UPDATE: Where, oh where have my manners gone?

Joe, the Plumber THANK YOU for forcing the TAXATION issue.

Obama’s answer—that he wants to spread Joe’s wealth with those who haven’t worked for it—may be the defining moment of the 2008 election.

You said it, “taxation without representation” is correct.

Under Obama’s plan we all lose.

Joe is not having it.

The look on Joe’s face tells me that he has already figured out that it isn’t worth bothering to advance himself at all. In the USA, of all places.

We will ALL be taxed but our wishes will NOT be represented by US, only Obama.

John McCain Won, Joe The Plumber Infuriated By Obama’s Redistribution Plan


“Barack ________ Obama.  Because A Great Speaking Voice Trumps Substance.”
Image courtesy of http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2008/03/its-3am-and-somewhere-phone-is-ringing.html.

Draw, McCain won the debate on points, but Joe the Plumber took it all! He is now the mascot of the 2008 election because he brought out the very salient point about redistribution of wealth.

Some highlights.

Times of London:

Joe Wurzelbacher from Toledo, Ohio, has become an unlikely media star after finding himself the focus of the debate between the two White House rivals.

He is a tradesman who has worked 12-hour shifts for years and now plans to buy his own small plumbing business. The trouble for Joe the plumber is that this would take his earnings to more than $250,000 – making him a target of Obama’s plan to tax the wealthy.

“From each according to his ability, to each acording to his need.”

Marx/Obama

From the Bitter Knitter about Joe:

The plumber from Holland, Ohio is liking what he heard from Senator McCain.

Ohio’s Toledo Blade reports that Wurzelbacher tuned in to the debate tonight and “still thinks Senator Obama’s plan would keep him from buying the small business that employs him.” Wurzelbacher said that McCain “got it right as far as I go.”

It’s a good thing because McCain referenced him about two dozen times.

No, there weren’t any knockout punches.

Thanks to John McCain for pulling him in to talk to.

Obama had not thought about it, but it seemed to be a good idea so it was another “I got a bracelet, too” moment.  So, let’s bring on the ads.

Spread the wealth.  Spread the wealth.

Socialism, socialism.

Just a bit too transparent for me Obama.

McCain brings up Joe the Plumber in Ohio who told Obama he was a socialist.
Joe the plumber was little more direct with Senator Obama than than McCain was.
But, it was good that McCain brought up the “spreading the wealth” argument.

Now McCain attacks Obama on “spreading the wealth around.”
Love it… McCain must have said “spread the wealth” 6 times in 3 minutes.

I think that after you speak to Joe, the plumber about the two, he will prefer the judgment of John McCain.

I also believe that Rev Wright should have been brought out front, up and center front.  It is only correct to understand Obama’s judgment of character.  As a leader of a nation, he will have to do this with not so friendly leaders.  I don’t want  America to pay for his lack of judgment of character.

All in all, it was a good night for John McCain.  John is a gentleman and I am still going to bat for him.  Suggestions about keeping the battle up from ACE:

The insurrection has three elements:

1) Donate to 527s hitting this issue with TV ads in swing states.

2) Inform the RNC you want them to begin hitting this issue nonstop themselves, even at the expense of pro-McCain ads, and even against his wishes. I’ve got news for you: At this point, due to McCain’s stubbornness, we face a very real chance of losing 50 House seats and even failing to hold on to forty Senate seats, resulting in a Democratic President with a Democratic filibuster-proof Senate. The RNC must hit the Democrats on this issue with every last dime they can raise.

3) Inform McCain that you have donated all money that may have gone to him to 527s willing to fight on this issue, and you’ll donate your free time making calls on behalf of Congressional and Senatorial candidates rather than his ticket.

Will 2 or 3 work? Well, here’s some bad news: the RNC is already considering abandoning McCain in favor of trying to save the Senate, and until McCain is comfortable addressing the only issue on voters’ minds right now, maybe that’s for the best.

Besides, any ad that blames Obama and the Democrats for the subprime disaster helps McCain, whether he understands economics enough to realize that or not.

As for three… doubtful. But maybe a concerted effort can convince him, just once, to listen to Republican voters on a crucial issue.

More:

Karl Rove

Debate thread at Uppity’s

Right Voices

A Glimmer of Hope? McCain Wins Indpendents by Nine, According to Politico  Ace