comment on "joe the skinhead"
Josh Marshall's take on Joe the Plumber is spot on. But it is worth remembering that he represents a fake demographic: plumbers that make over $250,000. There were reports following the last debate the Joe actually makes around $42,000 or so. Note that he needs to make SIX times that income to qualify for Obama's proposed tax increase. He claimed he wanted to buy a business that would make $280,000. But that is just a pipe dream (pun intended). He would like to make 6-7 times the income he now does. But there is no indication he ever will do so. After all, he doesn't even have a plumber's license, which presumably he will need to go into business for himself.
I don't mind him taking advantage of his media opportunity, but he represents a demographic that does not exist. He is not part of the "quarter-of-a-million-dollars-a-year" plumber's demographic. I suspect that there are some plumbing contractors who make that much; but I would be surprised if they get their hands dirty by the time they can achieve this. And a contractor or builder is a very different demographic than he is representing.
So, not only does he appear to be a skinhead, but he is a fabricator. This is entirely appropriate for the McCain campaign, where EVERYTHING is made up.
The McCain campaign is truly reprehensible. Once this campaign is over, President Obama might well forgive him; but we don't have to. We can keep active, keep organized, and call McCain out for the repulsive campagin he waged. And keep at it. And keep at it. And do it again. So that such disrespectible tactics have consequences, and are less likely to happen again.
I don't mind him taking advantage of his media opportunity, but he represents a demographic that does not exist. He is not part of the "quarter-of-a-million-dollars-a-year" plumber's demographic. I suspect that there are some plumbing contractors who make that much; but I would be surprised if they get their hands dirty by the time they can achieve this. And a contractor or builder is a very different demographic than he is representing.
So, not only does he appear to be a skinhead, but he is a fabricator. This is entirely appropriate for the McCain campaign, where EVERYTHING is made up.
The McCain campaign is truly reprehensible. Once this campaign is over, President Obama might well forgive him; but we don't have to. We can keep active, keep organized, and call McCain out for the repulsive campagin he waged. And keep at it. And keep at it. And do it again. So that such disrespectible tactics have consequences, and are less likely to happen again.
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Is it just me or does "Joe the Plumber" remind one of Jeff Gannon/Guckert? This guy has to be a re-pig plant.
November 2, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn. That's where that guy went. Joe the Hustler.
November 3, 2008 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
D.L. Hughley: Joe the Plumber looks like one of the bodygaurds from The Jerry Springer Show!
November 2, 2008 7:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
It sure seems as if Joe is a plant, and he's made statements that make me think he's not exactly racially enlightened.
OTOH, don't know of too many skinheads who think the Death of Israel would be a bad thing.
November 2, 2008 7:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's stop talking about Joe the Plumber and turn our attention to small businesses. The problem is that we can't afford small businesses to face higher taxes. Obama says that 9 out of 10 small businesses will not pay higher taxes. I have no idea where he gets this number from. But there's lots of others sources who say the number is much higher.
An analysis by the Senate Finance Committee concluded that 3 out of 4 filers in the top two tax brackets are small businesses!!
Maybe Obama's numbers are correct because there's a lot of small businesses with a handful of employees that probably don't make close to $100,000 a year. But that top 10% of small businesses that will pay higher taxes could very well likely be responsible for a very very disproportionate share of the job creation among the SB community.
By the way - how can Joe be a "plant" if Obama knocked on his door?
November 2, 2008 9:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
INDEPENDENT, NON-PARTISAN sources say 97 per cent of small business wouldn't be affected.
By contrast, according to you, "there's lots of others [sic] sources," of which "lots of" sources you cite only one meaningless generic "Senate Finance Committee". To which "Senate Finance Committee" do you refer?
Again, "MiddleClassBill," you are a known troll, and are not "middle class" -- which is why you claim you are.
November 2, 2008 10:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Noticed you didn't dispute Joe the Plumber is a liar. And it's nice to see a complete lack of any evidence about your Senate Finance Committee claims.
November 3, 2008 8:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, there you go again, getting all fact-based.
