(Jake Turcotte)
Joe the Plumber is now Joe the foreign policy advisor?
By Jimmy Orr | 10.29.08
Who can fault him for trying?
He’s Joe the Plumber, not Joe the foreign policy adviser. He gave it his best shot yesterday. And some would say his initial outing in answering foreign policy questions was better than Sarah Palin’s inaugural attempt.
How’d this happen?
How did Joe the Plumber begin dispensing foreign policy advice?
Simple. There was a “Joe the Plumber” bus tour yesterday in Ohio. Joe the Plumber (aka Joe Wurzelbacher) teamed up with Congressman Rob Portman (who was allegedly on McCain’s VP short list) and they went to five different towns in Ohio stumping for the Republican nominee.
Wurzelbacher was doing everything you do on the campaign trail. You know, shaking hands, talking to people, kissing babies, taking pictures, saying a vote for Barack Obama dooms Israel…
WHAT?
On the first leg of the five-town “Joe the Plumber World Invasion” tour, Wurzelbacher ran into a supporter who asked Joe if he believed, “a vote for Barack Obama means death to Israel.”
Wurzelbacher doesn’t have handlers. Many would say, especially Palin supporters, that gives him an advantage.
So instead of practicing the age-old political maneuver of not answering the question, but answering what you want to talk about — he replied to it.
“I’ll go ahead and agree with you on that,” he said.
Joe makes news
This of course made news. Wurzelbacher isn’t an official spokesman for the McCain campaign, but in stumping for McCain he’s kind of one.
And “a vote for Obama means death to Israel” is not a McCain talking point (we checked on his web site).
Joe on FOX
Shepherd Smith over at Fox News had Wurzelbacher on the air after he made the ominous comment. A very clumsy exchange ensued with Wurzelbacher seeming to be stumped with his own statement, putting up, at one point, the equivalent of a white flag.
“Listen, you don’t want my opinion on foreign policy. I know just enough probably to be dangerous,” he said.
“Yeah, well that’s what I was kinda wondering,” Smith replied.
What say Joe?
Where was Wurzelbacher going?
He was just articulating (poorly) a McCain position that Barack Obama is too inexperienced to become President. McCain often says that Obama’s statement that he would meet with even rogue leaders without precondition is testament to his naivete.
McCain versus Obama
There is a continuous volley between the candidates on this issue. Like in the first debate:
McCain: Senator Obama twice said in debates he would sit down with Ahmadinejad, Chavez and Raul Castro without precondition. Without precondition. Here is Ahmadinejad, who is now in New York, talking about the extermination of the State of Israel, of wiping Israel off the map, and we’re going to sit down, without precondition, across the table, to legitimize and give a propaganda platform to a person that is espousing the extermination of the state of Israel, and therefore then giving them more credence in the world arena and therefore saying, they’ve probably been doing the right thing, because you will sit down across the table from them and that will legitimize their illegal behavior.
Obama: Now, understand what this means “without preconditions.” It doesn’t mean that you invite them over for tea one day. What it means is that we don’t do what we’ve been doing, which is to say, “Until you agree to do exactly what we say, we won’t have direct contacts with you.” There’s a difference between preconditions and preparation. Of course we’ve got to do preparations, starting with low-level diplomatic talks, and it may not work, because Iran is a rogue regime.
Some backing
So Wurzelbacher gave it a shot. It’s not easy to ad-lib about foreign policy on the campaign trail. The McCain team even backed him up a bit by emailing a supportive statement to Fox News:
“While he’s clearly his own man, so far Joe has offered some penetrating and clear analysis that cuts to the core of many of the concerns that people have with Barack Obama’s statements and policies. Whether its Obama’s willingness to sit down unconditionally with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, or his plans to redistribute the paychecks of hardworking Americans, there is good reason to question the judgment that Obama would bring to the Oval Office.”
So, there you go, Joe. While not Colin Powell or Warren Christopher, Wurzelbacher survived the day on the campaign trail. And although he will probably not answer questions on foreign policy in future stops, give him credit for trying.
<< Hey - it’s 30 minutes nonstop of Barack Obama tonight! | MainComments
3. Renata Nicole | 10.29.08
What does Joe the Plumber has to do with me? I don’t want to get policy information from a plumber who doesn’t even have a license. I want to know why McCain doesn’t believe that my husband who has served his country proudly in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo does not deserve the tax cut that Obama is offering him?
4. xstevex1 | 10.29.08
Looks like everyone associated with the McCain campaign ought to learn the phrase, “No comment” - including John himself.
If you can’t say something intelligent, don’t say anything at all!
5. membery | 10.29.08
The McCain campaign is playing out like a bad episode of Hee Haw. How embarrasing.
6. socz | 10.29.08
I thought fox news was supposed to help the right and cnn was supposed to help the left?? How come SS was totally defending Obama? Either way that’s cool! I like how he said it’s frighting, because it truly is!
7. perikles | 10.29.08
I’ve heard that if McCain gets elected he has decided to appoint Joe the Plumber Secretery of State. Redistributing paychecks?
And Trickle down economy baloney, we’re tired of being trickled on.
9. Matty | 10.29.08
With all of the blunders the McCain campaign has let fly I find it extremely strange that Obama isn’t absolutely crushing him in the polls. Who are these people running the McCain capaign and what rock have they been living under? I mean, for God’s sake, the man doesn;t know how to use email and just has his assistant print out every email he gets. I don’t want a President so out of touch. . .
10. Dave from Minnesota | 10.29.08
I’m just stunned that the McCain campaign would choose to use Joe Wurzelbacher as a spokesman. The guy has been shown to be a tax delinquent. What kind of standards do the Republicans have?
