tagged w/ Joe The Plumber
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McCain has entrepreneurs spooked about tax hikes, but fewer than 2% of small business owners would pay more under Obama's plan.
In speech after speech, presidential candidate John McCain hammers on the claim that his rival Barack Obama will raise taxes on many small businesses.
At the debate on Wednesday night, McCain said, "The small businesses that we're talking about would receive an increase in their taxes right now." McCain has entrepreneurs spooked about tax hikes, but fewer than 2% of small business... more
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Joe the plumber, American's most famous tradesman, said he doesn't have a plumbing license.
Joe Wurzelbacher said he works for a small plumbing company that does residential work. He said that because he works for someone else, he doesn't need a license.
Wurzelbacher was cited by Republican candidate John McCain Wednesday night in the presidential debate as an example of someone who wants to buy a plumbing business but would be hurt by Barack Obama's tax plans. The Democrat said that his tax plan would only affect people making more than $250,000 a year.
In Toledo on Sunday, Wurzelbacher told Obama that he was preparing to buy 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?"
Joe the plumber, American's most famous tradesman, said he doesn't have a... more
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Turns out that Joe Wurzelbacher from the Toledo event is a close relative of Robert Wurzelbacher of Milford, Ohio. Who’s Robert Wurzelbacher? Only Charles Keating’s son-in-law and the former senior vice president of American Continental, the parent company of the infamous Lincoln Savings and Loan. The now retired elder Wurzelbacher is also a major contributor to Republican causes giving well over $10,000 in the last few years.Turns out that Joe Wurzelbacher from the Toledo event is a close relative of Robert... more
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CBS News' Katie Couric spoke with Joe Wurzelbacher after Wednesday night's debate.CBS News' Katie Couric spoke with Joe Wurzelbacher after Wednesday night's... more
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Barack Obama answers a question from plumber Joe Wurzelbacher in Holland, Ohio, last Sunday.
Barack Obama answers a question from plumber Joe Wurzelbacher in Holland, Ohio, last Sunday.
The star of the final presidential debate was Joe Wurzelbacher, aka “Joe the Plumber.” John McCain mentioned Wurzelbacher tonight shortly after the debate began, and both he and Obama said his name more than 25 times during the 90-minute debate. How many times did the word Iraq come up? Six. How many times was the word economy used? 16.
So, what makes Joe the Plumber so special? Well, Obama met Wurzelbacher on Sunday, just shortly after landing in Toledo, Ohio. Before heading to his hotel for an intensive two days of debate prep, the campaign organized a quick stop in Holland, Ohio. The plan was for Obama to walk down Shrewsbury Street, knock on doors, and ask people to vote. For all intents and purposes, it was a photo op.
But then Joe came into the picture, a burly, middle-aged guy with a goatee, who approached Obama and asked him if he believes in the American dream. He proceeded to tell Obama that, after working as a plumber for 15 years, he is going to purchase his own business. The catch was that the business was worth more than $250,000 and Joe asked if he would be taxed more under Obama’s plan.
“I’m being taxed more and more for fulfilling the American Dream,” he said to Obama.
While Obama made several attempts to explain his tax plan, the bottom line was always that Joe would suffer from increased taxes.
“I’m gonna cut taxes a little bit more for the folks who are most in need and for the 5% of the folks who are doing very well - even though they’ve been working hard and I appreciate that – I just want to make sure they’re paying a little bit more in order to pay for those other tax cuts,” Obama told Joe.
“It’s not that I want to punish your success – I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you – that they’ve got a chance at success too.”
Obama left the neighborhood right after the conversation with Joe, admitting that the conversation was good practice for the debate. Little did he know that this chance encounter was going to be the main flashpoint tonight. Barack Obama answers a question from plumber Joe Wurzelbacher in Holland, Ohio, last... more
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The United Association became the first International Union to endorse Senator Barack Obama as its candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. This endorsement was discussed with the General Executive Board and they concurred.
Barack Obama is the choice of the UA because he has always fought for working people throughout his career and will do the best job of bringing badly-needed change to Washington. Obama will help us keep existing jobs and work to develop new, higher paying jobs here in America, reform our health care system, fix our ailing schools and make sure that the pensions of our retirees are safe.
I have had a long-standing, working relationship with Barack. The UA was one of the first unions in Illinois to endorse him as a candidate for the U.S. Senate. Barack Obama has personally reached out to the UA to request our support for his presidential candidacy, and he has solicited our views on the issues that are important to our union and its members. No other candidate, of either party, has requested our support or solicited our views!
One of the keys to our endorsement was that Senator Obama backs a strong energy and industrial construction policy, which is very important to the future of our union. He is in favor of nuclear power, the construction of new refineries, fossil fuel power plants and chemical plants. He has also endorsed innovative energy initiatives, including ethanol plants, coal gasification and biodiesel production. He also clearly recognizes the need to upgrade all of our current industrial plants to comply with clean air and water standards. Barack realizes we have to become less reliant on foreign oil and gas and develop an energy program that we self-sustain here in the United States.
To meet the challenges of clean water, he recognizes the need to replace and/or upgrade our water treatment and wastewater systems. His support of our position on all of these issues more than justifies our endorsement. We need to support Barack Obama because he provides more than lip service to our concerns.
We remain a bi-partisan organization. However, our best hope for clear direction and responsible change in our national government calls for our support of Barack Obama. The economic indicators show a weakening national economy and we need someone to both invigorate our economy and provide hope for our country.
Fraternally yours,
William P. Hite
General PresidentThe United Association became the first International Union to endorse Senator Barack... more
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"...Joe the Plumber was the surprise star of the third and final presidential debate, getting no less than 13 mentions in the opening minutes. So who is this guy? His full name is Joe Wurzelbacher, and it turns out he had a close encounter with Barack Obama a few days ago. John McCain adopted Joe’s cause as a way to tar his opponent as a tax-and-spend liberal..."
I hope it's not this guy:
http://www.joelaratheplumber.com/
"...Joe the Plumber was the surprise star of the third and final presidential... more
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