Joe the Plumber

===

<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/27/joe-the-plumber-guns_n_5397981.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/27/joe-the-plumber-guns_n_5397981.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular</a>

Samuel Wurzelbacher, better known as Joe the Plumber, insisted the deaths of innocent people "don't trump" his constitutional rights in <a href="http://barbwire.com/2014/05/27/open-letter-parents-victims-murdered-elliot-rodger/" target="hplink" sl-processed="1" style=" box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 136, 195); text-decoration: none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">an open letter</a> to the families of victims in Friday's <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/24/santa-barbara-shooting_n_5384839.html" target="hplink" sl-processed="1" style=" box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 136, 195); text-decoration: none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">shooting rampage</a> near the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Wurzelbacher's letter was <a href="http://barbwire.com/2014/05/27/open-letter-parents-victims-murdered-elliot-rodger/" target="hplink" sl-processed="1" style=" box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 136, 195); text-decoration: none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">published on Barbwire</a> Monday, days after one shooting victim's father <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/24/ucsb-shooting-guns-nra_n_5386873.html" target="hplink" sl-processed="1" style=" box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 136, 195); text-decoration: none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">blamed "craven, irresponsible politicians" and the National Rifle Association</a> for his son's death.

Wurzelbacher said the words of Richard Martinez, whose son Christopher Martinez was a victim in Friday's incident, "will be exploited by gun-grab extremists as are all tragedies involving gun violence and the mentally ill by the anti-Second Amendment Left." The <a href="http://go.bloomberg.com/political-capital/2012-11-06/joe-the-plumber-sees-election-hopes-go-down-the-drain/" target="_hplink" sl-processed="1" style=" box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 136, 195); text-decoration: none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">former Congressional candidate</a> told Martinez to "back off."

Wurzelbacher said his letter is directed "only to the families of the gunshot victims in Santa Barbara" and not to the families of <a href="http://hollywoodlife.com/2014/05/25/elliot-rodger-roommates-names-police-identify/" target="_hplink" sl-processed="1" style=" box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 136, 195); text-decoration: none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">three who were stabbed</a> ahead of the shooting spree.

"I am sorry you lost your child. I myself have a son and daughter and the one thing I never want to go through, is what you are going through now. But: As harsh as this sounds -- your dead kids don’t trump my Constitutional rights," Wurzelbacher wrote.

Wurzelbacher acknowledged his comments are "harsh" but claimed pro-gun control activists "don't care about your family or your dead children at all."

"They sound like they do, whereas I sound uncaring and like I say, harsh," Wurzelbacher wrote. "Don’t be fooled – I care about your family and mine. The future of our very liberty lies in the balance of this fight."

Read Wurzelbacher's <a href="http://barbwire.com/2014/05/27/open-letter-parents-victims-murdered-elliot-rodger/" target="_hplink" sl-processed="1" style=" box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 136, 195); text-decoration: none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">entire letter here</a>.

===

<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/02/18/1278483/--Joe-the-Plumber-takes-a-union-job-at-Chrysler?detail=email">http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/02/18/1278483/--Joe-the-Plumber-takes-a-union-job-at-Chrysler?detail=email</a>

==

<h1 class="print-title">Spin, Hype, and a Hoax Involving "Joe the Plumber"</h1>

<div class="meta">by <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/users/13916/sheldon-rampton" title="View user profile.">Sheldon Rampton</a> [1] — October 16, 2008 - 5:19pm</div>

<ul>

<li class="vocabulary-2">Topics: <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/topics/us-government/election-2008">Election 2008</a> [2], <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/topics/ethics">Ethics</a> [3]</li>

</ul>

</div>

Annenberg's FactCheck.org has published an analysis of the "<a href="http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/factchecking_debate_no_3.html" target="blank">spin and hype</a> [5]" in the final U.S. presidential debate between <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_McCain" target="blank">John McCain</a> [6] and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Barack_Obama" target="_blank">Barack Obama</a> [7]. Elsewhere on the blogosphere, people have been speculating about the "true identity" of Joe Wurzelbacher ("Joe the plumber"), whose brief encounter with Obama has become the centerpiece of McCain's effort to paint Obama as a socialist who wants to raise everyone's taxes.

On the Daily Kos, several diaries (such as <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/16/13199/166/2/632566" target="blank">this one</a> [8] and <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/16/02217/845" target="blank"> this one</a> [9]) have suggested that "Joe the plumber" may actually have unreported connections to both the McCain campaign and "to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Keating" target="blank">Charles Keating</a> [10] of the <a href="http://www.keatingeconomics.com/" target="blank">Keating 5 scandal</a> [11]" that embarrassed McCain in the 1980s. Another diary entry, titled "<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/16/92510/577/305/632263" target="_blank">Joe the Fibber</a> [12]," says that the "Joe the Plumber campaign is based on a fabrication."

Before this speculation runs rampant, though, people should be warned that one of the <a href="http://www.eisenstadtgroup.com/2008/10/15/joe-the-plumber-wurzelbacher-related-to-charles-keating-oops/" target="blank">earliest claims that Wurzelbacher is linked to Keating</a> [13] comes from a source who has been repeatedly and convincingly exposed as a hoax. The source in question has variously identified himself as "Michael/Martin/M. Thomas Eisenstadt" of the "Harding Institute for Freedom and Democracy." We added articles to SourceWatch several months ago, exposing <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/M.Thomas_Eisenstadt" target="blank">M. Thomas Eisenstadt</a> [14] and the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Harding_Institute_for_Freedom_and_Democracy" target="blank">Harding Institute</a> [15]. Blogger William K. Wolfrum has also <a href="http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/06/michael-eisenstadt-denies-being-m.html" target="blank">written extensively</a> [16] about <a href="http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/06/conservative-blogger-m-thomas.html" target="blank">Eisenstadt and his various incarnations</a> [17].

