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Joe the Plumber: Obama Tax Plan 'Infuriates Me'

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October 16, 2008 2:46 AM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Hope Ditto report:

John McCain may have found a blue-collar face to help him argue that no American -- not even the richest 5 percent -- should pay higher taxes.

Joe the Plumber has weighed in on Wednesday's presidential debate and says that Barack Obama's tax plan "infuriates me."

"To be honest with you, that infuriates me," plumber Joe Wurzelbacher told "Nightline's" Terry Moran. "It's not right for someone to decide you made too much -- that you've done too good and now we're going to take some of it back."

"That's just completely wrong," he added.

Wurzelbacher told "Nightline" he heard some "scuttlebutt" that he might be raised at Wednesday's debate. He added, however, that he was not formally told by the McCain campaign of the senator's plans.

The plumber's brush with fame began on Sunday when he confronted Barack Obama outside of Toledo, Ohio. Wurzelbacher challenged the Democratic candidate on his plan to raise taxes on the top 5 percent of earners -- a policy which would, by the Obama campaign's own estimation, mean higher taxes for 184,000 small businesses.

"I'm getting ready to buy a company that makes 250 to 280 thousand dollars a year," Wurzelbacher told Obama. "Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn't it?"

Under Obama's plan, individuals making more than $200,000 per year, or couples making more than $250,000 per year, would pay higher taxes on income, capital gains, and dividends. Starting ten years from now, Obama supports an additional 2-4 percent tax on individual income above $250,000 per year to help shore up the Social Security system.

To evaluate how Wurzelbacher and his wife would fare under Obama, one would need to know his wife's income (if any) plus what the plumber meant when he told Obama that the company he is getting ready to buy "makes" $250,000 - $280,000 per year.

Was Wurzelbacher referring to gross revenue or net profits?

Obama's higher taxes on small businesses would be leveled against those whose net profits exceed $250,000 per year, according to Obama's campaign.

While at least 184,000 small businesses would face higher taxes under Obama, the Illinois Democrat is also proposing a series of tax credits that could aid small businesses.

Obama has proposed a $3,000 tax credit for every new job that companies create in the United States over the next two years, a small business health tax credit on up to 50 percent of employee premiums paid by employers, and elimination of capital gains taxes on investments in small and start-up businesses. 

Regardless of how Wurzelbacher would personally fare under the candidates' plans, he suggested to ABC News' Nightline that he is against all forms of progressive taxation.

During his telephone interview with ABC News, the Ohio plumber argued that the government should not tax some Americans at a higher percentage than others and argued that this principle should extend not only to taxpayers at his income-level but also to the world's richest man.

"I don't like it," said Wurzelbacher. "You know, me or -- you know, Bill Gates, I don't care who you are. If you worked for it, if it was your idea, and you implemented it, it's not right for someone to decide you made too much."

October 16, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (2234)

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Hello Everyone,

A few points to consider:

We all have to live and work together. When the democratic process becomes name calling we are all tarnished and can't learn to work together because we are busy defending our positions rather than learning and using the process to come together and make a unified constructive effort for the good of the nation.

Being disrespectful is not funny, it is what we should be teaching our children not to do. Racism should be a part of our past at this point as should the singular glorification of killing other people as an acceptable course of action.

I was a registered republican and believe in the fundamentals of the less federal government is better. However, we have to look at reality, our civil liberties are taken away, corporations are being protected and citizens are being treated like the prolotariate of the story 1984. We are being made slaves, told to work and shop and endure endless taxes being sent off to wars we don't want while our roads are eroding, our factories are being left behind, our people are being treated so poorly, but the wealthiest Republican's try to sooth us into letting them have their way with us. They insult all women with selecting Sarah Palin when there are intelligent women who would better represent a wide cross section of the country. We can't question Rev. Wright because Sarah brings us Rev. Muthee.

I have come to a serious disappointment with the divide between republican principals and their actions in office.