11. John | 10.29.08
If the McCain camp kept their mouth shut when they didn’t have anything intelligent to say then we’d never hear anything from the McCain camp.
12. Richard Sexton | 10.29.08
Wait, a hockey mom and a plumber. Hmmm… is McCain really Mr. Freeze? Are there nefarious plans afoot. Holy popsicles batman.
13. kevin | 10.29.08
Looks to me like the Mccain Campaign is trying to recapture the Palin buzz. Unfortunately for them, Wurzelbacher doesn’t look quite enough like Tina Fey.
14. al | 10.29.08
Obama has been tricking so many people yes he will cut taxes but how do you think he will make that up. He will raise other taxes even higher social sercuritry, health insurence even when he said he won’t, home insurence, and other things. Palin has something we should stop importing oil we make our dept go major down obama has not agreed to that he wants it the same. Mccain wants to increase exports then imports that will help even further obama doesn’t care about that part which is sad because it is our main problem. Obama does got something though we should get out of iraq but what he doesn’t understand is we got to do it slowly so the government will take control and not have to relie on us for sercuritry from terriost.
15. Colin | 10.29.08
Kudos to Fox News for seeing through the smokescreen there. Never thought I’d side with them on anything!!
16. JJ Gildersneeze | 10.29.08
Great. McCain’s letting a not-even-plumber make policy for him, and Obama’s going to bring Bush-era war criminals into his cabinet. This country’s in some serious deep trouble!!
17. Desi | 10.29.08
So JOE (not his real name) THE PLUMBER (not technically; not licensed), THE TAX PAYING (oops! not really!) AVERAGE (sure…buying a 250,000 business…..before the IRS tax lien, I guess) GUY (ok, I’ll give him that one, cause I don’t care to check), is giving foreign policy advice?
Seriously, has this country gone so far downhill that people think this is a joke, a popularity contest? That a run for the white house equals a campaign for senior class president? In my opinion, things like this make the republican party and McCain especially, look moronic. Add that to their weekly campaign changes and I am actually fearful for our country should McCain be elected.
18. sparkles | 10.29.08
Ummmm, Joe…psst…you now can’t whine about “invasion of your privacy” as a regular Joe Q Citizen anymore.
YOU are intoxicated by the celebrity now and you are now a McCain operative — and fair game. At first, McCain was the dip for outing and exploiting “Joe” for his own personal game without:
A) fully vetting the guy to make sure he could place his campaign solidly on Joe’s shoulders, and
B) ummm, letting the Joe guy know and agree or not to agree to what would be a media frenzy.
Impulsivity much? But hey, Joe had an invasion of privacy argument at first — not now. And furthermore, it’s pretty clear Joe was never nonbiased hear - he was leaning heavily republican already, based on media reports.
Whatever, McCain’s campaign is an utter mess that we even have a Joe popping his lips on issues like this and it makes news.
20. John | 10.29.08
I’m sick of hearing about ‘middle america’ I live in middle america and we’re fine.
21. Allan | 10.29.08
Joe the Plumber is a right choice among the Republicans for the position of President. Since he knows about as much about foreign policy as Palin, he would work well in the administration. The US public knows even less so in the land of the blind, the one eyed is king.
Joe must be exceptional. I live in neighborhood of plumbers, roofers, and electricians and most of them are struggling barely making $50,000 per year. Joe is worried about paying taxes on $250,000. He must have great financial acumen.
22. Dave S | 10.29.08
Al, get a dictionary dude! You are really piling on the embarrassment to the GOP; not that they have needed any help proving they are the party of the lowest common denominator. (I know, big word Al, look it up)
23. Dan Rains | 10.29.08
How ridiculous. The very fact John McCain has such a moron representing his campaign should send shivers down the spine of every thinking American. What’s next, Bozo the Clown for Ambassador to Russia? Is this what we can expect from a McCain presidency?
25. J Sing | 10.29.08
So Joe the Plumber agrees that a vote for Obama is a vote for the death of Israel. It’s not a passive agreement, he comes out on the record and says so. And when John McCain’s campaign has the chance to repudiate such a disgusting claim, they fail to do so. In fact they endorse the opinion.
This isn’t merely bungling on Obama’s foreign policy stance, it’s taking a hard position despite that bungling. Joe the Plumber truly believes that Obama will bring death to Israel, and John McCain endorsed that opinion. That is some hateful and un-Christian action. John McCain just lost my vote.
Kudos to Shep Smith for calling Joe the Plumber out on this.
26. Robyn | 10.29.08
Just FYI to the people who have an issue with a tax lien. Sometimes people don’t even know they have one until they go to buy a house. It could have been something as simple as the payment they made being applied to the wrong account.
27. Sean | 10.29.08
8. David - “First Sarah, and then “Joe”. This campaign just gets better and better.”
Just wait David, “Barney and Friends” are up next.
28. Independent424 | 10.29.08
Unbelievable - We have many crazy ranting debtors in my town too.
This just goes to show you that the republican backers have so little faith in their own campaign that they can’t even hire qualified supporters.
What happened to all the CEOs and war veterans who should be supporting McCain? Replaced by a tabloid version of reality.
Time for us to raise the standards America.
29. Ron | 10.29.08
Come on people lighten up—Joe’s just like us; A practicing plumber without a license, who figures he’s going to be netting over $250,000.00 a year in salary—yep, he’s just a regular Joe….
OK—now, how many of you out there net over $250,000.00? Uh…. OK how many of you regular folks spend $150,000.00 on clothing in a month? ……Oh well. There goes the credibility……. again.