The ersatz Eisenstadt seems to have borrowed his name from a real pundit, Michael Eisenstadt of the conservative <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Washington_Institute_for_Near_East_Policy" target="blank">Washington Institute for Near East Policy</a> [18]. In <a href="http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/06/michael-eisenstadt-denies-being-m.html" target="blank">correspondence with Wolfrum</a> [16], however, the real Michael Eisenstadt denies any connection with his supposed namesake. The hoax Eisenstadt has claimed at various times to be a campaign advisor to Republican presidential candidates. First he claimed to be advising <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Rudy_Giuliani" target="blank">Rudy Giuliani</a> [19]; later, John McCain. The fake Eisenstadt also appeared in a supposed video interview several months ago, claiming to be an investor <a href="http://www.williamkwolfrum.com/2008/06/27/narcissist-abrad2345-releases-newest-video-as-hoax-martin-eisenstadt/" target="blank">building a luxury casino/hotel inside the Green Zone in Baghdad</a> [20], to be staffed with Iraqi maids and masseuses from Thailand and Russia.

In all likelihood, "Martin Eisenstadt" is some kind of leftist prankster who sees his hoax as a satire. In his <a href="http://www.eisenstadtgroup.com/2008/10/15/joe-the-plumber-wurzelbacher-related-to-charles-keating-oops/" target="blank">recent post</a> [13] alleging a link between "Joe the Plumber" and Charles Keating, "Eisenstadt" claims that during last night's debate, McCain campaign manager <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Steve_Schmidt" target="blank">Steve Schmidt</a> [21] "screamed at John’s debate prep team tonight (out of earshot of reporters, of course). 'You idiots - he's related to Charles Keating… of the Keating Five scandal!'" If indeed such a screaming fit had happened, I cannot imagine that one of McCain's advisors would actually blog about it publicly a day later. In short, this story is simply too implausible to be true.

Joe Wurzelbacher's 15 minutes of fame have prompted news reports that point to some contrasts between reality and his public comments related to the U.S. presidential campaign. It has become clear that he is <a href="http://familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.1465/pub_detail.asp" target="blank">politically conservative</a> [22] and a fan of John McCain -- not exactly an "undecided voter," as originally portrayed. Wurzelbacher also <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27207215/" target="blank">told reporters today</a> [23] that he does not actually have a plumber's license and that his earnings are well below the $250,000 level that he previously claimed would cost him in higher taxes under Obama's economic plan. These details suggest that "Joe the plumber" is someone with strong political opinions and a rather relaxed attitude toward specific facts -- which, if true, would put him in the same category as quite a few of his fellow Americans. However, I haven't seen anything that gives credence to "Martin Eisenstadt" and his claim that Wurzelbacher has any real relationship to the Keating scandal or other political subterfuge. Some Obama supporters might want to believe otherwise, but as often happens in politics, if you hear a story that is too good to be true, it probably isn't.

</div>

<div class="print-footer">Center for Media and Democracy • 520 University Avenue, Suite 260 • Madison, Wisconsin 53703

Phone: 608-260-9713 • Fax: 608-260-9714</div>

<div class="print-source_url">Source URL: <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2008/10/7845/spin-hype-and-hoax-involving-joe-plumber">http://www.prwatch.org/news/2008/10/7845/spin-hype-and-hoax-involving-joe-plumber</a></div>

<div class="print-links">Links:

[1] http://www.prwatch.org/users/13916/sheldon-rampton

[2] http://www.prwatch.org/topics/us-government/election-2008

[3] http://www.prwatch.org/topics/ethics

[4] http://www.addtoany.com/share_save?linkurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prwatch.org%2Fnews%2F2008%2F10%2F7845%2Fspin-hype-and-hoax-involving-joe-plumber&linkname=Spin%2C%20Hype%2C%20and%20a%20Hoax%20Involving%20%22Joe%20the%20Plumber%22

[5] http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/factchecking_debate_no_3.html

[6] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_McCain

[7] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Barack_Obama

[8] http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/16/13199/166/2/632566

[9] http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/16/02217/845

[10] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Keating

[11] http://www.keatingeconomics.com/

[12] http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/16/92510/577/305/632263

[13] http://www.eisenstadtgroup.com/2008/10/15/joe-the-plumber-wurzelbacher-related-to-charles-keating-oops/

[14] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/M._Thomas_Eisenstadt

[15] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Harding_Institute_for_Freedom_and_Democracy

[16] http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/06/michael-eisenstadt-denies-being-m.html

[17] http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/06/conservative-blogger-m-thomas.html

[18] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Washington_Institute_for_Near_East_Policy

[19] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Rudy_Giuliani

[20] http://www.williamkwolfrum.com/2008/06/27/narcissist-abrad2345-releases-newest-video-as-hoax-martin-eisenstadt/

[21] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Steve_Schmidt

[22] http://familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.1465/pub_detail.asp

