here that this man asked a question about Obama’s tax plan. Obama answered stating he thinks that everyone deserves a chance who is behind this man financially. Obama stated that he thinks redistributing the wealth is good for everyone. The bottom line is, it doesn’t matter who the guy is, what he does, or how much he owes or makes. Obama answered his question. Everyone (Dems, Repubs, Independents) all have to live with it. Stop attacking this poor man. Its ridiculous!

106. Seriously | 10.17.08

Wake up “conservatives,” Republicans have been redistributing the wealth towards the rich for years. That’s what has gotten us into this mess to begin with! If you think that voting Republican again is going to help you out financially, then you must either already be a millionaire or have been asleep since 1980. We are fighting the 2nd most expensive war in history and have not been paying for it. Instead, the Republicans in power have mortgaged our children’s future to foreign countries (like China) who are actually paying for the war that we are waging. Do your kids and grandkids a favor this time around…vote for Obama.

107. Tony | 10.17.08

at #84 Scaremongering ?
This more than anything makes me weep for the nation we have become. Where stupidity reigns supreme.
The real issue here is not who’s to blame, it’s why we have turned into a nation of mindless sheep willing to be swept along by (corporate owned, lobbyist promoted) Government installed fears and phobias. A scared, pliant workforce/consumer base is the ultimate aim, it’s seems we’re getting there.

108. KTN Lakin | 10.17.08

There is nothing wrong is saying “let’s spread the wealth around” -when you see how millionaires and in America the billionaires hardly contribute much(except for a few like Bill Gates who did spread his wealth somewhat in helping poor countries and people).

In the slums and poor areas of the so called richest country in the world, I have sen so many hungry and poor. Coming out from a posh sea side restaurant in Boston, I had asked for a doggy bag as I had seen a poor old white man sitting on a bench a little distance away and I thought of him while the party was stuffing itself with lobsters and different fish etc.

When I took the nice box “my doggy bag” to him - he looked up and said ” What is it mam ?”- I said it is for you - there is some warm rolls and fish ” Oh my God” was his very words “Oh, my God, it is really for me?” - Yes I said take it - He said ” I have not had anything warm to eat in three days”. Yes, those were his words.

American toots its horn of being generous and Christian - the rich can surely contribute more - and hope the government uses the money to improve education and training, housing for the poor, health care and services for the poor, the sick, the dying and all children who are in need.

Just not because Palin’s child has a problem, so special attention will be paid to such children if she is VP - no, but any VP and President should use tax payers’ contributions for making America a real dream - not just for a few greedy rich but in building a just society, based on human values and not survival of the fittest. KTN Lakin

109. tsm | 10.17.08

Texas Son (#105)–Stop wasting your time on comment boards and get back to work so that you can pay your taxes…

110. Jim | 10.17.08

Mr. Wurzelbacher had an opportunity to ask a hypothetical question of Barack Obama regarding income taxes. For whatever reason, he chose to frame the question as if he intended to buy a plumbing business that would provide him with an income of $250,000-$280,000 per year. The short answer is, if that is net taxable income, he would pay more taxes than now on the amount exceeding $250,000.

Mr Wurzelbacher has admitted he is a republican and that he supports John McCain. He obviously intended to put Obama’s tax plan in a negative light. Unfortunately, he did not do the math or he would have realized that to report a net income that high, one needs to have a gross income much higher.

Mr Wurzelbacher, got his “aha” moment and the GOP was quick to jump on it. He has his 15 minute of fame and will capitalize on it through appearances on any show that will pay him.

Now that the reality of Mr Wurzelbacher’s position has been exposed, the GOP is crying foul and trying their usual “magic” tricks of deflecting the facts of with mock outrage that anyone would question the source and, of course, blaming it all on the Democrats….

111. williamaveryhudson | 10.17.08

Does Senator McCain act recklessly, without regard to the consequences of his actions - to others, himself, and the nation as a whole?

Mr. McCain’s thoughtless shoving of Joe Wurzelbacher into the glare of national media, his impulsive choice of Sarah Palin for the profound responsibilities of vice president - these and other actions from his current campaign, and throughout his life, seem to point to a volatile personality unsuited to the presidency.

I think voters should leave Mr. McCain in the Senate, where he can continue to do much good, but where any potential to cause harm will be limited to that of one man in a body of one hundred. That way, when Mr. McCain “screws up” (as he explained his bizarre attempt on 24 September to deceive David Letterman about his whereabouts), the consequences of his actions will be moderated by those of his peers.

112. Duffy | 10.17.08

So now Joe is the villian? Obamanation shows that he wants to spread the wealth by taxing hardworking people and give it to not so hard working people. And the response to that is kick Joe for asking a question?

Wake up People.

113. Arthur | 10.17.08

It can be hazardous to step up and make public claims about one’s income and profession when the statements are somewhat wide of the mark. To suggest that he somehow does not need a license, or that it does not matter whether he has been a plumber for fifteen years, as he claimed, or six years, as his record shows, is to take a very charitable view of his public statements. Now we learn that Mr. Wurzelbacher thinks Social Security is a complete sham, that McCain “has it about right” and that he does think he would get a tax break from Obama, but that is somehow not quite the point. Well, when he argued that he was going to be hurt by Obama’s tax plan and went on to the rightwing talk radio circuit, then yes, the facts really do matter. He had some choices to make, and he made them, now I am afraid he will have to live with the consequences of those choices.

It must have seemed like a very heady experience to be called on to be on talk radio. Wow! Fame… and where there is fame, maybe fortune would follow! Or not. Sort of like responding to the Sirens’s song, wasn’t it?

114. George Bowman | 10.17.08

Unfortunately, Joe is typical of many McCain supporters, deluded into thinking that Republicans will look out for their interests. Run the numbers Joe, it just aint so.

115. lucky | 10.17.08

as usual, mccain and his campaign are idiots…blame everything on obama…i hope you blame obama after he wins the GE!!

116. VegasForTheVote | 10.17.08

The reason this is so useful for McCain is that it gives the appearance that the Average Joe would be taxed more under Obama.

Joe The Plumber, standing in front of his $160K house, in his jeans and t-shirt, gains more sympathy than the folks who *really* make $250K+.. the ones wearing suits and leaning against BMWs.

The Republicians seldom care about facts, only symbols… seriously, is there a really question which party really cares more about the middle class?

117. Joe no plumber | 10.17.08

Why do McPalin keep distorting Obama’s tax plan? They make it sound like he’s just going to raise taxes on everyone in sight. Only those over $250k, he keeps repeating, over and over again. And they turn around and tell their audiences that he’s going to raise their taxes, as if that includes everyone. Typical Rove politics — don’t bother coming up with any of your own ideas, just bash anything the other guy says (and if you can’t do that, lie).