Where’d that straight talk express go? Over a cliff?
30. napacab | 10.29.08
Are y’all really all that surprised that Fox News asks tough questions that mean something? No matter what side? Or are you all just surprised that you listened for a change. And now can go back to NBC or MSNBC where liberals get a pass and hear just what you want to hear.
32. Dennis B. | 10.29.08
OH! I’m sorry. I thought this was a politically neutral website, not another Obamist one.
33. Stephen | 10.29.08
The McCain campaign is just plain sad. I can’t wait until this election is over with. I don’t know who they think they are connecting with, personally I find their rhetoric insulting to moderate intelligence. Maybe they’re trying to connect with Al (post #14). Good luck with that.
34. joe demarco | 10.29.08
at this time in history Obama is certainly the correct vote ,what good is a sitdown with preconditions what are we trying too hide , that is what preconditions would indicate thanks
35. Pep | 10.29.08
As a foreigner, it’s really funny and amazing this campaign and it’s hard to believe that such a guy as McCain is a candidate.
36. Matt | 10.29.08
Joe the Plumber says a vote for Obama would be the, “death knell for Israel.” Gee, I certainly don’t want to see another Holocaust. Is there any chance that someone could collect the utterances of Joe the Plumber and put them all in a single volume, perhaps something like Mao’s Little Red Book? Maybe it could be in the form of a Little Brown Book with a pair of crossed plungers on the cover. Or even better, combine the quotations of Joe the Plumber with the King James Bible into a single volume. I want to begin studying now.
37. Gerald Clough | 10.29.08
If you take a look at the Electoral College, Obama is crushing McCain/ Palin/ Wurzelbacher and that’s a good thing;
38. nathan | 10.29.08
Sweet so now Joe the non tax paying unliscensed plumber is stumping for the McCain campaign. When I thought they could not get anymore desperate they have proved me wrong again.
39. Jack Hamm | 10.29.08
The level to which the McCain campaign is willing to stoop is breathtaking.
How desperate can you be to use “Joe the Dumber” as a spokesman?
Who is this guy and who cares what he thinks????
My 5 year old sister can plan better campaign tactics than “Joe the plumber”. I have never heard of anything so lame. McCain should be called McSame AND Mclame. Yeah, McLame/Failin/Plumber Guy ‘08!
Can anybody still seriously considering voting for McCain after witnessing the bizarre behaviours of his campaign? Is this how he is going to run the country?
WEIRD.
40. Desi | 10.29.08
Dennis, would you provide the addresses of the politically neutral sites please? All I can think of is Sephora…..
42. spanielmcnugget | 10.29.08
I put Al’s comment through the auto-translator - it makes sense now.
Obama ha sido engañar a tanta gente sí va a recortar los impuestos, pero ¿cómo crees que va a hacer eso. Él plantear otros impuestos aún mayor sercuritry social, seguro de salud, incluso cuando él dice que ganó? T, de origen seguros, y otras cosas. Palin ha algo que debemos detener la importación de petróleo que hacer de nuestro departamento importante ir abajo Obama no ha accedido a que él lo quiere lo mismo. McCain quiere aumentar las exportaciones a continuación, las importaciones que ayudará aún más Obama no? No se preocupan por la parte que es triste porque es nuestro principal problema. Obama no tienes algo, aunque hay que salir de Iraq, pero lo que no? No entiendo es que tienes que hacer lentamente por lo que el Gobierno tomará el control y no tener que Relié con nosotros para sercuritry de terriost.
43. 1State2StateRedStateBlueState | 10.29.08
“Listen, you don’t want my opinion on foreign policy. I know just enough probably to be dangerous,” he said.
That’s obvious. Almost as obvious as the fact that you don’t know anything about economics, either…yet you’re being used by the McCain camp to “prove” that Obama’s policies are bad…even though for you (and nearly everyone else in the US), you’d do better under the Obama plan than the McCain plan. Wanna check? Try taxcutfacts.org.
So let’s see, they’ve tried Joe the Plumber…too bad Sam the Butcher’s passed on. Same with Bozo the Clown. Oscar the Grouch? Maybe… Glinda the Good Witch? No, she’s dead too. Oh, I know! Somebody get a hold of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog!
44. Steve | 10.29.08
In response to post #14 from Al I have to ask are you drunk or just incapable of forming a cogent thought?
45. Marcus | 10.29.08
It’s fun to watch Fox backpeddle and soft talk the closer to the election we get. People are still confused by this because te word “News” is in the title. Fox is ENTERTAINMENT. Not news. It supplys the same type of “news” as the National Enquirer. Entertaining but not to be taken seriously. They are on the wrong side of the election and they are rapidly losing veiwers.
I just enjoy watching them squirm!
Joe is just another blip. Kinda like Palin. ere for a week or two and never heard from again. (Or possibly just in jail)
46. carl malone | 10.29.08
14. al | 10.29.08
Obama has been tricking so many people yes he will cut taxes but how do you think he will make that up. He will raise other taxes even higher social sercuritry, health insurence even when he said he won’t, home insurence, and other things. Palin has something we should stop importing oil we make our dept go major down obama has not agreed to that he wants it the same. Mccain wants to increase exports then imports that will help even further obama doesn’t care about that part which is sad because it is our main problem. Obama does got something though we should get out of iraq but what he doesn’t understand is we got to do it slowly so the government will take control and not have to relie on us for sercuritry from terriost.
Wow, Al what a strong command of the English language you have. I am glad to see that someone with high intelligence such as yourself has made a great choice in who to support for president. If you have a break in your busy schedule could you please let me know what you think about global warming and fossil fuels?
