Here is the story of ‘Joe the Plumber’ made famous by John McCain in the last debate. Barack Obama had an altercation with this American worker recently. See the video and photo.
Joe the Plumber
Barack Obama’s tax plan identifies Joe the Plumber as a rich American. See and hear Joe Wurzelbacher and make up your own minds. He is apparently fed up with Washington taxation and dismisses Obama as a “Socialist”.
He was mentioned in the debate so many times that it became rather comical. But underlying the story of this one American is the crux of the economic disagreement between the two candidates. McCain’s position is nobody should pay higher taxes during a recession, so that businesses can create jobs, and that the only time in American history this was done was during Herbert Hoover’s administration. Obama’s position is that wealth should be redistributed regardless of economic times in the interest of fairness, even if that means fewer jobs.
Joe the Plumber called Barack Obama a “socialist” for these views. That is perhaps harsh rhetoric, although the view is consistent with historically Marxist teachings.
Joe the Plumber (Video)
October 15th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
i think mccain won the debate by injecting joe the plumber and putting it all into perspective.
joe the plumber, youre rich, congratualations…hahaha!
October 15th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Joe the plummer has two houses???
One must be a hunting lodge with four wheelers and a fishing boat.
Get a load at his grey t-shirt. Either he’s a set-up or a good ole boy who penny pinches.
I’m hoping for the penny pincher cause that’s my red neck back ground and I do want to like Joe and go hunting at his little lodge.
Jeez, if he makes 215 thou maybe he’ll be nice.
If he makes more than 250 than he aint no red neck and he won’t want to be a friend of mine.
Guess there goes my vacation, I might as well get back to the grind stone
October 15th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
John - if he makes $215 running a business, then he’s barely getting by. Ever hear about over head costs? Salaries for employees? etc. That ain’t cheap.
October 15th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I think Joe The Plumber needs to get an invitation to the inauguration.
October 15th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Joe Wurzelbacher is Joe the Plumber…
Joe Wurzelbacher has become an overnight celebrity, now known nationally as ‘Joe the Plumber’. He was mentioned
Joe the Plumber
Poor Joe Wurzelbacher got into a conversation with Barack Obama during Obama’s photo-op of going ‘…
October 16th, 2008 at 3:34 am
I can relate to Joe. He said he live in a house that runs in the mid $100,000 range. I think he saves his money and he also mentioned putting more trucks on the road (which means more drivers, plumbers, jobs…), so he’s reinvesting in the company. Obama has never run a business. The Dems often talk about being for small businesses unlike those mean horrible republicans who only favor large oil companies and Haliburton. Well Joe sort of burns right through that charade. The “death tax” directly affects people like Joe who might be training a son or daughter who want to eventually take over the family business. “Soaking the rich” gets people like Joe - he doesn’t have the tax shelters that Paris Hilton would have - oops - yikes, I forgot, Paris Hilton came out for Obama - she’s a Democrat - hmmm… probably because she’ll never pay a dime of Obama’s taxes because Joe will be paying them - and but not the workers who will never get those jobs in the extra trucks on the road.
October 16th, 2008 at 3:39 am
John - what’s wrong with good old boys? or hunting lodges? or fishing boats? or hunting?
October 16th, 2008 at 5:31 am
My business taxes are on my net, not gross. If I’m lucky enough to net more than 250,000 a year, my plan is to reinvest in my business and make it grow and profit even more down the road. I might even hire a new employee. This is called tax planning. Joe should hire a good planner.
October 16th, 2008 at 5:55 am
Rick, salaries are considered profit and are taxed. Joe is lucky to live in Ohio - Maryland business taxes will put you under fast - almost nothing is considered gross…
October 16th, 2008 at 6:29 am
Later in the discussion Obama tells Joe that 5 years ago when he opened his business he needed that tax break.
The premise/assumption that you use a tax break to start a business is wrong. That puts the burden on the taxpayer.
You go to the BANK and get a loan hoping that your profit margin will cover the payments of that loan and still afford you a living.
Can you imagine the cost to American taxpayers if we had to finance every blooming small business ?
October 16th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Whatever happened to small businesses growing bigger and employing more workers.
What idiot said,”Hey let’s punish small business and get people all worked up thinking that the evil small business owner is rich and greedy wanting to make more then $250,000 a year. Why, they ought to have to pay more taxes cause they are evil and hate the working man.”
If you work for a small business, ask your boss how much of the taxes they pay could be used for raises, new workers and expansion of the business.
Barry has no idea what he is talking about because he and Biden have NEVER worked in the private sector. They have NEVER had to borrow money to make payroll. They have NEVER had to lay off workers. They have NEVER done anything but talk.
