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Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher (born 1973), also known as Joe the Plumber, is an employee of Newell Plumbing & Heating and a resident of Holland, Ohio. Wurzelbacher, called "the most famous plumber in the nation", rose to national attention when he was mentioned by Republican United States Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator Barack Obama at least 23 times during the third and final presidential debate on October 15, 2008.

Encounter with Barack Obama

On October 11, 2008, four days before the final presidential debate, Obama met residents in Wurzelbacher's Ohio neighborhood. Wurzelbacher, who had been playing football with his son in his front yard at the time, asked Obama about his tax plan. As a Fox News Channel camera recorded the conversation, Wurzelbacher said he was upset about his interpretation of Obama's tax plan and suggested that such a plan would be at odds with "the American dream." Wurzelbacher asked Obama, "I’m getting ready to buy a company that makes $250,000 to $280,000 a year. Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn’t it?" Wurzelbacher asked Obama whether he would support a flat tax plan.

Obama responded with an explanation of how his tax plan would affect a small business in this bracket. Obama stated, "If your revenue is above $250, then from $250 down, your taxes are going to stay the same. It is true that for $250 up, …, you'd go from 36% to 39%, which is where it was under Bill Clinton."

Regarding the flat tax Obama said,

I would be open to it, but here's the problem with a flat tax: … in order for it to work and replace all the revenue that was got , you'd probably end up having to make it like a 40% sales tax.

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. And I think that when we spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody.

The "spread the wealth around" quote was later used by the McCain campaign, even comparing Obama’s policies to socialism. Steve Schmidt, McCain's chief campaign strategist, commented that this statement would be a focus of their campaign in its final weeks.

Phone call with John McCain

On October 18, John McCain told a Melbourne, Florida campaign rally that he 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 Marines 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."

Media appearances

Wurzelbacher spoke to Katie Couric of CBS Evening News 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, you know, question, so 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 know? I mean, 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? I mean, where does it end?" He also said, “I asked the question but I still got a tap dance ...almost as good as Sammy Davis, Jr.”

Wurzelbacher held a press conference 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."

On October 16, Wurzelbacher appeared on Your World with Neil Cavuto on Fox News. Cavuto 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 socialist in nature.

On October 16, Wurzelbacher also appeared on Good Morning America. Diane Sawyer asked him if he was taking home $250,000 now, Wurzelbacher said with a laugh "No, not even close." 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 just happened to show up."

Political leanings

Wurzelbacher registered to vote in 1992. In 2008, he voted in the Republican primary. He told an Associated Press reporter that in the most recent Republican primary, he backed McCain. Wurzelbacher is a registered Republican.

Plumbing career

Wurzelbacher is one of two employees of a small plumbing firm, Newell Plumbing and Heating Co. of Toledo. This is the company he described to Obama as making more than $250,000 per year. Wurzelbacher said that the idea of buying the company was discussed during his job interview six years prior.

MSNBC reported that "Ohio business records show the company’s estimated total annual revenue as only $100,000. Actual taxable income would be even less than that." According to Bloomberg News, if Wurzelbacher bought the company and it did have the earnings he described, by the time he took proper business deductions he'd be left with between $150,000 and $200,000 in taxable income and wouldn't be affected by Obama's proposed increase in the top rates.

An Associated Press article reported that Wurzelbacher did not have a plumber's license or apprenticeship. Local 50 of the United Association of Plumbers, Steamfitters and Service Mechanics, which endorsed Obama, indicated that Wurzelbacher applied for an apprentice program in 2003 but never completed the work. Wurzelbacher told reporters he did not need a license because he worked under license of Al Newell, the owner of the firm where he works. Newell held licenses with the State of Ohio and City of Toledo. Ohio building code requires plumbers who perform work including sanitary drainage, water supply, storm drainage, and natural gas piping, to have licenses.

In his interview on ABC's Good Morning America on October 16, Wurzelbacher said that his two current plumbing jobs were for a gas station and for a shopping center, Levis Commons.

References

1. ^ Vellequette, Larry (October 16, 2008). "'Joe the plumber' isn't licensed". Toledo Blade. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
2. http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/howmuchdoplumbersreallymake
3. Saine, Cindy (16 October 2008). "'Joe the Plumber' - Unexpected Star of US Presidential Debate". Voice of America: VoA News.
4. ""Mentioned 26 times, 'Joe the Plumber' becomes a national fixture"". IndianExpress.com. 2008-10-17. Retrieved 2008-10-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
5. ""America's Overnight Sensation Joe the Plumber Owes $1,200 in Taxes"". ABC News. 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2008-10-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
6. ^ Rohter, Larry (October 15, 2008). "Plumber From Ohio Is Thrust Into Spotlight". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
7. ^ Rohter, Larry. (2008-10-16). "Real Deal on 'Joe the Plumber' Reveals New Slant". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
8. "YouTube video 'Joe the Plumber'". 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
9. "LiveLeak video 'Complete Joe the Plumber video'". 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
10. Fouhy, Beth (15 October 2008). "McCain, Obama get tough, personal in final debate". The Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
11. Drogin, Bob (2008-10-18). "John McCain compares Barack Obama's policies to socialism". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-10-19. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
12. Nagourney, Adam (2008-10-16). "Polls Cause Campaigns to Change Their Itineraries". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-17. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
13. inquirer.net, John McCain telephones ‘Joe the Plumber’, AFP, October 17, 2008
14. ^ ""Joe The Plumber's Chat With Couric"". CBS News. 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2008-10-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
15. Mehta, Seema (16 October 2008). "'Joe the Plumber' still a topic for McCain, Obama". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-10-16. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
16. ^ ""Meet Joe the Plumber"". ABC News. 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2008-10-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
17. Bridget Tharp and Mark Zaborney (2008-10-16). ""'Joe the Plumber' is focus of presidential debate's first few minutes"". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
18. ^ Seewer, John (16 October 2008). "'Joe the Plumber' says he has no plumbing license". The Associated press. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
19. "Profile: Joe Wurzelbacher". BBC. 2008. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
20. "'Joe the plumber' and Obama's tax plan". msnbc.com. 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
21. Donmoyer, Ryan J. (2008-10-16). "'Joe the Plumber,' Obama Tax-Plan Critic, Owes Taxes". Bloomberg.com. New York, New York: Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
22. ""Is 'Joe the Plumber' a plumber? That's debatable"". Yahoo. 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2008-10-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
23. Barnes, Robert. "After Debate, Glare Of Media Hits Joe". Washington Post. Retrieved October 16, 2008.
24. "Ohio Plumbing License". National Contractors Pre-Licensing Services, Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-17.

External links

• Full, unedited video of the conversation between Joe the Plumber and Obama
• Full text of the conversation, Jake Tapper, ABC News online, 2008-10-14

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• Living people
• LIVING deaths
• United States presidential election, 2008
• John McCain
• Ohio Republicans
• Plumbers
• People from Lucas County, Ohio