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Biden: I don’t know Joe the Plumber

posted at 10:40 am on October 16, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Joe Biden appeared on NBC’s Today show this morning to respond to last night’s debate, which has made a national icon out of Joe Wurzelbacher, AKA Joe the Plumber. Instead of identifying with the working-class man who succeeded into moving into ownership, as Biden normally would, Biden professed not to know any small-business owners like Joe who worried about taxes:

Patrick Hynes at ABP makes the point that Joe the Plumber is actually Joe the Small-Business Owner, and that’s why he will run afoul of Obama’s tax policies. Joe made that clear in his ropeline conversation, and Obama made just as clear the fact that Joe should be happy to see government spread his wealth around.  Quite obviously, Joe the Plumber/SBO in Toledo is worried about it — in fact, disgusted by it — whether Biden knows him or not.

Biden’s obviously out of touch, and dangerously so.  If plumbers like Joe worry about the heavy tax burden he will incur by owning their own businesses, they won’t take the risk to launch the ventures.  That will depress job creation and keep people locked into working for larger employers, the very corporations against which Biden inveighs in this remarkably substance-free rant.


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Comment pages: 1 2

Biden…remarkably substance-free.

Yup, that about says it.

BKennedy on October 16, 2008 at 10:42 AM

Ah, Plugs Biden…the gift that keeps on giving.

ManlyRash on October 16, 2008 at 10:43 AM

Out of touch!

jencab on October 16, 2008 at 10:43 AM

That’s awesome. Not only does Joe say “cling” and he throws Joe under the bus. Lovely.

Spirit of 1776 on October 16, 2008 at 10:43 AM

By the way, Joe doesn’t know how to count.

amerpundit on October 16, 2008 at 10:44 AM

And what is with those eyes, Plugs? You look like Dr. No.

ManlyRash on October 16, 2008 at 10:44 AM

You know, if it wasn’t for the hair plugs, Biden COULD BE Joe the Plumber!

Star20 on October 16, 2008 at 10:45 AM

What a dork!

grapeknutz on October 16, 2008 at 10:45 AM

Oh God…I think Joe the Plumber is going to win us this freaking election.

jimmy the notable on October 16, 2008 at 10:45 AM

J-O-B-S

lodge on October 16, 2008 at 10:46 AM

under McCain’s helathcare pan, Biden’s plugs would not be covered. So of course he’s supporting Obama.

BTW I like Biden and happen to think he would have made a decent running mate for McCain.

YellowDawg on October 16, 2008 at 10:46 AM

I voting for Joe…Joe the Plumber.

lorien1973 on October 16, 2008 at 10:47 AM

J-O-B-S

What Biden has never held in his life, Alex?

Blake on October 16, 2008 at 10:48 AM

Biden is the One Little Glimmer of Mith in a bleak demoralizing phase of this campaign: Clueless, stupid, devious, and just plain Partisan Hack:

Our Joe……………

Janos Hunyadi on October 16, 2008 at 10:48 AM

Why don’t they just say that everyone is going to make 250,000 dollars under their administration no matter how hard you work or little you work.

He seems to think it’s OK to say that the government is going to take all your profit over 250,000 dollars. I wonder what makes that number so magical. Why isn’t it 100,000 dollars?

These guys are so willing to spend our money it is sad.

ThackerAgency on October 16, 2008 at 10:48 AM

Mirth, not ‘mith’

Janos Hunyadi on October 16, 2008 at 10:48 AM

Biden professed not to know any small-business owners like Joe who worried about taxes:

That from a man Gasbag that says…. he hangs out at Home Depot!!

Mcguyver on October 16, 2008 at 10:49 AM

Check out Joe, he is awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdLPWfTczM4

jp on October 16, 2008 at 10:49 AM

IN my neighborhood, there are no Joe the Plumbers making 250,000\

What the…

Where does Joe live???? Spanish Harlem? Compton? the South Side of Chicago? some South Dakota Indian Reservation? what center of poverty is Joe living in?>!?!?

Of course, a journalist would ask a republican who said the same to correct himself, but joe gets to perpetuate that he lives in a land of Habitat houses and gunfights because he “takes the train”

gag.

battleoflepanto1571 on October 16, 2008 at 10:49 AM

2012 ticket: Palin the Hockey Mom and Joe the Humble Plumber. What a ticket it’s going to be!

promachus on October 16, 2008 at 10:49 AM

ENSHALA, Joe.