118. Sandy | 10.17.08

Since Joe (whether he is legit or not) brought up something I have been wondering about, I thought the good posters here might be able to help me understand something. I saw this web page outlining McCain’s tax proposal vs. Obama’s a while ago, not sure about it’s accuracy, but here it is:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/09/ST2008060900950.html

I work for a small business that falls into the 600K profit area (I’m pretty sure). I am part time and I am assisting the Office Manager doing things that she doesn’t have enough time to do anymore, but they could probably function without me. According to this chart, the owner will have to pay 115K more in taxes than he’s paying now. He can easily recoup 16K of that money by laying me off. Now, I am sure it is alot more complicated than the numbers I am seeing, but I can tell you that my former boss would lay me off in heart beat if it meant more money for him. Luckily my current boss is not greedy. So my question to the knowledgeable posters is this: Am I reading this chart right and do you think greedy owners will lay people off if they can, should they fall into the same category I am talking about?

119. Mike | 10.17.08

McCain wants to buy people’s mortgages and he’s calling Obama a socialist?

120. Web Smith | 10.17.08

Joe’s middle name is Joe and everyone calls him Joe. He has been doing this for over ten years and works for a licensed plumber, which makes everything legal. Joe is a real plumber. He is just not a union plumber and the unions don’t like it. The media doesn’t like it because he supports McCain and now they are out to get Joe. Like millions of Americans, he struggles to pay taxes and survive. Don’t worry, the feds will seize his bank account just when his mortgage is due and Joe will pay his taxes.

Joe’s boss can’t afford to hire a union plumber because they cost too much but he needs the help. Joe has a dream, but since Joe doesn’t own a business yet, he doesn’t realize that all he has to do is raise his prices to cover Obama’s taxes and we will pay them for him. Joe is very likely to get licensed and make a deal with his boss to take over the business when his boss retires.

Obama and crew support amnesty for millions of illegal aliens who take jobs from the poor. They also are trying to get the number of H-1B visas drastically increased for cheap foreign workers who take jobs from the middle class. Obama supports union organizing and the Employee Free Choice Act which will do away with the secret ballot that workers have now as to whether or not they want to unionize which will subject workers who do not want a union to harassment and threats. Unions like Obama but they don’t like Joe. By supporting Obama, unions are supporting unions, not the American worker. This is another way for Obama to implement his socialization. http://ewebsmith.com/self/StandUp.html

121. steve | 10.17.08

I love it that Sarah-Abuse-of-Power-Palin loves talking about Sam(known as Joe)-the-TaxDeadbeat-Non-Plumber whose personal privacy was destroyed by John-theKeating5-Serial-Liar-McCain. The Republicans are finally shown for the pathetic stupid propaganda-mongers they are.

122. Willard | 10.17.08

If McSame had kept his big fat trap shut during the debate Joe the liar wouldn’t be in this fix. Now, per usual, McStupid is trying to blame it on Obama. Won’t work Bozo.

123. GaryB | 10.17.08

> Texas Son (#105)–Stop wasting your time on comment boards and get back to work so that you can pay your taxes…

C’mon ‘publicans. Since Nixon, Repubs have grown Gov 64% more than Dems.

Spending greater than revenues IS A TAX! You pay for it in lower currency, lower economy, more expensive government and/or more inflation. You pay for it dudes. Repeat after me: Bush (record Gov growth) is the biggest taxer so far.

Obama is prudent, a scholar of the constitution and federalist papers, and … just smarter than McCain (adding Palin to McCain makes him way dumber). I want to try a smart guy in power.

There have been studies showing that stupid people are not able to tell that other peoople are smarter than them. Here’s a test: If you don’t see that Bush was a train wreck, you too may be an idiot.

124. Tom | 10.17.08

I think McCain should take a close look at Joe’s situation and try not to repeat it. When knowingly placing yourself in front of the national media, you should be sure you have your facts straight or it will come back to haunt you. It’s sickening how he believes he can manipulate us with half truths or downright lies.

Attempting to sway voters using false hypothetical statements like “I’m a plumber about to make over $250k…” is wrong and should be kept off the air if others don’t have the right to “persecute” the liar. McCain should never have brought him up in the debate to begin with. Yep, it was definitely McCain that dropped that bomb. Also, Joe shouldn’t have lied on camera if he feared being persecuted. They are getting what they deserve in the way of a media thrashing.

Here you go David B: Obama is going to take money from those making over $250,000 and put some more in my pocket. I’ll take it, and I’ll return it to my economy by buying additional goods, paying my mortgage timely, paying off credit debt, etc. While the upper class business owners hold captive so much of our nations wealth, the middle class is struggling. I know the president of my company isn’t having any trouble making his house payment, nor will he if Obama takes over. It’ll be a welcome relief to see some of that money reallocated to the blue collars who truly earned it. This is not a handout to the hard working middle class but an overdue measure of balance.

When it gets easier for the rich to get richer while it gets more difficult for the middle class and poor, a shift is necessary. I don’t want to end up like Saudi Arabia, a capitalist society where the poor live in shacks, there is no middle class and the rich pave their compounds in solid marble. I would much rather have some government support to save the middle class.

Go Obama!

125. Shoobydoo | 10.17.08

Hey! I’m female. I’m African American. I’m a taxpayer. In fact, I pay lots of taxes and they are paid up. Joe could pay his taxes too if he’d stop drinking 6 packs. Joe should learn to prioritize. Most importantly though, Joe should learn to tell the truth and stop fantasizing about something he’s not–a real live plumber.

126. Tom Paine | 10.17.08

It’s all a frame-up: “Joe the Plumber” is related to one of JM’s “Keating Five” buddies, & is just a GOP plant. JM’s lack of knowledge about his own campaign? Expect it to be reflected into any JM White House.

127. Spencer Wills | 10.17.08

Joe mentioned that his parents, who he lives with, are on social security. But, he said he is against it. If they lose their social security and home will he support and house them like a good son? How many people against social security would financially care for their relatives who lost it or didn’t have it in old age? Just wondering.

128. Ken | 10.17.08

This is almost comical except for the fact that probably most of these comments here were from intelligent people. Call him Joe X. This was not about who or what he was but what Obama said. I do not care what Joe does or who he is. Obama stated he is for shifting money around. My mom always told me there were no free lunches. In church I was told God helps them that helps themselves. And we have really lost our way because the good old USA used to be the land of opportunity not a free pass. I believe in lending a helping hand but when 40 % are not paying anything, we are providing incentitives to non productivity. We have lost our way and personally I do not need the government to help me find the way.

129. justin lin | 10.17.08

McCain’s so damned lame because he keeps shooting himself in the foot: namely, Sad, Sad Sarah, “suspending” his campaign because his steady clearsightedness was needed in Washington to straighten out the chaos his deregulation caused; floating all those red herrings about domestic terrorism, and now, Joe the Plumber. Give it up, Senator.

130. shoobydoo | 10.17.08

Somebody please tell these dolts that the purpose of the free enterprise system was compromised with the “bail out” which was voted for by both candidates. The term “spread the wealth” is a religious term meaning “Justice”. Go to the Bible and find the answer. “What does the Lord require of thee……?”

131. Tim, who works 2 jobs | 10.17.08

Why is there such anger in this blog over a citizen’s simple question? It is not a stupid question and only the truly stupid think it is. Why not deal with Obama’s answer of income redistribution instead of defaming someone who asked the candidate legitimate question?

Could the anger on this blog be an attempt to divert attention away from Obama because he slipped and revealed his true intentions: income redistribution? I believe it is.

