Angst

Joe The Plumber: Not A Licensed Plumber, Real Name Not Joe

Posted by Jason Cherkis on Oct. 16, 2008, at 3:14 pm

The New York Times factchecks "Joe The Plumber." Turns out he's not a licensed plumber, that his real name is actually Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, that he owes back taxes, and that Obama's tax plan would actually benefit him:

"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....

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."

Comments

IntangibleArts October 16th, 2008
5:03 pm

#1

oh sure.
next y'all be telling us there's no real "joe six-pack" -- is there no shame?!?!?!
Randy Hall October 16th, 2008
8:40 pm

#2

Doesn't the J. in his name stand for Joe? or Joseph? If that is true, then you cannot say his name is not Joe. I know many people, as I am sure you do, the go by their middle name rather than their first name. It is a personal choice.

Thus, if you say is name is not Joe, then YOU are telling a lie.
JIm A. October 16th, 2008
10:51 pm

#3

Thanks, Randy. Yes, not only was it transparent and duplicitous of the writer to say his name was Samuel J. when he knew full well that the J stood for Joseph, saying he's not a plumber because he doesn't have a license when he obviously was doing plumbing work for a plumbing concern compounds the lie.
This is just another case of left wing bloggers rushing to attack anyone with a negative word to say about their candi-deity.
Wes October 16th, 2008
11:09 pm

#4

Just more PWT being used by the RNC to appeal to PWT.

You can follow any responses to this entry through its comments RSS feed.

Blogs Linking to this Article

Linked From: October 17th, 2008
9:01 pm
The Secret Diary of Joe Biden » Can Late-Night Talk Walk the Walk?

[...] results of Joe the Plumber’s authenticity are as much as we all expected. not only is he not a licensed plumber, his name [...]