Get used to hearing that…

pherrman on October 16, 2008 at 10:50 AM

You look like Dr. No.

THAT’S IT! I was trying to figure out who Bido reminded me of, its been preying on my mind since the VP debate.

Consider yourself promoted to thurible filler-upper guy.

Bishop on October 16, 2008 at 10:51 AM

Check out Joe, he is awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdLPWfTczM4

“My truck’s a couple years old and I’ll have it for the next 10 years!”

“MY house is middle class, no bells or whistles in here!”

MCCAIN. RUN. ADS. WITH. THIS. GUY.

RUN. ADS. WITH. THIS. YOUTUBE. VID.

battleoflepanto1571 on October 16, 2008 at 10:51 AM

Americans know and can identify with Joe the Plumber. Bill the Bomber, Bernadine the radical lawyer…not so much.

Hannibal Smith on October 16, 2008 at 10:52 AM

Joe and Obama know the following: Repeat a lie often enough, and it becomes true to the majority. Nothing but lies and fudging of “facts” and depending on the MSM to cover for them.

Webrider on October 16, 2008 at 10:52 AM

Lyin’ Joe Biden keeps talking about “his neighborhood,” and the fact that plumbers and butchers and truck drivers in his neighborhood don’t make $250K/year.

Here’s a truer description of Joe’s “neighborhood.”

Though he’s considered one of the least wealthy senators — his net worth dwarfed by several multimillionaire attorneys and entrepreneurs — Biden is a wealthy man by ordinary standards — worth about $2 million but perhaps hundreds of thousand dollars more, a News Journal analysis found.

Like many Americans, Biden’s house is his most valuable asset.

First elected to the Senate 36 years ago, the former lawyer lives off Barley Mill Road in Greenville — northern Delaware’s priciest area – on a four-acre lakefront estate in a 7,000-square-foot custom home. Biden also owns a smaller carriage house on his property, where his widowed mother lives.

Local real estate agents said the Biden property is worth at least $2.5 million

JiangxiDad on October 16, 2008 at 10:52 AM

Biden professed not to know any small-business owners like Joe who worried about taxes:

That’s because Bido hangs out at diners that no longer exist, little wonder he never meets anyone there.

Bishop on October 16, 2008 at 10:52 AM

In the next few years, I plan on starting up my own small business. I simply will not, and probably will not be able to, do this if Obama is elected. I won’t be able to afford to – not only will too much of my money be taken to line the pockets of those who didn’t earn it, but I’m a massage therapist, and I don’t think there’ll be much growth in that sector under Obama. Who’s going to buy a massage if they’re struggling to buy bread?

Obama/Biden is a ticket that’s bad for small business, and I thank Joe the Plumber for bringing that into the spotlight.

Anna on October 16, 2008 at 10:53 AM

Biden also owns a smaller carriage house on his property, where his widowed mother lives.

I’d love to know how much rent he charges her.

ManlyRash on October 16, 2008 at 10:54 AM

BTW, I think he’s all hunk as Palin is all woman. It will also be the hottest ticket ever.

promachus on October 16, 2008 at 10:54 AM

Biden professed not to know any small-business owners like Joe who worried about taxes:

Give me a call, Joe. I can’t sleep at night worrying about Obamanomics.

Biden’s obviously out of touch, and dangerously so.

That is an understatement on par with “Lutefisk is an acquired taste.”
__________

RJGatorEsq. on October 16, 2008 at 10:54 AM

Consider yourself promoted to thurible filler-upper guy. – Bishop on October 16, 2008 at 10:51 AM

*bowing and scraping obsequiously*

Your Grace is much too kind.

ManlyRash on October 16, 2008 at 10:55 AM

“I KNOW JOE THE PLUMBER AND YOU SIR, ARE NO JOE THE PLUMBER”

bloggless on October 16, 2008 at 10:56 AM

If Biden doesn’t know Joe the Plumber, he really is out of touch.

I talk to my plumber, electrician, HVAC guy, local retailers and the other small business people that I come in contact with. I also know plenty of small professional practices that have the same concerns as Joe the Plumber. We ran our own small business for a time and know what it’s like to worry about the well-being of the 20 other families who depended on us. Joe the Plumber is far from an anomaly.

