Who will Joe the Plumber endorse for President?

Depends how much they pay him!

Here's a nice analysis of Joe's taxes: http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/15/smallbusiness/small_biz_taxes_factcheck.smb/index.htm

Nice question Nigel. Nice site jenni. I am voting for no endorsement, as that is what I hope for. Every once in awhile, my true idealistic nature leaks out. I usually lose $H.
I really think he will annonce for McCain..

Some sources say Joe the Plumber isn't even registered to vote in Ohio.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/The_Joe_file.html?showall

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1116187/joe_the_plumber_wurzelbacher_may_or.html

more on this

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/16/joe-in-the-spotlight/?hp

Reverse my last comment (the internets move fast!)

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/Joes_registration.html

Linda Howe, executive director of the Lucas County Board of Elections, said a Samuel Joseph Worzelbacher, whose address and age match Joe the Plumber’s, registered in Lucas County on Sept. 10, 1992. He voted in his first primary on March 4, 2008, registering as a Republican.

Ms. Howe said that the name may be misspelled in the database.
--------------------

Anyway, it looks like Joe may not be the uncommitted voter he seemed.

Hi Folks,
Here is some other info about "joe the plumber" from the AP. By the way, I think also worked for Nixon, doing "plumbing" in the watergate complex.....

'Joe the Plumber' says he has no plumbing license
AP Photo
HOLLAND, Ohio (AP) - Joe the Plumber said Thursday he doesn't have a license and doesn't need one. Joe Wurzelbacher, better known as Joe the Plumber, the nickname Republican John McCain bestowed on him during Wednesday's presidential debate, said he works for a small plumbing company that does residential work. Because he works for someone else, he doesn't need a license, he said. But the county Wurzelbacher and his employer live in, Lucas County, requires plumbers to have licenses. Neither Wurzelbacher nor his employer are licensed there, said Cheryl Schimming of Lucas County Building Regulations, which handles plumber licenses in parts of the county outside Toledo.

If that is true then the company should not even be in operation. I'm assuming construction trades are regulated in Ohio.

Well its easy to missunderstand a law. It happens to people all the time. Im sure that if someone reliable told him he needs a license that he would comply. By the way did anyone catch how Obama changed his mind on his standing on fines for small businesses? He said "You know how much joe is going to have to pay if he doesnt provide insurance? 0." and that left McCain stunned. As impressive as that may be, when Obama first showed support for the plan he insisted that they add that all businesses have to pay a fine if they dont provide health care. Not very reliable are you Obama?

I think McCain should have called him out for that more. I noticed it hardcore.

I feel like McCain debates too much to the news watching Americans and not enough to those who... well just don't pay attention. These are the majority of voters; the people who don't upkeep with the details. Personally I can fill in the facts where McCain decides not too, but the truth is he has truth on his side and should be showing it more.

robamicahel - for a young guy your very informotive. i don't wanna turn this question into a political debate. (BTW nigel good question) i noticed mccain let's obama walk on things also. he'll bring sumthin up, then if obama denies it mccain just let's it go. it might cost him in the long run.

thanks man, tho i have a ways to go :/
and i agree it will cost him - hopefully not too much!

(and yeah propers to nigel on this one)

On the day after Mr Wurzelbacher's name came up in the debate, the US media dug into his background and discovered that he is a registered Republican, and that in 2007 the state of Ohio was forced to claim $1,182.98 in unpaid taxes from him.

A search of the register of plumbers in Ohio also revealed that Mr Wurzelbacher does not have a state plumber's licence.

bit of a rouge?

Can someone explain how Obama's tax policy affects Joe's decision whether or not to buy the business? As I understand it Obama's tax policy would increase income tax for earnings above $250k per year. Therefore, in the UK at least that would be tax on the money that Joe paid himself after he had paid his costs including the loan he is likely to need to buy the business. My question is this: If it made sense for Joe to buy the business when he was paying 36% income tax, why doesn't it make sense when he is paying 39%?