[23] http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27207215/</div>

===

AFP certainly fits the bill. By now, it's been widely reported, both <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/117223613.html?page=2" title="reference on within Wisconsin" target="blank">within Wisconsin</a> and in prominent publications <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer" title="reference on elsewhere" target="blank">elsewhere</a>, that AFP was largely inspired by the man who serves as its chairman, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Koch" title="reference on David Koch" target="self">David Koch</a>, one of the billionaire brothers who co-own <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Koch_Industries" title="reference on Koch Industries" target="self">Koch Industries</a>, one of the largest privately-held corporations in the world. AFP also possesses many characteristics indicative of a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=front_group" title="reference on front group" target="_self">front group</a>. It avoids mentioning its main sources of funding, engages in actions that benefit a third party, like a company, industry or political candidate. Its members are not its primary financial supporters, though it touts its membership while not revealing its biggest funders. And, last but not least, AFP can afford to send a custom-painted luxury coach on a highly-publicized road trip, even as the price of gas goes through the roof. The "star" of the road show was Ohioan Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher who gained some degree of notoriety during the 2008 presidential campaign.

http://www.prwatch.org/node/10299

-----------

DEBATE ASBOUT WIKI NOTABILITY

http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/wikipedia_vs_joe_the_plumber.php

------

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber</a>

-----

Tea Party:

<h3>Promotion</h3>

<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Fox_News" title="Fox News">Fox News</a> has played a key role in actively promoting the tea party movement. Fox commentator <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Glenn_Beck" title="Glenn Beck">Glenn Beck</a>, founder of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=The_912_Project" title="The 912 Project">The 912 Project</a> also promoted by Fox, promotes the tea parties on his show, encouraging viewers to "celebrate with Fox News" and join the protests. Other Fox personalities, Greta Van Susteren, Neil Cavuto, Sean Hannity, along with Beck, have broadcast live from tea parties in DC, Sacramento, San Antonio, and Atlanta on tax day.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tax_Day_Tea_Party#cite_note-4" title="">[5]</a>

The tea party movement is also promoted through an affiliation with conservative blogs and websites including <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=RedState.com" title="RedState.com">RedState.com</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Michelle_Malkin" title="Michelle Malkin">Michelle Malkin</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=NetRightNation&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="NetRightNation (page does not exist)">NetRightNation</a>, and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Smart_Girl_Politics" title="Smart Girl Politics">Smart Girl Politics</a>, and through a Facebook group of 50,000 members handled by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Liberty_Alliance" title="American Liberty Alliance">American Liberty Alliance</a>. <a href="http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/04/the_tea_party_movement_whos_in_charge.php" class="external autonumber" title="http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/04/the_tea_party_movement_whos_in_charge.php" rel="nofollow">[3]</a> Local chapters and protests are organized online through local groups using the Meetup.com and Ning.com websites. In February 2009, conservative <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pajamas_Media" title="Pajamas Media">Pajamas Media</a> began running online ads encouraging readers to organize their own tea parties and promoting Pajamas Media's coverage of them: "The Pajamas TV team including <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Michelle_Malkin" title="Michelle Malkin">Michelle Malkin</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Glenn_Reynolds" title="Glenn Reynolds">Glenn Reynolds</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Wurzelbacher" class="external text" title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Wurzelbacher" rel="nofollow">Joe Wurzelbacher</a> (a.k.a. "Joe the Plumber") - are mobilized to help cover this new and evolving revolution."

<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pajamas_Media">http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pajamas_Media</a>  BLOGGERS

wiki

Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher (pron.: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" title="Help:IPA for English">/</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">ˈwɜrzəlbɑːkər</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" title="Help:IPA for English">/</a>; born December 3, 1973), better known by the nickname "Joe the Plumber," is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">American</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism_in_the_United_States" title="Conservatism in the United States">conservative</a> activist and commentator. He gained national attention during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,2008" title="United States presidential election, 2008">2008 U.S. presidential election</a> when, during a videotaped campaign stop in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio" title="Ohio">Ohio</a> by then-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party%28United_States%29" title="Democratic Party (United States)">Democratic</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidate" title="Candidate">candidate</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama">Barack Obama</a>, Wurzelbacher asked Obama about his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_business" title="Small business">small business</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_policy" title="Tax policy">tax policy</a>, and Obama gave a response that included the statement, "when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody." Obama's response was seized on by conservative commentators, as well as by Obama's rival, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party%28United_States%29" title="Republican Party (United States)">Republican</a> candidate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain" title="John McCain">John McCain</a>, as an indication that Obama was interested in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redistribution_of_wealth" title="Redistribution of wealth" class="mw-redirect">redistribution of wealth</a>, and had a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist" title="Socialist" class="mw-redirect">socialist</a> view of the economy. He is a member of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party%28United_States%29" title="Republican Party (United States)">Republican Party</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-1">[1]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-2">[2]</a>

As an employee of a plumbing contractor,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-3">[3]</a> Wurzelbacher was given the moniker "Joe the Plumber".<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-the_t_b-4">[4]</a> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain_presidential_campaign,_2008" title="John McCain presidential campaign, 2008">McCain–Palin campaign</a> brought him to appear at several campaign events in Ohio, and McCain referred often to "Joe the Plumber" in subsequent campaign speeches and in the final presidential debate, as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphor" title="Metaphor">metaphor</a> for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_middle_class" title="American middle class">middle-class Americans</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Joe_Plumber_Represents-5">[5]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Doubts_Raised-6">[6]</a>