If I remember accurately, Biden lives in a very upscale neighborhood. Maybe they keep members of the trades out.

obladioblada on October 16, 2008 at 10:56 AM

I wish Biden would drop the phony working class schtick. If he was a republican, the msm would attack him for it.

His father was an executive
The could afford to send him to the most expensive prep school in the state.
Biden has never had a job in his live outside of government.
He clearly has no idea about running a small business.
He lies his butt off with his diner stories and Scranton stories. He’s as phony as a $3 dollar bill.

Blake on October 16, 2008 at 10:56 AM

WTF,since when is “Joe the Cops” a small business
owner!

Maybe GaffeBiden’s “Joe the Cop” in his so-called
neighborhood,is originaly from Obama’s neighbor
hood in Chicago!! A Hem.

canopfor on October 16, 2008 at 10:56 AM

David Gregory looks like he has a mouth-full of upchuck when Biden goes after Joe the Plumber.

Marcus on October 16, 2008 at 10:56 AM

Pfft…The only small business owners Joe Biden probably knows these days are the people who own the cosmetic surgery practice were he got his Botox injections and hair plugs.

Dreadnought223 on October 16, 2008 at 10:57 AM

BTW good job Biden, go after Joe the Plumber, I’m sure that’ll help your cause.

YellowDawg on October 16, 2008 at 10:57 AM

Ok, I changed my mind, I want to marry Joe.

He talks about taking care of your parents in their old age as they took care of you, about reinvigorating family values and making stronger families.

THIS guy is the voice that the elite media whores never let us here, they are too busy talking to some metrosexual in Soho whose primary worry is whether or not the local sushi-bar has fresh Vindaloo prawns.

Bishop on October 16, 2008 at 10:58 AM

“Here”? I hate myself. “Never let us “hear”.

Bishop on October 16, 2008 at 10:59 AM

What Biden has never held in his life, Alex?

Blake on October 16, 2008 at 10:48 AM

Apparently a three-letter word according to Biden.

amerpundit on October 16, 2008 at 10:59 AM

That is an understatement on par with “Lutefisk is an acquired taste.” – RJGatorEsq. on October 16, 2008 at 10:54 AM

OMG…lutefisk. *shudders and gags* I was exposed to that piscean crime against culinary humanity a few years ago on a visit to Minnesota. I couldn’t even bring myself to taste it. The horror…the horror…

ManlyRash on October 16, 2008 at 11:00 AM

Spreading the Wealth

The Daily Tracking Poll withing 4 percentage points, this is not tracking after last nights debate.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Obama does idenitfy as a “Progressive” for some reason people don’t know it isn’t the same thing as a Liberal.

From wikipedia:

Contemporary progressivism

The fourth and current Progressive movement grew out of social activism movements, Naderite and populist left political movements in conjunction with the civil rights, GLBT (Gay rights), women’s or feminist, and environmental movements of the 1960s-1980s.[6] This exists as a cluster of political, activist, and media organizations ranging in outlook from centrism (eg. Reform Party of the United States of America) to left-liberalism to social democracy (like the Green Party) and sometimes even democratic socialism (like the Socialist Party USA).

If you know the definition of a Progressive, it makes since why people are referring to Obama as a Socialist. Where as a Liberal will NOT vote Socialist- The Progressive Will. See Above definition from wikipedia.

I myself am a moderate Independent. I have a sister who is a Liberal. When the news hit that “Media Matters of America” was monitoring Imus in the Morning. My very Liberal sister,, was repulsed and made no bones about it. She is Anti Media Monitors, no matter what side of the Political Spectrum they belong to. Why? Our First Amendment.

That is why I made the comment, I think Gov Sarah Palin is a way to separate the Liberals from the Progressives. The Liberals think she is a Gimmick, and the Progressives are threatened by her, Proof- all their ugly smears and attacks.

http://www.democrats.com/obama-i-am-a-progressive

I am voting for Sarah Palin and Cindy McCain’s husband.

Dr Evil on October 16, 2008 at 11:00 AM

Yep, mccain should put the plumber in commercials. personalize the tax increases. let a small business guy explain the situation.

lorien1973 on October 16, 2008 at 11:02 AM

BS! I’m a small business owner who makes less than $250,000 and my tax burden will go up significantly under the Democrat tax plan that is currently in committee – Rangel’s HR 3970. The application of the “self-employment tax” will be expanded to all my business income rather than just to my wages. This will be very expensive. Obama refers to this as “closing corporate loopholes” as if it would only affect big business, but it won’t – it applies to s-corps – which are small businesses.