47. membery | 10.29.08
McCain Invovled in Fatal accident http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/news-orgs-investigate-pos_n_138449.html
48. Stan | 10.29.08
The anti-American rants of the Obama associates, the questionable money coming in from outside the United States, (From the Middle East) tells me
that foreign sources are buying this election for Obama via the internet.
Add the massive Voter Fraud with ACORN involved to support Obama. Add the intention to DisArm America by cutting tens of Billions of dollars in Military spending to weaken our country, waving the White Flag of surrender to the Terrorists, both foreign and domestic, it’s a sad day in America when we vote for Marxist values.
49. Jan | 10.29.08
They put Wurzelbacher on the bus? THE BUS!!!
Bet he was mad. He wanted the plane!
50. MyState | 10.29.08
Why do we care about Isreal so much? They have nuclear weapons. Iran won’t be so dumb trying to wipe out Isreal. Why don’t we care about some other helpless countries many other part of the world?
51. Chekawa | 10.29.08
I really can’t understand what it is that McCain is trying to do. I would have given him 100% support until he tried to roll the dice on Palin. Did he not get up one day and look in the mirror? After all he had some responsibility to the supporters of his party to name a VP maybe like Ridge who could could be effective in running the country if McCain would meet his demise.
Oh well, gussing it’s to late for me anyway to lend him a hand. By the way in thinking about this it does make me a little mad that he put his party in this position.
Thanks for nothing John! Can I get my money back?
52. Julian Hamer | 10.29.08
The McCain-Palin campaign has become ridiculous. They neglect the swing voters and insult the intelligence of their own supporters. If they run their political campaign in this way with, constant deception and slander imagine what nonsense they would perpetrate if they got into power.
53. Glenn | 10.29.08
Joe the plumber has a Constitutional right to state his opinion as do the rest of us citizens. Whether or not he possesses the ability to think in a critical fashion without bias is a whole different argument. To give one guy who obviously had his mind made up regarding the candidate he would vote for well in advance of his “video op” with Obama a platform in which to spout off is par for the course for Fox News.
54. Zahid | 10.29.08
Joe do you even know where in the world Israel is?
Where is Afghanistan? Iran? or any of our allies e.g. Britain, France, Italy, Georgia? Ireland. And I don’t want to hear that London is in Ohio!
55. frank burns | 10.29.08
Joe the Plumber is absolutley marvelous, and along with Palin he really rounds out McCain’s team.
56. Aj | 10.29.08
I’m sure what the Mccain campaign is trying to do here is to portray a so called common man (probably because non of them are ‘common enough’ and even the hockey mom image shattered with the spending expose). What I find irritating is people pretending to be what they are really not.
This has been a publicity stunt from day 1 but I don’t think the Mccain campaign will gain anything from it. Would you take advice from a plumber for anything else other than plumbing ?
57. CJ | 10.29.08
Well i just wish we had a better GOP canidate. Remeber kids, Hitler gave good speaches too, and Hitler came promising “Change” and “Hope” and a good future. He was also elected Democratically by a landslide. 2 years from now when we are a completly different country, this is my “I told you so.”
58. Tim | 10.29.08
…and we wonder why we’re the laughing stock of the entire rest of the planet.
The fact that more than 40% of this country is willing to vote for McCain despite all of this only compounds that.
59. Paul | 10.29.08
It wasn’t long ago that friends of mine (we’re at democrats) were really worried about the republican machine (rove and his minions). And this is what it comes down to: Amateur hour or the Republican version of The Gong Show for those who remember it. One of the most embarrassing, pathetic, surreal campaigns of all time. It’s like a parody of itself. There’s a reason America can no long tell Sarah and Tina apart.
60. Alison G | 10.29.08
There are some seriously funny posts here! I would like to thank you for making my day brighter. = )
62. Cru | 10.29.08
When McCain loses, it will be because he only really campaigned for the right since the housing bubble burst.
63. crossroads | 10.29.08
To Al, Obama can pay for everything by just not giving huge tax breaks to the wealthy & corps, taxing businesses that ship jobs abroad at a different rate, and get out of that needless war in Iraq. Where is McCain going to cut taxes while making permanent Bush’s tax cuts to the wealthy, and staying in Iraq at 10-12B a month.
66. Suds | 10.29.08
It’s hard to believe McCain and the republican party is the same the party of Jefferson and Lincoln.
67. Sagi | 10.29.08
A reporter asked Joe what he thought. Joe answered the question based on his peronal opinion. You try to make it sound like he is an advisor to the McCain campaign. Too bad that’s all you got…oh and the drivel about Palin’s clothes. Pathetic.
P.S.
64. Possibly noteworthy, but why is Barack Hussein Obama refusing to release his Birth Certificate (ya ya..the one on his webiste is FAKE…admitted to by the KosDaily fraudster who did it) and College Transcripts and HIS medical records?
70. Maureen | 10.29.08
McCain’s campaign becomes more bizarre daily. First he gave us a Pitbull Hockey Mom who was way over her snowshoes, as well as her Joe Six-Pack, then McCain gave us Joe the (Sometime) Plumber who owed back taxes but who McCain made the centerpiece of his economic policy.
Then they dressed their Pitbull Hockey Mom, who they professed was Mrs. Middle Class “Just like Us” in outrageously expensive designer clothes.
Now, wonder of all, Joe is back only now he’s morphed into Joe the (Sometime) Plumber and is offered up to us as as McCain’s Foreign Policy Wonk.
Could anyone dream this up? Really, I’m asking you.
Then, after their own guy, President Bush, exercises the largest socialist bailout in history, they spin it such that it’s Obama who’s the socialist… but only when they’re giving their nonsense about him being a terrorist a break.
