There’s actually an error in this report. Joe doesn’t own the company he works for, Newell Plumbing, which may be in trouble for having Joe work in an area neither are licensed for.
Turns out that “Joe the Plumber,” as he became nationally known when Senator John McCain made him a theme at Wednesday night’s third and final presidential debate, may run a plumbing business but he is not a licensed plumber. His full name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher. And he owes a bit in back taxes.
The premise of his question to Mr. Obama about taxes may also be flawed, according to tax analysts.
An official at Local 50 of the plumber’s union, based in Toledo, said Mr. Wurzelbacher does not hold a license. He also has never served an apprenticeship and does not belong to the union. (The national plumber’s union, the United Association of Plumbers, Steamfitters, and Service Mechanics, endorsed Mr. Obama, it should be noted.)
“He’s basically playing games with the world,” Thomas Joseph, the local’s business manager, said in a telephone interview Thursday morning.
[…]
“All contractors are licensed, and he does not have a license, either as a contractor or a plumber,” the union official said, citing a search of government records. “I can’t find that he’s ever even applied for any kind of apprenticeship, and he has never belonged to local 189 in Columbus, which is what he claims on his Facebook page.”According to public records, Mr. Wurzelbacher has been subject to two liens, each over $1,000, one of which — a personal tax lien — is still outstanding.
And his question to Mr. Obama about paying taxes? According to some tax analysts, if Mr. Wurzelbacher’s gross receipts from his business is $250,000 — and not his taxable income — then he would not have to pay higher taxes under Mr. Obama’s plan, and probably would be eligible for a tax cut.
Mr. Wurzelbacher is registered to vote in Lucas County under the name Samuel Joseph Worzelbacher.
Since his name is spelled wrong, doesn’t that mean he can’t vote?
And in case you hear about the supposed connection between Robert M. Wurzelbacher of Milford, OH and Charles Keating’s son-in-law of the same name, forget it.
Thanks to Misanthropic Scott
Well, Desperate Men do Desperate Things !!! Tried to promote “Joe the Plumber” as “JUST FOLKS” !!! I’m surprised McCain didn’t open a BAG OF PORK RINDS !!! But it looks like McCain has STEPPED IN A PILE OF “Joe the Plumber” !!! And is HOPPING AROUND ON ONE FOOT !!! Tried to MANUFACTURE A “Harry and Louise” episode, but will end up BAILING BILGEWATER out of SS “Straight Talk Express” !!!
What do his tax liens and licensing have to do with anything?
Why does someone who speaks out in politics have to be investigated?
Looks like Joe the trailer trash.
Joe the Plumber is your typical repuglican red values voter.
He imagines himself to be something he could only aspire to and votes himself a program to interfere with himself getting there.
It would be a hoot if it didn’t affect so many other similarly afflicted.
#3 – Personality
>>Looks like Joe the trailer trash.
He looks a little like Mister Clean to me.
http://tinyurl.com/52uj2v
Too bad McBush’s campaign didn’t use a little disinfectant cleaner before they started spreading the bullshit around.
# 2 MikeN
Because people who don’t pay their taxes have no right to complain about them!!!!
Well I guess when Al Gore brought up that lady with all the medical problems they should have investigated her criminal background, whether she as ever fired, etc.
In my town, we call unlicensed builders and plumbers, “cowboys”. A name describing an unqualified, unreliable and dishonest man-of-all-trades, often with multiple aliases and a weakness for seeking personal fame. Cowboys routinely underquote a contract to shut out real craftsmen from a job, and then fabricate cause for bumping up the cost after the contract is signed. Much like a politician.
# 8 MikeN
If it was relevant to what she was saying YES!
He was commenting on taxes and he doesn’t even pay the ones he has now. And he lied about being a plumber!!!
In his defense, he did watch Home Improvement where Tim Allen handled a pipe wrench.
According to a McCain spokesperson, that makes him a plumber. Palin agrees. So there.
You know what
John McCain said this guy was his “buddy”
What is John McCain doing paling around with tax dodgers?
#8 – Lyin’ Mike
>>Well I guess when Al Gore brought up that
>>lady with all the medical problems they
>>should have investigated her criminal
>>background, whether she as ever fired, etc.
Oh, you can bet your lyin’ boots they DID. Unfortunatly (for the Repugs), there was nothing to find.
Given their campaign tactics, I’m kind of surprised they didn’t just make something up, and “leak” it to the Washington Times, World Net Daily, and the Rush Limbaugh show. I guess those were kinder, gentler times.
Now, you live in a neighborhood with a guy that used to be a hippie/ Weatherman/ political revolutionary in the 60’s, and all of a sudden you’re “palling around with terrorists”.
Jeez. There are a bunch of Level 3 sex offenders in the city I live in, and one of them even works at the grocery store I shop at, according to the on-line database. I’ll bet there are some in your town too, Lyin’ Mike. Does that make us all sex perverts?
Whoo hoo! Who knew????
Joe the Plumber goes down the drain…
Mister Mustard says “Sur-prahz, sur-prahz, sur-prahz”
That’s such a dead-on impression of Gomer Pyle that Sgt. Carter’s blood pressure just went through the roof 😉
@MikeN
i suppose we should just always trust everyone.
i have a bridge i can sell you.
Face it you Republican douchenozzles! You are going to lose the Presidential election as well as the more seats in the Senate and House.
It is because you lie, cheat, swindle, and generaly act like……Well? douchenozzles.
In 4 years when you attempt to pull the same shit again remember that you lost this time and that the country is better for it.
MikeN said: “Why does someone who speaks out in politics have to be investigated?”
Because the McCain campaign drug him into it and used the poor bastard as their tax model. It really shows a lack of preparation, not wholly unlike the Palin choice.