All of the pundits and Obama’s opponents have been asleep on this one, so I don’t expect anyone to take note at this point, but Joe is lying through his teeth.

Secondly, what is he talking about with capital gains taxes and small businesses? Like most small businesses, I have no capital gains business income. We need to keep capital gains taxes low on individuals so they won’t get mauled when they sell assets/investments. Cutting capital gains on small business is pretty much meaningless, and I think it’s designed to confuse people who don’t know anything about taxes. It won’t help my business one lick because all of my income is “earned income”. “Capital gains” and “small business” don’t have much to do with each other.

Joe statements on taxes are 100% nonsense and lies, but I’m afraid it might sound good to idiots.

forest on October 16, 2008 at 11:03 AM

Wealth redistribution. That ugly phrase the donks just hate to hear spoken aloud in public,…best said in whispers behind close doors in planning sessions. Obama is asking himself, “Why did I pick that guy to schmooze? Everytime I go spontaneous, something like this happens.”

a capella on October 16, 2008 at 11:03 AM

Check out Joe, he is awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdLPWfTczM4

jp on October 16, 2008 at 10:49 AM

Dude. Thanks. That is awesome.

Spirit of 1776 on October 16, 2008 at 11:03 AM

Obama-Biden: We’re for Spreading Joe the Plumber’s Wealth to You.”

BuckeyeSam on October 16, 2008 at 11:03 AM

Joe Biden needs a refund from his botox injector. Biden’s forehead is so frozen and immobilized that he can’t lift his eyebrows…so his eyes look squinty and sneaky, like a happy jack-o-lantern gone Freddie Krueger. It gives Joe a snide, nefarious countenance that he never had before! Oh, the downside of botox. And this harrowing visual can’t be readily reversed, it takes about 3 to 6 months to wear off.

marybel on October 16, 2008 at 11:04 AM

Well it’s all in how you look at it of course. Biden seems to think that Joe makes $250K income. His business makes $250K.

Obama keeps saying that 98% of “small businesses” make less than that. What a liar. Any “small business” with more than 3 employees makes over $250K in revenue.

Agrippa2k on October 16, 2008 at 11:04 AM

Your Grace is much too kind.
ManlyRash on October 16, 2008 at 10:55 AM

You are of course correct and your willing subservience is duly noted.

Bishop on October 16, 2008 at 11:04 AM

In small business you have good years and bad years.

In good years, you have funds to reinvest in the business and set aside for tougher times. In bad years, you hold on for dear life and weigh the necessity of laying off employees.

Confiscation of the profits from the good years means you have less to reinvest or save as a cushion against the tough times. It also means the employees are much more likely to be layed off.

obladioblada on October 16, 2008 at 11:06 AM

Hey Joe, my kids wanna go see a movie. Fork it over.

bloggless on October 16, 2008 at 11:06 AM

Didnt Joe say you need to know what you are talking about before you open your mouth?

Yeah Joe, tape your own mouth shut till you follow your own advice.

TheHat on October 16, 2008 at 11:07 AM

How many Americans have friends that are “Joe the Plumber” or are Joe themselves and Biden just threw all of them under the tax bus. This needs to be hammered and hammered hard(insert AoSHQ metaphor here) for the next 2+ weeks.

Sammy316 on October 16, 2008 at 11:10 AM

Did anyone record GMA this morning. It was quite sad what they did. They interview Joe which is on their site which I forwarded to Ed. Right before their clip starts they showed the Obama clip and cut off the MOST IMPORTANT part of the “Sharing the wealth” answer. This was truely sad.

jlemieu1 on October 16, 2008 at 11:11 AM

forest on October 16, 2008 at 11:03 AM

+1.

a capella on October 16, 2008 at 11:13 AM

The shame is not having enough time to explain the “$250,000″ income.
Many, and most, work for years to reach that level. They work for decades at a much lower wage, often for next to nothing to build their businesses.
Then, when after decades of dedication to your business, things begin to break your way. You begin to earn maybe $300,000 in a year, but your kids are entering college, health insurance has increased because of age, and maybe after these decades you do move to a nicer home…and then you are punished. Making $300,000 sounds like a lot, and it is great money, but average that out over three decades, and the risk of losing it all in any one year, and it isn’t as great as it sounds.
Figure it out, just earning $50,000 per year of your own business for 10 years (your first 3 years probably $0 per year) is $500,000, then you get your $300,000 payout because of a major new customer, that is $800,000.
Or work for $75,000 per year with all the benefits, and retirement. You would come out ahead. Simplified I know, but the fact is, building a business you can go bankrupt in any year.

right2bright on October 16, 2008 at 11:14 AM

Sorry, movie reference alert.