Terrorism? I’ll give you something to be terrified about: McCain & Palin!
71. vic winkler | 10.29.08
Joe the Plumber????? John McCain is relying on JOE THE PLUMBER for spreading his message????????
OMG!!!!!
I would never have imagined that a Republican candidate for President could turn out to be so completely inept and ineffective at running a presidential campaign.
Wurzelbacher and McCain… OMG.
John McCain and Sarah Palin running for the WhiteHouse in 2008 is the most absurd and inept… I give up, these people do not warrant comment by the national press. They have NOTHING except for a PLUMBER, lies, defective ideas. A PLUMBER as a NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERT on the REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN TRAIL….. ha ha ha ha this is laughably pathetic!!!!!
72. Boomchuck | 10.29.08
Should McCain get elected I predict that Joe the Plumber will be the Billy Carter of his administration.
73. McCainSupporter | 10.29.08
To Renata Nicole: You haven’t been paying attention to who supports the veterans or have you? McCain is the man you want to vote for if your a military family. Both candidates can promise tax cuts to whoever they want to get a vote, but just remember what Clinton said about tax cuts, it didn’t happen!
74. Boomchuck | 10.29.08
Dang CJ #57. You just invoked Godwin’s Nazi rule! I guess this thread now has to end. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwins_law
75. officerb | 10.29.08
How many of you bashed #14- Al? Maybe, just maybe, English is not his first or even second language. Ever think of that?
Very few constructive comments here. Indicates ignorance. Or arrogance. Lot’s of bashing. (destructive)
Who in their right mind would support either of these unqualified stooges of the illuminatti??
76. Delores Mathis | 10.29.08
Could someone please explain what Joe the Plumber meant when he said “he’s voting for a real American?”
77. Ian the Swiss | 10.29.08
@Alison G: Yep, totally second you on that….. Though I find it tragic that something this important (For the whole world) ends up being such a tragicomedy. I just don’t get these guys (Republicans, populist conservatives); I understand that rich deeply religious people will vote against abortion and progressive taxing but the average Joe?!?!?! How can they not see that they’re being used?!?!?! It’s the same here in Switzerland…. It seems the meek and weak sheep will just follow the dog even if he’s a wolf……..
Guys, I wish you the best and….. vote baby vote!!! 
PS: To Al: Switzerland is neither a part of Sweden nor Germany….. 
78. Geronimo | 10.29.08
The GOP needs to buy clothes for Joe the Plumber. Keep those donation coming!!!
79. TeeJ | 10.29.08
He isn’t a plumber, is no closer to “buying” the business that he works for than he was when hired.
Doesn’t know the definition of socialism. Doesn’t make 250g’s a year. Is behind in paying his taxes. Doesn’t understand or keep track of the various statements of either party or the ramifications of said statements.
This is the point man representative of the Republicans view of the average American?!
To me, when you add ‘Joe’ and Palin together it shows why John shouldn’t be President. Bad choices now are a preview of those he would make in the Oval Office. Thanks for that John, hellofajob
80. Bo | 10.29.08
I feel like I’m caught in an episode of The Twilight Zone. Any second, I expect to see Rod Serling walk on stage and say, “Submitted for your consideration…”
81. NinaK | 10.29.08
We should not be surprised with “Joe the Plumber” joining on the McCain “Straight Talk Express” Campaign.
Look at McCain’s veep pick, she’s not any more intelligent than Joe the Plumber.
They could be fraternal twins, both mentally and physically. Give Sarah Palin a buzz cut and you can see the resemblance!!
Let them speak without the “Rove talking points” and you can see the resemblance in their great lack intellect.
82. kouji | 10.29.08
oh no. what’s happening here?
at least joe was frank enough to admit that he knows just enough probably to be dangerous. but then why does he precisely offer a foreign policy opinion, in response to quite an incendiary question?
a vote for obama means death to israel? really? literally? i mean, is joe here essentially agreeing with a statement that claims that if obama wins the election, that will lead to the destruction of the state of israel?
how? how exactly does the victory of one candidate over another lead to the destruction of another country?
joe needs to realize, and it sort of looks like he may be, that after being thrust into the limelight the way he has been, he needs to be able to come up with opinions that he can back with basis.
i have no problem with him disagreeing with obama on the latter’s tax policy. that’s one of the wonderful things about living in a democracy after all. but this just seems like quite a bit too much, and maybe joe needs to pull back a little here, and be a bit more prudent with his statements.
83. Anne | 10.29.08
The McCain campaign seems bent on making a virtue of anti-intellectualism. First, he picks Palin, a woman so insular, ignorant about national/international affairs, and incapable of seeing just how unqualified she is that she makes Dan Quayle look good by comparison. Then, he gives us Joe the “Plumber,” who is not a plumber and owes a lot of back taxes. It was already a foregone conclusion that he was going to vote for McCain, so his story was a non-issue. But worst of all, he has subjected the public to petty and puerile ads and chosen negativity in place of actual policies.
I can’t wait for them all to go away, so they will just be an unpleasant memory instead of being in the White House.
84. officerb | 10.29.08
to clarify:
where I stated “most” I should have said “many”. There are some thoughtful posts here as well. My apology to those.
85. Daniel | 10.29.08
McCain has personally sank his own ship this election by listening to all his politcal “advisors”. Ooohhh, lets watch an Obama rally and find someone who disagrees with Obama… and then… lets make a public display and muster up the “Hick” vote…. Joe the Plumber… what a smart guy…. Lets make him a household name…. how stupid…. Obama for President!!!
