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Going after Joe the Plumber & America
The Anchoress ^ | October 16, 2008 | The Anchoress

Posted on 10/16/2008 4:54:20 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

To my way of thinking, Joe the Plumber - singing the psalm of the common man, and representing the views of the middle class and what we once used to call “the Silent Majority” - has completely terrified the left, the Obama camp and the press.

And so…he must be destroyed.

So what happens to Mr. Wurzelbacher for expressing his views?

Reports in the mainstream media appear claiming that he is unlicensed (even though he doesn’t need one as an employee of a business or as a contractor working on a residence), and that he apparently has a tax lien filed against him.

Not to be outdone, the Daily Kos published his home address for all the world to see.

Andrew Sullivan is all of a doodah that Joe uses his middle name, btw.

But here’s the thing: what or who Joe the Plumber is does not matter. What matters is what Barack Obama said to him. The focus on Joe the Plumber - the obsession on him, and the need to somehow discredit him in the eyes of the nation - is meant to distract you from what Barack Obama said, and nothing else.

And what Barack Obama said was:

(VIDEO AT LINK)

Those words are what matters. It does not matter whether Obama said them to Joe the Plumber or Booby McBoobadoob. Don’t allow yourself to become distracted by the media swarm/feed. Stay focused on Obama’s words. THOSE are what matters.

Says Glenn Reynolds:

They told me that if George W. Bush were re-elected, people would be punished for speaking truth to power. And they were right!

James Pethokoukis writes Did Obama Just Blow the Election by promising to “spread the wealth around?”

A while back I chatted with a University of Chicago professor who was a frequent lunch companion of Obama’s. This professor said that Obama was as close to a full-out Marxist as anyone who has ever run for president of the United States. Now, I tend to quickly dismiss that kind of talk as way over the top…But if he is as free with that sort of redistributive philosophy in private as he was on the campaign trail this week, I have no doubt that U of C professor really does figure him as a radical. And after last night’s debate, a few more Americans might think that way, too. McCain’s best line: “Now, of all times in America, we need to cut people’s taxes. We need to encourage business, create jobs, not spread the wealth around.”

America just heard the President Presumptive tell them, essentially, “don’t dream too big. Don’t dare to dream too big, because if you do, we’re just going to chop you down to size, so that everyone is the same.”

That is not an American recipe. It is a recipe that’s been tried several times and all it ever does is sap people of ambition, creativity and freedom. What’s the point in excelling if your excellence will be the equal of mediocrity? What’s the point of dreaming, if your dreams are going to be subject to the whims of others?

America likes its dreams, its ambitions and its freedoms. Between Obama’s slip-of-the-tongue and the increasingly troubling stories of voter fraud - excuse me, voter registration fraud (which is mean to enable voter fraud) - rampant in one state after another, he’s making a lot of Americans wary.

Americans does not like being told it can’t do something. They do not like being told not to dream glorious dreams. They do not like being told that excellence must subdue itself. And they really don’t like cheating the vote.

Things turn on a dime. This election may well turn not on who “Joe the Plumber” is - but who Barack Obama is revealing himself - finally - to be.

Lorie Byrd has more, plus a video

Hot Air has breaking on Joe and notes:

Should have known better than to ask a media darling a tough question before your affairs were in order, Joe. Exit question: The law’s the law and it is, after all, his own fault for not having the papers he needs. If, say, an illegal alien had asked McCain a tough question and some righty media source responded by bringing his status to light, would the left feel the same way?

I guess it’s a fair question. So is this.

Finally - remember when Tim Robbins said he felt a “chill wind” blowing in America - back in 2001, referring to George W. Bush? Well, it seems the chill wind is blowing alright - hard and from the left - and it’s going after anyone who dares to question the Messiah.

And yeah…the guy’s not even in office, yet. What is it going to be like, when President Obama and his crew have the power (and seemingly the full support) of the agencies behind them?

Sure is getting interesting. Put on a sweater, that wind is chill!


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS: antichrist; democrats; election; elections; joetheplumber; obama; spreadthewealth; swingstates; taxes
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

HeeHee....watching Obama step all over his Johnson....and then the MSM trying to project his ineptness onto poor old Joe the Plumber is worth another round of PopCorn!!!!We need to buy JtP a six at least....hope McCain and Palin find a way to get him to the Inaugural!!!


21 posted on 10/16/2008 5:52:45 PM PDT by mo
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To: No Income Tax
And who gets to decide what is hardship? If Joe makes $1 million, why should he be punished with a higher tax rate?

Two separate questions. Joe should not be punished for hard work and creating jobs...but I think it's clear that the incremental 3% isn't a hardship. It's government theft of property, it goes against everything I stand for--but it's not a hardship. That's the hyperbole part.
22 posted on 10/16/2008 6:05:43 PM PDT by itsPatAmerican
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
More than being filth, they have not a bone nor corpuscle of strategy in their beings. They are doing exactly would I would advise them, as a strategist, NOT to do. They are going after him and what will happen is that it will blow up in their faces and even more droves of undecided will side with Joe the Plumber against Obama. They are literally pissing in the wind. It is almost embarrasing to watch, I feel sorry for the amateurs running the Barack Obama campaign who are totally freaked out now; also, their internal poll numbers show trouble, so when their talking heads go on Fox, they start to lose it. Some dippy broad spokesbot for Obama was on there yesterday, and I think she has this grand, elite vision of herself as the next White House Press Secretary, and she was coming TOTALLY UNGLUED.

