# Joe the Plumber Jumps Shark **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 16, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271 "2008-10-16T21:18:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/41 "2008-10-17T00:33:25Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Why McCain is fixated is this dumbass, I have no idea. The pool of people who actually agree with McCain and are willing to shill for him in public is getting smaller and smaller. You take what you can get, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/42 "2008-10-17T01:05:54Z")
“Joe” got his 15 minutes by asking questions of Obama at some campaign event. He asked real questions that some people would like to know the answer to. AND Obama took the time to answer the guy and explain what would happen. I am wondering what would happen if something similar happened at a McCain event? I mean a real live person who does not agree with him and asks policy questions. hmmmm, some how I think the straight talk express might bypass that stop. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/43 "2008-10-17T01:57:00Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Q: Does Jesus use Copper or Galvanized Steel…? Dude, Jesus uses polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Then Jesus and his brother Jose get deported. It’s a hard knock life. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/44 "2008-10-17T01:58:10Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > He doesn’t have a chance in Hell. Palin ate all his power-up mushrooms. Why am I picturing Joe the Plumber running like mad, jumping on walking mushrooms, getting larger by eating giant flowers, jumping down pipes, and eventually defeating Obama, King of the Koopas, to save Princess Sarah Palin. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/45 "2008-10-17T02:01:14Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Why am I picturing Joe the Plumber running like mad, jumping on walking mushrooms, getting larger by eating giant flowers, jumping down pipes, and eventually defeating Obama, King of the Koopas, to save Princess Sarah Palin. I dunno, 'cause you’re old enough to remember playing nintendo? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/46 "2008-10-17T02:08:15Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Dude, Jesus uses polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Then Jesus and his brother Jose get deported. It’s a hard knock life. I have been ignoring the Joe Plumber phenomenon. I just wanted to say, though, that your post was fucking hilarious. First real laugh I’ve had today. So, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/47 "2008-10-17T02:50:26Z")
He should’ve asked the question of Palin. The response would’ve been hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/48 "2008-10-17T03:44:12Z")
> [@E.Thorp](#): > > I’m not so convinced of the Keating connection yet. Maybe my cite-fu is weak, but the best I’ve been able to find says that [Joe is a close relative of Robert Wurzelbacher, Keating’s son-in-law](http://www.eisenstadtgroup.com/2008/10/15/joe-the-plumber-wurzelbacher-related-to-charles-keating-oops/). But “close relative” is undefined and the claim is unsubstantiated. Would love to have my ignorance fought if possible. Apparent debunking [here](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/16/133831/42/1001/632600). I’m gonna assume there’s no Keating connection unless someone demonstrates otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/49 "2008-10-17T04:48:30Z")
Thanks for that link, E. Thorp. As someone who posted about the possible Keating - Plumber connection earlier today, I must acknowledge that it seems to be a bust. Furthermore the Eisenstadt guy who prompted it all might not even exist but be a hoax himself. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/50 "2008-10-17T05:01:18Z")
He has his own [Wikipedia page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Wurzelbacher). ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/51 "2008-10-17T05:07:31Z")
Speaking of plumbers and McCain, anyone catch Letterman [nailing Johnny Mac to the wall over his relationship to G. Gordon Liddy tonight?](http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hIbK5ZyWUeEJrqOEcChTTkzHi3JgD93RUB8G0) I can’t find a video, but I don’t think McCain ever saw \*that \*one coming. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/52 "2008-10-17T05:49:31Z")
[“Joe” the Plumber has no license, and owes $1200 in back taxes.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081017/ap_on_el_pr/joe_the_plumber) (Sorry if this is repeat information, I merely scanned this thread.) > [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Speaking of plumbers and McCain, anyone catch Letterman [nailing Johnny Mac to the wall over his relationship to G. Gordon Liddy tonight?](http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hIbK5ZyWUeEJrqOEcChTTkzHi3JgD93RUB8G0) **AHH SPOILER!!** It’s only 10:45 here! ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/53 "2008-10-17T05:58:21Z")
