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Joe the Plumber Campaigns for McCain, Investigation Continues into Who Searched His Records

October 28, 2008 6:09 PM

As Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, aka "Joe the Plumber," campaigned for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in his home state of Ohio today.

At one stop, a voter from Florida asked him if "a vote for Obama is a vote for the death of Israel."

Wurzelbacher replied, "I'll go ahead and agree with you on that." 

(Obama has repeatedly affirmed his support for Israel as "non-negotiable.")

Wurzelbacher also said, "I love America. I hope it remains a democracy, not a Socialist society. ... If you look at spreading the wealth, that's honestly right out of Karl Marx's mouth."

Meanwhile authorities revealed some answers as to who had improperly searched Wurzelbacher's personal records, the Columbus Dispatch reports.

* "The Toledo Police Department announced today that a civilian employee improperly pulled Wurzelbacher's information on behalf of a reporter for a Toledo television station shortly after the Oct. 15 presidential debate. The employee has been charged with gross misconduct and faces a disciplinary hearing, said Chief Michael Navarre. He declined to identify the TV station, but said the reporter confirmed asking for a check on Wurzelbacher's address.

* "The Cuyahoga County Child Support Enforcement Agency also said an employee's computer was used to improperly access Bureau of Motor Vehicles records on 'Joe the Plumber.' The employee denies involvement.

* "Another access of Wurzelbacher's information, by an outside contractor who had access to an attorney general's office test account, is being investigated by the State Highway Patrol.

* "Inspector General Thomas P. Charles is investigating why the director of Ohio Department of Job and Family Services approved a check on Wurzelbacher through the state's child-support computer system. Director Helen Jones-Kelley said that after a 'team meeting,' she OK'd the check because the department often runs inquiries to check for unpaid child support when people are thrust into 'the public spotlight.'"

Jones-Kelly, a Democratic appointee who has given the Obama campaign $2,500, claimed to have had no political motivations when she allowed the check.

-- jpt

October 28, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (178)

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I couldn't care less if it was a "plant." That gives no one the right in this country to violate privacy. Interesting how the liberals screamed bloody murder that Bush tapped international calls from suspected terrorists, yet it's okay that public agencies violated an American's privacy because you don't like the person's politics. Just who are you people??? That's pretty scary.

On another note, ye who think you're going to be safe from Obama tax increases, can you say "Bill Clinton?" Is your memory THAT short? He campaigned on a middle class tax cut and NEVER GAVE IT in all the years he was there, through the good and bad years. He just couldn't do it, no matter how hard he tried! Well, what was that Obama said about repealing the Bush tax cuts? How STUPID ARE YOU PEOPLE??? Your taxes will AUTOMATICALLY GO UP BY 1/3 if you are in the bottom tax bracket. BUSH gave the tax cut to the middle class. From 15% to 10% Yes, the people who pay more (always) got a bigger dollar amount cut, but that's because they PAY more. They ALWAYS pay more. It's called a progressive tax system. Some of your neighbors pay more in taxes than you MAKE. They don't get any more benefit for it, but you still want MORE of their hard earned money. So, enjoy the repeal of the tax cut you received, and HOLD YOUR BREATH for the tax cut Obama promised. As I said, remember Clinton. He didn't give it to you in the BEST of times ... what makes you so gullible to think you will get it from Obama in the worst of times? Think people, THINK! I can afford a tax increase, (though I would prefer to spend the money in my community and help the local economy) but there are many people who cannot. It's going to be a very sad day when people realize they were BS'd by BO!!!

Posted by: Cheryl | Oct 31, 2008 2:07:15 PM

I think its a crying shame when a man can't ask a legitimate question and expect to get a reasonable answer, Without having his life history illegally checked out. And don't tell me the Obama campaign didn't have something to do with it. WAKE UP PEOPLE WE ARE LOSING OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND OUR RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND OBAMA HASN'T WON THE ELECTION YET!!!!!

Posted by: saraht | Oct 30, 2008 6:20:16 PM

I wonder if he can see Canada from his house? He should help Sarah with this.