Anyone seen Harrison Ford’s Clear and Present Danger? There’s a great scene towards the beginning, after the U.S. has seized a ton of drug money from a cartel of warlords. In the scene, one of the warlords stops an activity (bowling or something) to watch a TV press conference in which the movie’s ficitious U.S. president announces that the U.S. has seized the cartel’s money.

The warlord angrily responds to those around him, “That MY money! He’s stealing MY money!”

Man, would I love to see McCain weave that clip into a “spread the wealth” ad. I’ve been recalling that scene ever since Joe the Plumber came to light.

Beyond that, McCain should develop an ad succintly contrasting his idea of “spreading the wealth” by growing it for all with Obama’s idea of merely taking from the earners and passing it around.

How about mugshots of Joe the Plumber with the caption:

Name: Joe the Plumber.
Crime: Success.
Sentence: Having his wealth confiscated by Barack Obama and spread around.

BuckeyeSam on October 16, 2008 at 11:18 AM

Agrippa2k on October 16, 2008 at 11:04 AM

Which in itself is an indicator of how badly the donks are out of touch with small businesses. Joe doesn’t know the difference between gross and net.

a capella on October 16, 2008 at 11:19 AM

Watch the original Joe the Plumber video and pay attention to the numbers. Joe says he’s thinking about buying a business that would make $250k, maybe $270-280k. Obama then explains to him that on the bit above $250k ($30,000 at the most) Joe will have to pay 3% more taxes. That is $900.

So, Joe, is it too much for the country to ask a man making quarter of a million dollars to pony up $900 bucks? At a time when we are fighting two wars, spending hundreds of billions of dollars to stave off a depression and routinely borrowing half a trillion dollars a year from the Chinese and the Arabs with a promise that our children will repay the debt, at a time like this, Joe, is $2.46 too much of a sacrifice to America?

factoid on October 16, 2008 at 11:19 AM

Biden is one of Obama’s stage props and couldn’t tell you the time if you gave him your watch.

rplat on October 16, 2008 at 11:19 AM

Didnt Joe say you need to know what you are talking about before you open your mouth?

And I’d been wondering why we haven’t heard much from Ol’ Joe !! He’s taking his own advice, methinks.

pambi on October 16, 2008 at 11:20 AM

The key is this. The more you raise taxes and mandate other requirements that increase a business’s expenses, the harder it is for that business to turn the profit needed to, at the very least, remain viable, that’s remain in business.

What government’s role should be is to remove as much as possible impediments to business success. Put another way, government should concentrate on equality of opportunity rather than equality of outcome.

Wildcatter1980 on October 16, 2008 at 11:22 AM

Watch the original Joe the Plumber video and pay attention to the numbers. Joe says he’s thinking about buying a business that would make $250k, maybe $270-280k. Obama then explains to him that on the bit above $250k ($30,000 at the most) Joe will have to pay 3% more taxes. That is $900.

So, Joe, is it too much for the country to ask a man making quarter of a million dollars to pony up $900 bucks? At a time when we are fighting two wars, spending hundreds of billions of dollars to stave off a depression and routinely borrowing half a trillion dollars a year from the Chinese and the Arabs with a promise that our children will repay the debt, at a time like this, Joe, is $2.46 too much of a sacrifice to America?

factoid on October 16, 2008 at 11:19 AM

You bet your ass its asking too much, and it’s also blatant Marxism. If you want to give your paycheck to a pandering socialist regime, knock yourself out, but stay the hell out of my wallet.

rplat on October 16, 2008 at 11:23 AM

factoid on October 16, 2008 at 11:19 AM

Government spending is the problem. Not taxes.

Cut government spending. There’s your solution.

