Joe the Plumber – Republican Plant???

I received this in an email and wanted to share:

Joe the Plumber? SCAM!! – Joe the Republican Plant!

What a great story! Read, enjoy, and share with others…

A few days ago, Barack Obama met this guy “Joe” during a campaign stop, who claimed to be a plumber who was buying a business and would be making over $250/yr. Joe asked him about taxes, and Barack gave him some really great answers. The answers were so good, in fact, that pro-Obama groups posted the video online, and Joe the Plumber quickly became famous among Obama supporters and the media.

In the final presidential debate, John McCain apparently had seen the video (so we assumed), and kept talking about how Obama’s tax plan would hurt Joe the Plumber. Personally, I thought Obama made a pretty convincing argument in the orginal video, so I was suprised McCain would mention it. And in the debate, Obama cleared up some misconceptions that McCain had, and McCain seemed genuinely SHOCKED (my favorite moment) by the details of Obama’s plan.

Anyway, John McCain made focused much of the debate on Joe the Plumber, and how Obama’s tax plan would affect him. The media attention instantly made Joe the Plumber a star, and booked him on all the morning shows.

So Joe the Plumber goes on the air, and talks about his opinions of the candidates… he is introduced as an undeciced voter… he repeats many of McCain’s talking points, and bashes Obama. Can you see where this is heading?

Immediately, liberal bloggers start doing some research on Joe the Plumber. Apparently, they’ve uncovered a few interesing things about Joe the Plumber:

1. Joe the Plumber is actually Joe Wurzelbacher, and owns several businesses

2. Joe the Plumber is a Republican, registered under a different name (Samuel Joseph Worzelbacher) 

3. Joe the Plumber voted in the Republican primaries

4. Joe the Plumber has been in trouble for tax evasion (which makes his tax concerns even funnier)

5. And the icing on the cake… Joe the Plumber is related to… Charles Keating!! Yes, that Charles Keating, of the Keating Five.

We couldn’t make this up if we tried, folks. But apparently, somebody made it all up. They just didn’t think we’d catch on!

Joe The Plumber Admits He Wasn’t Undecided After All

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/16/95127/280

Joe The Plumber Doesn’t Pay Taxes?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/16/123539/11/77/632515

Joe the Plumber is a REGISTERED REPUBLICAN

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/16/111449/53/191/632401

About Joe

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/politicalinsider/2008/10/about-joe.html

Joe in the Spotlight

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/16/joe-in-the-spotlight/?hp

Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher related to Charles “the Crook” Keating. Oops.

http://www.eisenstadtgroup.com/2008/10/15/joe-the-plumber-wurzelbacher-related-to-charles-keating-oops/

Joe Not Vetted

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/10/16/joe_not_vetted.html

Video: “Joe the Plumber” really “Joe the Plant” Scam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVUN1C8NsfA