Sorry to focus on the actual details. You can get back to mud-slinging in a moment. :-)

Joe's story doesn't make any sense because Joe is talking b.s.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/16/joe_the_plumber_not_a_licensed.html?hpid=topnews
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/us/politics/17joe.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

what if Joe the plumber endorses a 3rd party candidate?

"Joe" his real name is samuel and The OBAMA camp Set that up and paid him $5,000 to create that "REAL" moment.
its all politics and they are all LIARS

Poor Joe. Anyway, the NYT is saying his taxes are more likely to go down under Obama's tax plan: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/us/politics/17joe.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

However I am sure he can cash in on his new found celebrity taking him above the $250k a year bar. Still sounds like a good deal for Joe.

@ryan no his real name is joe and the "samuel" part was a misfilling in the government database.

Apparently, his real name is Samuel Joseph. But people go by their middle names all the time. Not exactly a crime. Beyond that, I'm certain that there are thousands upon thousands of plumbers, carpenters and electricians working without permits all across the country. It doesn't seem like Joe the Plumber is a bad guy. But the McCain people probably should have done a bit more due diligence before turning him into their poster child.

Here's a fun pundit recap on Joe (from both sides): http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/10/does_joe_the_plumber_matter_in.html

@jsevigny . . . regarding due diligence....seems like the pattern for the McCain camp...looks like Joe got about the same amount of vetting as did Palin. And in some ways, that in itself is troubling to me...How good is McCain at making decisions...?

nigel - my math sucks but 3% is alot when starting out new. it's even alot if you ain't. would you mind paying 3% more in taxes? now to the actual numbers. i don't know the details of joe's income or the business he wants to buy. maybe joe figures he can run it better than it's being run now..ie make more profit. lets say joe buys the business before obama's tax increase, and joe is buying pipe for $1 a foot. the company joe buys the pipe from makes over $250,000. if their taxes goes up do you think they will still sell joe pipe for $1 a foot? if the company you buy bandwidth from gets their taxes increased it doesn't effect your personal taxes, but it has a good chance of effecting your business. rich people ain't rich cause their bad at business. if you pay more for bandwidth can you afford to hire more admins? can you offer your employee's more benifits? can you get lesley the 10k ring she wants, or will she have to settle for a 8k? raising taxes is a bad thing imho. the govt already has the world on the brink of an economic break down. why give them more money to waste. since 3% is no big deal how bout giving me 3% of jenni's H$. :O)

@dieseldog
some good stuff in there
-------------------------------------

Truth is that running business is difficult. 9 of 10 fail in the first couple years. Income isn't so bountiful that taxes don't matter. In fact, the tax rates in today's times are jokingly criminal. 3% would be a lot for any struggling small business, especially during a time with a struggling economy.

Raising taxes during economic contraction is the very worst thing to do. What's funny to me though is that Joe the Plumber is now being investigated by liberal news outlets more than Obama has been! NEWS FLASH: Joe The Plumber isn't looking to be Joe The President. It's Obama and McCain who are. Who cares if he has the license or not? He is a working class American who asked a more than legitimate question. A question that Obama gaffed pretty hard when he said he would redistribute the wealth. It's not awful that he made a mistake (all candidates do, just part of the campaign process) - but it looks bad that Joe is getting attacked instead of the candidate.

I'm sure McCain or Palin will say something stupid soon enough though.

If you watched Joe on Hannity & Colmes today or if you heard him on Hannity's radio show this afternoon you would know that Joe is a smart guy and he is voting for McCain so this question should be settled.

@thevoiceoftexas - I have asked you to provide a link for either the radio clip or fox clip. If anyone can find a link that would settle this market, simply click settlement request and include the link in there.

They dont have radios in texas. Internet either.

@ 29....

Since I don't have a radio or internet I will let you know when I get the smoke signal answering this question, or a postcard, we are expecting the Pony Express rider any day now....