86. Jon Jon | 10.29.08
Joe “the new Secretary of State” plumber
That is where this country is headed if we let McCain and his doofus train into the White House.
87. Chris | 10.29.08
Really, are they kidding me with this? Then we have to hear about how the media is treating him with all his unwanted fame…Joe, shut up already and know your place…under a sink! Oh what, he’s not a licensed plumber!
88. BT | 10.29.08
The comments are almost as comical as the McCain road show. I’m surprised that McCain hasn’t invited “Al” to join him on the road.
89. Sam | 10.29.08
66. Delores Mathis asked: “Could someone please explain what Joe the Plumber meant when he said “he’s voting for a real American?””
Sure Dolores, He’s voting for John Wayne!
What, Wayne’s dead? Not a problem. Wurzelbacher’s of European descent, right? Those crazy Europeans can handle that: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7459695.stm
So it’ll be a write-in. Right Joe?
90. Sam | 10.29.08
Wow, some video. Amazing to see FOX siding with the Dems!!
I guess they’ll need to attract Dem viewers in future. All the Reps will be throwing their TVs out the window on the 4th.
91. Chris | 10.29.08
Re CJ #57 - “Hitler gave good speaches too….”
Okay, but so did Lincoln and JFK. Why are you trying to suggest that Obama is like Hitler? That’s just a cheap-shot and a dishonest comparison.
92. S.Chandra Naraine | 10.29.08
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaha! OOOooooooooooooooooooooh, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaha, ha. When did Mel Brooks release this new movie? And how come I did not see any reviews about it in the media? Is everyone out covering the new Fox Comedy Series ‘The Mac on Crack’? I’m signing up for a plumbing course at a nearby community college, ya betcha!
93. David, MD | 10.29.08
Isn’t this a movie with Kevin Costner? Yeah, we are trapped in that movie called “Swing Vote”, McCain is betting all on Joe the Plumber. Stranger than fiction, for sure.
94. Cat | 10.29.08
CJ,
Get out a dictionary, dude. You might also want to try reading something along the lines of “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” before you make such a sophomoric comparison between present-day America and post-WWI Germany. It’s downright embarrassing.
95. Constantino FERRER | 10.29.08
Joe the Plumber now has a publicist and is preparing a book. He is also sharing his Foreign Policy views with the world… What’s going on? This is really getting like a bad Disney movie where the folksy hockey mom becomes president of the most powerful nation on earth and her plumber secretary of state!!!! This is surreal and ridiculous people!!! Why nobody screams? THIS IS FRIGHTENING!!!! Why the media is not covering this? Somebody please stop this insanity!!!! What’s going on America????
96. Justin | 10.29.08
PEP (35): “As a foreigner, it’s really funny and amazing this campaign and it’s hard to believe that such a guy as McCain is a candidate.”
–I totally agree and I live in this country! I’m baffled at how people can still be supporting a candidate like McCain after the circus he has put on. If he should somehow win, it will not only be a disaster for this country, but yet another embarrassment for the US on the world stage.
STAN (49): “the questionable money coming in from outside the United States, (From the Middle East) tells me that foreign sources are buying this election for Obama via the internet”
–If anything, that should show you that most of the world, outside the US, supports Obama (by a 3:1 margin in recent polls by the way). So who do you think would be the best candidate to repair our tattered foreign relations and regain our international status to pre-bush levels? i’ll give you a clue, it’s not the guy putting his campaign in the hands of tweedle-dee and tweedle-dumb (palin and joe)
97. Reno | 10.29.08
Seriously,
Joe the Plumber?
This is really frightening. Of all the people McCain could use in his campaign, it’s Joe the plumber?
I know the right is getting high on anti-intellectualism, and anti-elitism. But this is too much.
I will only let a surgeon operate on my pinkie. Why should a plumber dictate foreign policy?
98. Penelope McSnatch | 10.29.08
Limp, draped over a chair, panting like Rodney Dangerfield finishing the Boston Marathon, Palin coos, “Ohhhhh, Joe. Now, aren’t YOU just da plumber? Yeeeeeeeeew betcha”!
99. Joe the Bummer | 10.29.08
run from the crazy republicans…they are doomed and are likely to explode at any moment. These guys are just dumb…ignore the facts, make up lies, repeat lies, take no responsibility, blame others and do your best to divide the country.
This is not the party of “country first”, this is the party of “party first”. Shame on these haters.
Remember, over the last 8 years the Republicans brought you…
- bigger government
- lower wages
- divisive rhetoric
- religious intolerance
- nation building
- ill-managed military
- exploding debt
- expanding deficit
- ruined economy
- collapsed housing market
- John McCain as Bush’s cheerleader (now that’s a switch. GW is the cheerleader…nice skirt George)
- VPs shooting “friends” in the face
We currently have Dumb and Angry for President & VP, do we really want to try out Angry & Dumb?
100. Penelope McSnatch | 10.29.08
In a McCain administration, Joe the Plumber would no doubt be Secretary of the Posterior
101. Kyle | 10.29.08
you can still be a plumber and not need a liscense. It’s usually cheaper to do that
102. Penelope McSnatch | 10.29.08
Regarding Joe voting for a “real American”, this relates to a conversation he had with Sarah Palin. Sarah to Joe she wasn’t sure who she was going to vote for, but that she was leaning toward GI Joe because he could protect us. Joe the plumber explained that he didn’t think GI Joe was an American citizen.
103. God’s Girl | 10.29.08
Joe the Plumber? You mean Joe the Clown. He is a man who would definitely benefit from Senator Obama’s plan.
I think “Joe the Non-Plumber” is so blinded by his prejudice that he would allow himself to be used by McCain and Palin. He looks and sounds ridiculous.
