About Joe the Plumber

[Siddhartha]

Did the icon "Joe the Plumber" connect with anyone here or anyone you know? Towards the end of the election, the Republicans relied heavily on this concept.

Mr Joe the Plumber did not help Mr McCain carry Ohio but did he resonant with the Republican base?

I know there were issues with the guy who asked Mr Obama how his tax program was going to affect him. I am not talking about that guy. I am talking about the blue collar, craftsman small business owner.

 

[her209]

I think it hurt McCain more than helped.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Siddhartha
Did the icon "Joe the Plumber" connect with anyone here or anyone you know? Towards the end of the election, the Republicans relied heavily on this concept.

Mr Joe the Plumber did not help Mr McCain carry Ohio but did he resonant with the Republican base?

I know there were issues with the guy who asked Mr Obama how his tax program was going to affect him. I am not talking about that guy. I am talking about the blue collar, craftsman small business owner.

It was no Swift Boat.

Americans saw it for what it was 110% fraud.

 

[Balt]

I don't think he resonated with anyone who had half a brain, and Palin had already grabbed everyone with less than that.

 

[StageLeft]

It only resonated with morons, and P&N does have a few of them, but most people here can read and write, so it didn't gain much traction.

 

[bozack]

living in an area with alot of blue collar workers I have seen quite a few 'I'm with Joe the Plumber" bumperstickers out and about...so I am guessing he was able to connect with a few people.

the premise of his comment connected with me to a degree as the thought of govt punishing a somewhat successful small business owner with higher taxes doesn't sit well. Times have changed, the threshold for what we determine is wealthy should change also, or at least it should be adjusted according to where you live.

Also I was definately turned off by the media trying to crucify the guy, had they determined that he was really just a paid plant then ok, but that never surfaced so I can only conclude that he was just a guy, probabily conservative, who asked a loaded question and caught a little of the spotlight. Had someone on the left done something similar the result would have been far different, espect with the media.

 

[sonambulo]

Who?

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: bozack
living in an area with alot of blue collar workers I have seen quite a few 'I'm with Joe the Plumber" bumperstickers out and about...so I am guessing he was able to connect with a few people.

the premise of his comment connected with me to a degree as the thought of govt punishing a somewhat successful small business owner with higher taxes doesn't sit well. Times have changed, the threshold for what we determine is wealthy should change also, or at least it should be adjusted according to where you live.

Also I was definately turned off by the media trying to crucify the guy, had they determined that he was really just a paid plant then ok, but that never surfaced so I can only conclude that he was just a guy, probabily conservative, who asked a loaded question and caught a little of the spotlight. Had someone on the left done something similar the result would have been far different, espect with the media.

I hate to be contrary Matt but I live in the same area and I never saw any bumper stickers like that. In fact I rarely saw any bumper stickers that supported the McCain Ticket unless it was next the the Jesus Fish Bumper Sticker. Most of those I know here in MA are working class like that dude and that Joe the Plumber Stick didn't resonate with them at all.

 

[NeoV]

we are in the 16th minute already...nothing to see here

 

[fleshconsumed]

Why must we still talk about him? I already forgot he ever existed if it wasn't for this thread.

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I hate to be contrary Matt but I live in the same area and I never saw any bumper stickers like that. In fact I rarely saw any bumper stickers that supported the McCain Ticket unless it was next the the Jesus Fish Bumper Sticker. Most of those I know here in MA are working class like that dude and that Joe the Plumber Stick didn't resonate with them at all.

Red, there must be a pretty massive disconnect then between our two towns, as mine was rife with McCain/Palin yard signs prior to the election...though bumper stickers were on the rare side.

I have seen a few plumbers trucks with that sticker out and about....but haven't talked to any of them personally, but like you most of the people I know are working class and ironically most of them are pretty republican/conservative

 

[Lemon law]

It was quite clear to me, as I listened to Obama Joe the plumber dialog, that Joe had asked a fundamental question about taxes and how they should be distributed. What was really amazing is that Obama had thought deeply about these type question and was able to give a well reasoned answer. On the other hand, Joe was trying to figure out how to pay no taxes, had never really thought about the fairness questions, and was basically a moron.

And I think its on the Moron negative role model where Joe the plumber failed to resonate with many. And then when it emerged that we also were talking Joe the tax evader, Joe the wife beater, and Joe the phony, its a sealed the deal with a who wants to be a Archie Bunker type like Joe?

 

[Skitzer]

Does anybody really give a shit about this anymore??? If so ..... why??

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: bozack

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I hate to be contrary Matt but I live in the same area and I never saw any bumper stickers like that. In fact I rarely saw any bumper stickers that supported the McCain Ticket unless it was next the the Jesus Fish Bumper Sticker. Most of those I know here in MA are working class like that dude and that Joe the Plumber Stick didn't resonate with them at all.

Red, there must be a pretty massive disconnect then between our two towns, as mine was rife with McCain/Palin yard signs prior to the election...though bumper stickers were on the rare side.

I have seen a few plumbers trucks with that sticker out and about....but haven't talked to any of them personally, but like you most of the people I know are working class and ironically most of them are pretty republican/conservative

I live in SE PA in a largely republican area - which is slowly turning democratic thanks to transplants in new developments - and I saw quite a few McCain/Palin yard signs and bumper stickers but no Joe the Plumber signs. In my development of 79 homes there was only 1 Obama/Biden yard sign as compared to many McCain ones. The funny thing is on Nov 5th morning all the McCain signs were gone.