November 3, 2008 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right on! This is the first distinction I've seen or heard someone (finally!) make on this dead-horse subject between what one's business earns per year and what one actually brings home as a paycheck. When plumbers, consultants, lawyers, etc. charge clients by the hour that figure does not represent what they themselves bring home. Their hourly rates include overhead, profit and their raw rate. If Joe is going to buy a business that brings in about $250K per year, that's not even close to what his take home pay will be...
Rest assured Joe; Barack ain't gonna raise your personal income taxes! You won't come close to earning enough to worry about that.
November 3, 2008 12:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Can I just say this is an insult to skinheads. Noone should should have to be compared with Joe the Unlicensed Plumber.
Remember to vote folks or he will soon be Joe the Secretary of State!
November 3, 2008 6:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey "Middle Class Bill"
You are, in more ways than one, misinformed.
Obama did not knock on Joe the Plumber's door. He met him on a rope line....where Joe was waiting OUTSIDE in his neighborhood. This myth, that Obama knocked on his door, is just one example of hundreds where the McCain-Palin ticket have mislead the American people with lies, hype, hypocrisy and exaggerations.
November 3, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
This reminds me of the non-existent demographic of people who actually would lose their family farms due to the estate tax. Yet a lot of political hay was made over the "death tax." They're trying to go to the same well with this, though I suspect there will be a lot less water there this time. But they must be getting at least a little traction to keep this going so long.
November 3, 2008 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
In his 2000 essay on the Mccain primary campaign, the late David Foster Wallace reported on another happy accident.
At a 'town hall meeting'
(fyi: Nixon invented the contemporary klieg lit "town hall meeting" and the planted shill that asks just the right question)
Mccain, just by accident mind you, just happend to call on a woman who - wouldn't you know it - just happened to have a young son who was shocked - SHOCKED - to receive a nasty robocall from Bush defaming Mccain.
Gee - what are the chances?
But no one's even mentioned "Jose the construction worker" You might know him from a Mother Jones interview on Youtube. He wears full construction worker regalia - all the way down to the hardhat and blaze orange vest - and stands behind Mccain at rallies - and gosh - I've even seen clips of him on - perish the thought - cable news mimicing Wurzelbacher's turn as an instant 'expert' on politics (this time without the blaze orange vest though - Jose be movin' on up vato!)
Imagine that. I wonder if scuba divers for Mccain show up to rallies dressed in a full wetsuit and aqualung.
The fact that of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, Joe and Jose just happened to walk into ours - Gee whilikers - what a bizarre co-winky-dink.
And not only doesn't the press question this 'chance' - they have Joe on for interviews - providing yet another chance for Joe the shill to sell Dr. John's snake oil.
Wow.
Worst.
Press.
Ever.
November 3, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thankfully (and hopefully) Joe the Plumber will be consigned to the dustbin of election history within a few hours of the polls closing tomorrow night.
And, win or lose, McCain will also throw this racist idiot under the bus as soon as the campaign is over.
November 3, 2008 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Arkie here - How about the REVERSE Bradley effect? One guy told me, "My father would roll over in his grave if he thought I was voting for a (you know what)." A woman who noticed my wife's Obama sticker said "I wish I could do that, but my church...."
November 3, 2008 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe the non-plumber doesn't seem to have any conscience over the fact that he started right out lying, first to Obama and then the Nation over and over without a hint of regret or shame.
That he has been exposed seems to have gone right over his head and the head of the McCain camp.
A skinhead without a clue will be his persona for years...and we should keep reminding everyone what the REPUBLICANS will do...anything to win, anything.
Of course he was a paid plant, otherwise he would have to work for a living instead of being everywhere Mac wants him.
November 3, 2008 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe the foaming pipe snake . . .
November 3, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
In case anyone is interested in Senator Grassley's analysis, here's the link to his speech.
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1952467/
Sorry I didn't include it in my original post
November 3, 2008 9:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
And by the way - JNagarya - I'd love to read about your independent sources - please send those along too. Thanks.
November 3, 2008 9:05 PM | Reply | Permalink