Posted on 11/23/2009 11:49:34 AM PST by Second Amendment First
LOGAN, UTAH Forever a part of American electoral history, Joe Wurzelbacher -- better known as "Joe the Plumber" -- is hitting back at the media for its coverage of him over the past year, telling Editor & Publisher the reporting has been "poorly done."
In a wide-ranging interview with E&P, Wurzelbacher also shared his thoughts on Sarah Palin (he hopes she doesn't run for president in 2012), Palin's references to him in her new book, and the charge that he has capitalized off the publicity that has come with being Joe the Plumber. He also called President Obama's ideology "un-American."
Regarding Palin, the former Republican vice presidential candidate now making her rounds across the country on a book tour, Wurzelbacher told E&P he hopes she is not a candidate for president in 2012.
"I hope she doesn't (run), because I think she could do a lot for America outside of office," Wurzelbacher said. "And I think she could rally Americans to get together and make some changes from the grassroots level. I think she could be an incredible rallying point, and I think that's where she could serve America best."
Wurzelbacher said he's been disappointed with the press coverage overall. "Mainstream media really painted me as a fool," he said. "They did their best to discredit me as a tax cheat, a wife beater, a racist. You know, they said a lot of nasty things about me, and all of them untrue."
He was especially critical of the media's reporting on his tax lien of about $1,200, telling a gathering in Logan, Utah Thursday that a check for the full amount had been sitting at the Ohio State Capitol in Columbus two months prior to his well-documented exchange with then-candidate Barack Obama over tax policy.
"True journalism is dead," Wurzelbacher said. "They didn't follow up on anything. They didn't go there to find out if I truly owed them. There was an uncashed check in there for the sum of $1,200 and some-odd dollars paid."
Wurzelbacher also addressed the media's reporting of his lack of an Ohio plumbing license, telling the crowd the coverage was "the one thing they had right -- and the only thing so far they've had right."
In her memoir "Going Rogue," released Tuesday, Palin writes of Wurzelbacher, "Joe the Plumber reminded me personally of those Country Kitchen guys I'd sat with on Friday mornings in Wasilla when I was mayor. I liked him."
Asked what he thought of the compliment, Wurzelbacher said, "That's pretty cool. I'm glad she liked me because the feeling was very mutual."
[FOR BACKGROUND on that interview, go here.]
Wurzelbacher also gave his take on President Obama and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at Thursday's event in Utah. While he felt Obama treated him with "respect" during their encounter in October 2008, he called the president's ideology "un-American."
"Other than that, my whole ire is at Congress," he said. "That's where we need to really focus our attention. Barack Obama's one man. You know, do I like him, personally? No, I think he's the wrong choice for America, honestly."
But, surprisingly, the registered Republican -- he never left the party -- also had issues with McCain's candidacy. "Do I think McCain was the answer?" he asked. "Absolutely not, especially with the bill he tried to pass with legalizing all the illegal immigrants. He was just pandering to the Hispanic vote, period."
Wurzelbacher told those at the event to ask "direct questions" and then demand "direct answers" of those in Congress, as well as candidates running for office, before letting out more frustration with the media. "Do not be afraid of being discredited or discouraged by the press like I was," said Wurzelbacher. "I mean, quite honestly, I think it’s absurd that I got the notoriety I got for asking an elected official a question."
To those who charge Wurzelbacher has "capitalized on my 15 minutes of fame," he disagrees, telling E&P, "I'm a year into this, and I am not rich by no means. My book is out of print. I'm selling the last remaining copies. I did not expect enormous dollars from it. It's just what it is. I haven't gotten behind any merchandise. I haven't sold out."
He added, "I want to show people that they can get some notoriety and maybe do some good with it. I do my best to do some charity work. I do my best to ask Americans to get involved."
FOR MORE and picture of Joe with the author, go here.
Charles Geraci (gmitchell@editorandpublisher.com) is a former intern and reporter for E&P, who covered political conventions in 2004 and 2008 for the magazine.
Sorry Joe!!! I disagree with you!!
I agree with Joe except the Palin running part.
The Elites of both parties declared war on average Americans. Joe the Plumber and Sarah Palin got some heavy flak because they really are just like you and me. And the Elites hate (and fear) you and me.
“I hope she doesn’t (run), because I think she could do a lot for America outside of office....”
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At least his reasons have some validity. Unlike liberals who don’t want her to run because she would be the pants off Obama, Hillary or any other dem.
this mantra taht palin been using that she don’t need a title to effect change is empty if change don’t come. So what if we elect another RINO republican that do nothing but increase spending like before. We desperately need somoene like Palin as President who will actually start CUTTING in a big way, not on the fringes and I don’t know of anyone who have the guts to do it
We’ve seen very clearly over the last few months that our government doesn’t care what the people (aka the Grassroots) think, so unless she’s the lead torchbearer entering Washington DC the ONLY way we’re going to get this turned around is Sarah or someone else of the same conservative mettle leading the country from its highest position in government.
....would be the pants ......
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I blame the keyboard. Yeah.
Should read: ....would beat the pants ....
I can see where Joe is coming from. Hoping that someone you like will run for president is sort of like hoping they will be captured by enemy agents and slowly tortured for months on end if not the rest of their lives. I wouldn’t wish that on my enemies let alone my friends. But, that’s the price principled people pay these days to oust those who are just in it for the power and glory.
I agree with Joe. As long as she is on the outside, she can fight back with no holds barred.
I’m fond of Sarah and I don’t want to tie her hands while people beat the snot out of her.
You are wrong. Carrie PreJean, Dick Cheney, Dan Quayle, GW Bush, got lynched by the press and they are certainly not like you and me.
We need to exercise our public option and vote them out -- all of them.
Is this a magazine, never heard of it, or some stinking blog?
Why doesn’t he then run against that dingbat congresswoman Marcy Kaptur? Surely she could be defeated by the right candidate in the right year.
It is a well known magazine in the publishing industry.
tell joe to stick to fixing toilets
Not surprisingly the headline and the first couple of paragraphs try to distort the truth.
As far as I’m concerned Palin is the only one for 2012.
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