Not sure if this has been posted yet, but according to the [NYTimes](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/us/politics/17joe.html?hp), Joe the Plumber would in fact very likely get a tax break under Obama’s plan. ---
**Author:** ![DiggitCamara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@DiggitCamara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiggitCamara)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/54 "2008-10-17T06:39:25Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Seriously. Has anyone, in the history of taxation, ever thought to himself, “Being rich means paying a little bit more in taxes? The hell with that noise, I’m staying in the middle class!” Well… I’ve always thought there’s a small zone where people earn more brutto, but due to taxes earn less netto. If people were logical, economically speaking, they’d stop their efforts to earn more until they can make the jump past that point. Sort of the bands of energy where the electrons can exist. But who ever thought people were really rational? ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/55 "2008-10-17T06:50:35Z")
> [@DiggitCamara](#): > > Well… I’ve always thought there’s a small zone where people earn more brutto, but due to taxes earn less netto. Except because of marginal tax brackets, this doesn’t happen. The higher tax rate only kicks in on the income that’s in the next level. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/56 "2008-10-17T06:54:37Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I must have missed the link…_looks_…oh, no, I guess I didn’t. Since no one linked to it. Perhaps before being such an asshole next time you could simply point link to the relevant parts that I fucked up on and fight my ignornace. > > Or, well, you could just continue to be an asshole I guess. Thanks for playing though. > > -XT Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. ---
**Author:** ![Peanut\_Gallery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@Peanut\_Gallery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanut_Gallery)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/57 "2008-10-17T14:59:08Z")
> **[Real Deal on ‘Joe the Plumber’ Reveals New Slant (Published 2008)](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/us/politics/17joe.html)** > > Samuel J. Wurzelbacher is not a licensed plumber, and the premise of his complaint about taxes may be flawed. > [@](#): > > Mr. Wurzelbacher, who voted Republican in Ohio’s March primary, said that his encounter with Mr. Obama had been prompted by his desire “to ask one of these guys a question, and really corner them and get them to answer a question for once instead of tap dancing around it. And unfortunately I asked the question, but I still got a tap dance.” > > He added, “He was almost as good as Sammy Davis Jr.” I thought he got a rather straight answer. More than he deserved, as he was obviously trolling. He even got the meat he was baiting for: the “Redistribution of wealth” mention. I think he wanted the tap dance, in the awkward-Palin-moment way. He should have asked her a question instead. And I know Sammy was one of maybe two tap dancers that anybody can name (plus Fred), but he could have just as well stopped talking before that… ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/58 "2008-10-17T15:19:03Z")
Obama answered his question, he just didn’t like the answer. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/59 "2008-10-17T15:47:15Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Why am I picturing Joe the Plumber running like mad, jumping on walking mushrooms, getting larger by eating giant flowers, jumping down pipes, and eventually defeating Obama, King of the Koopas, to save Princess Sarah Palin. Dude, I demand a photoshop of that! Someone needs to make this happen at least. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271/60 "2008-10-17T16:25:30Z")
> [@Peanut\_Gallery](#): > > [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/us/politics/17joe.html](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/us/politics/17joe.html) > > I thought he got a rather straight answer. More than he deserved, as he was obviously trolling. He even got the meat he was baiting for: the “Redistribution of wealth” mention. I think he wanted the tap dance, in the awkward-Palin-moment way. He should have asked her a question instead. > > And I know Sammy was one of maybe two tap dancers that anybody can name (plus Fred), but he could have just as well stopped talking before that… I agree. I thought it was a pretty comprehensive, intelligent answer to give to someone. Now, Joe may not have liked the answer, but to claim Obama tap danced around an answer is disingenuous. What did he want Obama to say “look, I’m sorry that 5% of the population is going to get slightly screwed. It’s a shame we need to tax anyone. But you know that $850 billion dollar bailout? you know the $10 trillion in national debt, $5 million of which was created in the past 8 years? Heck, you know the roads you take to go to work in the morning? Yeah that all has to be paid for. All of it. So suck it up.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-jumps-shark/468271.md?page=4)