Extraordinary Joe: McCain, Obama and the plumber who is suddenly a US sensation

The Guardian ^ | October 17, 2008 | Ed Pilkington

[Schnucki]

It came so close to being remembered as the hockey mom election. But, doggone it, hockey moms will just have to wait another four years. The 2008 US presidential election belongs to just one man: Joe the Plumber. On Saturday Joe Wurzelbacher was, well, an ordinary Joe. Or to use a Sarah Palinism, a Joe Six Pack. Yesterday he woke to find himself transformed into an international phenomenon.

By mentioning him more than 13 times in the first 10 minutes of Wednesday night's third and final presidential debate, the Republican candidate, John McCain, sent Wurzelbacher into a media stratosphere the likes of which most publicity-starved brands can only dream of. Groups sprang up on Facebook with names like Joe the Plumber for President and Fans of Joe the Plumber.

He rose to number seven on Google's list of most popular search expressions. T-shirts were rush-printed overnight, showing his bald, burly head above the logo: "Hi, I'm Joe Plumber and Obama is a punk."

Joe Francis, a plumber who mends pipes in Amarillo, Texas, 1,000 miles from Wurzelbacher's home, received more than 600 phone calls from people expressing interest in his website, Joetheplumber.com. One man offered him $350,000 (£200,000) to buy the domain name. "He sounded pretty serious," an employee told the Guardian.

The maelstrom began only a few minutes into the televised debate at Hofstra University, on Long Island, on Wednesday night, when McCain seized on an impromptu encounter between Obama and a resident in Holland, Ohio, last weekend. "His name is Joe Wurzelburger," McCain said, getting his Wurzelbachers in a twist.

Joe was a man who was trying to realise the American dream, McCain went on, working 10, 12 hours a day to build up his business. He was planning to buy up another small business, but realised that

[Schnucki]

Struggling to believe this came from the guardian. It appears to tell only the facts without all the dnc talking points.

[Jeff Head]

It is very apparent that Joe the Plumber was the real winner of the 3rd presidential debate and he continues to win it and hammer the liberal, socialist, dems today.

By extensions, McCain and all Americans are winners.

But, because Joe the Plumber was honest about the impact of the Obama plans from his perspective, and because he did not drink the Obama kool-aid, the MSM, the DNC, and the Obama campaign now consider that hard working, well spoken, young man as the enemy.

They are already beginning to attack him relentlessly.

So be it, it will reflect badly back on them just as their attacks on Sarah have done.

Just as Patrick Henry indicated, and that truth still holds today...if we will hold the course, God in Heaven will raise up friends to help fight these battles.

Sarah Palin is one such friend...now, out of obscurity, Joe the Plumber is another.

All thanks for this goes, IMHO, to a merciful God in Heaven! and millions of hard working, partiotic, loyal Americans who will not give up...two of which, Joe and Sarah, have been brought forth before us all to express these sentiments.

The truth is that the left, the Obama campaign, the DNC, and the MSM will lie, fabricate, misquote, commit fruad, beg, borrow, or steal in their effort to slow down what is happening on the ground with the McCain campaign right now, and particularly with the likes of Joe and especially Sarah Palin who is burrowing underneath all of their hype and drawing 25-30,000 people at a time to her rallies and getting the message of hope and conservative values out.

Obama and his ilk know it, they fear it, and they will do anything they can to stop it...but they shall also fail in the attempt. Truth has a way of shining all the brighter in darkness.

SARAH PALIN DRAWING HUGE CROWDS ALL ACROSS AMERICA

[goldstategop]

The point is one man may have changed the election. And it wasn't McCain and it wasn't Sarah. It was one of those Joe Six Packs who asked Obama a question that has him answering he wanted "to spread the wealth around." And we got more insight about Obama in that one answer than we have had in the three debates over the past month. No wonder the Left is panicked.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Ciexyz]

Off to read the whole article. If it indeed is minus DNC bias, that will be a first for The Guardian.

[Huck]

If McCain wins, Joe the Plumber will become permanent political lore. He’ll be remembered and talked about, much more significant than pony tail guy, if any of you remember him from 92.