Why is it liberals must resort to name-calling and character assassination instead of dealing with issues such as the present one: income distribution? I, for one, would welcome a reasoned, sensible explanation. Is it because of laziness, indefensable positions or is it because liberals cannot think well and must resort to name-calling? Isn’t that immature?

A question for you liberal Obamaites: Do you really want Big Brother forcefully taking what is yours and giving it to certain chosen government “pets”? Why would you not want to work hard and share your own means with those of your own choosing? Do you need the government to do that for you? If so, why?

132. Joe Plumer | 10.17.08

as far as i knew this is still a free country and people can say what they want. obama and the dems are going to be running this country like nazi germany all this time and effort to find something wrong with this guy all because he said he dosent like obamas tax plan thats communisim folks

133. Ms. Obvious | 10.17.08

Texas Son: because you can afford it, of course. You’ve gotten the Bush tax breaks for yourself; don’t complain when the middle class wants the same kind of break you get because you’re rich.

134. shoobydoo | 10.17.08

People please! Joe is a loser. A grown man living with and off of his parents. The only reason he’s letting them live with them is to help out with bills using their social security income.

135. Charles | 10.17.08

One begins to obtain the feeling that the democratic electoral process is being lampooned. Any serious discussion of the issues has been overshadowed by Republican expressions such as the First Dude, Hockey Mom, Pitbull with Lipstick, Joe Six-Pack, Joe the Plumber, among others. With that, the Republicans have effectively avoided putting forward a political platform.

136. M. Miller | 10.17.08

This news piece asserting that the gentleman from Ohio is influential is perhaps the most ridiculous thing I’ve read all week. Nothing could be further from the truth. He’s just the latest act in the McCain center ring, another meaningless attempt to manipulate the American public with superficial goo.

Meanwhile the country goes down in flames. Hate to break the news but McCain’s no firefighter,.

137. Robin from Colorado | 10.17.08

I am a homebuilder in Colorado and suspected this guy was a fraud when I first heard him on the news - having worked with subs for 30 years he had the look of a Rush Limbaugh ditto head poser. It is a constant struggle to find good honest subs and I have been burned enough to have developed a 6th sense. There does seem to be a pattern - with an American Dream defined as getting rich by cheating (taxes,and what not) versus those that want an American Dream that is living the good and moral life. I am an independent voter and know balance is the key to good policies. My informed opinion is that Obama/Biden will bring balance, competency integrity. McCain had my vote until he went countermaverick and picked Palin. I just got back from dropping off my ballot and feel like a million bucks. Go Obama!!!

138. You guys are stupid | 10.17.08

Just look at there home state…..

If you had pick between Arizona or IL…. Which state have higher taxes, which state have terrible school system and higer crime rate? It never been about who more quilified to be president, it all about what hip today and the youth once again not putting there effort into voting they put unexperiece BUSH in office by being cool because he wore a cowboy hat and jeans and now there going to put hip slick talker and unexperience Obama in office… It never been about who done more for their country or experience… It a shame out of all 4 Obama have the least experience of all of them.. The most important thing is he some how he COOL to be president…..

139. IndieWatch | 10.17.08

McCain and his minions knowingly spread lies and distortions. Hey McCain–there is no honor without honesty!

Hey, people—review your Economics 101 and Poli Sci 101 before tossing around terms like “socialism,” okay?

Here’s what Obama really said about “spreading the wealth.” Here’s the comment in context: Obama and “Joe” were talking about a flat tax, which Obama says wouldn’t raise enough revenue:

“…but in truth when you add up all the revenue that would need to be raised, you’d have to slap on a whole bunch of sales taxes on. And I do believe for folks like me who have worked hard, but frankly also been lucky, I don’t mind paying just a little bit more than the waitress that I just met over there who’s things are slow and she can barely make the rent. Because my attitude is that if the economy’s good for folks from the bottom up, it’s gonna be good for everybody. If you’ve got a plumbing business, you’re gonna be better off if you’ve got a whole bunch of customers who can afford to hire you, and right now everybody’s so pinched that business is bad for everybody and I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”

140. Got any Drano? | 10.17.08

That’s what some of these need to unclog their cranial synapses from their induced hysteria. Just don’t call this ‘Joe the Plumber’ as he is not a plumber but is a tax evading, lying

What planet are these people from?

141. C. Mack | 10.17.08

Jimmy Orr … you, Sir, need a brain transplant. Oh, wait, you are a Republican, you do not need a brain!

142. amazed | 10.17.08

its amazing to read these comments. whats great is to watch how many people are so negetive about this joe the plumbers dreams. this is a man who aspires to make something of his life and achieve what everyone in this world wants. of course though, people that are quick to jump on the dems train will tarnish this man and talk so degrading about him because he wants to be better than you. i got a a 5 letter word to describe the way i feel about you hatefull people, a-m-a-z-e-d…

143. pawprints | 10.17.08

Most of the comments here miss 2 points -
1) The American Dream is tied with the work ethic. Work hard, build a better life for yourself, build a good income and pass what you earn and save to your kids. By “spreading the wealth” - taking money you worked for and giving it to others who have not worked for it - you take away the work incentive, undermine the work ethic and, ultimately, destroy the hope of the American Dream. People have wanted to come here because you can KEEP what you earn. So that the sky is the limit, and anything is possible in America. That has inspired creative, and technology, etc. “Spreading the wealth” may sound nice, but I am convinced it will ultimately lead to a more dismal America for our children and grandchildren.

2) Everyone wants to TELL “Joe” whose plan is better for him. Like “Big Brother” government should be the one to tell him what’s best for him, and what he “needs” to do, etc. This flies in the face of freedom. Let “Joe” decide what is best for Joe, and whose “plan” is best for Joe. I am sick to death of government telling me everything OTHERS believe is for my own good. Give me the freedom to live my own life, and make my own mistakes. Even if they hurt me, what is that to you? If I am not hurting you, leave me alone. Goverment needs to shrink -A LOT. No expand. Obama just does not get that.

144. Hewet | 10.17.08

Look, Joe the “Plumber” was brought into the media light when McCain decided to reference him in a PRESIDENTIAL debate (not speech) 21 times. When you do things like that, it gets the MEDIA (not Obama’s campaign) curious about this mystery character. They do some digging and find facts that come back and bite McCain’s campaign in the rear end. It’s NOT Joe’s fault and it’s not OBama’s fault! Joe asked a question, and instead of McCain just using the answer Obama gave him, “we need to spread the wealth”, (which is really all that he needed to prove his argument) he put Joe on a pedistal, mistakingly thinking he represents THE AMERICAN DREAM!

For people who think Socialism is such a horrible thing, what do you think of the CURRENT government’s $700 billion rescue/bailout using EVERYONE’s tax dollars?! Do they like it? NO. Was it necessary because we needed to do something to stop our economy from collapsing? YES. So now, with the majority of Americans hurting economically, Obama comes up with a plan to tax people who are making 250K or more in order to pay for a tax credit for those who are hurting because of the failed economic polocies of Bush. NO ONE likes raising taxes but sometimes it’s NECESSARY. Like when the current economic agenda is failing miserably. And lets get real here people, if a doctor makes 250K a year, pays an extra $900 is not going to make or break them! A person who makes 40K a year with two kidson the other hand, can benefit A LOT from a $900 Credit.