Wurzelbacher became a conservative activist, commentator, author and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivational_speaker" title="Motivational speaker" class="mw-redirect">motivational speaker</a>. In 2012, he <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Ohio,_2012#District_9" title="United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio, 2012">ran</a> on the Republican ticket to represent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio%27s_9th_congressional_district" title="Ohio's 9th congressional district">Ohio's 9th congressional district</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives">House of Representatives</a>, losing to Democratic nominee <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcy_Kaptur" title="Marcy Kaptur">Marcy Kaptur</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-marcy_kaptur_coasts-7">[7]</a>

<tr>

<td>

<h2>Contents</h2>

</div>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#Early_life.2C_education.2C_and_business_career">1 Early life, education, and business career</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#2008_presidential_election">2 2008 presidential election</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#Encounter_with_Barack_Obama">2.1 Encounter with Barack Obama</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#Presidential_debate">2.2 Presidential debate</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#2008_media_appearances">2.3 2008 media appearances</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#References_on_the_campaign_trail">2.4 References on the campaign trail</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#Joint_appearances_with_John_McCain">2.5 Joint appearances with John McCain</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#Post-2008_career_and_activism">3 Post-2008 career and activism</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#2012_congressional_election">4 2012 congressional election</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#Draft_movement">4.1 Draft movement</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#Campaign">4.2 Campaign</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#Controversies">5 Controversies</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#Plumbing_credentials">5.1 Plumbing credentials</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#Tax_controversy">5.2 Tax controversy</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#Database_search_controversy">5.3 Database search controversy</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#Holocaust_comments">5.4 Holocaust comments</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#Illegal_immigration_remark">5.5 Illegal immigration remark</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#References">7 References</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#External_links">8 External links</a></li>

</ul>

</td>

</tr>

</tbody></table>

<h2>Early life, education, and business career</h2>

Wurzelbacher was born in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo,_Ohio" title="Toledo, Ohio">Toledo, Ohio</a>, to Kay and Frank Wurzelbacher. The family moved to Florida when he was young, then returned to Toledo when he was in the middle of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_school" title="High school">high school</a>. After high school, Wurzelbacher enlisted in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force" title="United States Air Force">United States Air Force</a>, and was stationed in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dakota" title="North Dakota">North Dakota</a>. In the Air Force, he learned plumbing, along with other skills. Wurzelbacher left the Air Force in 1996 and worked as a plumber, but then switched careers and started working at the telecommunications company <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Crossing" title="Global Crossing">Global Crossing</a>. He also married, had a son, and then divorced during this time. After the divorce, Wurzelbacher decided to go back into plumbing in order to spend more time with his son.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-8">[8]</a>

<h2>2008 presidential election</h2>

<h3>Encounter with Barack Obama</h3>

On October 12, 2008, three days before the final presidential debate, Obama met residents in Wurzelbacher's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio" title="Ohio">Ohio</a> neighborhood.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-In_Working_Class_Ohio-9">[9]</a> Wurzelbacher, who had been playing football with his son in his front yard at the time, asked Obama about his tax plan.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-TBlicense-10">[10]</a> Wurzelbacher suggested that Obama's tax plan would be at odds with "the American dream."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Plumber_From_Ohio-11">[11]</a> Wurzelbacher said, "I'm getting ready to buy a company that makes 250 to 280 thousand dollars a year. Your new tax plan's going to tax me more, isn't it?"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Real_Deal-12">[12]</a>

Obama responded with an explanation of how his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax" title="Tax">tax</a> plan would affect a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_business" title="Small business">small business</a> in this bracket. Obama said, "If you're a small business, which you would qualify, first of all, you would get a 50 percent tax credit so you'd get a cut in taxes for your health care costs. So you would actually get a tax cut on that part. If your revenue is above 250, then from 250 down, your taxes are going to stay the same. It is true that, say for 250 up — from 250 to 300 or so, so for that additional amount, you’d go from 36 to 39 percent, which is what it was under <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton" title="Bill Clinton">Bill Clinton</a>."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-ABC_News_video-13">[13]</a>

Obama also said, "It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they've got a chance at success, too… My attitude is that if the economy’s good for folks from the bottom up, it’s gonna be good for everybody. If you’ve got a plumbing business, you’re gonna be better off [...] if you’ve got a whole bunch of customers who can afford to hire you, and right now everybody’s so pinched that business is bad for everybody and I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-McCain.2C_Obama_get_tough-14">[14]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Spread_the_Wealth-15">[15]</a>

<h3>Presidential debate</h3>

<div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_debates,_2008" title="United States presidential election debates, 2008">United States presidential election debates, 2008</a></div>

During the third and final Presidential debate on October 15, 2008, at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hofstra_University" title="Hofstra University">Hofstra University</a>, many references were made to "Joe the Plumber."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Joe...Real_Hero-16">[16]</a> In the debate, McCain repeatedly brought up "Joe the Plumber" and Obama and McCain then made statements aimed directly at Wurzelbacher. As a result, subsequent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_media" title="News media">media</a> attention was directed at Wurzelbacher.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-APlicense-17">[17]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Candidates_Make-18">[18]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-McCain_Invokes-19">[19]</a>

After the debate, Wurzelbacher did not declare his vote for either candidate. He expressed concern that Obama's plans were "one step closer to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism" title="Socialism">socialism</a>."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Joe...is_Focus-20">[20]</a> Obama's running mate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden" title="Joe Biden">Joe Biden</a> argued that 98% of small businesses take in less than $250,000 a year in income and thus wouldn't be subject to higher taxes under Obama's plan. McCain stated that Wurzelbacher would see higher taxes under Obama's plan.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Biden_Questions-21">[21]</a>

