It will be interesting to watch Obama’s “spread the wealth” comment play out.
From McCain’s campaign comes a new Web ad:
Did Obama create his own “October Surprise” with Joe the Plumber?
October 16, 2008 at 3:19 pm --by Cindy · 56 Comments
Tags: McCain · the race for president
56 responses so far ↓
1 J. Strupp // Oct 16, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Maybe.
…..and when Joe decides to pay his state income taxes and get a state plumbing license, maybe he can try and buy his boss’s plumbing business, which does about $100,000 in total sales.
Can GOP loyalists please stop falling for the narrative?
2 Kathryn // Oct 16, 2008 at 5:32 pm
That poor man. He asked a good question. Now he’s thrown under the media bus.
3 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 16, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I was just thinking the same thing. God bless Joe the plumber. They will ruin him.
Did you see all of the trucks? The reporters chasing him? Is that what happens when you question The One?
Scary.
4 Obama Mama // Oct 16, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Frightening.
5 Kathryn // Oct 16, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Oh, Cindy.
6 Zach W. // Oct 16, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Interestingly enough, Joe the plumber can also be directly tied to Charles Keating of Keating 5 fame.
7 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 16, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Zach, I’m sure they will tie him to much worse – quite convincingly – before it’s all over.
Kathryn – it’s a genuine concern. Have you ever seen anything like this before?
8 Zach W. // Oct 16, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I think we should more fully explore John McCain’s connection to convicted felon G. Gordon Liddy, who has called McCain his “old friend” and who helped raise funds for McCain.
After all, it says something about McCain’s judgment that he’d choose to pal around with a convicted felon who helped contribute to one of the darkest periods in our nation’s history.
9 Kathryn // Oct 16, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Of course it’s a concern. This One had as much or more to do with throwing this man to the mob as did That One. It was the McCain staffer in front of the press chanting “Plumber Joe! Plumber Joe!”
10 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 16, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Dang, Zach. You did a great job of explaining why Obama shouldn’t be elected! We are all very aware of Obama’s lapse in judgment when it comes to, uhem, bedfellows.
11 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 16, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Kathryn, you lost me. We must not have watching the same channel.
12 Zach W. // Oct 16, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Oh Cindy, McCain’s list of shady bedfellows is every bit as uhem, interesting, as Obama’s. The fact that you’re unwilling to look at both sides of the argument speaks volumes.
13 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 16, 2008 at 6:27 pm
But Zach, you offer no guidance. Where should I look? The DailyKos?
14 Randy4sam // Oct 16, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Zach
Let’s play a game. You name a vetted shady McCain acquaintance with a link and I’ll name one for Obama. We’ll see who runs out of names first. And my guy has been around quite a bit longer, giving you a big edge.
15 folkbum // Oct 16, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Someone should tell McCain’s ad people that MS Word, by default, won’t spell-check words in all capitals. Hence, “EVERBODY.”
16 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 16, 2008 at 7:53 pm
When the going gets tough, the wimps go spell checking.
17 J. Strupp // Oct 16, 2008 at 10:42 pm
“That poor man. He asked a good question. Now he’s thrown under the media bus.”
That was a good question. I agree completely. Only problem is that Joe was completely full of sh– and trying to play “stump the teacher” in front of the cameras.
Come on people. Just put your party loyalties aside for one second and watch the tape. It’s obvious.
It’s McCain’s own fault he put Joe out there for the mainstream media to disect in front of the whole world. That’s what they do. They like beating on the GOP. Especially when they serve up a softball like McCain managed to do last night with his “Joe the Plumber” narrative.
18 Obama Mama // Oct 17, 2008 at 1:03 am
Scary.
19 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 17, 2008 at 7:03 am
Is there backup to your argument that McCain pushed Joe up front?
20 Anonymous // Oct 17, 2008 at 9:21 am
Lib Playbook No. 21 – Shiny, bright object diversion.
Divert the issue to personal attacks against Joe that have nothing to do with BO’s own words or actions. BO true thoughts slip out when there is no script or teleprompter. Remember make the issue Joe’s income, tax situation, choice of beverage, etc. Besides “spread the wealth” is not accurate. Redistribution of income under socialism is the first step we can confiscate wealth (possessions) later.
21 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 17, 2008 at 9:43 am
“BO true thoughts slip out when there is no script or teleprompter.”
That’s a stellar observation!
I mentioned to a friend this morning that the lemmings will sit back while they redistribute wealth. By the time BO starts to confiscate, they’ll be too weak to act.
22 Randy4sam // Oct 17, 2008 at 9:51 am
I guess Zach didn’t want to play my game.
23 J. Strupp // Oct 17, 2008 at 10:11 am
Cindy,
McCain made a point to push Joe out front. He was first to mention Joe (which was about 10 minutes into the debate):
MCCAIN: “No. I would like to mention that a couple days ago Senator Obama was out in Ohio and he had an encounter with a guy who’s a plumber, his name is Joe Wurzelbacher.
Joe wants to buy the business that he has been in for all of these years, worked 10, 12 hours a day. And he wanted to buy the business but he looked at your tax plan and he saw that he was going to pay much higher taxes.”