Listen, capitalism has been great in the past. The harder you work, the more money you can accumlate. and that’s wonderful. But when these companies built on capitalist ideals go unregulated–everyone loses! They go bankrupt and we have to bail them out using OUR tax money! Not because we feel bad for them, because in the long run, we want a stable economy and that benefits all of us. I’m not saying lets turn democracy to communism. I’m just saying, lets be open to ideas and solutions that could work, whatever label people want to give them!

Under Obama’s plan, 95% of all american’s get a tax cut! that’s pretty much everyone that blogs on this site! and it’s realistic because the money actually comes from somewhere (a tax increase). If McCain wants to put an all across spending freeze, WHERE IS THE MONEY FROM “HIS TAX CUT” GOING TO COME FROM??? You can’t just say things that you think people want to hear, it has to be realistic!

145. E Bednarz | 10.17.08

How can you state that Mr. ORR is non-partisan in his bio after stating among other things that Obama actually sent the news crews to JTP’s house? I expect better of CSM to at least get the bio right.

146. Lexis | 10.17.08

You animals are a bunch of freaks. I swear Obamaniacs are 10 times worse than Mac heads with your fanaticism. Attacking a normal guy, digging everything and anything up on him, just because his opinion is different than yours.

147. Ed | 10.17.08

I don’t care what Joe does for a living or if his name is Joe. Whether he has a license or not and if he is in hock up to his eyeballs. Whoever he is, he made Obama respond with the statement, “I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.” Karl Marx could not have said it any better. If we give Obama the chance, he will get change alright, from Capitalism to Communism.

148. Robin from Colorado | 10.17.08

Some one here asks why is there so much anger? I’ll tell you. Simply put there is so much partisan deceipt it is frustrating. Joe is a fraud and so astonishingly uninformed and partisan that he has no desire to listen to the facts. He is a ditto head taking orders from Commander Limbaugh. I am independent but this election am finding myself on the side of the liberals simply because Obama’s campaign is so much more honorable and respectful. We do need a balance and I never did buy into this trickle down theory that so many Republicans did. History tells us we are looking a lot like the Gilded Age before the Great Depression hit. Progressive taxation should be a no-brainer along with optimized regulation. Maybe people wouldn’t cheat on their taxes if they knew they would be spent wisely and build the infrastructure that greases the free market system we all love. I have been called a “socialist” simply because I support Obama. I guess my anger is that so many uninformed people close their minds when they endorse one party all the time. Maybe it is just human nature but it frustrates me.

149. Christo | 10.17.08

A dream is fictional. Joe the Plumber is fictional. The McCain/Palin ticket is based on fiction. Kinda fits…

150. SomeGuy | 10.17.08

No license himself but working under anothers…

Sounds like he is more ‘Joe the Plumber’s Helper.’

151. Joe The Plumber | 10.17.08

I dont think anyone in USA should go to school any more. If we can make $250,000 by becoming a unlicensed plumber like “Joe the Plumber” we all need to become plumbers.

Laique

152. Chuck C | 10.17.08

Brad #41 makes a good point. He says “It’s the mindset that redistributing wealth is okay. It’s not. It’s defeating the purpose of the free enterprise system and the concept of the American Way.”

I would agree except that Obama is talking about rolling back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. These tax cuts were wrong in the first place, and now the whole country is in huge financial trouble because of it. Obama is on the right track. Why are we giving HUGE subsidies and tax breaks to Exxon/Mobile that made more money in 1 quarter than any company in the history of the world? — literally.

The country is in trouble and Biden is right. The wealthy don’t deserve to be penalized for their success, but it’s time for those making a hugely successful living to give just a thin slice more (back to 1999 tax levels) in order to support your country.

Ask NOT what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country!

153. Donaldd | 10.17.08

It’s stupid to read all about tax redistribution to poor people in America when Bush cuts Domestic Spending by $12 Billion and sends the money to Africa or some other nation, preaches that private charity is best for America’s poor and Raised Spending in Africa another $12 Billion for health care. We are a generous people except for helping our own Citizens.

Joe the Plumber would have remained obscure after his encounter with Obama if McCain hadn’t breathed life back into the story during the debate. Now that John has let loose the media dogs we learn Joe doesn’t have a plumbers License and neither does the man he works for. There are legal penalties against that.

McCain may not only have cost Joe his job but may get his employer’s business shut down and fined for working without a license. Just what we need more unemployed.

154. tsm | 10.17.08

Gary B. (#127)–Dude, I’m not a Republican. (I also posted comment 103.) I support a “progressive” tax system, and I regard the “flat tax” (eliminating marginal rates) as an extreme approach that appeals to ignorance. The “Texas Son” guy seems to support a wholly regressive income tax — everyone pays a set amount. Assuming sufficient income to balance the $3.1 trillion federal budget, every man, woman and child in American would have to pay more than $10,000 annually. The “average Joe” plumber earning $47K annually, with a family of four, would have $7,000 left over for rent, groceries, car, utilities. I don’t think all the talk radio in the world could generate more than, I suppose, 35-40% of popular support for something like that. But maybe I’m being optimistic.

155. hottopics | 10.17.08

John McCain what in the world were you thinking? I hate the fact that I even know of her. I say we take her off the endangered list and lock her up in a mental ward and let’s hope she never takes you off the endangered list Senator McCain - you better watch your back.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/presidentbush/2008/10/bush-to-palin-b.html

156. MJ | 10.17.08

Ok, Reality time. So lets not bash this guy for not being licenced or owing back taxes. Who cares? The government will take care of that. Lets look at the issue of taxes with regard to the business he wants to buy.

It seems clear that a two man shop in that area will never have taxable income of more than $250,000 especially if they pay themselves a decent wage and keep a large amount in the corpration (anyone that owns a construction company and does not have it organized as a corporation is an idiot, believe me I’m in HVAC). So really he would have to have net profit between him and his business greater than $500,000 in order for Obama’s plan to tax him more.

Now McCain’s plan might give him a greater tax break, but that was not the question at hand. Unfortunity Joe really did not understand taxes or the way they are applied to a business and seems to have greatly over-estimated the profitability of the business he is interested in, something which is also very common.
The idea that this is an issue is rediculous. I am an independant and wish they would get back to issues that matter.

For any Repulican to act like they are more pro Labor than a Democrat is crazy, they should focus on what they are good at, fiscal responsibility. How in God’s name can anyone be so concerned about cutting taxes lower and lower when we have already cut them so much that we are running the half a trillion dollars in the red. How many gerneration are we willing to mortgage, 10? 20?

157. Jason | 10.17.08

Turns out Joe the Plumber used to be a Lehman investment banker

158. JamieB | 10.17.08

To amazed:

I think you might someone else to count for you. There are 6-letters in amazed. And Joe the Plumber is a sick joke.

159. vanessa | 10.17.08

Joe asked a question… McCain put the spotlight on him.. and now its supposed to be Obama thats attacking him??— can someone please tell me how ??