<h3>2008 media appearances</h3>

Wurzelbacher spoke to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katie_Couric" title="Katie Couric">Katie Couric</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_Evening_News" title="CBS Evening News">CBS Evening News</a> on October 15, shortly after the conclusion of the final debate. Asked whether Obama's proposed $250,000 tax threshold would affect him, Wurzelbacher replied: "Not right now at presently, but (...) he's going to do that now for people who make $250,000 a year. When's he going to decide that $100,000 is too much? (...) You're on a slippery slope here. You vote on somebody who decides that $250,000 and you're rich? And $100,000 and you're rich? (...) Where does it end?"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-CBS-News-22">[22]</a> He also said, “I asked the question but I still got a tap dance ...almost as good as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Davis,_Jr." title="Sammy Davis, Jr.">Sammy Davis, Jr.</a>”<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-CBS-News-22">[22]</a>

Wurzelbacher held a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_conference" title="Press conference" class="mw-redirect">press conference</a> at his home on the morning of October 16, following the debates, where he refused to express support for either candidate. "I'm not telling anybody anything" about which candidate he prefers, he said, adding, "It's a private booth. I want the American people to vote for who they want to vote for."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-LATimes-23">[23]</a>

On October 16, Wurzelbacher appeared on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_World_with_Neil_Cavuto" title="Your World with Neil Cavuto">Your World with Neil Cavuto</a> on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News" title="Fox News" class="mw-redirect">Fox News</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Cavuto" title="Neil Cavuto">Neil Cavuto</a> asked if Wurzelbacher was persuaded by Obama's plan. Wurzelbacher said that he was not and that he was more frightened upon hearing it. Wurzelbacher suggested that Obama's plan was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism" title="Socialism">socialist</a> in nature.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Plumber_From_Ohio-11">[11]</a>

That same day, Wurzelbacher also appeared on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Morning_America" title="Good Morning America">Good Morning America</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Sawyer" title="Diane Sawyer">Diane Sawyer</a> asked him if he was taking home $250,000 now, Wurzelbacher said with a laugh "No, not even close."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-ABC-vid-24">[24]</a> Sawyer asked Wurzelbacher, "And the McCain camp, some people have said did they contact you and tell you that you were going to be a major part of this, and had they contacted you before that encounter with Senator Obama?" Wurzelbacher answered, "Oh no, no, no one's contacted me as far as if I was going to be on the debate or as far as my name being used. No. I have been contacted by them and asked to show up at a rally. But, other than that, no. I just happened to be here and Barack Obama happened to show up."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-ABC-vid-24">[24]</a>

On November 2, Wurzelbacher appeared again on Your World with Neil Cavuto, where he expressed concern that Barack Obama's tax plans would go down "a slippery slope" and eventually raise his taxes. Wurzelbacher also questioned Obama's patriotism saying "there's too many questions with Barack Obama, and his loyalty to our country."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-25">[25]</a>

<h3>References on the campaign trail</h3>

On October 18, McCain told a campaign rally in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne,_Florida" title="Melbourne, Florida">Melbourne, Florida</a> that he had phoned Wurzelbacher for the first time on October 17. McCain said, "He's a great guy, proud of his grandfather who served in the US Marine Corps. We're going to fight for Joe, my friends, we are going to fight for him. The question Joe asked about our economy is important, because Senator Obama's plan would raise taxes on small businesses that employ 16 million Americans. Senator Obama's plan will kill those jobs at just the time when we need to be creating more jobs. My plan will create jobs, and that's what America needs."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-26">[26]</a>

The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCain-Palin" title="McCain-Palin" class="mw-redirect">McCain-Palin</a> campaign's senior strategist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Schmidt" title="Steve Schmidt">Steve Schmidt</a> said that John McCain's strategy in the final weeks of the presidential campaign was based primarily on his differences with Obama on economic issues, which they would continue to highlight through the story of Joe the Plumber.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-27">[27]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Nagourney-28">[28]</a>

After the final presidential debate, McCain and his running mate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin" title="Sarah Palin">Sarah Palin</a> frequently repeated the charge in campaign speeches that "Joe the Plumber" would pay higher taxes under Obama and Biden's plan, although according to tax analysts neither Wurzelbacher nor the company he works for would actually be subject to higher taxes under Obama's tax plan.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Real_Deal-12">[12]</a> Obama's "spread the wealth around" quote was later used by the McCain campaign, comparing the Democrat's policies to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism" title="Socialism">socialism</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Drogin-29">[29]</a> McCain said, "[Obama] wants government to take Joe's money and give it to somebody else." Obama said in a campaign rally on October 24 that McCain was "not fighting for Joe the Plumber. He's fighting for Joe the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedge_Fund" title="Hedge Fund" class="mw-redirect">Hedge Fund</a> Manager... He likes to talk about Joe the Plumber but he's in cahoots with Joe the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CEO" title="CEO" class="mw-redirect">CEO</a>." Obama then promoted a plan for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-class" title="Middle-class" class="mw-redirect">middle-class</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_cut" title="Tax cut">tax cuts</a> and "asked for a show of hands at the rally in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Coliseum" title="Richmond Coliseum">Richmond Coliseum</a> from those making less than $250,000. Nearly all of the 13,000 people raised their hands."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-30">[30]</a>

Aides to the McCain-Palin campaign said on October 24 that they would "spend heavily" on a new TV <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertisement" title="Advertisement" class="mw-redirect">advertisement</a> invoking Wurzelbacher's nickname. The ad would feature "several different people looking into the camera and saying, 'I'm Joe the Plumber.' One man accuses Obama of wanting to use the man's 'sweat to pay for his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trillion_%28short_scale%29" title="Trillion (short scale)" class="mw-redirect">trillion</a> dollars in new spending.'"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-31">[31]</a> McCain also ran several other commercials with this theme.