Posted by: dave snyder | Oct 30, 2008 12:38:12 PM

Joe registers as a Republican and votes in the Republican primary.

Then he tells Obama he's "undecided".

Now he joins up with the McCain campaign and says Obama "scares" him.

In other words: Joe is a bald-headed bald-faced liar.

No wonder the pathologically lying Republican Party adores him.

Posted by: JJ | Oct 29, 2008 11:59:11 PM

he wouldn't see his taxes go up in an Obama presidency, he's not a (licensed) plumber, and his name's not even joe.
i'm not really sure what the point of all this is.

Posted by: zackrobbin | Oct 29, 2008 10:09:29 PM

Joe the plummer sounds like he was Joe the bum until McCain planted him where he was how is it that he lived in Ariz.and Alaska thats strange consquences.Why is it that all Palin and McCain can come up with is this plummer,they have not had any kind of ideas for the economy.And McCain is always trying to tie Obama to some unscrupulous person but then it turns out they both have ties with the same people, he sound like he is losing his bearings.

Posted by: damehen | Oct 29, 2008 3:57:51 PM

Obama's tax plan will benefit 99.9% of plumbers in the nation. Joe thinks the Democrats are going to 'bring the death of Israel'. Come right up on stage Joe. Let's give you a national platform right beside the Republican candidate for president. Another example of self-serving poor judgement in the McCain camp.

Posted by: pefros | Oct 29, 2008 1:38:53 PM

In his latest attempt to discredit Obama, McCain goofs by using someone that he also has ties to.

McCain's Palestinian ties of his own
Posted October 29, 2008 11:15 AM

by Mark Silva

The McCain campaign, hoping to foment doubts about Barack Obama in the Jewish community, has complained that a newspaper has "suppressed'' a videotape of Obama attending a dinner with Rashid Khalidi, an Arab studies scholar and advocate of Palestinian rights, back in 2003.

But "the latest guilt-by-association target that the McCain campaign is using to hit Barack Obama could carry some collateral damage for its own candidate,'' the Huffington Post notes.
.
During the 1990s, while McCain served as chairman of the International Republican Institute (IRI), the group distributed several grants to the Palestinian research center co-founded by Khalidi.

A 1998 tax filing for the McCain-led group shows a $448,873 grant to Khalidi's Center for Palestine Research and Studies for work in the West Bank, the Post notes. The relationship extends back as far as 1993, when McCain joined IRI as chairman.. Foreign Affairs noted in September of that year that IRI had helped fund several extensive studies in Palestine run by Khalidi's group, including over 30 public opinion polls and a study of "sociopolitical attitudes."

Posted by: Debbie, SC | Oct 29, 2008 12:57:54 PM

Oh one more thing:

This is the reason I Will Not Vote For Barack the Messiah!

All I can say is this...if the polls are correct, and Barack Obama wins the presidency, which I still do not believe will happen, then I have something to say....If we wake up on Nov 5th and Obama indeed wins, then Jesse Jackson will be celebrating, Reverend Wright will be celebrating, Father Pfleger will be celebrating, Al Sharpton will be celebrating, Lewis Farrakhan will be celebrating, Bill Ayers will be celebrating, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be celebrating, and Rashid Khalidi will be celebrating.
I could go on and on. But the bottom line is this. If I truly believed and agreed with every one of Obama's views on the issues, and I mean every single one... I STILL WOULDN'T VOTE FOR THIS MAN FOR ONE REASON. BECAUSE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE LISTED ABOVE WOULD BE CELEBRATING. AND THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH FOR ME NOT TO VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA. End of story

Posted by: Steven | Oct 29, 2008 12:45:21 PM

Yeah, yeah. Blame Bush as always. That's hilarious in itself. I don't agree with everything Bush has done, but I love the way the left wing radicals blame him and only him. No, Clinton had NOTHING to do with it. Carter had NOTHING to do with it. That's just absolutely incredible. I've been saying this for months. Obama has no chance of winning. I don't care what the polls say. I don't believe any of them. Obama will be lucky to win 3-7 states.