160. NinaK | 10.17.08

Senator Obama did NOT seek Joe the plumber/nonplumber out. Joe approached Senator Obama and asked the question. The exchange was filmed by the media, John McCain, Sarah Palin, or his campaign saw the film. It was John McCain who put Joe the non-licensed plumber into the spotlight by bringing him into the debate in his efforts to mock Senator Obama. All Senator Obama did was answer Joe’s question.

The media filmed them, McCain saw the film, McCain brought Joe to the limelight in the debate, the media decided to check Joe out, the media gathered outside Joe’s house to talk with him.

The media did some investigating, discovered Joe cannot afford to buy his boss’ business, Joe does not have a plumber’s license, Joe hasn’t paid his taxes, Joe has a lien on his house, and Joe had another lien on his house because he did not pay his hospital bill but had taken care of it by this time.

Now McCain is tying to blame Obama for all the hoopla surrounding Joe the none-licenced plumber?? All Senator Obama did was answer Joe’s question. While Senator Obama did not show any surprse in the debate when McCain brought Joe the Plumber up, I am sure Senator Obama was very surprised!!

A word to Joe: Blame the media and McCain for your new notoriety, it was McCain that introduced you to the world stage. Senator Obama simply answered your question honestly, that is ALL he did.

So, you didn’t like his answer, you know the idiom, you cannot please everybody 100 percent of the times. Perhaps you should consider SUING McCain for discussing YOU without YOUR permission?? You might get enough money to buy that business afterall.

161. Tina in MI | 10.17.08

What?

Joe the plumber is being scrutinized and the author’s headline is “McCain to the rescue?”

Are you serious?

Obama was not the one who injected poor ”Joe the plumber” into presidential politics. It was McCAIN who decided to bring up Joe the plumber during the debate. McCain owes Sam “Joe” W. a big apology.

None of us should be surprised by the intense scrutiny and curiosity about Joe the plumber. Any ”Joe everyman” who gets suddenly hoisted up into fame becomes a person of intense curiosity and boundless intense criticism.

A tip for normal people like Joe:
If you don’t want to get all your dirty laundry broadcast all over the nation ad nauseam, then don’t go up to a presidential candidate ON CAMERA and spout off partisan-sounding comments. If you do this, you are guaranteeing that the flag-wavers of the OTHER party are going to tear you apart. If Joe the plumber spouted off at McCain with a bunch of liberal-sounding comments, you’d have hordes of GOP people researching dirt on him and broadcasting it nationally in order to discredit him in some way. It’s not right, but it’s the way both the Republicans and the Democrats act at times.

Leave Joe alone and let him get back to his life.

Let’s keep our focus on the nation’s biggest issues, please. What are the biggest issues, you ask? Well, the nation’s biggest issues are NOT Joe the plumber, Bill Ayers, Rev. Wright, or Acorn. The nation’s biggest issues are the two expensive wars that seem endless and without victory, the high unemployment, the unaffordable healthcare, the record home foreclosures, and the growing inflation.

162. Alan Mitchell | 10.17.08

How dare anyone ask Obama a question. The response by the media should make it very clear what we should expect during an Obama presidency. Don’t ask any questions of the Dark Lord or you entire history will be exposed and attacked by his loyal followers in the media.

This story sickens me on so many levels. How could we possible elect a candidate how acts like this, and yes, his supporters are acting the way he encourages them to act.

Regular Americans are hated and despised by the Obama supporters.

Stop Obama Now!!! Stop Obama on November 4th!!!

163. Thomas | 10.17.08

Again… flag flying conservative patriot who wants us to have the strongest military in the world, and be the greatest country in the world, so long as he doesn’t have to pay for it.

Shocking.

It’s simple economics… we have more money going out (two wars and counting) than coming in. Yes folks, we just might have to suck it up and pay some more in taxes. GASP!

164. NinaK | 10.17.08

Wow. Don”t you republicans understand that Bush and his republicans have milked us of all our taxes to pay for the war in Iraq and for rebuilding Iraq?? Now that is what I call stealing from the middle-class taxpayers!! The money that has been spent on that unnecessary war could have been used here at home to build new schools, new bridges to replace old, dangerous ones, to repair and/or build new dams like in New Orleans, and a number of other worthy projects that would not only have improved our infrastructures but would have provided thousands of jobs!! No, JWB, Cheney, Rumsfeldt, and McCain decided to attack a country who had done nothing to us!! So just who are the robbers of our tax revenues?? It certainly is NOT Senator Obama!!

165. George The Tax Payer | 10.17.08

Tax deadbeat Joe the unlicensed plummer-wanna-be, McBush and Pro-American (but not in your home town) Palin deserve one another. Liars all.

166. L.B.E.G. | 10.17.08

Those 4 words taken out of context, “spread the wealth around” and the knee-jerk reactions to it may cost Obama the election. What he was espousing was boosting the middle class’s finances by not raising their taxes allowing them to continue hiring and buying–including small business owners’ goods and services. A small business owner making $250K commented on this forumr recently that the middle class made him as wealthy as he is and he supports paying a little more taxes in order to enable them to keep buying and keep him in business. He said he’d make more money in profit than his raised tax. This cause and effect, which “spread[s] the wealth around” was what Obama was referring to (found in context via #143 above).

#105 Texas Son: Do the math. The $7 an hour 2 worker family making $29,120 pays a tax rate of 12.4% = $3,610. Your $201,000 income tax rate is 11.95% = $24,010. The percentage of their income that’s taxed is a higher percentage than yours! That’s not quite fair, regardless of the fact that your taxes are almost more than their entire income. Tax percentages should be equitable.

Along the way, some of us don’t mind paying higher taxes to insure that folks like that can also find a way to have health care, which isn’t happening with $7 an hour wages.

I wouldn’t call this socialist. I’d call it fair and compassionate Americanism.

167. incredible | 10.17.08

Here the Obama ticket want to convince you that they are there for everyone… yet, a man who also needs a mere 1,200 dollars for back taxes gets kicked around. How about that generous hand up … oh, I’m sorry… hand out you democrats always profess. But, does that only count if I agree with you?

We are all Americans. I am more afraid of how we all treat each other,how the media is so good a destroying anyone they choose.

168. robhon | 10.17.08

My husband I watched the 3rd debate between McCain & Obama. MaCain brought up Joe the Plumber 20 times, and Obama mentioned him a few times. McCain wanted to use the exchange between Joe and Obama to attack Obama for “spreading the wealth,” which Obama did not say he wanted to do, but that it was better for everyone when that is what happened. Joe wasn’t playing straight, because he knew he couldn’t clear $250,000 as a small business, and couldn’t buy the plumbing business with what he made (even when he was living with his parents who are on Soc. Security which he considers a joke. And Joe hasn’t paid his taxes like most of us have.) Joe is technically not a plumber, but a laborer working for a plumber, which may or may not be legal in OH. Of course if laws and truth aren’t important to people, they don’t care that Joe is unlicensed, doesn’t pay his taxes, and made up a bogus story about buying a business and how much it might make just to trap Obama on camera. Why is Joe getting so much media attention? because McCain brought him into the prez. debate 20 times. Of course media and viewers want to know more about this Joe the Plumber, Mr. Everyman. They’d like to have Palin interact with media the way Joe has, but McCain doesn’t trust her, rightly so. McCain has reached a sorry state in his long political career. In 2000 I admired him for being a straight talking maverick, now I pity him for what he’s become - just to win. Winning First is his motto, not America First.