They are in a panic. This is great psy war folks, play it to the hilt and they will go totally basket case by election day. This is like intellectually and tactically taking candy from a baby.

23 posted on 10/16/2008 6:42:28 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo (RINOs **BETRAY** us, since, if they ever DO take off the gloves vs. the Libs, they do so too late...)
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To: itsPatAmerican
This just goes to show you that neither you or Obama have ever had a real job or tried to run a business. Besides, who the hell gave you or Obama any legitimate or moral right to that $9000?

If you had any business experience you would know that just like rent, raw materials, labor, and utilities, the cost of taxes and regulations is another element in the cost of goods and services and is passed along to the customers. So if you raise the taxes on Joe the Plumber or Exxon, the price they charge to Joe Sixpack will go up accordingly.

Lastly, Joe the Plumber may have gross billings for his S Corp or LLC, but from that he must pay his taxes, and other costs and maybe, just maybe he will have enough left to pay himself.

24 posted on 10/16/2008 6:46:43 PM PDT by Natural Law
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To: Prole

Expect a civil war to break out because of that possibility.


25 posted on 10/16/2008 7:50:19 PM PDT by Biggirl (Throw The Bums OUT!=^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^=)
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To: Natural Law
This just goes to show you that neither you or Obama have ever had a real job

Don't be silly. Nothing I've said would indicate I've never had a real job. More silly hyperbole. I will say it again, a tax increase from 36% to 39% sucks, and goes against everything I believe in...but in the grand scheme of things it is a small increase. Are you now going to extrapolate from this that I've never been a dad? LOL!@
26 posted on 10/17/2008 4:38:32 PM PDT by itsPatAmerican
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To: itsPatAmerican
"...but in the grand scheme of things it is a small increase."

A tax increase of $9000 is not a small increase. I will again assert that you know absolutely nothing about business and have never had to sign the front of a company check. It is not uncommon for an S Corp plumbing business to have gross billings in excess of $250K from three to five trucks and plumbers, as well as a bookkeeper on the payroll. After wages, vehicle and other expenses there isn't a whole lot left for the owner. That $9000 equates to $1500 per month.

Only you, Biden, and Obama (who also never had a real jobs) think that the guy who showed the initiative and accepted the risks should be happy to cough up another $9000 for a socialist redistribution vote buying scheme. But since you seem to have all of the answers, how should Joe pay for those additional taxes, should he lay-off a plumber, cut salaries across the board, or pass the increase on to the customers?

27 posted on 10/17/2008 7:03:37 PM PDT by Natural Law
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

28 posted on 10/18/2008 6:16:55 AM PDT by Grampa Dave ( Joe the plumber should provide his license right after Obama provides his real birth certificate)
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To: Natural Law

You know, my math was wrong, at least have the sense to argue that $22,500 is not a small increase. You sound silly trying to claim that $9,000 is a large percent of $1,000,000. There is an argument here that tax increases are never right—that’s the one you should stick to. Arguing that a $9,000 increase on profits of a $1,000,000 is going to cause layoffs makes you sound like a nilly.


29 posted on 10/18/2008 6:56:52 AM PDT by itsPatAmerican
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To: itsPatAmerican
Although a $1,000,000 profit was never discussed in an argument framed by Buffoon Obama's "making over $250,000 a year" assertion, I still contest any situation or concept in which any political slapdiq believes he has first dibs on anyone's money or assets, whether $22 or $22,000.

Here is a bit of irony for you. The tax code permits any individual to voluntarily contribute any amount in excess of their calculated taxes to the treasury in the event they believe that they are under taxed or have an obligation to spread their wealth around. When individuals like Joe Biden, Barak Obama, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid have contributed all wealth, income and assets above the national median I will listen to them when they ask me or guys like Joe the Plumber for more.

30 posted on 10/18/2008 7:42:36 AM PDT by Natural Law
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To: Natural Law
My argument is against chicken littleism--you keep wanting me to defend liberal tax policy--won't do it, can't do it. I just think it is silly that every tax increase ever proposed becomes "THE BIGGEST TAX INCREASE IN HISTORY". Tax increases are wrong in principle, and that is enough--but to falsely claim hardship makes our argument weak. See my point? We need to shift the argument to why ANY tax increase is bad rather than arguing about the scale of a specific tax increase.

If you'd like to discuss this without the mean spirited personal attacks of your past posts I'd love to discuss strategy and how we can correctly frame this issue.

If all you can do is attack my ability to hold a job or try to lump me in with Kerry or Biden then let's end this now.
31 posted on 10/18/2008 7:54:33 AM PDT by itsPatAmerican
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