You thinks things are bad now, just wait about a year into the Barry Era and you will know what bad is. I hope the jumpsuits we have to wear at least are fashionable.
October 16th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Rumors have it that “Joe the Plumber” is not a registered voter. How do you prove if he is or not?
October 16th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Carol - both parties have databases that have all the voters listed. Most Boards of Election have the data too - for sale - usually $15 or so. Obviously, these lists are not available online, as they have addresses, phone numbers, voting records (when the person voted), party affiliations, etc.
I am sure if he is not registered, the Democratic Party will publicize it quickly.
However, even if he is not a voter, it does not matter - his problems affect many people. He was just asking Obama some questions while standing in his neighborhood. If elected, Joe will still be Obama’s consituent, voter or not.
October 16th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Joe the Plumber has not been vetted. For all we know, he’s mentally insane. I’m sure McCain’s people are out there looking into his background at the moment. If he’s what he says he is, I expect we’ll see a lot more from him in the next couple of weeks.
October 16th, 2008 at 8:52 am
I don’t know any plumbers in my neighborhood making $250K profit a year.
October 16th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Allen,
Step away from the kool aid.
He “Wants” to buy the business he has worked for and wants the business to make money. If it makes more then $250K, he will be punished.
What difference does it make if Joe is a registered voter? He pays taxes and has more of a right to speak out then the people on the governments plantation who get back a tax refund but don’t pay taxes or create one single job.
Allen, how many jobs have you created? Huh?
October 16th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Most of us get our pay from a company, maybe a small one, maybe (dare i say it) a corporation. The harder it is for them to make money the harder it is for them to pay us. I like my check, i work hard for it, i want my government to work hard for me, and cutting taxes for the people who pay me and you may just be the thing that keeps us out of the unemployment office one day.
just my .02
October 16th, 2008 at 10:34 am
George, I run my own hardware store with 20 employees, so I would say I’ve created about 20 jobs, 21 if you count my own job.
October 16th, 2008 at 10:37 am
I bet you make more then $250K and if not you would like to. So why should you be punished for being successful?
October 16th, 2008 at 10:53 am
George, paying taxes is not “punishment”, it’s my duty as an American citizen to pay them. And if there are programs worth supporting, and if the government is responsible and honorable in taking those taxes and spending them wisely, then I am only helping my country. After all, I can’t pay to fix the roads myself, and even if I could, it wouldn’t be a very good use of my time or very cost-effective.
October 16th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Allen,
Paying your taxes is part of the American dream. But you know that the government never runs any program well at all. We both know we are not taking about roads here. We are talking about giving people money, housing, healthcare and retirement without ever paying a dime for it. Letting you and me work for them and then they complain because it is not enough.
I pay my taxes and am proud I can. But when is enough enough. 15%? 20%? 35%? $50%?
If we each had to write a check each month for our taxes, there would be a revolt like never before seen.
The Boston Tea Party was because of a 3% tax.
I am just tire of paying my way and other people who can work but won’t. I am tire of all the victims in this country and that is what Obama and the democrat party preaches.
If God can work off of 10%, why can’t the government?
October 16th, 2008 at 11:15 am
I think all that is going to happen with a tiered tax system is have those you are trying to tax more find better ways to hide and adjust their income. If you draw a line in the sand at 250K, i am fairly sure most people even close to that number will make sure that their adjusted gross income on their tax return is south of 250K thus negating the point. I favor more of a flat % or flat tax all together. Im not a tax expert and im sure there are problems with every plan, just wanted to weigh in on one issue i have with the 250K plan.
October 16th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Back in the 40’s and 50’s when Ronald Reagan was a movie star and he reached the top tax bracket of the day that would have taken 90% of what he made, he stopped working. That in turn kept others from working.
If we continue going down the path Obama wants to go, that is where we will be.
October 16th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Allen.
It doesnt sound like you have too much skin in the game.
When government starts to dictate how much of what they can take from you we are headed down the tubes.
Do you understand that ?
No one is against charity or supporting our infrastructure.
Do you understand that the rights to our private property are slowly being stripped from us ?
We are against society becoming so dependant on government that mass complacency sets in which always results in disaster.
The definition of an “individual” in our constitution is the right to private property.
Please understand this instead of being so altruistic with everyone elses property.
Which brings up another point.
Are you aware that it is the conservative and faith based sections of our country that actually donate more to causes and charity than any other ?
WILLINGLY !!!!
October 16th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
“Willingly” is a term the left can’t wrap their minds around. Unless they are told to do something, they can’t do it on their own.
It is because they want to point out all their great work and intentions. In the liberal world, intentions count more then actions.
God bless America and God bless our Constitution.
Sorry if saying “God” offends any of you liberals.
I would rather offend you then Him.