169. Common Sense | 10.17.08

Good grief, people! I am totally amazed, just like Amazed (#146) at how you people are judge, jury and executioner about Joe. Let’s look at the facts:

A presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, walks into the front yard of a man who is playing football with his son and talks to him. The man asks him a question: “Are you going to raise my taxes if I buy my owner’s company?” and Obama says, “Yeah, pretty much” (O.K., so I transliterated it, but Obama actually voiced what most conservatives know which is that he wants to socialize our country).

The McCain campaign calls Obama out on it so, naturally, instead of defending Obama’s statements or using Obama’s favorite response, “That’s not true”, the DAMBI (Democrat And Media Bureau of Intimadation)start checking out Joe’s live and reporting on it. Reminds me of how the Clinton’s used the “policy of personal destruction” against their opponents.

The guy asked a legitimate question and got an honest (for once) answer from Obama and now it is Joe who is being persecuted.

The man is not running for office. He has not been nominated for a justice seat. He has not been appointed to chair an important committee. He did not go out seeking Obama. Obama came to him and he simply asked a question.

The man is a SINGLE parent of a 13 year old son and doesn’t make a ton of money. So he owns back taxes and does not have a plumber’s license. How many of you have NEVER struggled financially? How many of YOU would survive such intensive investigation of YOUR personal lives?

You know, I thought the liberals claimed to be the ones who were tolerant, caring and concerned about those less fortunate than themselves. What a lie.

Stop criticizing Joe and go out and do something that is actually productive.

170. Jack in Texas | 10.17.08

Don’t answer any questions for Obama or Biden. If they don’t like the answer they will smear you, check your income tax returns, have you put under surveillance, get the idea?

171. Frank | 10.17.08

My goal is to have a liberal media and celebrity tax. I want Obama to tax the liberal media and celebrities about 80% of their earnings — with no deductions allowed. If he can guarantee that, I’ll vote for him. In that way, I can stick it to the people who have had the most to do with getting him elected if he wins.

As for Joe, he said he was interesting in buying a business. Now a plumber may make an average of 47,000 a year but what happens when he becomes, say, a businessman who owns Roto Rooter? I guess that the guy owning that kind of company would make a lot more more and he would be employing a bunch of people too. But we won’t need jobs. Barack will provide for all of us. A big thank you to the liberal media and celebrities for allowing the rest of us to stay home on our butts and watch you do infomercials on TV just to pay for those taxes!

172. Harry | 10.17.08

I’m so happy that Obama’s associate Bill Ayers has been organizing and teaching our children’s teachers to politicize and radicalize the students against the status quo. He wants to make schools “sites of resistance” against oppression. Bill and Barky even had their $50 million+ school projects set up to push activism rather than academic competition. Florida kids have been failing miserably and now they can be little terrorists too! It’s going to take a special kind of teacher to teach in Florida or anywhere else for that matter — any extra parole officers or mercenaries available?

173. CurtisTheCurtis | 10.17.08

McCain Said “People are digging through his personal life and he has TV crews camped out in front of his house. He didn’t ask for Senator Obama to come to his house. He wasn’t recruited or prompted by our campaign. He just asked a question. And Americans ought to be able to ask Senator Obama tough questions without being smeared and targeted with political attacks.”

How is all of this Obama’s fault when it was McCain who opened this Pandora’s box by bringing up Joe the Plumber in the first place…he not only did that without asking the guy first, but he brought him up in the debate over a dozen times…

Also, how is exposing the truth about someone who misrepresented himself and basically lying an attack? I guess facts or the truth doesn’t matter to Republicans…No one would be able to say anything if “Joe the not a Plumber” had just told the truth about himself…such as the fact he’s not actually a licensed plumber, or that he’s really not independent, or that he really doesn’t make anywhere close to 250K and has no money to actually buy any business that makes that much (remember a Business making 250K a year in profit would sell for far higher than 250K.) Not to mention he didn’t really know what he was talking about (he would actually save and get more money back with Obama’s plan).

BTW those saying a Plumbers license is not important…should remember many other professions require licenses to practice…Would you call someone a doctor even if they didn’t have a license simply because he knows first aid and CPR? Would you buy property or life insurance from someone who actually had no license to sell either? Would you consider letting someone fly a plane even if he didn’t have a pilots license? People like Malkin should think first before they talk next time…

BBTW - I owned a small retail business for 8 years which had annual average gross sales of over 500K, I had five employees and never once made anywhere close to 250K…so if he really could get a plumbing business that can Net 250K a year with only two people working for it…either they charge $1000 an hour (which would make him the most expensive Plumber to hire in the world)or he has 0 expenses (which is impossible) or he’s just full of it. Either way it’s obvious you have to question the integrity and honesty of “Joe the not a Plumber”.

174. jeff in newmexico | 10.17.08

let me begine buy saying how redicklus this all is. Let me tell you about my self and my problems. I just lost my job to weeks ago. I just barley abeal to stay in my house for now. Im triing every thing I can not to louse it. Then gess what a long comes joe the plumer.Who dose not pay his taxes dose not have a linces and dose not tell the factes. So what! I spent all day looking for work in this small towne. guss what there is nouthing right know. Plus to make it worse the politions have one agin took all the focus off what there are or are not going to do for pepole like me. But put all the focus on this guy. boy are we all prety studip. I dont care about this all I want is to get back to what there are going to do for pepole like me.I 46 years old my wife is blind.Im a veteron I have high school diploma. I work all my life to get what I have. Know Im about lose it all. what dose the goverment have to do with this. lets start buy not lisning to the pepole and what we need.Buy all the averge pepole need. not weather we are midel class or high class or even low class. but buy being american and need our goverment to help us.Not the special inters. god help us all.plus we should all ask for forginess to judge this guy. And starte asking once againe what and we are going to get out of this mess.

175. Dan Van Keuren | 10.17.08

I work two jobs to try to make ends meet, as do many other Americans. I’m certainly supporting Obama and not more of the same - McCain. I’m sorry Joe the Plumber doesn’t make $280,000 or own his own business, but if he owes taxes and doesn’t have a plumber’s license - he needs to take responsibility and be accountable to other hard-working taxpayers! I’ll bet he will generate considerable additional business for the company he works for and for all of the other plumbers who also provide a valuable service to the public. Keep politics fun, but not at the expense of a plumber. It is unfortunate that McCain and Palin are so desperate and unethical that they resort to using a hard working person soley for the benefit of their campaign. A Senator who doesn’t know how many houses he owns, who thinks you need to earn $5 million to be considered wealthy, who has probably never met a plumber, and who is so out of touch with Main St America, that it is embarrasing to think he is the second best candidate our great nation has to offer. Leave Joe the Plumber alone, stop all the negative ads, and demonstrate what leadership qualities you may have, Sen. McCain, if any. Let’s have a positive constructive campaign, not daily entertainment.