Is $2.46 cut from government spending too much?

lorien1973 on October 16, 2008 at 11:25 AM

Obama keeps saying that 98% of “small businesses” make less than that. What a liar. Any “small business” with more than 3 employees makes over $250K in revenue.

Agrippa2k on October 16, 2008 at 11:04 AM

It’s a good thing, then, that in this country we tax profit, not revenue, no?

If Joe’s plumbing business makes $280k in revenue and has three employees each making $50k, plus Joe has another $50k in costs (pipes, fittings, gas and depreciation for his trucks), then all of a sudden Joe’s taxable income is only $80k. Meaning his taxes are cut under Obama’s plan.

factoid on October 16, 2008 at 11:26 AM

The arrogance of Biden is remarkable for someone who was a below average student and a politician who is best known for his lies and failed bids for higher office.

grdred944 on October 16, 2008 at 11:26 AM

I’m sure he’s seen a lot of plumbers sitting around that Home Depot he frequents, right?

johnnyU on October 16, 2008 at 11:28 AM

Small businesses already share the wealth.

Our moonbat employees always complained about our presumed capitalist wealth. They had no idea that they were always paid in full and on time, even if we weren’t. They never had to come home and say “here’s the check, don’t cash it. The employees were paid, but we have to wait for some receivables.” Employees are always paid first.

They never had to resort to paying the mortgage with a credit card while the business was being built. They never went weeks without being paid.

Then, when the business becomes profitable, the government steps in and announces that we make too much and the wealth needs to be shared. It makes my blood boil. Our government overlords never had to make payroll or take any personal financial risk while supporting a family.

obladioblada on October 16, 2008 at 11:28 AM

Meaning his taxes are cut under Obama’s plan.

factoid on October 16, 2008 at 11:26 AM

You’re a tool.

After Obama eliminates the Bush tax cuts, everyone’s taxes are going up.

Ask yourself, why does Obama need $20 from everyone in this country (cuz that is about what Bush’s cuts did for everyone each week)…why can’t he cut spending by $20 instead?

lorien1973 on October 16, 2008 at 11:30 AM

Joe the Plumber vs. Joe the Politician
It’d make a beautiful ad!

Josiah on October 16, 2008 at 11:31 AM

factoid on October 16, 2008 at 11:26 AM

Also, clearly you have never run a business in your life.

On top of employee costs; you have payroll taxes. SS taxes. Unemployment taxes.

You have rent for your shop, utilities, insurance, etc.

Run a business; then come back and tell me how much taxes this guy should pay.

lorien1973 on October 16, 2008 at 11:32 AM

How many Americans have friends that are “Joe the Plumber” or are Joe themselves and Biden just threw all of them under the tax bus. This needs to be hammered and hammered hard(insert AoSHQ metaphor here) for the next 2+ weeks.

Sammy316 on October 16, 2008 at 11:10 AM

Maybe not the same, but certainly similar. I have a very good friend who’s a successful orthopaedic surgeon in a small community in Ohio. Residency, fellowship, and 10 years of battling with the healthcare system to establish a standalone practice. He’s very good, very high tech. He employs a 10 to 12 people in a well-run practice. Now, he’s doing quite well–malpractice insurance premiums notwithstanding thanks to Obama’s friends at the plaintiffs’ attorneys lobby. Oh, and he’s very charitably inclined–privately, not through the government system of charity.

With Obama, his reward is the extra federal income tax and through-the-roof additional FICA tax.

McCain and Palin need to draw a big red circle around what Obama and his supporters envision. They want to become institutioalized shakedown artists manipulating a class of uninformed, grievance-festering welfare queens.

BuckeyeSam on October 16, 2008 at 11:33 AM

Obviously, Hoe the Plumber is not Patriotic, according to Joe the VP Candidate.

Also, Joe the Plumber does not want to share the wealth like Rezko did with Obama on Obama’s house purchase!

Oxybeles on October 16, 2008 at 11:35 AM

factoid on October 16, 2008 at 11:26 AM

You read stuff and it just goes right over your head. Did you not even read this post?

forest on October 16, 2008 at 11:03 AM

a capella on October 16, 2008 at 11:36 AM

SENATOR GOVERNMENT….MEET JOE THE PLUMBER

Can’t wait for Sarah to plant a nice big red kiss on Joe Wurzelbacher’s cheek!

gracie on October 16, 2008 at 11:39 AM

a capella on October 16, 2008 at 11:36 AM

It’s stuff like that which is just too complicated to explain.