I also have to question people who claim they are pro-life and readily send people to war to kill each other. I find this unsettling, unchristian and question is Christ had a position on the war what he would say to us, and are we listening to Christ teachings or finding a way to make ourselves righteous (rather than right with God).

I don't like it when people use God, use Jesus name to create a means to an end for their own gain. This is why Jesus gives us the story of the merchants in the temple. Sadly I see that those who have taken over my party are the merchants and I fear that they have brought to reality the rath of God as they call out for his blessing on their greediness and sins.

Posted by: YourNeighbor | Oct 16, 2008 2:57:23 AM

WHAT A SHOCKER!

In the final debate of October 15, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama talked more like Republicans George Bush and Herbert Hoover. Barack Hussein Obama related to growing the federal government, raising taxes and trade restrictions. Barack Hussein Obama says he is not repeating the last eight years of the Bush administration, but talks like President Bush. If Barack Hussein Obama becomes president, he says he will repeat the acts of Herbert Hoover (raising taxes and trade restrictions) that led America into the Great Depression.

John McCain and Sarah Palin have a much better understanding of how America can survive the financial crisis. John McCain and Sarah Palin do not talk like a George Bush and a Herbert Hoover.

You had better do some real thinking before you pull that lever.

WE HAVE EVERY WORD IN COMPUTER MEMORY!

Posted by: Independent Voters | Oct 16, 2008 2:59:04 AM

f u c k e r

Posted by: kddksfsk | Oct 16, 2008 3:03:43 AM

U all are a bunch of tight ass conservatives that need to get a grip. We live in America, the land of choice and decision and The right to choose. We need change. I dont see why it is right for someone making millions be taxed the same amount as someone making 30.000 a year. The middle class is the economic engine that fuels the economy for the wealthy and the poor. It makes sense. McCains tax policy supports large corporations and no tax relief for the MAJORITY of the people who lives in the US. Change is what we need.

Posted by: Liberal | Oct 16, 2008 3:16:25 AM

John McCain & Sarah Palin are the only REAL choice. Obama is a silver tongue devil that sounds like he would make a great car salesman, To lead this Country? That's a Joke!! McCAIN/PALIN!!!!2008

Posted by: McCain/PalinRocks | Oct 16, 2008 3:18:24 AM

No one has the right to that which is mine, not the government and not you. As the plumber said, there is no reason for you to take that for which I work. I worked hard for fifty-two years and invested wisely and I begrudged every cent I had to give for taxes. I know that government like that proposed by Barack Hussein Obama will give away my money to programs that waste my money.

Look at MicroSoft and the thousands of good paying jobs the company created. MicroSoft more than paid their fare share by over-taxation. Government is the biggest waste of money. Government like that proposed by Barack Hussein Obama will waste more money than ever. Keep out of my pocket!

Posted by: Independent Voters | Oct 16, 2008 3:19:54 AM

I always wonder why do Obama's supporters defend him.Is it because he wants to kill babies?Or because he wants to take away your rights?Or maybe it's because he wants to destroy our military?And why do you all do it with such hate?You all go around and insult people all the time and wonder why everybody runs away from him?I can tell you why,it's because they think if people like you like him then he has to be bad news.And their right.And if you haven't figured it out by now I'm supporting McCain.

Posted by: Obama for Latrine Cleaner '08 | Oct 16, 2008 3:19:54 AM

What are all you liberals screaming about Change for?Do you want a change in the type of Government?Or a change in how long the president serves?We live in a federal republic that was created by probably the smartest men in history.We need shange in policies,not the change in government that Idiot rants about.I would not like my government to be a dictatorship thank you very much.

Posted by: Obama for Latrine Cleaner '08 | Oct 16, 2008 3:26:42 AM

Obama is just like Clinton. Bubba said he would only raise taxes on "the rich". After the election, "the rich" became anyone making over 40k a year. Nancy, Hillary, Kennedy and Reid will write the bill and Obama will sign it.