Thats good to know. For faster communication might i recommend a telograph? Latest and greatest in modern technology in texas.

http://www.foxnews.com/

scroll down about 3/4 the way. on the left is hottest videos or sumthin like that. joe the plumber on H and C. the video is 8 minutes long. it's loading now (their video player is slow) don't know if he endorses mccain or not.

.... could you have watched it before telling us?

i don't hear him say i "endorse" mccain. about the 3:24 mark he says he wasn't an undecided voter when he ask obama the question. i doubt that will settle the question.

that would ruin the surprise. :O) besides me watching it won't settle the question. i'm just a joe hubdubber...not the admin.

Any reason you mentioned it at all then?

yea 2 reasons. 1) voiceoftexas seems to think he endorsed mccain on the show. 2) to torment your crabby a**. any more questions sweetie? :O)

Ah i see. I forgot about what the texan said. Of course his message traveled to hubdub by pony express so no wonder! He didnt endorse he just said he was going to vote for him.

them texan's need to upgrade..it is 2008. don't let the liberals take over the place dragon. i'm going to bed. nite nite all.

any more questions sweetie don't let the liberals take over the place dragon. i'm going to bed
you two ought to get married

I am looking for the clip. I am sorry I didn't get the email request for the backup until today when I came to work as I do not check my office email at home very often. Colmes asked if Joe thought we'd be better with McCain then Obama even if he didn't make $250,000 a year and Joe discussed his support for McCain. I don't remember the exact quote.

@38 - Powel didn't say he was endorsing Obama, he just said he was going to vote for him...If you vote for someone you endorse them. How else do you define "endorse"?

@38 - Powel didn't say he was endorsing Obama, he just said he was going to vote for him...If you vote for someone you endorse them. How else do you define "endorse"?

Found the video and of course they didn't post the whole thing. The quote was after the break where the video ends.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,442262,00.html
COLMES: About stuff. And I guess, getting back to this issue of where you would do better, do you think you'd do better under John McCain than Barack Obama even if you're making under $250,000 a year and you're not being taxed on that amount of money?

WURZELBACHER: Yes, I do.

COLMES: Why would that be if you would actually, say, maybe $1,000 or $2,000 a year under the Obama tax plan?

WURZELBACHER: Because, I mean, you start bending principles, then where does it stop? I do think it's an issue with principles. I mean it's not right to take someone else's money who has worked, you know, harder or has better breaks, like I was saying last time. I just wouldn't feel comfortable with that.

Doesnt matter what colin powell said. For the purpose of hubdub when we use the term "endorse" that means he has to say hes endorsing him.

Let's ask Merriam-Webster
"Endorse means to approve openly <endorse an idea> ; especially : to express support or approval of publicly and definitely"
Now read the quote listed above. It meets all of the criteria of an endorsement. Now what else do I have to do to get this scam settled 4 days later?

tvot_org - send the link via "request settlement" so the admin will see it. its not a sure thing the admin will see it in the comments.

he only says he would rather McCain's tax rather than endorsing either
the question asks who he will endorse?

i doubt the link will settle the question, but at least the admin can review it.

The definition provided from Merriam-Webster explains that support or approval must be provided publicly and DEFINITELY. Definitely means that no degree of assumption can be involved.

"definitely": - free of all ambiguity, uncertainty, or obscurity

The quote in 45 speaks only of his opinion of tax issues. We cannot assume that he will vote based on tax issues alone.

Wrong. The quote in 45 indicates that he supports McCain despite the difference of tax policy of the commie.

dieseldog, I have subitted requests for this to be settled more times then I can count!