<h3>Joint appearances with John McCain</h3>

On October 30, Wurzelbacher made appearances with John McCain during Ohio campaign stops in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandusky,Ohio" title="Sandusky, Ohio">Sandusky</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elyria,Ohio" title="Elyria, Ohio">Elyria</a>,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-32">[32]</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentor,_Ohio" title="Mentor, Ohio">Mentor</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-33">[33]</a> In Sandusky, McCain accused the Obama campaign of attacking Wurzelbacher,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-34">[34]</a> and in Mentor, Wurzelbacher was allowed to address the crowd, saying, "Once you find out the facts, they become quite obvious," while pointing at McCain.

Earlier in the day, at a rally in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defiance,_Ohio" title="Defiance, Ohio">Defiance</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio" title="Ohio">Ohio</a>, McCain thought that Wurzelbacher was supposed to be in the crowd and called for him to stand up. When it became clear that Joe wasn't in attendance, McCain ended the silence by telling the whole crowd instead to stand up, stating, "You're all Joe the Plumber."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-35">[35]</a>

<h2>Post-2008 career and activism</h2>

In 2008, Wurzelbacher signed with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publicity" title="Publicity">publicity</a> management agent regarding media relationships, including "a possible <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_deal" title="Record deal" class="mw-redirect">record deal</a> with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_label" title="Major label" class="mw-redirect">major label</a>, personal appearances and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sponsor_%28commercial%29" title="Sponsor (commercial)">corporate sponsorships</a>."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-36">[36]</a>

In November 2008, Wurzelbacher was hired for a series of commercials reminding people to convert <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_television" title="Analog television">analog television</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital" title="Digital">digital</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-the_b_h-37">[37]</a> Wurzelbacher was hired to help consumers understand the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DTV_transition_in_the_United_States" title="DTV transition in the United States" class="mw-redirect">DTV transition in the United States</a> through a series of videos designed to explain the changeover.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-the_n_y-38">[38]</a>

In November 2008, Wurzelbacher began promoting his book Joe the Plumber: Fighting for the American Dream.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-The_Boston_Globe-39">[39]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Los_Angeles_Times-40">[40]</a> Co-written with novelist Thomas Tabback and published by PearlGate Publishing<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Guardian_UK-41">[41]</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin,_Texas" title="Austin, Texas">Austin, Texas</a>,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Austin_American_Statesman-42">[42]</a> the book addresses Wurzelbacher’s ideas concerning American values.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-The_New_York_Times_2-43">[43]</a> In particular, Wurzelbacher criticizes John McCain and states that he did not want him as the Republican presidential nominee.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-fox_news-44">[44]</a> According to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo_Blade" title="Toledo Blade">Toledo Blade</a>, Wurzelbacher criticized McCain as a candidate, saying that the election was "the lesser of two evils."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-45">[45]</a> On December 10, 2008, it was reported that Wurzelbacher also criticized McCain for voting for the $700 billion <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Economic_Stabilization_Act_of_2008" title="Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008">Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008</a>, also known as the bank bailout.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-46">[46]</a> On the issue of taxation, he does not consider himself to be a supporter of either party.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-47">[47]</a>

In January 2009, Wurzelbacher began work as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivational_speaker" title="Motivational speaker" class="mw-redirect">motivational speaker</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pundit%28expert%29" title="Pundit (expert)" class="mw-redirect">commentator</a>. His first assignment<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-the_Guardian-48">[48]</a> was to comment from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel" title="Israel">Israel</a> on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_War" title="Gaza War">the fighting</a> between the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Defence_Forces" title="Israeli Defence Forces" class="mw-redirect">Israeli Defence Forces</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas" title="Hamas">Hamas</a>, focusing on the Israeli experience of the conflict. In May 2009, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time%28magazine%29" title="Time (magazine)">Time</a> magazine reported that Wurzelbacher was quitting the Republican Party.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-49">[49]</a>

On June 25, 2009, Wurzelbacher spoke at an event called "Pints and Politics" in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wausau,_Wisconsin" title="Wausau, Wisconsin">Wausau, Wisconsin</a>. During his speech, Wurzelbacher questioned why <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Dodd" title="Chris Dodd">Chris Dodd</a> hadn't been "strung up" yet. He stated that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founding_Fathers" title="Founding Fathers" class="mw-redirect">Founding Fathers</a> "knew socialism doesn't work. They knew communism doesn't work."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-50">[50]</a>

On February 13, 2010, Wurzelbacher attended a political event for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a> gubernatorial candidate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Rohrer" title="Sam Rohrer">Sam Rohrer</a>. Speaking to a reporter afterwards, Wurzelbacher said that "McCain was trying to use [him]", and accused McCain of having "really screwed [his] life up".<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-51">[51]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-52">[52]</a>

In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin" title="Wisconsin">Wisconsin</a>, on February 2011, he spoke at a counter-demonstration during protests against Governor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Walker_%28politician%29" title="Scott Walker (politician)">Scott Walker</a>'s attempts to abolish <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_bargaining" title="Collective bargaining">collective bargaining</a> rights of some public employees.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-53">[53]</a>