Joe the Plumber became a target for the MSM as soon as McCain decided to use him as a weapon. I could care less if McCain was correct or justified in doing so. Believe what you will in that regard. But to whine about Joe the Plumber’s treatment in the liberal media is nonsense. What the hell did you or McCain or McCain’s people or anyone for that matter think was going to happen? As far as I’m concerned, the liberal media has the responsibilty to expose Joe the Plumber as a bunch of nonsense. He is.
As for Obama’s response to Joe (which I have a difficult time believing most of the poeple on this blog actually watched the full, unedited clip), his response was true to his platform. Whether you agree or disagree with his re-distribution of wealth comments is up to the voter.
I, for one, happen to disagree with Obama’s tax policy but it doesn’t change my opinion that Joe the plumber is a farce and McCain decided to play on the narrative once again in an attempt to con the suckers. It worked for the most part too….as usual.
24 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 17, 2008 at 10:20 am
That’s pathetic. Your argument is that Joe voiced his opinion and McCain agreed, so Joe deserves to be trashed.
Maybe someone will trash you someday for your opinion. It’s a miserable experience. I’ve lived through it, though thank goodness my experience was local and not nationwide like Joe’s.
25 Randy4sam // Oct 17, 2008 at 11:16 am
Strupp
You come on pretty strong about the liberal media exposing things. But have you noticed they tend to do it only for one side. They all carried the story of “kill him” being yelled at a Palin Rally but when the Secret Service could not substanuate the story and no one from thousands came forward, the MSM moved on.
http://www.timesleader.com/news/breakingnews/Secret_Service_says_Kill_him_allegation_unfounded_.html
Or the story about Tim Mahoney, Florida Congressman, and his mistress and the $121,000 payment to keep her quiet. It’s actually the MSM that’s keeping quiet.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D93RNO2OA&show_article=1
Do you have the same outrage for these stories?
26 Anonymous // Oct 17, 2008 at 11:38 am
It’s funny that Joe has been investigated by the MSM more in 2 days than BO has been investigated in 2 years!
27 J. Strupp // Oct 17, 2008 at 12:52 pm
That’s not my argument Cindy.
AGAIN, my opinion is that Joe fabricated a story in an attempt to call out Obama for his tax policies targeting taxpayers who make over $250,000/year. Fine. Who cares if Joe is full of crap in his everyday life? I sure don’t. But Joe the plumber approached Obama, knowing full well his “situation” was a bunch of crap in an attempt of shedding light on Obama’s tax policy. Hey that’s great. Then McCain, used full of crap Joe to define Obama’s tax policy (and used Joe as an example throughout the debate). When McCain used Joe’s example (now proven to be untrue), Joe became fair game. Sorry. The media has a responsibility to report that McCain’s “example” is nothing more than a character.
Randy,
“You come on pretty strong about the liberal media exposing things. But have you noticed they tend to do it only for one side.”
Yes. That’s why it’s called the liberal media by many. Get over it. It’s always been this way and is not going to change. There’s no shortage of alternative media outlets that run contrary to the liberal bias in the MSM. The examples you chose above are 2 examples.
Do I show outrage over some of the “associates” surrounding Obama? Not really. Do I show “outrage” over issues surrounding McCain? Not really (that includes Joe the plumber). They’re both have a certain amount of dirt on them and so far I haven’t seen anything that makes me think this isn’t politics as usual. You don’t get to become United States Senator without having to deal with scumbags, to some degree. I’m actually surprised Bill Ayers is the only Obama acquaintance the media has come up with, considering Obama’s proximity with Chicago politics.
28 Obama Mama // Oct 17, 2008 at 1:04 pm
1. Joe’s name isn’t Joe.
2. He’s not even a plumber.
3. He owes $1,200 in back taxes.
29 Anonymous // Oct 17, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Obama Mama
So your point is if BO talks to a person who name isn’t Joe, who isn’t a plumber, and owes $1,200 in back taxes then you CAN’T believe what BO is saying.
30 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 17, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Good grief! Joe’s name isn’t Joe? Can you offer a little evidence?
He’s not a plumber?
My girlfriend owed back taxes for three years until she proved it was the county’s mistake.
31 Obama Mama // Oct 17, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Anonymous, correct me if I’m wrong, I never included anything about not believing what BO is saying.
Read up…
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24511706-5012572,00.html
32 Kathryn // Oct 17, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Joe-who-isn’t-Joe looks to me like a normal guy confronting a politician. He didn’t get to make a five minute opening statement. He had to boil his argument down to a sentence or two, and he did it well.
33 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 17, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Mr. Strupp, so Joe the Plumber is a farce. That’s your opinion.
I notice you never ever talked about Obama’s “share the wealth” strategy which was the actual topic of the post. Do you think you could put your partisan loyalty aside long enough to answer if such a description of taxation – to share the wealth – is a tenet of socialism?
34 Kathryn // Oct 17, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Cindy, have you had the TV on in the last 24 hours? The man’s personal info. is all over.
35 Randy in Richmond // Oct 17, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Strupp
Oh, it’s not just Ayers. Here’s a few more.
