Joe the plumber

[mefordis]

Has he said who he is voting for?

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Inquiring minds need to know!!!

He said this morning that he will not endorse either candidate...but in answering random questions about his personal politics on the Today Show, he sounds like he's definitely aligned with the Republican party.

 

[charlie,nj]

'Joe the Plumber' happy to help candidates make point

Story Highlights
Candidates referred to Joe Wurzelbacher a collective 26 times during debate

Sen. McCain used Wurzelbacher to attack Obama's plan to "spread the wealth"

Obama says tax plan allows families to patronize businesses like Wurzelbacher's

Sen. Obama met "Joe the Plumber" at a campaign event in Ohio on Sunday


(CNN) -- A week ago he was a little-known plumber quietly practicing his trade in northwestern Ohio. Now Joe Wurzelbacher is a talking point in the race for the White House.

Wurzelbacher, now dubbed "Joe the Plumber," heard his name invoked in whole or in part more than two dozen times during Wednesday's presidential debate in Hempstead, New York, first by Sen. John McCain and then by Sen. Barack Obama.

"I was just really surprised that my name was mentioned," he told reporters after the debate. "I think it helped them get their points across, so I was happy about that."

Wurzelbacher, 34, unintentionally stepped onto the political scene over the weekend when Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, was campaigning in Holland, Ohio, just west of Toledo. Watch Wurzelbacher's take on the candidates

In that exchange Wurzelbacher asked Obama if he believed in the American Dream. Wurzelbacher said he was about to buy a company that makes more than $250,000 a year and was concerned that Obama would tax him more because of it.

Families making more than $250,000 could see taxes go up under Obama's middle-class tax cut plan, while those making less than $250,000 would not see any increase. See debate highlights, analysis »

Obama explained his tax plan in depth to Wurzelbacher, saying it's better to lower taxes for Americans who make less money so they can afford to patronize his business.

"I think that when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody," Obama told Wurzelbacher.

At the debate, McCain said Obama's plan would give the government the power to redistribute wealth by raising taxes. Watch a humorous take on the candidates, Wurzelbacher »

"We're going to take Joe's money, give it to Sen. Obama, and let him spread the wealth around. I want Joe the plumber to spread the wealth around," McCain said.

He added, "Why would you want to increase anybody's taxes right now? Why would you want to do that to anyone, anyone in America, when we have such a tough time?"

Obama countered that both he and McCain want to cut taxes, but that his plan would cut taxes for "95 percent of American families," more than McCain's plan.

Although Wurzelbacher wouldn't say who he is voting for, he did say that Obama's tax plan doesn't sit well with him.

"Redistributing the wealth, as far as my hard work, that upsets me," he said. "That's not right. That's not American."

Wurzelbacher is the second "Joe" invoked by the McCain campaign, which is attempting to appeal to so-called average Americans.

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin referred to "Joe Six-Pack American" in a radio interview this month in which she touted the folksiness that's been central to her political success in Alaska.

"I think they're just not used to someone coming in from the outside saying, 'You know what? It's time that normal Joe Six-Pack American is finally represented in the position of vice presidency,' and I think that that's kind of taken some people off-guard," she told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.



from www.cnn.com


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[mrsv98]

Actually I am cracking up this morning as I heard on the news there is no record of him being registered to vote or being a licensed plumber!

 

[LuvDuke]

Apparently, "Joe the plumber" isn't even registered to vote.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/The_Joe_file.html#comments

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Apparently, "Joe the plumber" isn't even registered to vote.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/The_Joe_file.html#comments

Well that seems about right...

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Apparently, "Joe the plumber" isn't even registered to vote.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/The_Joe_file.html#comments

not surprised at all

 

[bsnyder]

Any laws broken by accessing the Ohio voter files?

 

[Pigeon]

No, they are public record.

