'The Average Joe' Becomes Talking Point during Third Debate

A Roundup

In true presidential debating fashion, and following suit of their past two presidential debates, Sens. Obama and McCain jumped at the chance to stick it to each other on Wednesday, this time referencing "the average Joe" - not the fictitious, symbolic one, but an actual one, Joe Wurzelbacher.

All news outlets released their version of the Joe story. In short, Joe, a plumber, met Obama on Sunday, Oct. 12 while the senator was campaigning in Joe's neighborhood on Shrewsbury Street in Holland, Ohio. Joe told Obama he was planning on buying the plumbing business he works for, Newell Plumbing & Heating, for around $250,000, which would mean that under Obama's reforms, Joe's taxes would be increased. 

The commotion began when Joe asked Obama, "Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn't it?" and when Obama answered he would raise taxes taxes for those earning more than $250,000 but "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

This unforeseen meeting became an enormous talking point on the issue of tax policies for both candidates during this past Wednesday's debate. 

LA Times

In this article titled "Joe the Plumber can relate to the Britney Thing," Joe Wurzelbacher is the dominant photo resembling Britney Spears with the bald head, a la her wayward days. Joe's house even resembled a paparazzi stakeout outside of a celebrity's after the debate. Camera crews wanted to get his opinion on going from plumber to hot talking point in a presidential debate.

After being interviewed on debate night by Katie Couric, he talked to Diane Sawyer and other national media figures on Thursday.

This newfound fame is disappointing for Joe though. "I'm kind of like Britney Spears having a headache," Wurzelbacher told journalists at his house. "Everybody wants to know about it." He also "wished that they had talked more about issues that are important to Americans."

During the debate McCain looked straight into the camera, as if looking at Joe, and said "Joe, I want to tell you, I'll not only help you buy that business that you worked your whole life for. . . . I'll keep your taxes low and I'll provide available and affordable healthcare for you and your employees."

Since Joe is not the owner of the small business with the supposed potential earnings of over $250,000 just yet, he acknowledged that his taxes would be cut under Obama's policies, but he is a conservative. 

NY Times

In this article titled "Plumber From Ohio Is Thrust Into Spotlight," Joe is referred to as Everyman, "a kind of proxy for all of the country’s working people."

Joe's outrage over Obama's "spread the wealth" comment is elaborated. “He said he wants to distribute wealth. And I mean, I’m not trying to make statements here, but, I mean, that’s kind of a socialist viewpoint. You know, I work for that. You know, it’s my discretion who I want to give my money to; it’s not for the government decide that I make a little too much and so I need to share it with other people. That’s not the American Dream.”

However, Joe's worries are not rooted in fact. According the the Small Business Administration, there are less than 6 million small businesses that earn enough to be affected by Obama's tax increase and so less than 700,000 taxpayers would actually have to pay higher taxes. So, Obama's comment that 98 percent of small businesses make less than $250,000, and thus, his tax policy does not affect a majority of America may be true.

CNN

Joe Wurzelbacher gives his reaction to becoming a major talking point in a presidential debate.

In the article titled, "'Joe the Plumber' happy to help candidates make the point," the reality that most plumbers make anywhere near a quarter of a million dollars is made clear.

Joe Biden said on NBC's "Today Show" that he does not know any worried plumbers in his neighborhood that make $250,000 a year.

According to a 2007 Bureau of Labor Statistics report, the mean annual wage for plumbers in the U.S. was $47,350.

The article also notes that McCain has another "Joe" he is touting to appeal to the average American - his running mate "Joe six-pack American." That is Sarah Palin's nickname when it comes to the McCain campaign.