#17–J==It would be nice if true. I predict that either A–(most likely) Obama won’t be able to deliver all the sugar and cake he has been promising and the economy will be slow to recover, or B–Obama will try to remedy the fiscal disaster of the last 8 years by program freezes and higher taxes.
Whatever happens, the result of 8 years of BushCo financial disaster will be fully realized in the next 4 years and whoever is in office will get blamed for it.
Absent the near 50% of republicans pulling their heads out of their asses, whichever party wins this year, will lose 4 years from now.
I do assume Hillary will be too old and Palin will be in jail. New young blood. It will once again be time for a change and everyone wanting the same old lies.
Amusing.
# 19 bobbo
I never said that he would fix everything. I said the country would be better for it. Meaning we will be in a better place than we are today.
I agree it will be slow but there have been many mistakes made over the last 8 years that need to be corrected.
I disagree I think Obama will win in 2012 as well.
#20–J==really? I wish I could be “for” someone like that. I always wind up voting for the “least bad.”
Certainly, we ought to wait and see Obama’s performance for 4 years before we start recommending our 2012 vote?
Obama mentioned certain infrastructure trusts, tax credits for USA based employees, going green and getting off foreign oil==ie, if he actually does any of these things, he might be the best president since the Roosevelts?
We’ll have to (and really should) wait and see with our fingers crossed.
I don’t think this paragraph should have been snipped:
[…]
“Unlike some other states, Ohio does not have a formal statewide licensing system for plumbers. But the city of Toledo and other municipalities do, Mr. Joseph said, and Mr. Wurzelbacher has not met those requirements.”
# 21 bobbo
Yeah I know what your saying and of course we should wait but I have a good feeling about my senator considering I have seen the work he has done first hand.
# 23 contempt
Seriously?
The guy has never taken a class on how to do plumbing and never passed the certification. Never apprenticed. Then breaks the law doing work as a plumber screwing those who took the time and worked hard to do it. Profits! Then he doesn’t pay all of his taxes.
This is the guy you want to parade around as the average good old American that deserves a break? FUCK YOU!!!!
Well there’s lots of ‘handymen” working under the radar without the proper licensing or pulling the required permits. I don’t know how ready the public is to vilify somebody for that. Tax evasion is another matter.
I give the guy credit for asking Obama the question. It’s legit. I also think Obama gave a pretty decent answer.
Joe the Plumber should be left alone and we should move on.
#25 #26
Joe the Plumber is just a sideshow, the real story is how Obama assumes the power to steal the wages of any worker he believes makes to much.
#21 – Tom
>>Well there’s lots of ‘handymen” working
>>under the radar without the proper licensing
>>or pulling the required permits. I don’t
>>know how ready the public is to vilify
>>somebody for that. Tax evasion is another
>>matter.
Joe the Plumber isn’t being vilified as much as McBush. McBush is the one who dragged him out of the closet, trying to use him as an example of jes’ folks, lahk you ‘n’ me, who’s going to see his dreams go up in flames because of Obama’s plans for the next 8 years.
As to “handymen working under the radar”, if that’s what he is, he should have said “I’m a handyman”. I put bandaids on my kids, but I don’t go around saying I’m a doctor.
If I were Joe the Plumber, I’d be pretty pissed at McBush.
People still hire licensed plumbers? Who can afford that? I was bid $1500 to install a new water heater. A new water heater that cost $250 at Lowes. Add in $15 in copper fittings. What’s funny is the plumber didn’t think he’d even have time to do the job (too small) since he was soooo busy.
The union apprentice (think Star Wars Unleashed) and licensing is just a racket set up by the mob (big government) to screw people over. Same thing with electricians and building inspectors. In most cases, building/plumbing/mechanical codes are valid. Except for the dumb ones that enable pregnant wheelchair bound firefighters to respond to emergencies at your house or business.
Nice deflection off the real topic. What did Joe say and Obama answer that was so wrong?
Here is the entire conversation. You must listen to the entire clip! Specially near the end where Obama talks about eliminating the capital gains tax. Joe is just asking a regular question and receiving an honest answer. Listen specifically to the end where Obama relates that Joe will likely make more money due to capital gains.
Get the real story for yourselves. Not from MSNBC or FOX. It’s right here.
http://tinyurl.com/428owf
BTW, Joe may not even have known about the tax lien. We are talking about the government, right?
““The taxpayers may not necessarily know about the lien,” Kohlstrand said, although they would receive other notices.
In Wurzelbacher’s case, the lien indicated that the notice was sent to a previous address in Toledo.”
http://tinyurl.com/4wfp54
Our wonderful IRS at work…
# 28 contempt
A side show brought to you by the RNC! Too bad it backfired on them huh?
“the real story is how Obama assumes the power to steal the wages of any worker he believes makes to much.”
Do you ever think for yourself or do you get your talking points from the right wing tiger petters?
You and I both know that isn’t true and you don’t and won’t ever make enough for you to be affected. So STFU!!!
I on the other hand do and you don’t hear me bitching. You know why? Because I will take advantage of the tax breaks that come along with it. So in my opinion it will be a break even swap. Even if it isn’t I don’t think it will affect my living conditions at all.
I don’t need the wanna be’s fighting my battles for me. I am a big boy and can do it myself thankyou.
#28 con-tempt
Do you yourself really believe in this BS or just gargling?!? After all that is done by “Repugnicans” you seriously can talk about a democrat stealing peoples wages? I fully agree with J@25, F*** u!
I hope McCain loses in such a massive landslide that for years no one can admit they supported him… and i want to read your comments after a few years of Obama when everything starts to improve… when likes of you have to choose between admitting they were dead wrong or hoping misery for the country.