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Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., answers a question from plumber Joe Wurzelbacher in Holland, Ohio, on Sunday. Jae C. Hong / The Associated Press

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Ohio plumber becomes focus of debate

Thursday, October 16, 2008 7:11 PM PDT

By Philip Elliott
The Associated Press

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Who is Joe the Plumber?

He is Joe Wurzelbacher, an Ohio man looking to buy a plumbing business who came to symbolize the notion of "spreading the wealth" in Wednesday night's third and final presidential debate between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.

Earlier this week, when Wurzelbacher got a chance to speak with Obama when the candidate visited Toledo, he told Obama that his tax plan would keep him from buying the business that currently employs him.

Sensing an opening in the debate, McCain cited that exchange when the candidates were asked to explain why their economic plans are better than their opponent's. McCain said Obama's plan would stop entrepreneurs from investing in new small businesses and keep existing ones from growing.

"Joe wants to buy the business that he has been in for all of these years, worked 10, 12 hours a day. And he wanted to buy the business but he looked at your tax plan and he saw that he was going to pay much higher taxes," McCain challenged Obama.

"You were going to put him in a higher tax bracket which was going to increase his taxes, which was going to cause him not to be able to employ people, which Joe was trying to realize the American dream," McCain said.

McCain then looked directly into the TV camera and said: "Joe, I want to tell you, I'll not only help you buy that business that you worked your whole life for and I'll keep your taxes low and I'll provide available and affordable health care for you and your employees. And I will not stand for a tax increase on small business income."

Obama denied that was true.

"Not only do 98 percent of small businesses make less than $250,000, but I also want to give them additional tax breaks, because they are the drivers of the economy," Obama said. "They produce the most jobs."

So what did Wurzelbacher (pronounced whur-zell-BAHK-er) think about being at the center of the debate?

"It's pretty surreal, man, my name being mentioned in a presidential campaign," he said minutes after hearing McCain utter his name.

In Toledo on Sunday, Wurzelbacher told Obama that he was preparing the company, which earns more than $250,000 a year, and said: "Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn't it?"

Obama said that under his proposal taxes on any revenue from $250,000 on down would stay the same, but that amounts above that level would be subject to a 39 percent tax, instead of the current 36 percent rate.

"And the reason why we're doing that is because 95 percent of small businesses make less than 250 (thousand). So what I want to do is give them a tax cut. I want to give all these folks who are bus drivers, teachers, auto workers who make less, I want to give them a tax cut," he said.

Wurzelbacher protested, saying he's been a hardworking plumber for 15 years and why should he be taxed more.

"It's not that I want to punish your success," Obama said. "I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you that they've got a chance at success, too."

At a later point in the discussion, Obama said: "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody. But listen, I respect what you do and I respect your question, and even if I don't get your vote, I'm still gonna be working hard on your behalf because small businesses are what creates jobs in this country and I want to encourage it."

Wurzelbacher's name came up again when the debate turned to a discussion of health care policies.

He said Obama's reaction on the tax question left him feeling uneasy.

"I didn't think much of it the first time I heard it," Wurzelbacher said, adding that he still thinks Obama's plan would keep him from buying the business.

About McCain: "He's got it right as far as I go."

Even so, Wurzelbacher declined to say which candidate would get his vote on Nov. 4.

"That's for me and a button to know," he said.

