Joe the Plumber: Obama’s plan a “socialist slippery slope”
posted at 11:10 am on October 16, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Good Morning America’s Diane Sawyer spoke with Joe Wurzelbacher this morning. Having become the nation’s most famous plumber, Wurzelbacher explains that he doesn’t make $250,000 now, but hopes to do so as a small business owner. And he sees no reason why that will remain the cutoff in an Obama administration, anyway:
It sounds like Joe may have liked Steve Forbes in earlier campaigns, and for good reason. He gets to the heart of the argument with Sawyer when he talks about penalizing success, and that Americans should get treated equally. Why do we have escalating tax brackets on higher incomes at all? Why are we penalizing the success that we proclaim as the American Dream?
Democrats like to play class warfare games, but Joe isn’t having any of that. He notes that $250,000 is a mighty arbitrary figure, and nothing prevents Obama from suddenly deciding that $150,000 is the entry-level point for the wealthy, or $100,000. It’s a “slippery slope”, he tells Sawyer, and it’s socialism.
Joe’s not terribly impressed with “The One”, either, as he tells John Gibson (via Johnny Dollar):
In the future, though, Joe may want to steer clear of the tap-dancing analogies.
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I was just watching this. Joe has his head on straight, not spinning with all the media stuff.
Spirit of 1776 on October 16, 2008 at 11:12 AM
You’ve got to post this, Ed. It’s hysterically pathetic.
amerpundit on October 16, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Too funny. Surprised MSNBC aired it. They must think it’s in the bag if this stuff doesn’t have an effect. I was surmising the other day that the bully media “needs” someone to pick on. If Obama makes it, Joe B will be their bitch. It’s just starting early?
hawkdriver on October 16, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Joe is awesome. Get him in the campaign trail!!
jencab on October 16, 2008 at 11:18 AM
You’ve got to post this, Ed. It’s hysterically pathetic.
LMAO
Go Joe!!… (teh plumber)
stlpatriot on October 16, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Joe the plumber for Secretary of commerce
grapeknutz on October 16, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Awesome.
lodge on October 16, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Joe was great!
hawkdriver on October 16, 2008 at 11:20 AM
He would get pissed off if they over-handled him. He should just have a chat with Sarah about his concerns.
lodge on October 16, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Well this does not help Obama with his first class intellect……..
So I say, “Phuey!!”
Mcguyver on October 16, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Get “Joe” on the campaign bus,and expedite!
canopfor on October 16, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Joe the Plumber is our second conservative hero this election season!
Laura Ingraham adores him.
carbon_footprint on October 16, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Heh.
What I find fun in all of this is after all the gnashing of Obamabot teeth over Sarah Palin reaching out to “Joe
Sixpackthe Plumber,” she was pretty much right.lansing quaker on October 16, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Too funny. Surprised MSNBC aired it. They must think it’s in the bag if this stuff doesn’t have an effect. I was surmising the other day that the bully media “needs” someone to pick on. If Obama makes it, Joe B will be their bitch. It’s just starting early?
hawkdriver on October 16, 2008 at 11:21 AM
The REAL face of America, people like me out in flyover country, not the preening, self-absorbed socialites of Manhattan.
Joetober Surprise.
Run for office, dude.
Bishop on October 16, 2008 at 11:21 AM
HuffPo has already posted his address, his previous addresses, his phone numbers and called him a “white supremacist”. I honestly feel he should get Secret Service protection now.
Marcus on October 16, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Man Joe the plumber might just be the torpedo that sinks the Obama campaign.
Dreadnought223 on October 16, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Joe takes the most famous plumbers mantle from The Ghosthunters!
carbon_footprint on October 16, 2008 at 11:22 AM
What a nice guy! McCain or the Republican party need to get a commercial cut with this guy in it. I think if he were willing we could have another Pallin type mania going. I find him really believable and sooooo American dream.
Although, whatever dirt he has–it would be tragic to let the Democrats get a hold of his life.
Isn’t their someway to protect him and let him carry this message?
petunia on October 16, 2008 at 11:22 AM
The movie looks awful, but this whole situation seems similar in some ways.