This bid should absolutely be settled. The man is practically campaigning for McCain.

i will remind you of the question
the word is endorse he has as yet not done so
the newyork times has but not joe

thevoiceoftexas_org - i clicked on "read all" and saw 2 requests from you. neither had a link for the admin to review. you make a valid point when you say powell didn't use the word "endorse" when referring to obama. i didn't watch the show so i can only take your word on that. i know that question was settled as yes. i have a small amount wagered on joe endorsing mccain. i can't say he has..it seems obvious who he's gonna vote for, but i think it will take more than what you have in the comments to settle this. if you sent any links to the admin they ain't showing up. you can email him at destry@hubdub.com and he should answer you if your respectful. if that fails try using the forums...located at the top of the page. theres also a "contact us" at the bottom of the page. click that and you can send an email to the HD big chiefs. remeber be respectful..destry don't respond to people who are nasty. goodluck.

I have requested it again!

tvot_org - joe is gonna campain for mccain either this wensday or next. i saw it on the news so no link to provide. after i get done HDing i'll see if i can find it.

Joe Wurzelbacher, aka “Joe the Plumber,” will be making his first appearance on the campaign trail Tuesday on behalf of the McCain campaign.

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/10/27/joe-the-plumber-to-campaign-for-mccain/

'tis a shame, really, trying to convince that man the far right "cares" about him......quite evil, actually

@theonecalledmichael:

Why would a man want anyone to "care about" him? Least of all, the federal government!

Think about the gall of a political party to want to bring back the "death tax" & offer to provide "health care" ... that qualifies as "quite evil, actually"

tocm - what happen to your blue "S"?

tocm - joe was a member of the evil right when he ask obama the question. he wasn't asking the evil right to care about him. it's the loving left thats ragging him in the MSM. how dare he ask obama a simple question.

If i see Obama parading in my front yard i got a question all ready for him. I believe every republican nation wide should follow joes example and prepare a tough question for the next time we see obama. Heres mine: "Obama, your tax breaks will reach out to 95% of the population in an attempt to help the economy. But when the economy recovers, do you plan to follow through on your old plan and raise taxes to a almost record high, come up with ridiculous new taxes, and reinstate old taxes that failed?"

http://www.unconfirmedsources.com/index.php?itemid=3769
no what

Ummm...curios...Joe the Plumber is smart enough then to endorse a "blame America First" idiot like Ron Paul. give me a break! The guy dropped out and is delusional anyways.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081028/NEWS09/810280299
"The question of when “Joe the Plumber” would hit the road for John McCain has finally been answered — and the answer is today".

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081028/NEWS0106/310280042/-1/rss
"Joe Wurzelbacher - better known as "Joe the Plumber" after his encounter with Barack Obama at a Toledo rally earlier this month - makes his first appearance today as a McCain-Palin spokesman in a southern Ohio bus tour that ends in Cincinnati".

http://www.wtol.com/global/story.asp?s=9249298

"In Campaign 08 news, Holland's Joe the Plumber hits the campaign trail.
Joe Wurzelbacher is scheduled to campaign for Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain on a bus tour across Ohio".

@tvot - BTW, Destry isn't ignoring you. I think he wants to wait until after Joe's speech just to see what he has to say. Maybe he'll get up there and say "Just kidding, I've given it a lot of thought and I'm voting for Obama" (Wouldn't that be truly hilarious??) Anyway, if anyone has a link to the video of him, I'd love to see it.

It's all over folks!!!
'Joe the Plumber' says support for Obama is vote for the 'death of Israel'
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081028/NEWS09/810280299
COLUMBUS - Samuel "Joe the Plumber'' Wurzelbacher at his first campaign stop, sidestepped the economic message that his "Joe the Plumber Tour'' was designed to convey when he endorsed a statement made by a member of the audience in Columbus that "a vote for Obama is a vote to the death of Israel

"JOE THE PLUMBER ENDORSES MCCAIN"
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10282008/news/politics/joe_the_plumber_endorses_mccain_135725.htm

I said early on that I put my $ with no endorsement, as that is what I hoped for, but I thought he would come out for McCain...
Too bad, I didnt rely on my brain...

I was conflicted for awhile. I thought originally that he wouldnt make a big enough difference to anyone to endorse McCain. If he had, i had thought that by that time, no one would care enough to even report on it.