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northender wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:21 AM:

" Right ON Joe!! Senator Government... Just another in a long line of tax and spenders!!A new face but the same worn out liberal agenda! "

kalama river resident wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:55 AM:

" Obama said: "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody.- Sounds like he favors socialism over capitalism. "

agro_vader wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:59 AM:

" If Joe Plummer did the math.... President Obama's tax cuts would definitely help him out more. "

dogshead wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:24 AM:

" So, this business's profit (and that's taxable income, after every little, er Big deductions taken) is over $250,000., let's call it $300,000. The owner will pay 3% more under Obama's plan. That's $9000. Either Joe doesn't understand the tax plan or he can make more money than this being a plumber. I can't believe paying $117,000 (39% Obama plan)in taxes versus paying $108,000 (36% currently) would prevent Joe from deciding to purchase the business. "

SM wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:30 AM:

" The only way Obama's tax plan would increase Joe' taxes is if Joe makes more than $250K a year in taxable income. If Joe makes 250K a year or more, paying a little more so the world can be a better place hardly seems like an unreasonable thing to ask of him. "

Silly Billy wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:47 AM:

" Hmmmmmfff..... he sneams like a nice guy. "

Westsider wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:10 AM:

" Joe the Plumber for President - no more drips in the white house! "

Common Sense 24 wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:28 AM:

" So the world can be a better place???? For who? The bums and lowlifes on welfare who don't want a hand-up but a handout. Anyone who thinks taking money from those who work for it and giving it to those who don't is a good idea; is not very smart. Let's try not finding more ways to reward laziness. "

Kalama Dude wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:14 PM:

" Joe the Plumber and every other plumber and pipefitter in every state in the Union can vote for McSame it won't amount to diddly squat. President Obama is going to win easily after Johhny failed to live up to even a single pre debate promise last night. Nice guy and all but the GOP had at least 6 candidates that could have given President Obama a run for his money. Though with the Wall Street Banking crisis (IT IS THE ECONOMY STUPID!) it probably wouldn't have mattered at all. So all you Joe Plumber Six Packs, get on board and all your friends and family and coworkers, but again, and this is the best lock your money can buy, the election was over about 15 minutes into that debate last night and McSame knows it after giving an inadvertant concession speech at the rally last week. Good luck Though! "

RealityCheck wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:22 PM:

" Sure - I want to work harder and longer so that I can spread my wealth to the deadbeats in the community. No wonder no one wants to own a business - I say give the corporations the tax breaks they need in order to EMPLOY MORE PEOPLE. DUH! "

biasmedia wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:47 PM:

" well dogshead it shows you never ran a bushiness before they tax everything you make even though most of that money go1s back to the business for expanses so most small business that make 250000 the owner will only take home around 30,000 or less so a 9000 cut would be huge and there are not as many right off for a small business as there are for big ones "

DUH wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:08 PM:

" Turns out "Joe the Plumber's" name isn't even Joe and me makes nowhere near $250,000 a year. "

Stella wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:26 PM:

" RE: Commonsense 24, not everyone who has been on welfare is a bum or lowlife. Yes, we have many in this town that use it as a means of a life style. I had never seen so many on welfare until I moved here. In fact I don't think I had ever met more than two or three people on welfare until I moved here. But, when I got divorced some 30 years ago and became a single mom, I received welfare for a year while I re-grouped my life. I am an educated, hard working individual. There are folks that use that system as it was meant to be. Please don't lump everyone in one bucket. This economic situation has created more homeless people in need of assistance than ever before. There are educated, hard working people out willing to work that don't have what they have worked for all their lives due to some of these choices made by big business, gov't, and the mortgage companies. If Joe Plummer doesn't want to pay the extra tax, he can incorporate. If he is not a sole proprietor, the total income of his business does not become his personal income. "

GregN wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:31 PM:

" Adding on to "DUH" another point is "Joe the plummer" doesn't even have a license to plumb in Ohio. "

worriedone wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:36 PM:

" Sorry Joe...pay your taxes. Seems this guy is a faux. SIGH! "

agro_vader wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:55 PM:

" I say we abolish all taxes, don't even have a flat tax. We should just expect the roads to pave themselves. Expect the cops to volunteer. Prey that the firefighting equipment is donated by a kind billionaire. Not being forced to pay taxes of any sort is a true free country and that's the ideals that our country was founded on. I say paying taxes is unconstitutional. Who's with me? "

funnyone wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:18 PM:

" Is not the $250,000 "taxable" income is the amount the business brings in BEFORE It makes payroll and other expenses? The $250,000 is not NET what just the owner brings home in his own paycheck. "

Kalama Dude wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:31 PM:

" Joe is now found to be a fraud, just like McSame's election and that of Dino the Rossi. Good job GOP! "

DUH wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:40 PM:

" "Joe the Plumber," the Toledo, Ohio, man whose complaints about Barack Obama's tax plan were featured in the final presidential debate, owes the state of Ohio almost $1,200 in back income taxes.