MadisonConservative on October 16, 2008 at 11:23 AM
My thoughts exactly.
carbon_footprint on October 16, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Sarah and Joe at campaign events? 25,000 people would be a low estimate.
Bishop on October 16, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Use a plumbing analogy!
He’s the cherry bomb that blows up obama’s toilet.
lorien1973 on October 16, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Oh,and 23 ‘Joes’ in the debate,
how about,in all three debates,
how about Hopey saying ‘Bush’,
a bizzilion times!
canopfor on October 16, 2008 at 11:23 AM
I hope you’re snarking. Really.
lansing quaker on October 16, 2008 at 11:23 AM
I like Joe but I don’t like the fact that Obama and McCain refer to him by his first name- as if either knows him that well.
highhopes on October 16, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Because the Libs are afraid of him. They know that he is gaining traction in American’s minds and hearts.
carbon_footprint on October 16, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Well this does not help Obama with his
first classthird world intellect……..So I say, “Phuey!!”
Mcguyver on October 16, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Fixed it for Ya!
calguyintexas on October 16, 2008 at 11:24 AM
I know many commission sales people that have earned $300,000 in one year, and $60,000 the next, they would get hammered. Even if they earned $300,000 for 4 years, then lost their major account and rolled back to $60,000 for the next 5 years.
The fact is, choosing any time period, and taxing them because they had a couple of good years is just insane.
right2bright on October 16, 2008 at 11:24 AM
All the elites who think average Americans are stupid need to listen to Joe. There are more Joe’s in this country than these arrogant eggheads can imagine.
TheBigOldDog on October 16, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Stay classy, Huffpo.
ManlyRash on October 16, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Must of been a great spot, they’ve apparently already taken it down.
Onager on October 16, 2008 at 11:25 AM
This Man is America.
Thebishop on October 16, 2008 at 11:25 AM
The liberal media is gonna have him on and try and trip him up. He can handle them with ease.
lodge on October 16, 2008 at 11:26 AM
I know many commission sales people that have earned $300,000 in one year, and $60,000 the next, they would get hammered. Even if they earned $300,000 for 4 years, then lost their major account and rolled back to $60,000 for the next 5 years.
The fact is, choosing any time period, and taxing them because they had a couple of good years is just insane.
right2bright on October 16, 2008 at 11:24 AM
And try a modest bottom line like that living in the NYC or Jersey area. That is not rich by any stretch of the imagination.
hawkdriver on October 16, 2008 at 11:26 AM
If played out right, I agree.
And if he gets hassled by the left (HuffPo), even the better.
right2bright on October 16, 2008 at 11:26 AM
I’m not “snarking” and I was visiting there for no more than 30 seconds. The Joe Plumber thread has over 1500 posts, and I read one *&^% page.
Marcus on October 16, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Ok…Joe just might end up becoming the monkey wrench in Obamas campaign.
Dreadnought223 on October 16, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Palin/Plumber 2012
econavenger on October 16, 2008 at 11:26 AM
ManlyRash on October 16, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Perfect, now HuffPo is legally liable should anything happen to this man’s property or person!
calguyintexas on October 16, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Yeah, I figured it wouldn’t take them long. I mean the guy is bald so he must be a skin head, right?
mrsmwp on October 16, 2008 at 11:27 AM
“YO, JOE!”
Take COBRA down!
(Community Organizers Backing Redistribution Aims)
Graybark on October 16, 2008 at 11:27 AM
If he were in the south, “Mr Joe” would be a high compliment.
lorien1973 on October 16, 2008 at 11:27 AM
That interview was great. The guy came across as very confident and intelligent, which will sabotage attempts by The New Yorker and The Atlantic and every other outfit ready to disembowel him for daring to question “redistributionism”.
Palin/Wurzelbacher ‘12?
MadisonConservative on October 16, 2008 at 11:27 AM
FIFY
lorien1973 on October 16, 2008 at 11:28 AM
AWESOME, Palin/Wurzelbacher 2012
abinitioadinfinitum on October 16, 2008 at 11:28 AM
I agree that Joe is level and just a red blooded American to the core. Given his sudden fame, he may resonate for a while, but that could wear thin quickly.