Father Pleger
Michael Klonsky
Tony Rezco
Rev Jeremiah Wright
Samantha Power
Mazen Asbahi
Uncle Frank (Frank Davis)
Carl Davidson
Bernadine Dohrn
Marilyn Katz
36 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 17, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Obama Mama,
The man’s name is SAMUEL JOSEPH which means, according to your expert mind, “Joe’s name isn’t Joe.”
Now I’m a generous soul, and I forgive a lot on this site, but you have proven your intelligence to be that of the common rat. Or maybe less.
37 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 17, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Kathryn, I haven’t. So now everyone’s an expert on Joe. (Who isn’t really Joe!)
Did he bomb the Pentagon or anything?
38 J. Strupp // Oct 17, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Cindy,
You can call me Josh.
The Obama’s description of taxation, “to share the wealth”, is socialistic in nature. Yes. Which is why I do not agree with Obama’s statement regarding tax policy. And I do not agree that we should increase taxes on anyone in the face of our current economic situation. Obama is wrong on this issue.
39 Kathryn // Oct 17, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Grin.
Getting back to my original thesis: That poor man.
40 Randy in Richmond // Oct 17, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Obama Mama
1) Joe’s middle name is Joe , but I know how you Obama people don’t like middle names
2) Where does Joe say he is a plumber? He does say he works for a plumber.
3) So–How much in back taxes does Charlie Rangel owe? What does this have to do with “spread the wealth”.
41 J. Strupp // Oct 17, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Forget it. I tried.
42 Obama Mama // Oct 17, 2008 at 3:28 pm
“you have proven your intelligence to be that of the common rat”
Cindy, I’ll take the compliment! You must not be aware that rats are intelligent, very clean, and social/affectionate. Additionally they have a strong social hierarchy and excellent memory. They also take care of the injured and sick members in their group… perhaps that’s why I’m a democRAT!
43 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 17, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Whatever turns you on, O’mama. I would have considered it quite the insult. I guess you’re just that special.
I was taught that rats carried the fleas that caused the bubonic plague. I’ve also heard of them hanging out in sewers. I suppose that had nothing to do with the rat’s intelligence.
44 Frank Spango // Oct 17, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Really Cindy? Were you taught that? Or is that just what the mainstream media suggested… Its amazing how taking the time to actually look in depth at the facts can make you realize something you never thought before…
45 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 17, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Well Joe Springer, at least you’re off the district’s connection now. In general I discourage people from posting under more than one name. You’re welcome to stay if you want to be Joe Springer again. Otherwise, you’ll be deleted under a different identity.
46 Joe Springer // Oct 17, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Wasn’t aware i was still Joe Springer still as the post i originally posted on was deleted, and can’t be found anywhere on the site. Afraid to debate with a 15 year old Cindy?
47 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 17, 2008 at 3:59 pm
No it’s still there. But something is up – you’re the second person that’s mentioned trouble with it – the other complaint was that it wouldn’t allow comments anymore.
Sweetheart, I am very well practiced at “debating” 15 year olds. Very well practiced indeed.
48 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 17, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Here – try this link.
49 Anonymous // Oct 17, 2008 at 4:03 pm
“They also take care of the injured and sick members in their group… perhaps that’s why I’m a democRAT!”
They also feed off the production of others.
50 Anonymous // Oct 17, 2008 at 4:08 pm
“Afraid to debate with a 15 year old Cindy?”
Not if she has her parents permission.
51 Randy in Richmond // Oct 17, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I guess I fell for the 15 year old bit. I should have smelled a rat.
52 Joe Springer // Oct 17, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Then perhaps a little website maintenance is required Cindy. In the meantime, regardless of my age, or that fact that sometimes you like to take a swipe at my creditability with my “Elmbrook IP Address”. My name is Joe, as you clearly reminded me above. Not Sweetheart.
53 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 17, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Joe is really 15 years old.
The Web site maintenance has more to do with the fact that I installed a search all plugin not too long ago, and the database started at that time.
Your credibility has nothing to do with the Elmbrook IP, but you might want to review the district policies on use. I wouldn’t want you to be breaking any of them.
I apologize for calling you sweetheart. I was trying to feign affection for youthful exuberance. You won’t catch me doing that again.
Just remember – your age isn’t a card you can play at will. If you want to talk with the grownups, you will be treated like one.
54 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 17, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Randy – but at least today we’ve learned that it would have been an intelligent rat! (Ok, at least as smart as a dog.)
55 Fred // Oct 18, 2008 at 12:57 am
Joe asked O bama one simple question. Yet Bidden And O bama came after this poor guy like flys on dog crap! Whats up with that?
56 Cindy Kilkenny // Oct 18, 2008 at 7:15 am
If you ask me, Obama and Biden recognize the damage that was done in that impromptu interview. The only way to quickly defeat an opponent, which Joe the Plumber surely became, is to discredit him.
Fortunately, it happened a little before the true October Surprise time period. The surprise rules demand that there isn’t enough time to clear the story.That’s what makes a surprise so effective. There’s enough time left here to restore Joe’s integrity before the election and keep the story fresh for voters.
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