 

[adkkev]

Joe stated that he was looking to purchase a plumbing business that earns $250,000+ per year. It's not clear whether he meant that HE would be earning that $250k or the business's gross earnings would be $250k ... or if the net profit of this business might be $250k. The tax plans that Obama and McCain cited (and seem to be the focus of this Joe the Plumber deal) are PERSONAL INCOME TAX plans, not business taxes.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Joe stated that he was looking to purchase a plumbing business that earns $250,000+ per year. It's not clear whether he meant that HE would be earning that $250k or the business's gross earnings would be $250k ... or if the net profit of this business might be $250k. The tax plans that Obama and McCain cited (and seem to be the focus of this Joe the Plumber deal) are PERSONAL INCOME TAX plans, not business taxes.

I wondered that myself. In the video of him talking to Sen. Obama, it's unclear what the $250K stands for.

 

[wendy46001]

Also Joe has stated currently he's in no position to purchase the pluming company


I’ve never understood these political examples of the everyday American ….in today’s economy the average American is concerned about keeping their job not buying a company

 

[rwdavis2]

Joe stated that he was looking to purchase a plumbing business that earns $250,000+ per year. It's not clear whether he meant that HE would be earning that $250k or the business's gross earnings would be $250k ... or if the net profit of this business might be $250k. The tax plans that Obama and McCain cited (and seem to be the focus of this Joe the Plumber deal) are PERSONAL INCOME TAX plans, not business taxes.

The taxes of an unincorporated sole proprietorship is shown on the normal 1040 form and pays at the individual rates. An S-Corporation is set up to pay the owner a salary and almost completely eliminate Corp. taxes so the business essentially still taxed at the individual rate. So Obama's tax increases will hit these types of businesses.
Bob

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

The taxes of an unincorporated sole proprietorship is shown on the normal 1040 form and pays at the individual rates. An S-Corporation is set up to pay the owner a salary and almost completely eliminate Corp. taxes so the business essentially still taxed at the individual rate. So Obama's tax increases will hit these types of businesses.
Bob

If the S-corp has $250K in annual sales, and Joe pays out $200K for supplies, insurance, vehicle costs, etc. he does not pay taxes on that $200K. That's where the question comes in, is the company's total income or net income $250K. It makes a huge difference come tax time, believe me...

Joe wasn't clear about it...

 

[bsnyder]

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081016/NEWS09/810160418/-1/NEWS

Questions were being raised Thursday morning whether Mr. Wurzelbacher is a registered voter.

Linda Howe, executive director of the Lucas County Board of Elections, said a Samuel Joseph Worzelbacher, whose address and age match Joe the Plumber’s, registered in Lucas County on Sept. 10, 1992. He voted in his first primary on March 4, 2008, registering as a Republican.

Ms. Howe said that the name may be misspelled in the database.

 

[Chuck S]

Hmmm, not registered to vote, not a licensed plumber? So, what was he doing at the Obama rally?

EDIT: Bet was typing at the same time. So let us assume that he is registered.

So, a registered Republican goes to an Obama rally. Said person asks about taxes because he is considering buying a business. However, later we find out that he is not currently in a position to buy the business, and it is unclear if the business would really be all that taxable or not, depending upon net, not gross. But suddenly "Joe the Plumber" becomes a Republican talking point in a National Presidential debate. Convenient coincidence, or campaign set up?

 

[safetymom]

He was asked on GMA today if he was registered and he said yes.

 

[bsnyder]

Hmmm, not registered to vote, not a licensed plumber? So, what was he doing at the Obama rally?

EDIT: Bet was typing at the same time. So let us assume that he is registered.

So, a registered Republican goes to an Obama rally. Said person asks about taxes because he is considering buying a business. However, later we find out that he is not currently in a position to buy the business, and it is unclear if the business would really be all that taxable or not, depending upon net, not gross. But suddenly "Joe the Plumber" becomes a Republican talking point in a National Presidential debate. Convenient coincidence, or campaign set up?

He didn't go to an Obama rally. Obama was campaigning door to door in Ohio.

 

[3jsmommy]

Apparently, "Joe the plumber" isn't even registered to vote.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/The_Joe_file.html#comments

Sorry McCain Joe the plumber isn't even registered & Joe six pack is too wasted to get up & vote!!

 

[momto2girls]

He didn't go to an Obama rally. Obama was campaigning door to door in Ohio.

Yikes! I hope that he doesn't show up at my Ohio home. Hopefully, my McCain sign will deter him.