Posted by: Uncle Moe | Oct 16, 2008 3:27:31 AM

Unfortunately, the wisdom of a plumber-small businessman is lost on a Harvard laywer.

Posted by: Uncle Moe | Oct 16, 2008 3:31:31 AM

And that's another thing,he wants to tax the "Wealthy" and give it to the "Poor".That right there goes against everything this country stands for cause we are a Capitalist nation,which means you get to keep the money you earn.Not a communist one,were you have to support people who sit on their lazy a-- and expect you to pay them.And that is the "Change" that Barrack Hussein Obama represents.And I myself do not want this change.
No Way
No How
Hell No Obama

Posted by: Obama for Latrine Cleaner '08 | Oct 16, 2008 3:33:35 AM

If you make more than $250,000 a year and don't want to pay higher taxes, leave the country. Leave the country, or else.

Posted by: anti-whiner | Oct 16, 2008 3:36:43 AM

Mr. anti whiner,
would you happen to know what 250,000 dollars comes out to after you take taxes,food,gas and bills out of it?If you want to see what this will do move to Cuba or Venezula.Don't wreck my country with your communist ideas.

Posted by: Obama for Latrine Cleaner '08 | Oct 16, 2008 3:41:47 AM

anti-whiner:

If you do not like capitalism, then move to Russia or China. Those countries will dictate what you can and can not do.

Keep out of my pocket!

Posted by: Independent Voters | Oct 16, 2008 3:42:09 AM

Independent Voters:

You mean wasteful government spending like using tax money to send operatives to help campaign for Republicans. Like the Bush Administration did.

Posted by: Chris | Oct 16, 2008 3:42:56 AM

You'll get plenty of "change" from Obama. But "change" and "improvement" are not necessarily the same thing.

Posted by: Uncle Moe | Oct 16, 2008 3:44:30 AM

McCain you are winning grandpa. I loved you in the olden days, but you can't be in charge anymore...

Grumpy old man "yells at clouds!"

What else can you say? Unless you want to say it is over! The point is McCain needed a game changer, it didn't happen...

CNN = 58% Obama 31% McCain

Back to Arizona for McCain and back to an "ethics investigation" and prior Abuse of Power conviction for Palin!!!

Posted by: Davis | Oct 16, 2008 3:46:18 AM

Liberal: The democrats in congress will write what the true tax plan is. They will ignore Obama's plan, and he won't care.

Posted by: Uncle Moe | Oct 16, 2008 3:47:12 AM

-- John McCain and Sarah Palin have a much better understanding of how America can survive the financial crisis. --

McCain himself said: "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should." and then joked "I have Greenspan's book".
He had Phil Gramm as one of his top advisors, whom you can thank directly for the enron loophole and the high prices at the gas pump we are currently seeing.

Barack Obama has Warren Buffet as an advisor and supporter. Former Fed Chairman Volker has given his support to Obama and his economic plan. Former Fed chairman Greenspan, whos book McCain has, said that he is not in favor of the tax plan proposed by McCain. Gallup polls show that Americans think Obama is better suited to handle the economy than McCain by a 53% to 39%, and a host of Nobel Laureate prize winners in economics all say that they support Obamas plan and some even think he reduce tax cuts even more.

So, if you don't mind, I'll take their opinions over yours.. nothing personal.

Cheers

Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 16, 2008 3:47:27 AM

Latrine Cleaner:

Do you want to see what $60,000 looks like after taxes, food, gas, and bills looks like? A lot less than $250,000. A lot less. It isn't like the middle class isn't paying their share, just not as much. And for Joe the Plumber, it isn't just Obama that has a progrssive tax plan, Forbes ran on a flat tax platform and Republicans didn't exactly get behind him. Bush has been President for 8 years and yet we still have tax brackets for different incomes.

Posted by: Chris | Oct 16, 2008 3:47:41 AM

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