176. Laura Bell | 10.17.08

The entire fact of the matter is that we as Americans, should be able to ask our president any question with out fear that the left media will attack you.
Whether is be Joe the Plumber or Dan the Electrician, what is the Obama Team afraid of? That the American people will finally get the truth of the “changes” that aren’t being necessarily being made clear? I am glad that a piece of the “redistribution” pie has been exposed. I am going to hide my kid’s piggy bank…he may actually have more $$ then a poor unfortunate and I am afraid some democrat will take it away from him to make us all “equal”.

177. olderthandirt | 10.17.08

Joe was a Republican plant, pure and simple. Remember, McSame used him in his pathetic attempt to show compassion for the common man and when his prop proved to stand up to scrutiny–by the press, not Obama, mind you, McStupid blamed his opponent.
And by the way, “amazed” is a SIX letter word, duh. (See above)

178. CongratsGirl | 10.17.08

Leave Joe the Plumber alone. he is a man just trying to run his business! Good luck everyone and see you out there on election day!

http://www.congratstothewinners.com/2008/10/joe-plumber.html

179. elementarymathwiz | 10.17.08

To: Texas Son (#105) Just a little elementary math to help you figure out this puzzle. A two person family, making $29,120, paying $3610 in tax makes their tax rate 12.39%. You on the other hand making 201,000 and paying 24,010 in taxes have a tax rate of 11.9% and you earn 6.9 time more than that family. Does you significant other also work? That means your earnings go up and your tax rate probably stays the same or goes down. Now, who is suffering here. It looks like Obama could bail you out and give you back some of that tax money, the same as the little guy. By the way, does this two person family work for you. Why don’t you be a good guy and break them off another $10K. You would still have $191,000, lower taxes and feel better about yourself.

180. Annemarie | 10.17.08

I was so disappointed in John McCain to read that Joe-the-Plumber was just a McCain-Palin campaign stunt - - they set up Joe Wurzelbacher to intercept Obama and ask him that question. Come to think of it…how else was there a camera there ready to shoot film of the encounter and Obama’s response? Right, so he could release it on YouTube than spin a way, making his usual false accusations about Obama’s tax plan.

One big problem: McNasty’s sick little trick has backfired. After McCain made such a big deal during the debate about Joe (a Republican it turns out…what a surprise…doggone, who’d a thunk!!??)many news outlets did the math, including today’s NY Times. And what did they find out….if Joe-the (unlicensed as it turns out)plumber bought a plumbing firm that earned $280,000 in profits, Obama’s tax plan would add another $600 to his tax plan.

Now, what were all those things McCain said about how Obama was going to tax everyone earning $42,000 and up into oblivion? Jeepers and doggone, betcha he and Joe-the-Plumber made a deal but didn’t get their facts straight.

181. HawkinCA | 10.17.08

This is another gimmick from McGimmick. He’s such a pandering fool at this point. What happened to the old McCain who actually made Independents like myself think that maybe he could be a good leader. I think he sold out to the Republican machine. It’s sad to watch.

182. wildflowerseed | 10.18.08

The reason it is important, I think, to go into the real life of “Joe the Plumber” is because when you get into his life and see that it isn’t what McCain made it out to be, you start to see: there are no “joe the plumbers” out there. There are no “normal joe six pack” top five percenters who do regular work, live in a regular neighborhoods and make a net profit of more than $200,00 a year. This guy’s real life and real job makes him a posterchild for Obama, not McCain.

183. pemdun | 10.18.08

Everytime Democrats go up, as under Clinton, America go wealthy, their lower and middle class flourishing. But everytime Republicans go up, like Reagan and double Bush, then for sure, economy will go down, because they will support agenda to create bubble and false “free market” and 9/11, terrors, wars and star wars and other dramas to dumb the people in the end to take money from lower to the elites. By oil, by stock, by war, any other ways. The elites have all kinds of companies to collect the money from taxpayers to them.

They dont care about life of soldiers and victims of war. You have seen their very nasty agendas at mcCain’s campaign. They did all as “Christians.”

That is their main mode of operation, modus operandi.

Republicans did it under the “Christian” name. But they practice the exact opposite of Jesus teaching. They did a covert and subvert agenda to the masses. They are Antichrist.

Obama must win. Or either Americans will go into bankruptcy. If Mc Cain win, the world will see the Great Babylon fall, we will see a big chaos in America, even a civil war as predicted by several clairvoyants. Dont let it happen.

184. Joe Blow | 10.18.08

I’ll bet Joe the Plumber actually works under the table and does not pay or declare his fair share of tax, yet cries about Obama’s tax plan for those who make over $250K a year which excludes most plumbers.

185. kjb | 10.18.08

After reading all these comments, a large number, including Jimmy Orr is overlooking the importance of Obama’s economic plan for this country. I don’t care who “Joe” is or what his background is. The important thing to consider is Obama’s response to his question. Taking people’s money they earned and giving it to people who don’t pay taxes and/or people who don’t do anything to earn it. This is not freedom, this is Marxism. There are already signs of Team Obama trying to restrict people from expressing a different opinion in many cases around the country. What do any of us truly know about Obama? You won’t find out anything from the main stream media. We know more about “Joe the Plumber” than we know about Obama! If everyone would examine Obama’s upbringing and who has shaped his life, you will clearly see his idealogue is so far left it absolutely scares me!! I don’t want to imagine what it will be like with a far left radical in the White House and a far left majority in Congress!! God help us all!!

186. CharleneW | 10.18.08

The invective of many of the posts here is disturbing, degrading to everyone and unnecessary. Just stick to the facts and the issues.
The Republican keep talking about how unfair it is to pay more taxes if you make more money. Yet if you look at the tax code, the more money you make, the more things you are able to write off - “business” meals, automobiles, second homes, computers, etc. etc.
I once worked for a tax lawyer (I’m a paralegal)– one of her clients was a famous “oil money family” — The year I worked for this lawyer that oil money family paid $0.00 in taxes. On the lower end of the spectrum, but in the same vein, another lawyer I worked for who bought his SECOND home in Hawaii wrote off all his groceries for his vacations (his tax accountant said it would be okay if the groceries were for a “business” dinner). This lawyer even wrote off sun tan lotion.
Now wouldn’t it be nice if a teacher could write off meals while on vacation, sun tan lotion, and a second house ??
Does this seem FAIR ???
Neither the Democrats or the Republicans are the answer to our problems. The answer lies somewhere between. But the country has gone so far off kilter since the Republicans have been in office, its time to put the Democrats back in office to put some balance back — as to taxes, foreign policy, economic policy etc.
We desperately need campaign reform - get rid of the lobbyists for both sides — then our Congressmen wouldn’t have to pander to these guys in order to have enough money to get reelected each year and we might see a lot more honest talk and honest votes which favor our country’s long term interests as opposed to special interest group’s interests.
All of you who spend time saying terrible nasty things about one another need to spend a little more time THINKING and writing intelligent arguments, not attacks that one would hear on the grade school playground. Use your “noggins”.