People have no idea what democrats want to do to the tax code. Supermajority in 2009 is gonna be devastating. They are all about tax revenue, with little concern as to how damaging it is.

lorien1973 on October 16, 2008 at 11:40 AM

Meaning his taxes are cut under Obama’s plan.

factoid on October 16, 2008 at 11:26 AM

Did IQ’s suddenly take a sharp drop?

Have we lost all ability to distinguish the truth from a lie?

Here, I will help:

When Obama says he will give 95% of the people a tax cut, that is a lie. He has had 94 opportunities to cut taxes. He is 0 for 94. If anyone believes him when he says, “But this time, I really mean it,” that person symbolizes the victory of hope over experience.

“Factoid,” if that still doesn’t help, email me. I have a bridge I will sell you.
_______________
__________

RJGatorEsq. on October 16, 2008 at 11:41 AM

Remarkably substance free … Joe Biden’s legacy.

tarpon on October 16, 2008 at 11:41 AM

gracie on October 16, 2008 at 11:39 AM

Yeah. I want to hear McCain say Senator Government more often. That was often.

Also, McCain should repeat (often) that: Government cannot give you anything; that it did not take from you. Only Washington can turn a dollar into a quarter and call that helping people.

lorien1973 on October 16, 2008 at 11:41 AM

So, Joe, is it too much for the country to ask a man making quarter of a million dollars to pony up $900 bucks? At a time when we are fighting two wars, spending hundreds of billions of dollars to stave off a depression and routinely borrowing half a trillion dollars a year from the Chinese and the Arabs with a promise that our children will repay the debt, at a time like this, Joe, is $2.46 too much of a sacrifice to America?

factoid on October 16, 2008 at 11:19 AM

Wrong, factoid. We’re paying for all of that anyway. If Obama were increasing taxes to pay down debt, that would be a subject for an entirely different debate. The tax on these people will be financing the refundable credits that are the cornerstone of Obama’s “tax cut” for 95% of Americans. I use the term “tax cut” in quotation marks because 40% of all federal income tax filers don’t show any income tax liability. (Don’t argue that they pay FICA tax and Medicare tax because they should pay into that system in all events.) After Obama’s “tax cut,” it’s estimated that 50% of filers won’t be paying income tax.

And with the refundable nature of Obama’s tax credits, he’s creating a welfare system out of the IRS. This entitlement payment is estimated to dwarf other entitlement payments within in four years.

So, sorry, factoid. Get to work on that budeting argument.

BuckeyeSam on October 16, 2008 at 11:42 AM

RJGatorEsq. on October 16, 2008 at 11:41 AM

That is 94 times in just a couple of years…

right2bright on October 16, 2008 at 11:43 AM

Somebody is gonna have to pay for my kids to go the movies! Other kids can go to the movies. I want my piece of your pie. It is all about the pie, folks. I want my piece of your pie.

bloggless on October 16, 2008 at 11:45 AM

If you have a small business with ten employees that have a marketable skill, you would hope that the company would profit over 250K a year, or really there’s no point in taking the risk. Obama/Biden are such ackassjays.

juanito on October 16, 2008 at 11:46 AM

Joe Wurzelbacher is awesome!

The kind of Socialism Obama is pushing reminds me of this fabulous clip from the movie Time Bandits [YouTube].

In the clip, the bandits, having just looted Napoleon Bonaparte, find themselves in the middle ages, and meet Robin Hood and his Merry Men—who aren’t so merry after all, but vicious thugs. Robin takes their ill-gotten gain and redistributes it to the poor, who in addition to getting a dole, also each get a punch in the face by one of the Merry Men.

A brilliant vignette and a long time favorite of mine, the clip seems to represent Obama pretty well: the friendly, smiling socialist, surrounded by unsavory associates (Ayers, Wright, Rezko, etc.) who is happy to take money from other robbers (fanny, freddie, etc.), and then later call them “awful people”, and whose socialist policies seem benevolent, but end up requiring a punch in the face, as socialism always does in one way or another.

Jolly Good!

J. Max Wilson on October 16, 2008 at 11:48 AM

Most Democrats think binarily in this regard: there are two types of people in the country:

a) those who have college degrees, make good money, and need to be forced into sharing, and

b) those who have callouses, don’t make good money, and need government’s help.