Instead of focusing on Joe too much, I think that the McCain campaign could a lot of other people just like Joe who would continue to resonate.
I personally know of a couple who would be good candidates.
Marine_Bio on October 16, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Vote for Average Joe for 2012!!!!!!
Conservatism, we can believe in!!!!
TheHat on October 16, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Here is what the sensitive caring types on the left, the all-accepting big tent lover of all humanity, have to say:
http://www.charliehiphop.com/joe_the_plumber_is_an_asshole
Bishop on October 16, 2008 at 11:30 AM
I love this guy! Maybe HE should run for senate or something.
ErinF on October 16, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Suddenly brings new meaning to “And knowing is half the battle”
:)
Marine_Bio on October 16, 2008 at 11:31 AM
The hell he does. The GOPs major failure in the last decade has been backing off of arguments because of pathetic cries of racism. It was that very weakness that caused Republicans failure to act on reigning in Fannie and Freddie.
bj1126 on October 16, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Good idea. Hey, McCain campaign, are you paying attention? Any chance of this?
Count to 10 on October 16, 2008 at 11:33 AM
He’s already getting hassled by Joe Biden this morning!
carbon_footprint on October 16, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Joe the Plumber and Joe Biden:
Joe the Plumber plugs leaks and Joe Biden leaks plugs.
carbon_footprint on October 16, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Wow, he was awesome. I love how he didn’t take the bait on the (paraphrase), “shouldn’t those who make $1 million be taxed more?” question and said, “Where does it stop?” Go Joe! Nothing greater than an American with common sense.
Pasalubong on October 16, 2008 at 11:37 AM
POINT is that taxing him “redistributed money is welfare”. Not taxing him more, allows him to offer people an OPPORTUNITY to work.
*
Give a man a fish?
*
Give a man a fishing pole.
marklmail on October 16, 2008 at 11:37 AM
“Ok…Joe just might end up becoming the monkey wrench in Obamas campaign.”
Watch it. There’s a word that can be taken as racist.
LtE126 on October 16, 2008 at 11:38 AM
I have a feeling Wurzelbacher isn’t afraid of any of these pathetic people. Seems like a guy that can handle his business (literally and figuratively).
/swoon
Abby Adams on October 16, 2008 at 11:38 AM
What we need the next 19 days is for other brave Americans to approach Obama and challenge him on his policies like Joe did.
carbon_footprint on October 16, 2008 at 11:39 AM
The smearing of Joe has indeed started!
grapeknutz on October 16, 2008 at 11:40 AM
If……LOL Who am I kidding, WHEN the Obama kids and Bullwinkle Obama go after this guy it will backfire in their faces. Attacking Palin was one thing, she is running for VP, they attack Joe, who isn’t running for anything but just a hard working guy trying to make a buck, they cut their own throats.
Old Hippie Vet on October 16, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Hell’s Bells! I want Joe on the ticket!
hburns on October 16, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Did you catch the “Joe is related to Keating of the Keating 5″ smear?
Count to 10 on October 16, 2008 at 11:42 AM
OBAMA’s energy plan in practice:
Legislation that Gov. Ed Rendell signed Wednesday requires the utilities to cut annual electricity usage by at least 1 percent by May 31, 2011, based on usage estimates made by state regulators, who can take into account a major anomaly, such as an unusually hot summer or a substantial surge in demand from a new user, such as a factory.
To ensure that utilities take the task seriously, the new law allows up to $20 million in penalties for failure to meet the benchmarks for electricity usage cuts.
“That certainly should get the companies to look at what’s been going on around the country and adopt some of the more successful programs,” said Sonny Popowsky, the state’s utility consumer advocate and a supporter of the new law.
Utilities will have to find ways to get people and businesses to use less electricity on the hottest summer days, when electricity is the most expensive. That could include enrolling the owners of homes and office buildings in a program to temporarily switch off hot water heaters or air conditioners.
To cut electricity usage at all other times, utilities will have to get more fluorescent lamps into light sockets to replace less efficient incandescent bulbs.
They will have to figure out how to entice people to insulate their homes to save electric heat and replace old, energy-sucking refrigerators and other appliances with newer, more efficient models.
Electricity usage in the Pennsylvania and the United States grows at a rate of about 1 percent to 2 percent annually….
