Joe the Plumber: A Registered Republican but Not a Plumber

Everyone got an earful of "Joe the Plumber" Wednesday night, October 15, during the final presidential debate at Hofstra University in New York. Senator McCain brought him up, as every pundit and political analyst predicted he would, to emphasize that Senator Barack Obama's tax plans were inferior to his own, that people like "Joe The Plumber" would have a tough time keeping a business afloat if saddled him Obama's tax plan.

In fact, by the time the debate was over, most people were tired of hearing about "Joe the Plumber." When he was interviewed by CNN, he said he was surprised to be in the national spotlight but was glad to it might help get the candidates to discuss issues that they had heretofore neglected.

"Joe the Plumber" is Joe Wurzelbacher, a plumber in Toledo, Ohio, who, when Senator Obama was doing a house-to-house canvass on Sunday, October 12, to drum up support, told Senator Obama that, under his tax plan, he would go out of business. The video went ballistic on YouTube and Fox News pared it down just enough to make Obama look bad.

Senator John McCain not only used "Joe the Plumber" to good effect (if perhaps too often) in Wednesday night's debate, he told Fox News, "I'm probably going to call him this morning. I thought he would probably be up late. I heard that his -- that his phone lines were pretty well were flooded. But I think we're going to be spending some time together."

But Joe Wurzelbacher, plumber from Ohio, may become an embarrassment for the Republicans. Not only is he , people started to wonder if he was even registered to vote. In addition to that, he may not even have a plumber's license.

Joe Wurzelbacher Is Not Registered To Vote?

Early Thursday, October 16, various news agencies were trying to track down Joe the plumber's registration, to find out who he actually was. There ensued speculation that the real Joe -- the plumber - may not even be a registered voter. He couldn't be found on any of the voter registration rolls.

But then it was found out that his full name is Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher and that he was a registered Republican.

Okay. A Republican. It seems that Joe the Plumber was simply a normal voter.

Then it was discovered at a press conference that he belonged to the Natural Law Party - he just registered as a Republican this year and voted in the Republican Party. In fact, there is no record of Joe Wurzelbacher voting before the Ohio Primary in March.

The Natural Law Party is a political party that was founded in 1992 by transcendental meditationalists who believed that all the world's problems were caused by people acting against natural law and all could be put aright if humanity were realigned through the principles of organization and practicing transcendental meditations. Although there is still a website for the Natural Law Party, their various chapters have disbanded in most parts of the United States.

Joe Wurzelbacher Does Not Have A Plumber's License?

The Toledo Blade is reporting that Joe Wurzelbacher may not even be a plumber. And if he is, he isn't licensed or registered in the states of Ohio and Michigan. At the press conference where Joe - not a plumber - Wurzelbacher spoke about his political affiliations, he admitted to working for Newell Plumbing & Heating Co., which has several business address, all of which are residential homes. Newell Plumbing & Heating Co. does have a plumber's business license.

Wurzelbacher said that he had worked for Newell Plumbing & Heating Co. for six years and practiced under the business' license. However, under Ohio law, Wurzelbacher must maintain a license himself. He also must be registered in the state to actually operate. Acording to the Toledo Blade, this means that Joe the Plumber is not a plumber.

The Blade reports that Tom Joseph, business manager for Local 50 of the United Association of Plumbers, Steamfitters, and Service Mechanics, is more than a little annoyed with Wurzelbacher. "This individual has got no schooling, no licenses, he's never been to a training program, union or non-union, in the United States of America."

Wurzelbacher told Senator Obama Sunday that he didn't think that people who made more money should be taxed at a higher rate. Senator Obama explained that by taxing the more successful, the government would be able to "spread the wealth." Conservative pundits and bloggers began using the phrase to brand Obama as a socialist. Senator McCain attempted to use it against Obama in the last presidential debate but Obama refused to rise to the bait, calmly explaining how his taxing of the people who could afford to be taxed would help fund programs that would help the entire country.

Joe - the practicing non-licensed plumber? - Wurzelbacher is a single parent with a 13-year-old son who lives with him.

Say It Ain't So, Joe !

This is just another embarrassment for the McCain-Palin campaign, another in a long line of embarrassments. And it comes down to his staff simply not doing thier homework. Just like they did not do for Governor Palin.

Unfortunately, Senator McCain seems to have a bunch of opportunistic hacks working for him whose only aim is to use whatever they can find for political expediency. A little homework into the background of Joe -- I'm not a plumber in real life, but I play one on TV -- Wurzelbacher and Senator McCain would have dumped "Joe" for someone a little more credible.

Joe Wurzelbacher's plight as an American is the same as most people making far less than $250,000 a year. The economy is riding him hard. Being a single father does not help and has its own concomitant problems. But Joe Wurzelbach isn't the middle-class businessman that Senator McCain (through his grossly inefficient and inept staff) was attempting to make him out to be. He is exactly the guy Senator Obama wants to help with his tax plan.

For want of a vetting, shame on the campaign staff. For want of two vettings, shame on the them all.

Considering that he is a man of his word, will Senator McCain still attempt to spend some time with Joe? Maybe he can get some advice from David Letterman.

Sources:

Jacksonfreepress.com

ABCNews.com

ToledoBlade.com

Natural-Law.org