The notion that a tradesman can (and should) make a good living by employing people who provide a good service to their customers is totally foreign to them. TOTALLY foreign.

And don’t another problem Democrats have with small businesses – their workers aren’t unionized.

SlimyBill on October 16, 2008 at 11:48 AM

I think Joe the Plumber is the “October Suprise” that we have all been waiting for.

See….Karl Rove is a genius after all!

Scorched_Earth on October 16, 2008 at 11:54 AM

factoid on October 16, 2008 at 11:26 AM

He also said that he was going to “cut those corporate loopholes”, meaning he was going to eliminate the tax advantages of the small business.
Once the system is in place to tax small businesses at $250,000, then he will say “those loopholes” allow to many to dodge their tax responsibilities, so we need to go to $150,000 or $250,000 gross revenue.
When was the last time you saw a tax increase voluntarily suspended or reduced by the government, let alone a democrat?
Income tax was also started this way here is from the IRS archives:

In 1913, Wyoming ratified the 16th Amendment, providing the three-quarter majority of states necessary to amend the Constitution. The 16th Amendment gave Congress the authority to enact an income tax. That same year, the first Form 1040 appeared after Congress levied a 1 percent tax on net personal incomes above $3,000 with a 6 percent surtax on incomes of more than $500,000.

Imagine, they had 1913 dollars as a surcharge of $500,000, which would be what in 2008, $10 million? From that original amendment comes this:

Subtitle A – Income tax
Subtitle B – Estate and Gift tax
Subtitle C – Employment tax
Subtitle D – Miscellaneous Excise taxes
Subtitle E – Alcohol, Tobacco, & Certain Other Excise taxes

Get it? The idea is to fight every tax, on every level, until the government can prove that you can spend our money better then we can.

right2bright on October 16, 2008 at 11:57 AM

Meanwhile, his number one supporter is off-shore making money and paying little taxes…Soros.

right2bright on October 16, 2008 at 11:58 AM

If plumbers like Joe worry about the heavy tax burden he will incur by owning their own businesses, they won’t take the risk to launch the ventures.

How well was the economy under the 39% Bill Clinton tax rate during the 90s? Were people willing to launch risky businesses? This argument doesn’t hold water.

mycowardice on October 16, 2008 at 11:58 AM

The Dummies think they’re onto something. Some liberal is claiming that Joe the Plumber is a “close relative” with some connection to Charles Keating.

I kid you not.

capitalist piglet on October 16, 2008 at 12:02 PM

This reminds me of the Frasier episode in which Frasier and Niles are gloating over the fact that a former classmate is “only” a plumber, and then are completely shocked to discover he makes more money than they do.

JA on October 16, 2008 at 12:05 PM

How well was the economy under the 39% Bill Clinton tax rate during the 90s? Were people willing to launch risky businesses? This argument doesn’t hold water

LOL. You manage to confuse two issues but we’re used to it. The economy was strong under Clinton because he was riding the wave of Reagan tax cuts and the end of the Cold War which he used as an excuse to gut our military by reducing defense spending. If you managed to comprehend the posts above, you should understand that increasing self employment taxes means there is less money to grow or even maintain the business. Sheesh!

a capella on October 16, 2008 at 12:10 PM

Yeah, Joe Biden is looking for more patriots with open wallents and empty heads.

pilamaye on October 16, 2008 at 12:10 PM

factoid on October 16, 2008 at 11:19 AM

This post has already been addressed by lorien and others. . . but the problem is the SPENDING! You realize that the budget is 3 TRILLION DOLLARS

That’s every year. This year the government’s budget is 3 trillion dollars (before the bailout talks). So if they can’t run government with 3 trillion dollars, they aren’t going to be able to run it with 4, 5, or even 6 trillion dollars.

Why do you think that the government will spend that 900 dollars better than the business owner with expenses? The government has enough money – they just waste it.

ThackerAgency on October 16, 2008 at 12:11 PM

I guess Biden here misses the point that Joe the Plumber is every man or woman who wants to work to better their life here in America. Everyone that works does so hoping they will move up in the company, make more money, and better their life.

Biden wants to make this all the more into class warfare. Keep opening your mouth Joe, keep lying to people about Mary’s Dinner and other falsehoods that make you look more and more like an erratic putz.

Rbastid on October 16, 2008 at 12:15 PM

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