<h2>2012 congressional election</h2>

<h3>Draft movement</h3>

After his meeting with Barack Obama, a campaign to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft%28politics%29" title="Draft (politics)">draft</a> Wurzelbacher to run for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives">United States House of Representatives</a> in the 2010 election started with the website joewurzelbacher2010.com.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-WSBT-TV-54">[54]</a> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Times" title="Washington Times" class="mw-redirect">Washington Times</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Herald" title="Boston Herald">Boston Herald</a> reported that the campaign's goal was to draft Wurzelbacher to run against Rep. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcy_Kaptur" title="Marcy Kaptur">Marcy Kaptur</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio%27s_9th_congressional_district" title="Ohio's 9th congressional district">Ohio's 9th congressional district</a>,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Boston_Herald-55">[55]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Washington_Times-56">[56]</a> although the possibility also existed for Kaptur to choose to run for the Senate seat being vacated by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Voinovich" title="George Voinovich">George Voinovich</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-57">[57]</a> The website was created by Trevor Lair (then-chairman of the Massachusetts College Republicans),<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-CNN-58">[58]</a> Derek Khanna,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Toledo_Free_Press-59">[59]</a> and the Massachusetts Alliance of College Republicans.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-NBC24-60">[60]</a> It encouraged visitors to sign an online petition that supported Wurzelbacher’s run for office.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-CNN-58">[58]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-The_Hill_.28newspaper.29-61">[61]</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Ingraham" title="Laura Ingraham">Laura Ingraham</a> asked Wurzelbacher, on October 24, 2008, if he would run against Kaptur. Wurzelbacher responded that he had considered the run and would be "up for it".<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-ANI-62">[62]</a>

<h3>Campaign</h3>

<tr>

<td class="mbox-text plainlist">Wikinews has related news: <a href="http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Super_Tuesday_2012:_%27Joe_the_Plumber%27_wins_GOP_congressional_primary" class="extiw" title="wikinews:Super Tuesday 2012: 'Joe the Plumber' wins GOP congressional primary">Super Tuesday 2012: 'Joe the Plumber' wins GOP congressional primary</a></td>

</tr>

</tbody></table>

<div class="rellink boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Ohio,_2012#District_9" title="United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio, 2012">United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio, 2012#District 9</a></div>

On October 7, 2011, Wurzelbacher filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to challenge Democratic Representative <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcy_Kaptur" title="Marcy Kaptur">Marcy Kaptur</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Ohio,_2012#District_9" title="United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio, 2012">2012 race for Ohio's 9th congressional seat</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-63">[63]</a>

In the March 6, 2012 primary, Wurzelbacher gained the nomination as the Republican candidate in the race, defeating challenger Steven Kraus.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-64">[64]</a> He ran in the November 2012 general election against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcy_Kaptur" title="Marcy Kaptur">Marcy Kaptur</a>, who had previously won the Democratic primary against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Kucinich" title="Dennis Kucinich">Dennis Kucinich</a> after the two incumbents' respective Congressional districts were collapsed into one as a result of post-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_2010_Census" title="United States 2010 Census" class="mw-redirect">2010 Census</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redistricting" title="Redistricting">redistricting</a> by the state's Republican-controlled legislature.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-65">[65]</a> He lost the election, with Kaptur, who had been the heavy favorite, receiving over 70% of the vote.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-marcy_kaptur_coasts-7">[7]</a>

<h2>Controversies</h2>

<h3>Plumbing credentials</h3>

Regarding his statement to Barack Obama about intending to buy the plumbing firm that employed him, Wurzelbacher later said that the idea of buying the company was discussed during his job interview six years prior.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-TBlicense-10">[10]</a> According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MSNBC" title="MSNBC">MSNBC</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News" title="Fox News" class="mw-redirect">Fox News</a>, court records show that Wurzelbacher made $40,000 in 2006.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Joe...is_Focus-20">[20]</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dun_%26_Bradstreet" title="Dun & Bradstreet">Dun & Bradstreet</a>'s report estimated that A. W. Newell Corporation, the full corporate name, had $510,000 in annual sales and eight employees.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-66">[66]</a> As part of the background on McCain's use of "Joe the Plumber," several media outlets researched his professional plumbing credentials. One <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo_Blade" title="Toledo Blade">Toledo Blade</a> article stated, "Mr. Wurzelbacher said he works under Al Newell’s license, but according to Ohio building regulations, he must maintain his own license to do plumbing work. He is also not registered to operate as a plumber in Ohio, which means he’s not a plumber." "Mr. Joseph [business manager of the local union] said Mr. Wurzelbacher could only legally work in the townships, but not in any municipality in Lucas County or elsewhere in the country."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-67">[67]</a> Wurzelbacher has since stated that he is no longer employed at Newell.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-the_t_b-4">[4]</a>

<h3>Tax controversy</h3>

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_News" title="ABC News">ABC News</a> reported on October 16, 2008, that there was a judgment <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lien" title="Lien">lien</a> against Wurzelbacher for non-payment of $1,182 in owed Ohio state income taxes dating to January 2007, but "no action has been taken against him outside of filing the lien." Barb Losie, deputy clerk of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucas_County,Ohio" title="Lucas County, Ohio">Lucas County</a> Court of Common Pleas, said that "there is a 99 percent chance [Wurzelbacher] doesn't know about the lien, unless he did a credit report or was ready to pay his taxes."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-68">[68]</a> While on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannity%26_Colmes" title="Hannity & Colmes">Hannity & Colmes</a>, Wurzelbacher stated that he was unaware of the tax lien prior to it being reported in the press.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-69">[69]</a> The taxes were paid on November 6.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-70">[70]</a>