According to records on file with the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, the state filed a tax lien against Samuel J. Wurzelbacher for $1,182.98 on Jan. 26, 2007, that is still active. "

mary wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:51 PM:

" You wait and see when Obama can't keep his promise about taxes.We well pay for all the bail outs and that means more taxes high and high. Our Government is on a money high! and we can not do any thing about it! so open your pockets welcome to socialism ! "

flatbakman wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:49 PM:

" Whay don't the lib people realize that first of all if you are making over $250,000 your taxes will go up under Obamas plan. And since he is going to tax business' more, they are going to raise their prices to pay for them, so now you will be paying twice as much in additional taxes. By the way, that $250,000, as I understand it is per household. When Obama says he won't tax you more if you make less than $42,000 is that per household also? "

northender wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:32 PM:

" It seems that "Duh" and his or her commrads know more about Joe the plumber in one day than we know about Obama.....seek and destroy, the democrat way!! "

stink wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:25 PM:

" This Samuel... not even Joe... character is a Republican plant! McCain can't even get a decent lackey for this plant position. How can he fill a cabinet when he picks a green Veep and pulls these kinds of stunts. He's a gambling man... and I don't want a gambling man with his finger on the button. "

speedydog wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:35 PM:

" Samual (his first name)the Plumber is a registered Republican. He is not a plumber but a contractor. He does not have a plumber's license. His income is 40,000, and he has no plans to buy his bosses business. His boss, according to records, makes less than 100,000 per year not 280,000 as he said on television. He hates being taxed, and feels it's o.k. to cheat the governement out of paying them. He said he thought Barack Obama reminded him of Sammy Davis Jr. (presumably a racial slur). As a good Republican he says he hates Obama's plan, even though he would benefit by it. He previously appeared on Fox News as well as other radio stations to voice his dislike of Obama. Don't the Repulicans vent anybody or is this just another Palin spoof? "

DW wrote on Oct 17, 2008 3:39 PM:

" Any politician that says "spreading the wealth around is a good thing" needs to run for office in Cuba or someother communist country. I cannot believe that any AMERICAN would be for "spreading the wealth around" through a government program. You people are absolutely nuts!! Raising taxes on the rich isn't going to help anyone!! Period!! Anyone who believes that high confiscatory tax rates on the wealthly is a good thing has been drinking way to much of the kool-aid and is only jealous of someone who makes more than them. This country has lost it's soul if the majority of people believe that government should spread the wealth around...Good GOD!! If the founders of the country saw what was going on now they would shake their collective finger at us in shame. We The People have let this happen, but I guess as long as you dolts can get your Starbucks, everything is fine.....amazing!!!!! "

citizen pote wrote on Oct 17, 2008 4:41 PM:

" This guy is right to be worried about NObama. All NObama has done these last two years is speak one message to the microphones and the opposite message with his Senate votes. NObama is a LIAR. If elected he will run back to the far left where he came from. Look at his voting record and his public statements for yourself America. This guy is as dangerous as they come.I can't believe so many of you are so gullable. If America votes him in, America will deserve the dark days that follow. "

disturbed wrote on Oct 17, 2008 11:52 PM:

" Obama has pandered to everyone but the Socialists because that is how he really feels. After this election judging by the polls. The Democrats will have filibuster majorities in both houses and a Socialist president. Lookout! We are about to go through our worst era in history. The NOBAMA ERA!!! "

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