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October 17, 2008

An excellent 'fisking' of the NYT attack on Joe the Plumber

Topics: Political News and commentaries

It's indeed a very enjoyable read. Check out Jim Treacher's piece in which he takes the NYT's Larry Rohter (pictured) to task over his attack on Joe "Enemy of the State" Wurzelbacher ("Joe the Plumber" who in reality, at least in the framework of this election, is you and me):

The New York Times lives up to its glorious reputation today with a hard-hitting investigative piece by Larry Rohter (pictured) on Joe "Enemy of the State" Wurzelbacher:

One week ago, Joe Wurzelbacher was just another working man living in a modest house outside Toledo, Ohio, and thinking about how to buy the plumbing business where he works. But when he stopped Senator Barack Obama during a visit to his block last weekend to complain about taxes, he set himself on a path to becoming America's newest media celebrity -- and as such suddenly found himself facing celebrity-level scrutiny.

That's why he's being covered in the NYT. Because he complained about taxes. I'm pretty sure he's the first person in American history to do so, but keep in mind that fact-checking isn't really my cup of tea.

Joe's question is what's newsworthy. Their interest in the story has very little to do with Obama's answer.

As it turns out, Joe the Plumber, as he became nationally known when Senator John McCain made him a theme at Wednesday's final presidential debate, may work in the plumbing business, but he is not a licensed plumber.

Did you get that, America? And he dares to call himself a plumber! Of course, it's unclear at this point whether he actually needs a license to do the sort of work he does in Ohio. But still. Hey, isn't this how they caught the Unabomber?

By the way, let's set the record straight: He didn't become known as Joe the Plumber because McCain brought him up. He became known as Joe the Plumber because Obama couldn't remember his last name after McCain had just said it. (Yeah, McCain mispronounced it, but at least he made the attempt. It's kind of an unusual name.)

His full name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher. And he owes back taxes, too, public records show. The premise of his complaint to Mr. Obama about taxes may also be flawed, according to tax analysts. Contrary to what Mr. Wurzelbacher asserted and Mr. McCain echoed, neither his personal taxes nor those of the business where he works are likely to rise if Mr. Obama's tax plan were to go into effect, they said.

"Tax analysts." Do they have names? Credentials? Ahhh, who cares!

Also note that at this point in the story, the NYT has done a more thorough investigation of Joe Wurzelbacher than they've done with William Ayers.

Read the entire piece here ...

By the way, is it just me or does the NYT's doofus-looking Larry Rohter look like the prototypical far-left, liberal, elite journalist one expects to see at the NYT? (I know, I know, I'm being racist or something for saying so. However, like Clark Gable said in ""Gone with the Wind," - "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damned"")

Related: Obama's Campaign Treasurer Owes Taxes

Posted by Althor at October 17, 2008 9:22 AM

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