I would respect him more if he would just tell the truth in terms of why he is doing what he’s doing. It is simply racial prejudice.
I am not angry at him. I feel sorry for him. I am a Christian who’s Republican views include every American and not just a particular race.
Our land needs prayer and I for one is praying for all of us because of the division The American People.
May God bless us all heal of land.
104. Betty Boop | 10.29.08
So let me get this, you are in favor of murdering babies, with a heart beat, or those strong ones who may survive the horrible system to do so… AND kill them too
105. Bill | 10.29.08
Palin gave checks to the people of Alaska from the profits of Big Oil. Good for her, I suppose, but isn’t that “redistribution of wealth?”
107. Spanielmcnugget | 10.29.08
Come on guys, give the guy a break! McCain’s campaign sprang a leak. Who do you call when that happens? A plumber! It’s plumbing we can believe in, so just stop it okay?
108. Jack | 10.29.08
He is the future of GOP….2012 Palin Vs “Joe the plumber”
Hope he will get the plumber licence by that time!!!!
110. americanpie | 10.30.08
Just saw Palin the whack job book on sale at Costco, Not surprisingly less no thicker than a cheap magazine, Less than 200 pages, Just like her. Virtually no substance and not worth the paper its printed on. (Also the printer is located in Thiland) How American of her.
111. Gil Gamesh | 10.30.08
Is Fox News–or Shepard Smith, at least–beginning to realize that if Obama is elected, they will have participated in creating a nightmare of right-wing misinformation, disinformation, hatred, indoctrination and brainwashing?
Will they ever be able to back themselves and their public out of this mess?
112. Bob Costello | 10.30.08
I think people have been overly negative about Joe the Plumber. So he initially hid the facts that he is a Republican and a supporter of John Mc Cain. The facts that he is not a licensed plumber and owes back taxes shouldn’t really bother anyone either. Or that he was in no position to buy a business and knows little about relevant issues like foreign policy.
Deep down Joe is a wonderful person. He told Sean Hannity that he would not feel right about taking a tax cut under Obama knowing it would come out of the pocket of some poor rich guy. Since I really hope Obama wins, however, I have come up with a simple plan to solve the dilemma Joe will find himself in if Obama wins. All he has to do is take the tax money he will save under Obama’s plan and donate it to his favorite rich friend. Hannity and McCain are obvious choices.
113. maddev | 10.30.08
Forgeev me my englis is bad. I am foreigner but I am sad to hear abut Joe-the-Plumber redicule. I see evry body in America says I’m Jo the Plumber -howe exciting! Perhaps Nixon would have used the skill before Watergate break-in. I thinked when Alaska became a country with Sarah as the president and joe as ambassador to russia, and Alska motto will be “P (for Palin)the Lumber - what a Plumber.”
114. Karl | 10.30.08
The sad part is that no matter how many votes are cast for Obama, McCain will be announced as the winner.
115. Web Smith | 10.30.08
Don’t think for one moment that these guys know any more about what they are doing than Joe does. All of their information is fed to them by special interests.
The bad thing about Joe is that McCain’s campaign is going to use him and then toss him aside. His life is over as he knows it. Keep an eye on Joe after the election. See what happens to him. Obama and McCain will do he same to you if you give them the chance. They both have their own set of special interests that they cater to and you are not one of them.
116. Scott Smith | 10.30.08
Joe your 15 minutes was up 14 minutes ago..
Its pitiful that they are still thinking that Joe has traction. He ISNT a plumber, was a life long republican before this, owes back taxes, couldnt afford to buy the business he claims to want, would BENEFIT under Obama plan, and NOW is shilling foreign policy questions and doing a lousy job at it… Give me a break this guy is a joke and out for #1 - record deal, lawyer, publicist..
117. RapidRon | 10.30.08
I’ll say it again: anyone who is voting for McCain/Palin–still, after all this ridiculousness–needs to check on their real reasons for voting for them.
This campaign has become an embarassment, only supported against it by the people for whom McCain/Palin can do no wrong, no matter what; a sadly, ignorant state to be in for any candidate of belief.
118. Johnny | 10.30.08
It’s refreshing to see SS calling out this insanity. I think we’re all done with the craziness, name calling, etc. Let’s get back to the issues that will really have an affect on my life and my world.
Hey McCain, tell me how you’re going to make my life and my country better. You’re not going to win me over by talking about Barack. Thoroughly disappointing.
119. CD | 10.30.08
What is everyone treating this guy like he’s the one running for President? He’s a plumber, not a polotician, so why are you ridiculing him for a comment that may sound ridiculous to you? Many people wrongly think Obama is Muslim, but we don’t highlight them in the news. It’s just ignorant Americans being ignorant Americans and Joe is just one of many. We all have our less than intelligent moments. It’s not news.
120. Anthony | 10.30.08
Go for it Joe! Use your God-given plumbing skills for good and not evil. Wait, why are you routing for McCain? Joe, I know a plumber, my brother is a plumber…Joe you are no plumber - let alone smart enough to figure out your taxes. Dork.
121. Alan | 10.30.08
Johnny and others like him: what is it exactly thats wrong with your life? Are you not greatful for all of the blessings in your life. Stop pointing fingers and look in the mirror. Thats where change starts not with a fictional Obama presidency.
122. Alan | 10.30.08
I wonder if McCain wouldve chosen Condoleza Rice how this whole race thing wouldve played out. You think it wouldve come down to gender at that point? Interesting.
123. Tom | 10.30.08
I never thought I would congratulate Fox News on anything. But…kudos to Fox for not letting up on Joe the Plumber, the spokesman for ignorance in the US. If they would only do the same for Palin and McCain himself.