<h3>Database search controversy</h3>

<div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversial_Ohio_database_searches_of_Joe_Wurzelbacher" title="Controversial Ohio database searches of Joe Wurzelbacher">Controversial Ohio database searches of Joe Wurzelbacher</a></div>

Prior to the 2008 election, Vanessa Niekamp, an employee of Ohio's Department of Job and Family Services, at the behest of its director, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Jones-Kelley" title="Helen Jones-Kelley">Helen Jones-Kelley</a>, used state computers to search for information on Joe Wurzelbacher. On November 20, 2008, Niekamp reported the violation to the State Inspector General. State and local officials completed an investigation into Jones-Kelley's order, concluding that the searches were improper.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-71">[71]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-72">[72]</a> On December 17, 2008, Jones-Kelley resigned.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-73">[73]</a> In response to the event, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_%28United_States%29" title="Republican Party (United States)">Republican</a> Ohio state representative <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannon_Jones" title="Shannon Jones">Shannon Jones</a> sponsored House Bill 648, which mandates civil and criminal penalties for improper access of personal information on state databases.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-74">[74]</a> On January 6, 2009, Governor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Strickland" title="Ted Strickland">Ted Strickland</a> signed the legislation,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-The_Lebanon_Western_Star-75">[75]</a> which became effective after 90 days.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-WTTE_Fox-76">[76]</a>

On March 5, 2009, on behalf of Joe Wurzelbacher, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_Watch" title="Judicial Watch">Judicial Watch</a> filed a lawsuit in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._District_Court" title="U.S. District Court" class="mw-redirect">U.S. District Court</a> in Columbus<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-The_Western_Star_09-77">[77]</a> charging that Jones-Kelley and fellow ODJFS employees Fred Williams and Doug Thompson improperly searched "confidential state databases" in an attempt to retaliate against Wurzelbacher's criticism of then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-The_Western_Star_09-77">[77]</a> The lawsuit claims that "officials of the State of Ohio violated Mr. Wurzelbacher's constitutional rights,"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-MSNBC_09-78">[78]</a> and that "Wurzelbacher suffered emotional distress, harassment, and embarrassment as a result of the search."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-AP_09-79">[79]</a> Tom Fitton, the president of Judicial Watch, stated that "no American should be investigated for simply asking a question of a public official."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-Columbus_Dispatch_09-80">[80]</a> The lawsuit seeks unspecified punitive damages.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-AP_09-79">[79]</a> On August 4, 2010, the U.S District Court in Columbus dismissed the lawsuit on the grounds that the state database search didn't amount to a constitutional violation to the right to privacy. Judicial Watch stated it will appeal.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-81">[81]</a>

On October 14, 2009, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Dispatch" title="Columbus Dispatch" class="mw-redirect">Columbus Dispatch</a> reported that, "A former contractor for the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police has been charged with rummaging through state computers to retrieve confidential information about 'Joe the Plumber.'" The State Highway Patrol has stated that, "this individual has also used a law-enforcement computer network on Oct. 16, 2008 to access personal information about Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-the_Columbus_Dispatch_09-82">[82]</a>

<h3>Holocaust comments</h3>

In June 2012, Wurzelbacher's election campaign released a video in which he claimed that the implementation of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_Control" title="Gun Control" class="mw-redirect">gun control</a> resulted in Europe’s Jews being unable to defend themselves during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocaust" title="Holocaust" class="mw-redirect">Holocaust</a>, explaining that "In 1939, Germany established gun control. From 1939 to 1945, six million Jews and seven million others unable to defend themselves were exterminated." In the same video, Wurzelbacher stated that the implementation of gun control by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire" title="Ottoman Empire">Ottoman Empire</a> in 1911 resulted in Armenians being unable to defend themselves against the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Genocide" title="Armenian Genocide">Armenian Genocide</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-83">[83]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-CBSJoe-84">[84]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-85">[85]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-86">[86]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-cleveland.cbslocal.com-87">[87]</a>

The video drew sharp criticism from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Jewish_Democratic_Council" title="National Jewish Democratic Council">National Jewish Democratic Council</a> (NJDC) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_Democratic_Party" title="Ohio Democratic Party">Ohio Democratic Party</a> Chairman <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Redfern" title="Chris Redfern">Chris Redfern</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-cleveland.cbslocal.com-87">[87]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-88">[88]</a>

Wurzelbacher subsequently defended the video, stating that "Different countries around the world have tried to disarm their citizens, and then have tried to exterminate their own now-unarmed citizens. If people are looking to be offended by this video, they are probably serving a political agenda. Unfortunately there are a lot of whiners out there." Wurzelbacher's spokesman, Phil Christofanelli, also defended the video, stating that Wurzelbacher was a "student of history" who knows that the Founding Fathers "understood that the 2nd Amendment was always the people's last defense against tyrannical government."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-CBSJoe-84">[84]</a>

<h3>Illegal immigration remark</h3>

In August 2012, Wurzelbacher drew criticism for a comment he made about illegal immigration. During a campaign rally for Arizona State Senator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lori_Klein" title="Lori Klein">Lori Klein</a>, Wurzelbacher said, "For years I’ve said, you know, put a damn fence on the border, going to Mexico and start shooting.”<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-89">[89]</a>

When asked about the comment later, he said that he didn't care about being "politically incorrect." Klein defended Wurzelbacher, telling reporters his comments were just a joke.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-90">[90]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_the_Plumber#cite_note-91">[91]</a>

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