[oldfart]

Am I reading something into all this that isn’t really there? A campaign between two multi-millionaires has been hijacked by two relatively ordinary people: A hockey mom from Alaska and a plumber fron Ohio. All of a sudden people seem to identify with these “ordinary” folks and are flocking to see and hear them.

Maybe we’re just tired of being ‘talked down to.’ One can only wonder if the political advisors who sit in the background of these campaigns has taken note of any of this.

[blackbart.223]

"The point is one man may have changed the election. And it wasn't McCain and it wasn't Sarah. It was one of those Joe Six Packs who asked Obama a question that has him answering he wanted "to spread the wealth around."

I hope he keeps bullit proof underwear on. They are already doing their best to trash him. But what the hell, Dems are for the little guy, right?

[RightFighter]

I truly believe that Joe the Plumber is resonating out there - the Democrats know it and so do their friends in the media. McCain will win this election now, and they know that too. That’s why they cannot and will not allow Joe the Plumber to be the “official” reason that McCain wins, because to do so would deny them their opportunity to claim that it was due to white racism.

[eyedigress]

I’ve been trying to get this out. Main Stream America asked Obama about taxes and the answer was spread the wealth. That’s why Joe is under attack. It exposes Obama for taking more money from upstart business and giving it to couch sitters.

[blackbart.223]

"Maybe we’re just tired of being ‘talked down to.’ One can only wonder if the political advisors who sit in the background of these campaigns has taken note of any of this.

Who gives a shit if they do? They are carnival barkers who get paid to hoodwnink the masses. And damn if they don't pull it off.

[eyedigress]

He is going to lose.

[goldstategop]

Who? Joe Wurzelbacher? If he was a candidate, he'd be finished. I'm glad he isn't one!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[eyedigress]

LOL, not at all. Obama attacked working America.

[Question Liberal Authority]

Who? Joe Wurzelbacher?

You remember. The guy with the glasses and the bow tie who invented the light and fluffy popcorn.

[Fred]

Joe Francis, a plumber who mends pipes in Amarillo, Texas, 1,000 miles from Wurzelbacher's home, received more than 600 phone calls from people expressing interest in his website, Joetheplumber.com. One man offered him $350,000 (£200,000)

Hmmm, I wonder who would spend that kind of money for the joetheplumber website. Perhaps someone who has alot to lose if this scandal of redistributing wealth gets legs???

[bethtopaz]

Joe the Plumber is my hero. Someone suggested we put a toilet plunger is our front yards (got this from a Dem for McCain/Palin site) as a sign of solidarity for Joe the Plumber.

I’m going to put a plunger in my front yard and put a sign on it that says: “Joe the Plumber for McCain.”

I’m also sending him a thank you note (from the bottom of my heart) and sending it to him at his address:

Samuel J. Wurzelbacher
30 Derbyshire Road
Toledo, OH 43615

The Media is in the toilet for Obama. They’re finished as far as I’m concerned. I will watch them no longer (including Fox News).

[bethtopaz]

I’m also sending him a thank you note (from the bottom of my heart) and sending it to him at his address:

Samuel J. Wurzelbacher
30 Derbyshire Road
Toledo, OH 43615

***************************************

I’m not positive this is the correct address for Joe the Plumber. I heard he lives in Holland, Ohio so hold off on sending him any money.

[albie]

IMO I don’t think the MSM slams against “Joe” will stick. He’s SO “average American” he’d be considered hands off by most Americans. Palin and McCain are fair game. Joe is like your favorite Uncle or little brother.

[relictele]

Joe has his good and bad points vis-a-vis the campaigns but unfortunately he is also an unwitting symbol of MSM laziness.

Fed, watered and bedded down every night by the respective campaigns, they nevertheless demand to be viewed as impartial, hard-hitting journalistas when in reality they are simply carny barkers who treat a press release as ‘breaking news.’ Reporting? Sorry too much work and they might have to fly commercial to the next stop.

Joe is perfect for them: one person they can build up or tear down on a whim, write serious pieces or silly ones and most importantly ignore the particulars of policy proposals and candidates’ backgrounds.

[Grampa Dave]