….They acknowledge that the law will force them to adopt new usage-reduction tactics beyond a raft of education programs they have, including Web sites that dissect each residential customer’s electric usage and how to reduce it.
This is what Obama wants to do on a national level. No more 20 mjinute hot showers, no more 72 degrees in the winter, no more cool summers.
Instead of building new power plants they want to charge more for the same amount of electric usage. the eletric companies are to the dems what the oil companies are to the rep. People better wake up soon.
unseen on October 16, 2008 at 11:44 AM
the left is going batsh*t over this guy. it’s amazing how Real Americans get under their skin.
Brass Pair on October 16, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Yes indeed, need to take out Joe, quick.
tarpon on October 16, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Why can’t Joe (Biden) count?
TheBigOldDog on October 16, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Ok, question of the day: How long before The One has Joe silenced?
ErinF on October 16, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Re: HuffPo…it’s going to get worse. In the future under Obama you speak out like this against Barack and within 24 hours you will have a gang of Internet Obamatrons surrounding your house shouting at you and your family.
…and David Brooks will be writing cult-follower columns praising them all as strong mountains of protection for The One.
econavenger on October 16, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Obama = Death Star
Joe the Plumber = Luke Skywalker’s single torpedo
rockmom on October 16, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Joe the Plumber seems to be a guy with his head screwed on straight. It was disgusting to see Diane Sawyer try to belittle him and make it a cutesy story about ol’ bitter clingy Joe finally making it to the big time.
Joe called it what it is… Creeping Socialism. He is absolutely right. Today it is three percent at 250K, but next year it could be 10% at 150K or 20% at 50K. Once you accept that the minority must pay all the bills for the minority, there is no reason to expect that the majority will not proceed to vote themselves an every larger portion of the pie from an every increasing number of people.
After all, those who advocate robbing Peter to pay Paul can count on the enthusiastic support of Paul.
gridlock2 on October 16, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Did you catch the “Joe is related to Keating of the Keating 5″ smear?
Count to 10 on October 16, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Laughable. What’s the definition of “close”, cousins twenty times removed who haven’t ever met and don’t know each other even exist?
Bishop on October 16, 2008 at 11:48 AM
That was obvious by the “Oh crap this guys no dumb ass” look on Diane Sawyer’s face at the end of the interview.
Dreadnought223 on October 16, 2008 at 11:48 AM
We tax at a higher level because we need the revenue (for example, to pay the national debt) and because the people at the top can afford to pay more than the people at the bottom.
If you make 40k, 20% of your salary means way more to you than if you make 400k.
In any event, if you get into the socialist warfare argument, then why should we even have a tax rate? Why should you pay more taxes if you make 400k rather than 40k or 4k? Why shouldn’t we simply divide the tax bill equally across everyone? So say charge everyone with a 20k tax bill, regardless of how much they make.
mycowardice on October 16, 2008 at 11:50 AM
He’s surprisingly coherent. I thought it was going to be one long awkward silence, but he did well.
CherokeeJack on October 16, 2008 at 11:51 AM
How fortuitous that Obama happened into the neighborhood where the offspring of Keating settled down.
I mean, really.
Think Obama will meet and greet voters again? LOL
lorien1973 on October 16, 2008 at 11:51 AM
If the Left can destroy this man’s life for speaking out, they can destroy all of us.
newton on October 16, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Diane Sawyer, a completely useless, smug, condescending hack.
Sawyer’s a biased idiot and you helped us realize it, thanks Joe.
NoDonkey on October 16, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Now, Biden is attacking the plumber’s credibility. Yeah, Biden who is falsely claiming that he would make 250k and would be wealthy as opposed to what the guy really said. It’s clear Biden has no idea about running a small business. A business that takes in 250k after taxes, after expenses, leaves very little to employee people.
Blake on October 16, 2008 at 11:52 AM
McCain goes on vacation for three weeks. Palin and Joe the Plumber take over the campaign. McCain wins in a landslide.
How does Obama counter Joe the Plumber? Have they got oppositon research on him?
Obama’s response will be to stump with welfare queens and Acorn workers.