Posted by: Steven | Oct 29, 2008 12:40:22 PM

Vote for a change for...Socialism.

Obama seems to be a product of the corrupt Democratic Machine in Chicago.

He says he wants change, but picks a
Washington insider as his running mate.

He is for raising the capital gains tax, discouraging investment.

He has no military experience, at least
Kennedy was in the Navy.

I still have no real idea why I should vote for Obama.

Posted by: Kenito | Oct 29, 2008 12:21:18 PM

Steven said: If Obama does get elected, I am going to seriously laugh at every single one of you kool-aid drinkers for ruining the most incredible, the most powerful, and the best country God has given to men and women.

You don't have to wait to laugh at what has happened to our country. All you have to do is look at Bush and you will see exactly where we stand now and what you Republicans have done to ruin it almost to a point of 'no return to fix it' or at a minimum 'put it back to where it was prior to Bush'! Get it????

Posted by: FedUpinVA | Oct 29, 2008 11:12:13 AM

"This guy was a plant from day one by the McCain campaign."

And apparently used his super powers of mind control to force Obama to answer the question as he did.

Posted by: marylou | Oct 29, 2008 8:53:24 AM

The Republican party has
had a severe shortage of
talent in its decision
making apparatus.

With the induction of
Joe the Plumber and Tito
the Builder into the
highest echelons, the
party expects to remain
competitive.

Posted by: anon | Oct 29, 2008 8:37:05 AM

You morons don't even get it. First off, you don't have to have a license to be a plumber if you are working for someone else. GET IT? Joe has been thrust into the limelight for simply asking a reputable question. I love the way the media has "looked" into this mans private life, and no one in the left wing radical media will do the same with Bill Ayers, a known terrorist. It's simply amazing to me. I dont believe Obama will win, becuase the American people are smart enough to see his socialistic pattern and his future wants and desires for this country.

If he does get elected, I am going to seriously laugh at every single one of you kool-aid drinkers for ruining the most incredible, the most powerful, and the best country God has given to men and women.

Posted by: Steven | Oct 29, 2008 7:54:52 AM

Calling Democrats socialists or Marxists has been the Republican meme since 1910.

The Republicans said that our progressive tax system was "Marxist" in 1910. The Rebublicans said that FDR was a socialist when he enacted social security. They said JFK was a socialist when he passed Medicare and Medicaid.

McCain, if you accept his definition of socialism, was as socialistic as he claims Obama now is when he refused to support the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy in 2001. He said that were "irresponsible" and provided no relief for the middle class.

Can we toss "socialism and Marxism" on the increasingly large junk heap of McCain/Palin stunts. There's room there next to Britney, Paris, suspending the campaign without suspending the campaign, and fake birth certificates.

Posted by: Brooklyn Democrat | Oct 29, 2008 7:16:51 AM

JOe isn't a licened plumber to begin with after all. and owing back taxes, sounds like not even doing his share for america!

Posted by: dfghggf | Oct 29, 2008 6:54:37 AM

The McCain/Palin, or more accurately, the Palin/McCain roadshow is beginning to look like a circus. All that is missing are the tent and the animals. Clowns there are plenty. With the addition of the new foreign affairs expert, Joe the plumber, the inmates are beginning to run the asylum. Can this crowd really be taken seriously? Are there not at least SOME Republicans that feel embarrassed?

Posted by: Georg | Oct 29, 2008 5:16:02 AM

Obama's tax plan will benefit 99.9% of plumbers in the nation. Joe thinks the Democrats are going to 'bring the death of Israel'. Come right up on stage Joe. Let's give you a national platform right beside the Republican candidate for president.

Posted by: pefros | Oct 29, 2008 2:55:13 AM

Yeah, the unlicensed guy, is illegally working in Ohio without the license AND who is a tax evader...starts to campaign for McCain! What a great American - NOT- !!!!!!

Pretty peculiar! I bet the McCain camp paid his back taxes for his vote and campaign efforts!

Obama/Biden 2008!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Richard | Oct 29, 2008 2:51:54 AM

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