The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Joe the Plumber: Racist?

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Joe the Plumber: Racist?

By Robert Stacy McCain on 10.16.08 @ 11:57AM

Katie Couric got the "get" with Joe Wurzelbacher of Holland, Ohio, now the world's most famous plumber. Wurzelbacher said:

You know, I've always wanted to ask one of these guys a question and really corner them and get them to answer a question of--for once instead of tap dancing around it. And unfortunately I asked the question but I still got a tap dance. Do you - almost as good as Sammy Davis Jr.

This obviously got a huge blog reaction, with lots of liberal bloggers implying that Joe is a racist. Of course, he applied the tap-dancing metaphor to both candidates, and while I suppose it might have been possible to compare Obama to Fred Astaire -- a skinny guy with big ears -- it's kind of hard to find bigoted malevolence in the comparison to Davis, who (a) was universally beloved and (b) supported Richard Nixon in 1972.

View all comments (14) | Leave a comment

Debbie| 10.16.08 @ 12:19PM

Great values! I agree with his beliefs. He is single. Is he up to meeting an available woman in Georgia who is also successful. I'm 51

lance manfredi| 10.16.08 @ 3:11PM

I watched the conversation Joe had with Obama. This man was treated with respect and had the full attention of the candidate who endeavored to answer every concern 'Joe the Plumber' had, and he did a fine job of doing so. What a two faced 'dork' Joe turned out to be. Obama's full and intelligent answers he now calls evasive like Sammy Davis Jr's tap dancing? Yes, Joe is a racist, but also shown to be an egotistical one as well. Like the spotlight Joe? Cute line. Wit is not intelligence Joe.

EMERY FEKETE| 10.16.08 @ 3:17PM

There should be more perople like him.Alas our country is hwade for the icebergm like the Titanic. The music is still playing .Are we un sinkable?

ruth| 10.16.08 @ 3:59PM

Of course Joe the plumber is a racist. Liberals said so, and we all know that they are the experts on this matter!

Trey| 10.16.08 @ 10:09PM

Racist. Not even debatable.

scot stams| 10.17.08 @ 1:48AM

On the day after Mr Wurzelbacher's name came up in the debate, the US media dug into his background and discovered that he is a registered Republican, and that in 2007 the state of Ohio was forced to claim $1,182.98 in unpaid taxes from him.

A search of the register of plumbers in Ohio also revealed that Mr Wurzelbacher does not have a state plumber's licence.

William| 10.17.08 @ 9:56AM

I think the left is really unraveling at this point - how many in this country are just plain sick to death of their screeching, shrill, hysterical accusations of racism which don't seem to require any legitimate provocation these days? Can we just stop and admit that liberals are so obsessed with race that it could actually be classed as a mental illness? And could we finally admit that those who are so fixated on skin color are in fact the real racists?

Johnny Smoke| 10.17.08 @ 4:01PM

Obama's a terrorist, Palin's a pig with lipstick, Joe's a racist, McCain is a rich dinosaur.

Sticks and stones....

UnaffiliatedIndie| 10.18.08 @ 1:58AM

Forget the character attacks, however deserved or not. Let’s deal with the actual issue that was raised. Here’s a relevant excerpt from the (very) conservative Wall Street Journal’s article of OCTOBER 17, 2008, 'As Joe the Plumber Grows Famous, the Politics Get Murkier':

"To reach a level that would be affected by Sen. Obama’s proposed tax increase, Mr. Smither said, a mom-and-pop plumbing company like Newell would have to clear $5 million in annual sales. [Joe’s company actually reports only $100,000 in sales.]

Even if Mr. Wurzelbacher reaped taxable income from his business of $280,000 a year, he'd pay only about $900 more a year in taxes under Sen. Obama's plan, which would raise the tax rate on the income between $250,000 and $280,000 to 36% from 33%.

[...]

If Mr. Wurzelbacher earns the wages of a typical Ohio plumber, $40,600, and holds a $90,000 mortgage, he would see a TAX CUT (emphasis added) under Sen. Obama's plan of more than $1,000, compared with no tax reduction under Sen. McCain's.

If he succeeds in buying the plumbing business where he works, he could see even more tax benefits, including Sen. Obama's proposed elimination of capital-gains taxes for small-business investment, a 50% tax credit to purchase health insurance for employees and a $3,000 tax credit for every new hire over the next two years."

Yep … facts are pesky things.

Oeilsevere| 10.18.08 @ 2:14AM

LOL Poor Debbie!! hahahahahaha You're sad. There are websites for desperate oldies like you; please go there instead.

AAAAnyhooo:

Jo is an agent. It wasn't a chance meeting (his, with Obama). I know someone who's confirmed that he's part of the right-of-the right-wing White supremacist crowd. But that won't be in the news because the McCain clan has successfully blasted the media for "attacking" Samuel the mule-brain Worchszbrfklrplerssahfaccher. Exposing him any further would appear to be not credible/harassment.

migrantquetzal| 10.19.08 @ 8:42PM

Yes, I think Joe has some racism in him. He used the opportunity of been on TV to request the closure of the borders and harsher punishments on those who come. That added to his comments that Obama did not answer his questions properly, tell a lot about him.

dyager| 11.2.08 @ 7:52PM

JOE the PLUMBER is a RACIST, idiot that unfortunately represents (very well) the right wing conservative nutcases in this country! and McCain, has used this lying, owes back taxes, racist, uneducated dummy! It is sad that this is the best McCain can do!!! Crazy. I have never seen such idiocy in a presidential race! WHY would McCain use a guy that has been discredited even by FOX News! ? because that is the best he can get to endorse him! Joe the Plumber & Bocephus! both redneck idiots! ha ha ha. This guy is sunk!!! Good luck on election day! He did himself in with Plain anyway long ago!

IRISH AMERICAN| 11.4.08 @ 9:52AM

It's obvious that Joe the Plumber - who is not even a "licensed plumber" is a racist ,a fool, and hipocrit ,who set himself up for a fall. In his interview with Katie Couric- he was concerned that Sen. Obama will recatogorize the amount of income - ( taxable) of which Joe would be considered "RICH"... but it was in fact - Sen. McCain that made the foolish statement in the debate of calling Joe "RICH"- (even at $250 K) which is no kind of money these days... McCain unintentionally set Joe up for Public,state, federal and city agencies scrutiny.
JOE- it's most unfortunate that you're blinded by Race. Apparently - You've made it most clear that You measure a person by their "COLOR" rather than their ideals. Hopefully -your son will be much wiser than you when he is an adult.
In addition to owing back taxes- I wonder what else you're hiding.
Joe- You're not the example of an"American" that i'd want to be compared to.