McCain needs to start talking about taking Joe the Plumber’s money to pay for Obama’s Global Poverty Act boondoggle as well as taxpayer funded abortions. And tie this in with Obama’s experience with Ayers in blowing through $161 million on Chicago Annenberg Challenge for a lot of nonsense educational reform. The results of CAC? No improvement in academic achievement, but the training of a heckuva lot of single-parents and kids in how to be angry about things they know nothing about.
BuckeyeSam on October 16, 2008 at 11:53 AM
econavenger on October 16, 2008 at 11:46 AM
It would be worse than that, you will be treated to an official colonoscopy of your entire life, your tax status, your marital workings, your employment status, etc.
Then come the hate-speech charges and being hauled in front of the Human Rights Tribunal.
Remember what Obiffy said, he wants judges who will act out of “fairness.”
Bishop on October 16, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Joe said he likes to hunt, so the moonbats better watch their ass.
Hey Joe, if you need some muscle, just let us know, OK bud?
Kevin in Washington State on October 16, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Time to make a matyr of this guy. I’ve said this before, this picture is Joe the Plumber. He speaks for us all.
Freedom of Speech
http://www.rockwellsite.com/prints/viewimages.asp?ART=00000004
BuckeyeSam on October 16, 2008 at 11:55 AM
While visiting NYC recently, I saw the Park Avenue building in which Diane Sawyer lives.
You couldn’t be more removed from the workings of the average American if you lived on Mars.
Bishop on October 16, 2008 at 11:55 AM
The Liberals are losing their minds over this LOL
I just hope they don’t try to hurt the guy…
Dritanian on October 16, 2008 at 11:56 AM
What does the joe the plumber feel about paying more for the same amount of electricity.
unseen on October 16, 2008 at 11:57 AM
I think this is patently unfair. Biden was obviously referring to Job, from the book of the same name in the Bible.
Obama wants us to follow his example, and make sacrifice after sacrifice and endure years of hardship to show support for Teh One. Just like Job. J-O-B Job.
connertown on October 16, 2008 at 11:58 AM
A plumber with more business insight and common sense than a Harvard educated lawyer. My, oh my…
roxer on October 16, 2008 at 11:59 AM
McCain’s campaign has decided to go one better than Secret Service: Todd Palin has been dispatched to Toledo, Ohio.
BuckeyeSam on October 16, 2008 at 11:59 AM
A plumber with more business insight and common sense than a Harvard educated lawyer. My, oh my…
roxer on October 16, 2008 at 11:59 AM
conservative elites attack Joe in 5,4,3….
unseen on October 16, 2008 at 12:00 PM
I like Joe but I don’t like the fact that Obama and McCain refer to him by his first name- as if either knows him that well.
highhopes on October 16, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Can you say Wurzelbacher five times fast?
Steve Z on October 16, 2008 at 12:00 PM
How do the boys over at Daily Kos react to Joe the Plumber? Not just hatred (you could see that coming), but also by posting every bit of information they can find out about him.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
And the press wonders why they can’t find a GOP supporter. Because you’re afraid your information will get plastered on the internet and unspeakable things will happen to you.
LastRick on October 16, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Careful or you’ll make me bust out the “how did America exist the majority of her history without an income tax?” argument….
sven10077 on October 16, 2008 at 12:02 PM
I love this guy. He needs to talk about how increasing his taxes will prevent him from hiring, OR may have to lay off workers. THAT’S the KEY.
marklmail on October 16, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Don’t be surprised if, after someone posting his address and phone no. on the HuffPo, this guys’s business (or his house) is burned to the ground. I have do doubt in my mind that the Left will go that far.
newton on October 16, 2008 at 12:05 PM
I’m not sure what it means about your position on the tax structure… You are saying we shouldn’t have any income taxes at all?
mycowardice on October 16, 2008 at 12:06 PM
“Stay clear of tap dancing” references? Please. He should do so when Obama steers clear of “old” references.
What is this society coming to.
Waterboy on October 16, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Joe the Plumber and the First Dude combining forces to get the word out to average Joe Six packs all across this great Land? Now that’s an idea that is so crazy it just might work.
Dreadnought223 on October 16, 2008 at 12:08 PM
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