Winners and Losers

This year's presidential and congressional elections produced many winners (See: Obama, Biden, the American public). At the same time, aside from the obvious choices (See: McCain, Palin), the elections also uncovered a few previously unknown losers. The leader of this pitiful group is Joseph Wurzelbacher aka "Joe the Plumber" (or Joe Wurzelburger, as John McCain referred to him during the final presidential debate). The right wing continues to claim that Wurzelbacher is just your typical "everyman" but the evidence suggests otherwise:

• During his famous conversation with Barack Obama, Wurzelbacher asked this question to the presidential candidate: "I’m getting ready to buy a company that makes $250,000 to $280,000 a year. Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn’t it?" However, in a subsequent interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC's "Good Morning America", Sawyer inquired if Wurzelbacher was currently earning $250,000. His response was "No. No. Not even close." As proof, court records from a divorce show that Wurzelbacher earned only $40,000 in 2006.
• In January 2007, the Ohio Department of Taxation placed a lien against Wurzelbacher because he had not paid $1,182.98 in personal property taxes. Two months later, a second lien was filed against him for $1,261 owed to St. Charles Mercy Hospital.
• Although his nickname now is "Joe the Plumber", Wurzelbacher is not a licensed plumber. As a matter of fact, he hasn't even completed the apprentice program he started in 2003. Tom Joseph, Business Manager for the Local 50 of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry, declared that "[Wurzelbacher] has got no schooling, no licenses, he’s never been to a training program, union or non-union, in the United States of America". By the way, the association endorsed Obama for President. In addition, Wurzelbacher claims that he legally operates under his employer's license but, according to Ohio building regulations, he is required to maintain his own license in order to perform plumbing work.
• Since his encounter with Obama, Wurzelbacher joined with country music artist and producer Aaron Tippin to form a new partnership, which includes booking management firm, The Bobby Roberts Co., and publicity management concern, The Press Office. The requests have supposedly included a potential record contract with a major label, personal appearances and corporate sponsorships.
• Wurzelbacher has also started his own web site (http://www.secureourdream.com/) to "bring together individuals who want to help others while, at the same time, ensuring our government keeps answering our tough questions". Seriously, let's face it. This web site was created to allow this idiot to cash in on his newfound "celebrity". In fact, for an annual fee of $14.95, a Freedom Member will receive (1) full access to "Joe The Forum", where you may chat directly with Wurzelbacher, (2) a subscription to the "Joe The Blog" monthly newsletter, (3) free shipping on all "Joe The Plumber" merchandise, (4) a free signed copy of his forthcoming book and (5) the ability to "become an integral part of an American movement to restore our government to the people". Yes, you read all of that correctly.
• Most recently, during a campaign stop in Columbus, OH, an audience member directed this claim at Wurzelbacher: "A vote for Obama is a vote for the death to Israel, I'll guarantee you that." What was Wurzelbacher's highly informed response? "Well, you know what, actually I'll go ahead and agree with you on that one. You know...no, I agree with you. I really think that would be a problem."
• On FOX News's "Studio B" later that same day, anchor Shepard Smith amazingly confronted Wurzelbacher on his earlier comments: "Barack Obama has said repeatedly, time after time, that there is nothing more important than the United States friendship with Israel and that the United States will back up Israel every moment of every day if and when he becomes President of the United States. He could not have been clearer about it in his positions and in his speeches, and I just wonder what it is that makes you think that he's lying about that." Wurzelbacher responded by eloquently stating "Actions...you know, I've heard words and I hear words from politicians all the time, you know, but actions kind of give you an idea..." Following the interview, Smith added this before going to a commercial break: "I just want to make this 100 percent perfectly clear. Barack Obama has said repeatedly and demonstrated repeatedly that Israel will always be a friend of the United States, no matter what happens once he becomes President of the United States. His words. The rest of it -- man, some things -- it just gets frightening sometimes."