187. kjb | 10.18.08

The main point in the “Joe” saga is Obama’s response to his question. I hope the people in this country wake up and realize what we will be experiencing under an Obama presidency!! No one truly knows Obama’s background because the main stream media is doing everything they can to get him elected! His alliance with ACORN and other questionable individuals is very disturbing and clearly shows his radical idealogue.

188. Ray | 10.18.08

If, McCain’s is for the small business and associates himself with characters like “Joe the Plumber” in his Presidency, that is infinitely more positive than Obama’s Presidency, Can you see the future (Farrakhan, Ayers, Acorn, etc.) in the White House?

189. wildflowerseed | 10.18.08

I would say the real heart of Obama’s economic plan is job creation. We have let jobs and wages dwindle enormously while at the same time giving banks the go ahead to create elaborate mortgage packages that they then snake oiled to a public that was told buying a home is the best way to the American dream.

All this while, we have failed to keep up with the rest of the world, isolating ourselves from modernity as we cling to outdated oil, refusing to even look at new, cleaner technology. We let our government tell us science is bad, even while it demanded absolute faith in it from us.

Then, with oil as our beacon, we set ourselves on a doomed wrong course, funneling the last of our economic independence into a war supported by neither logic nor the international community.

Now we are alone, in debt and out of resources and time. John McCain has shown, above all, that even a “maverick” thinker like him cannot control the republican party–he is obviously a cog in the machine at this point. They try the same tactics and slight-of-hand, but I think this time it’s not working because anyone with an internet connection can easily verify the facts.

Obama wants to breath air into our suffocating economy by ending foolish and unnecessary military actions and encouraging creation of jobs, particularly in the new green sector, which has been systematically suppressed since the 80s. This is just a no-brainer to me.

190. Megan46 | 10.18.08

It is really a sad commentary on those whose life is narrow and cramp and try to pretend they are sane people. To gloss over facts or down right lie is what the rest of the country witness as Sen. McCain interjected “Joe the Plummer” no less than 15 times during the debate. It was Sen. McCain who firstly brought his name into the debate.

It is the opinion that “Joe the Plummer” was a person used by Republican operatives and was sent to try and to confront Sen. Obama of his concern about a fathom tax problem he claims he may have in the future. It is strangely thin that Sen. McCain championed the plummer all of a sudden. The media is nobody friend, so when you put yourself out there, be prepared and I hope your life circumstances are in order.
Bless you and all

191. toms | 10.19.08

As the Wall Street Journal and many other sites report today, Joe doesn’t need a tax break, he needs a better accountant.

192. Bandido | 10.19.08

All these comments about Joe being a dead beat tax payer make me laugh. The financial situation we are in today is not because of dead beat tax payers but because of dead beat mortgage payers. And who are they, not $40k a year plumbers but they are welfare minorities. Allowing welfare to count as income, sounds like an ACORN platform.

193. ED-209 | 10.19.08

It’s the ANSWER, stupid! Who cares who asked the question? Obama’s ANSWER is what’s important here - and that’s what the liberal lefty media is trying to distract us from…

194. Dylan Voltaire | 10.19.08

The problem with Joe the Plumber is he was being disingenuous and partisan when he asked his question. The conservative media wants us to find sympathy for him and says everyone is missing the real point that small businesses will be trampled upon by Obama’s tax plan. However, they are missing the real point by not saying that less than 2% of small businesses would net $250K.

Joe does not plan to buy a business. Joe cannot even pay his taxes. Joe said his taxes are nobody’s business, but I pay my taxes, Joe, I expect you to do the same. In the end, the real point is that Joe, and I, would do better under Obama’s tax plan–so would the country.

The evidence for this is in the comments of Warren Buffet, an Obama supporter. Buffet shows that the very wealthy are paying far less in taxes than the middle class. He says that he, a billionaire investor, paid only 17.7% while his secratary paid 30+% in payroll taxes. He sees this as a major problem that has existed throughout the plutocratic reign of the Republican party. He is calling for change.

195. Sylvia | 10.19.08

John McCain-can you say the word “vetting”? This seems to be a consistent problem with campaign.

196. Ralph | 10.19.08

I find it amazing for the republican communist party to call the reverse of the tax cut rip off turn completely the opposite as socialistic. If the rich get tax cuts along with small business and we borrow to pay for them and it takes all of the rest of our revenues payed and negative job growth along with 6 trillion dollars added to our national deficit seems like communism or the biggest entitlement program we have now. the last 5 republican administrations have run up the national debt with taking in less revenue. The last 3 democratic administrations have more revenue than spending thus not running up the national debt. McCain does not know history or dose not want us to know all of it. Hoover gave tax cuts to the rich creating the phrase “trickle down” resulting in the great depression. Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43, try the same thing creating stack market crashes, resection, S&L, an OIL monopoly and our current situation of more jobs lost in 2 administration of bush 43 which connects full circle back to Hoover the only other president with negative job growth. Maybe a game plan change is in order? Or we can elect McCain with the flip flop on bush tax cuts These other failures of the republican party loom BIG. As for Joe I hope he gets a history lesson or 2 checks with a public certified accountant that does taxes also and gets good advice. If he where to get his license and joins a union all fees and dues are deductible. If he starts business in office created in home he may depreciate home. he will get tax breaks for equipment vehicles gas and probably a $25000 in small business start up funds for free. Do not buy our bosses business start your own Joe. It dose not even need to be pluming Joe and that’s the freedom with it. that way my tax money can go to creating a strong, efficient, effective, government we both deserve JOE.

197. fsteele | 10.20.08

Joe wanted to know whether Obama’s 250k threshold was for GROSS of a business or NET or ‘taxable proceeds’.

The business may Gross 250k but the employee’s salary and other expenses must be paid out of that. There may be very little left for the owner!

Apparently Obama’s tax would be based on the Gross, which means many small businesses would fail and their employees be left unemployed.

198. bob | 10.20.08

Joe the plumber. What a bozo.

199. jbStephens | 10.20.08

this “Joe the Plumer” stuff is absolute nonsense. if McCain can’t come up with a viable economic plan, is this phony “working class hero” - who make over a quarter of a million dollars a year - being expected to do it for him? or is Joe, somehow, the plan?

what a load of republican/rovian/bush b.s.

200. Nghisus | 10.22.08

Funny how the GOP focuses on this magic $250k a year mark when my state has an unemployment rate of almost 6%. Anybody who makes that kind of money will not starve on the streets with a small tax increase, generally they can pass it along to their customers, especially a reputable buisness. Now a single mom supporting a family, an extra 5% would improve that families quality of life substantially.

It’s a fact that unemployment has grown tremendously under the GOP regime, a fact Senator Obama has brought up repeatedly. Now that negative campaigning has not worked for Senator McCain he now states his campaign is about the economy but focuses on this insignificant Joe Plumber story instead of regulation, employment stimulus, and Republicans whine about welfare but I’m sure they’re plenty out there who’ll take the money to feed their families when they get layed off.

The GOP has held the executive office for the past 8 years and successfully pushed their agenda across the board. We are worse off then when Clinton left the office. Life is about moderation, put a Democrat back in for 8 and if we’re unhappy go back to the GOP. It’s all pretty simple.

201. greg hope | 02.27.09

I gotta have a license? You gotta have a license. Or have we forgotten law?