124. Vanessa | 10.30.08
Karl,
Have faith in Americans. Obama is going to be the next president Not McCain. People are tired of the Bush/McSame era. It’s time for change. America is ready.
OBAMA Nov 4th
125. Peta | 10.30.08
68. Tim …and we wonder why we’re the laughing stock of the entire rest of the planet.
Don’t despair, you are not all laughing stock. Some of what we have seen from the outside makes us weep.
But the entire US is not seen as making a fool of itself. There is still widespread respect for many Americans, and for and many of things the US has done and still stands for. It’s a pity that the inane and incompetent get so much focus and publicity, and in some cases power.
It is ironic that the US democratic system self portrayed as a model to the free world appears in many ways to be as well organized as a McCain campaign.
126. Mike | 10.30.08
Karl, I’ll be you’re wrong on this one. I predict an Obama landslide. Alan, if you’re grateful for your life, vote for Obama. Seriously, McCain would be so bad for this country. Imagine yourself waking up to a McCain/ Palin win. It would leave so many with a bad taste in their mouths. Obama has his problems but the guy is positive and working towards something. McCain is just a ball of negativity without anything new, except for Palin and she freaks a lot of rational minded people out! (know a few life long republicans that are voting Obama just because she is such an idealogue). McCain might have clinched the evangelical vote but Obama has busted it up and now it’s a paultry 10%, and that won’t win an election.
127. Nick | 10.30.08
This election season is fantastic. The McCain-Palin campaign has an unlicensed plumber giving foreign policy statements on the Middle East; a moose shooting, former beauty pageant contestant who thinks the VP is the head of the Senate running for… yes, VP; and the oldest first-term presidential candidate ever - who doesn’t even know how to use a computer - at the top of the bill. I can’t think of a time I found politics more entertaining. I’m waiting for Wavey Gravy to be name future Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Did Karl Rove hand this campaign over to Howard Stern?
128. GaryB | 10.30.08
Joe, following the Bush neo-con doctrine:
Obama will be our next president and it is un-American to criticize a president in a time of war.
Anyhow, c’mon folksy folk — if you can’t see the Bush-neo-con failed philosophy represented by the absolute farce of McCheney and Failin, the joke is on you.
129. Carlos Navarro | 10.30.08
Is Joe the Plumber coming to campaign in Charlotte, NC anytime soon? I’d like to hear him speak and ask his opinion on the Fed’s Open Market Account and his take the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. I also hope that he’s being well remunerated for his campaign appearances. A man on plumber’s wages can’t afford to take too many breaks from his regular job.
130. Hugh | 10.30.08
Joe the unqualified Plumber may now end up earning more than $250000. Not from plumbing, of course, but from his new-found celebrity. Too bad his taxes may go up when Obama wins. Yes, if he gets between $227k and $603k, he will pay a whole extra $12. Poor Joe, how will he ever survive! See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Barack_Obama#Taxation for the facts.
131. Alan | 10.31.08
Mike… If it were up to Obama I may have never been given the opportunity to life! Liberties are liberties but come on. The democratic party has been chipping away at the foundation of America for years. It is not right to KILL babies, It is not right to allow same sex marriage, and it is not right for the government to rule the people. Those are just the basic top 3.
132. Alan | 10.31.08
Does anyone remember the phrase IN GOD WE TRUST? You know, what this country was founded on. My mother once told me “Be careful what you ask for. You might just get it.” Taxes do not worry me but giving FULL power to liberals does. Now is not the time to gamble…. Can anyone on the liberal side explain why Obama’s character does not play a role in this? Let me guess “There all lies.” Do you really believe that? Take the blinders off.
133. Mike L | 10.31.08
Joe The Plumber Wurzelbacher tries unsuccessfully to dance better than Sammy Davis, Jr.
134. Alan | 10.31.08
Why are you guys dumping on an innocent man (joe) who simply asked a straight question…. Whats wrong with that? Obama Gave him a straight answer. To all of you currently enjoying the tax breaks that Bush implemented in 2001 and 2003 get ready they expire in 2010 and Obama is not going to continue them therefore reverting back to the tax increases Clinton put in place. WAKE UP!
135. Robin | 10.31.08
I think it’s great that someone (Joe the Plumber) finally said something straight out in this campaign. With all the lies, accusations, and double talking going on on both sides of the aisle, it was refreshing to hear someone at least voice his own opinion rather than depending on his handlers or the media to tell him what the people want to hear.
136. Hugh | 11.01.08
There’s nothing “straight-out” about “Joe the Plumber”. For a start he is not a trained plumber and should not be working as one. He earns far less than $250,000 per annum and so would actually benefit from Obama’s tax cuts, like the vast majority of people. The divide between rich and poor is greater than at any time since the 1920s, the budget deficit is ballooning into the trillions of dollars, and McCain wants to CUT taxes for the wealthy? Give it a break, and stop listening to “Joe the lying Registered Republican”.
137. Monica | 11.05.08
Thank God, it’s all over now,@ sing So Joe the Plumber agrees that a vote for Obama is a vote for the death of Israel. It’s not a passive agreement, he comes out on the record and says so. And when John McCain’s campaign has the chance to repudiate such a disgusting claim, they fail to do so. In fact they endorse the opinion.
Now, we have a meritocracy here and should put him in his place as from today.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Stan | 10.29.08
I would like to congratulate McCain for finally wooing over Joe the Plumber. Nice! too bad he neglected independents like me to win this ONE vote over. If McCain’s campaign was geared to wooing this one guy then congratulations you’ve just lost the election.