"Joe the Plumber" Has a Few Leaks

[V2-OMG!]

Haven't they learned anything since Watergate? Politicians and plumbers can result in an embarrassing situation.


Story of Joe the Plumber springs many leaks
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Friday, October 17, 2008

A couple of things about Joe the Plumber, the icon of the authentic working-class voter who was declared the "winner" of the final presidential debate.

His first name isn't really Joe. It's Samuel.
He's not really a plumber - at least, not a licensed one.
He's concerned about increased taxes - but hasn't paid his own income taxes.
And he's not exactly just a guy from Ohio.
He's lived in Arizona ... and Alaska.

"Looks like there's a crack in Joe the Plumber's story," said Bob Mulholland, the Democratic party activist and adviser, after some details of Wurzelbacher's life emerged Thursday.

In an election that has starred all sorts of celebrities - remember Paris Hilton? Britney Spears? - Wurzelbacher got his 15 minutes of fame after being referenced 26 times during Wednesday's presidential debate, 21 times by Sen. John McCain.

On Thursday, McCain even happily declared "Joe the Plumber" to be "the winner" of the debate.

Not so fast.

"Joe the Plumber's story sprang a few leaks Thursday," said an Associated Press story.

That's after the AP, bloggers, investigators and librarians - and The Chronicle - turned up court documents and birth records.

For one, Wurzelbacher's expressed concern about paying more taxes looked a bit tarnished with the revelation that he owes Ohio about $1,200 in personal income taxes, according to the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas records. And there's a 2007 civil filing that shows a record for a $1,200 owed to a creditor, St. Charles Mercy Hospital.

So Wurzelbacher has an active lien on his property filed in January 2007, records from the Ohio Department of Taxation show.

The Toledo Blade, examining Lucas County Building Inspection records, reported that his employer, the A.W. Newell Corp., "does maintain a state plumbing license, and one with the City of Toledo, but would not be allowed to work in Lucas County outside of Toledo without a county license."

"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," the newspaper said. "He is also not registered to operate as a plumber in Ohio- which means he's not a plumber."

And as comic Bill Maher pointed out, in his 15 minutes of fame, Wurzelbacher has already done more interviews than Palin.

[JakeYYZ]

This guy keeps getting better and better. Not only is he articulate, and insightful, he's downright humorous, as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkGSqUcX7yo

Joe's licensing status isn't the issue. Obama's plans are.

[BTD]

Agreed that Joe's circumstances are irrelevant because someone out there is actually in the situation he is in.

I don't see a whole lot wrong with Obama's plans.

Assuming Joe makes less than $250 000/yr he will receive a tax break now. He won't have to wait until he buys the company which he may never actually do.

Also his business would have to make a net PROFIT (according to the news networks) of more than 250 000 dollars before his business taxes went up. Not revenue, profit. After expenses, employees etc are paid. Apparently it is less than 5% of small business in the US that grosses more than this.

Good chance that Joe, and most of his peers aren't going to see any raise in their taxes, and if they do end up in the upper bracket it will be a 3% hike.

Makes sense to me to have the more wealth paying for more, since they are probably using more of the infrastructure (roads etc) than the middle and lower class, a lot who can't afford cars and other equipment.

BTD

[Nark]

Please see this and take notes if needed:

Taxes explained for the lay-person