My dog misses peeing on them! :laugh:

 

[Fear No Evil]

I heard a black guy won the Presidency a couple weeks ago.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: bozack
living in an area with alot of blue collar workers I have seen quite a few 'I'm with Joe the Plumber" bumperstickers out and about...so I am guessing he was able to connect with a few people.

the premise of his comment connected with me to a degree as the thought of govt punishing a somewhat successful small business owner with higher taxes doesn't sit well. Times have changed, the threshold for what we determine is wealthy should change also, or at least it should be adjusted according to where you live.

Also I was definately turned off by the media trying to crucify the guy, had they determined that he was really just a paid plant then ok, but that never surfaced so I can only conclude that he was just a guy, probabily conservative, who asked a loaded question and caught a little of the spotlight. Had someone on the left done something similar the result would have been far different, espect with the media.

If he had simply asked a question and gone away he would have been left alone. It was McCain mentioning him over and over during the debate then Joe following that up with giving interviews to anyone who asked. Joe simply bit off more than he could chew. Lucky for him the election is over and so is his extended 15 minutes.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
I heard a black guy won the Presidency a couple weeks ago.

I heard you're a noob troll that provides nothing to this forum and should probably be banned. Again.

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: GroundedSailor
I live in SE PA in a largely republican area - which is slowly turning democratic thanks to transplants in new developments - and I saw quite a few McCain/Palin yard signs and bumper stickers but no Joe the Plumber signs. In my development of 79 homes there was only 1 Obama/Biden yard sign as compared to many McCain ones. The funny thing is on Nov 5th morning all the McCain signs were gone.

My dog misses peeing on them! :laugh:

From what I have heard much the same is unfortunately happening in NH, dems/libs priced out of MA are moving north and turning that state into MA lite...I never saw any Joe the Plumber signs, just a few "I'm with joe the plumber" bumper stickers on small business owners/laborer's trucks.

 

[Genx87]

Never really cared about the guy.

However I hear he is now making appearances around the country. Some of them paying hm 40-50K\week. He may now be hit with Obama's new tax policy lol

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: Robor
If he had simply asked a question and gone away he would have been left alone. It was McCain mentioning him over and over during the debate then Joe following that up with giving interviews to anyone who asked. Joe simply bit off more than he could chew. Lucky for him the election is over and so is his extended 15 minutes.

Umm but honestly I cannot fault the guy for that, he asked a question that the media focused on and then one of the candidates decided to spotlight it...if anything I would have a bigger gripe with McCain than I would with him...if placed in a similar situation I cannot say I wouldn't have taken advantage of it as well, especially with the post above saying he is now getting paid big bucks for speaking arrangements... I am not one for publicity but if it = money then sign me up.

On another note, I am really upset that BHO is flopping on repealing the tax breaks....shame, I would have loved to see how accepted a full on liberal agenda really would have been after four years especially in this economy.

 

[Desturel]

Originally posted by: Genx87
I hear he is now making appearances around the country. Some of them paying hm 40-50K\week.

The wonderful thing about this election period is that he is now a SBO in charge of himself and making the required amount of money to be properly taxed... or arrested for continued tax evasion.

 

[Harvey]

Whether it was accidental or planned, "Joe the plumber" was a put up job. Nothing about him was real, from his real name to his real job, to his real financial situation. Once the catch phrase took root, he was all about a possible book deal, a recording contract and anything else he and his handlers could pimp in an attempt to extend his fifteen minutes.

He got some air time, and, like Palin, once the public saw through his facade, he was more of a drag on the ticket than a boost.

There's lingering talk that some want to run him with Palin in 2012. They could bill them as Dumb and Plumber.

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil

I heard a black guy won the Presidency a couple weeks ago.

Pssst... It's not true. Now go back into hybernation for a few more years. :laugh:

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: bozack

Originally posted by: GroundedSailor
I live in SE PA in a largely republican area - which is slowly turning democratic thanks to transplants in new developments - and I saw quite a few McCain/Palin yard signs and bumper stickers but no Joe the Plumber signs. In my development of 79 homes there was only 1 Obama/Biden yard sign as compared to many McCain ones. The funny thing is on Nov 5th morning all the McCain signs were gone.

My dog misses peeing on them! :laugh:

From what I have heard much the same is unfortunately happening in NH, dems/libs priced out of MA are moving north and turning that state into MA lite...I never saw any Joe the Plumber signs, just a few "I'm with joe the plumber" bumper stickers on small business owners/laborer's trucks.

I view it as fortunate in my area. This was a completely red area, and the new migrants are mostly white collar or at least middle class and above since there has been a lot of single family homes built around here in the last decade or so.

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: GroundedSailor
I view it as fortunate in my area. This was a completely red area, and the new migrants are mostly white collar or at least middle class and above since there has been a lot of single family homes built around here in the last decade or so.

It depends on what you want and what you can earn, if you are solidly white collar and make good to really good money then affording all of the taxes associated with a state heavy on social programs probibly won't be a big issue...or on the converse if you don't make much money then you get to benefit from these handout programs...

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
It only resonated with morons....

Just like Palin.

There were a lot of conservative keyboard commandos coming to his defense on this board though.