republican

Is Joe the Plumber Really Joe the Schmuck?

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

If Joe the Plumber seemed too good to be true, a perfect Republican emblem for the hard-working, small business owner who’d get shafted under Barack Obama’s tax plan, that’s because he is too good to be true.

A New York Times report reveals that Joe the Plumber—the Ohio plumber who made national news and was mentioned two dozen times during last night’s debate—is actually Samuel the Plumber. His real name isn’t Joe Wurzelbacher, as it was originally reported by Fox News. It’s spelled a bit differently, with an “o”— Samuel Joseph Worzelbacher.

Perhaps he gave a slightly different spelling to throw reporters off the fact that he:
1. Isn’t a licensed plumber.
2. Doesn’t belong to the local plumber’s union.
3. Feigned that he’s really on-the-fence in the election when he voted Republican in March.
4. Actually owes back taxes and has at least one outstanding tax lien of over $1000.

Whoops.

He also told Katie Couric that he cornered Obama hoping to get a straight answer, and got a tap dance, instead. He added: “Almost as good as Sammy Davis Jr.” He might as well said, “that negro sure can sing!”

So, let’s review: the classic Everyman that everyone was looking to as a measure of the average guy’s thinking, who seemed to have an honest question for his honest dilemma, is actually a Republican who isn’t honest at all.

Say it ain’t, so, Joe.

Joe in the Spotlight – The Caucus Blog – NYTimes.com

Osama or Obama: Freudian Slip, Intentional Jab or Honest Mistake?

Monday, October 13th, 2008

According to the Albany Times Union Friday, Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) last name was misspelled as “‘Osama’ on hundreds of absentee ballots mailed out this week to voters in Rensselaer Country,” New York. Is this a Freudian slip or a simple mistake?

Although the Democratic and Republican county officials claim it was a “typo” and “honest mistake,” I am personally finding this screw-up a bit hard to believe. The right wing has been trying to use Osama Bin Laden and Barack Obama interchangeably as well as emphasizing the “Hussein” in Obama’s name to draw attention to his Muslim background. It is not hard for me to believe that someone wanted to underscore Obama’s “otherness” and this typo wasn’t so innocent. Besides, when does a “b” look like a “s.” And these letters aren’t  close to each another on the keyboard. And for something this important, like a voting ballot, shouldn’t you have proofreaders?!

Although I am a glass half-full kind of person, I’m not quite buying the innocent typo excuse.

In Brief: How Republicans Responded to the DNC (from an Unaffiliated Voter)

Monday, September 1st, 2008

With the DNC over and the temperamental limelight now hovering towards McCain’s more than slightly surprising VP choice and the impending (weather-based, obstacle ridden?) Republican National Convention, the GOP doesn’t seem to be having their expected grand old party lashing out against the Obama campaign…today. But the day is young and the elephants have not yet been wished happy hunting.

Over the course of the Denver-based convention, however, the McCain Campaign, National Review and folks such as Michelle Malkin, Mark Hemingway and Ann Coulter went to town with a bevy of nasty tidbits that “more than hinted” (cough) at a hope to subvert Obama’s influence (or to simply get a gleeful two cents in).

The Brief Breakdown:

Mon, 8-25: On Michelle Obama’s Speech:

In what can be shocking only to an earthworm lodged deep in the world’s core and away from the sensory-overload producing buzz of this election and American politics in general, we read that Ann Coulter did not like Michelle Obama’s speech.

Here’s an excerpt of her reaction:

The speech itself felt mechanical. There were some interesting quotes including:

“I love America!” [Note: As an aside, I feel like if you have to say it, you call it into question.]

“We will build the world as it should be.”

“Hillary Clinton put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling”–and this is a paraphrase–and changed the world for our girls. [I'm sure Hillary is happy to know she paved the way for Michelle's daughters.]

She also said some airy, fairy stuff about stellar education from cradle to grave, but no specifics other than by “bringing us together” and finding the “common thread”. Whatever the hell that means.

At the end of the speech, there was a staged moment where Barack was piped in via satellite and talked to his girls who were absolutely precious. To me, I think that part was the “winning” moment, if there was one. The all-American family. The all-American black family. Very powerful.

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