By Heather O.

1. I am sure he is not alone in this plight. It is irresponsible of the media to take it to this level. Wallowing in the mud is not a professional characteristic by any means. There is such a lack of courtesy in the world it is disgusting to me.

   The man had an opinion. He stated it. Whose business is it that he should be publicly maligned or beaten? The media of course, only tells us what they think we should know. Not the entire story. There certainly is more explanation than he just doesn’t pay his taxes.

   Kind of like the Mormon that sits beside someone in church and smells cigarette smoke, then assumes they smoke. Do they ask about it? Maybe some do. But others make the assumption and tell others. It could easily be explained that they are home health workers and are attending church in between appointments of seeing sick people. Yes, unfortunately, some sick people still smoke.

   Comment #1 by chronicler/robynOctober 17th, 2008 at 7:24 am

2. I just thought it was ironic that John McCain thought he was doing Joe a favor, when really it provided the perfect opportunity for the state of Ohio to track Joe down and bill him.

   Comment #2 by Heather O.October 17th, 2008 at 7:26 am

3. It sucks that it happened that way, but I’m not sure it was the state that tracked him down. I think it was the main stream media.

   Comment #3 by chronicler/robynOctober 17th, 2008 at 7:30 am

4. Well, when a guy gets mentioned two dozen times in the last presidential debate in one of the more intense presidential races of our time, it’s not all that surprising that people want to know exactly who this guy is. And the article did say that it was the state of Ohio who tracked him down.

   Just sayin’…

   Comment #4 by Heather O.October 17th, 2008 at 7:35 am

5. I’m not sure the state would have gone after him if the media spotlight hadn’t been turned on. I mean, he’s lived there for a while. And while states are pretty adamant about back taxes, he didn’t owe that much, relatively, and it’s possible they didn’t want to assign the resources for tracking down $1200.

   Comment #5 by The WizOctober 17th, 2008 at 9:02 am

6. I think it’s perfectly reasonable that that particular Joe-the-plumber would have asked any candidate about tax policy, because it must be an issue that is very much on his mind, whatever the reason for his current (small by almost any standard) tax debt. It’s too bad the media have latched onto that fact, and the fact that he doesn’t have a plumber’s license (which he does not need for his particular plumbing-related business). There are probably some terrific aspects of his life and background (maybe he volunteers somewhere; maybe he’s the go-to guy for everybody in the neighborhood who needs help with an old car), but these are the things the newsmen choose to tell us. Bah.

   The poor mixed-up woman who finally choked out to McCain that she thought Obama was an Arab can count her own lucky stars — Saturday Night Live is skewering her, but at least her name and face aren’t known so the newsmen aren’t making her life hell.

   Comment #6 by Ardis E. ParshallOctober 17th, 2008 at 10:26 am

7. Certainly the Media is partially to blame for his popularity, and probably the main reason he was investigated. I would also add that McCain had something to do with his popularity, especially since he mentioned Joe like 22 times on a program widely watched on national television.

   Comment #7 by Ian CookOctober 17th, 2008 at 10:34 am

8. OOh, Ardis, I missed that one. Wow.

   Comment #8 by Heather O.October 17th, 2008 at 10:38 am

9. Yeah- I feel bad for the guy. It would be like any one of us simply offering an opinion, then through no doing of our own, having the national media all up our behinds. I don’t think any of us would want that. It’s not fair, and it’s pretty creepy on thier part.

   Comment #9 by Tracy MOctober 17th, 2008 at 12:01 pm

10. Joe might as well run for office now that the media has “vetted” him. He’s no worse than many candidates out there for skeletons in the closet (or hairballs in the drain?)

    Comment #10 by mormonhermitmomOctober 17th, 2008 at 12:27 pm

11. I don’t really blame the media. I had seen him on the news before the debate but just asking Obama the question about taxing small businesses. The media didn’t track down all this information until McCain used him as much as he did in the debate. The medias job is to talk about what they think we want to hear about and Joe was such a big force in the debate (if you watched the news shows after all the McCain camp was talking about how it was all about Joe). Saying the media is bad for doing that is like, IMO, the same as saying how dare the p0orn business make a p0rn. Not great but to be expected.

    Comment #11 by DoubleLOctober 17th, 2008 at 12:57 pm

12. DoubleL, I’m sorry but, how dare the p0rn business make p0rn. Just be cause you can doesn’t make it right. This guy didn’t ask for anyone to do a full background on him, he just asked a question that I think alot of people wondering about.

    Comment #12 by ModdyOctober 17th, 2008 at 1:28 pm

13. exactly, mccain never asked if he could make him his mascot and if he hadn’t used him in the debate he wouldn’t have been “vetted”. I didn’t say it was right but it is expected.

    Comment #13 by DoubleLOctober 17th, 2008 at 1:45 pm

14. There is just so much I could say (just ask Heather), and I am tearing up because I am trying not to laugh so hard. But lets face it McCain lost his run during that debate, Joe the Plumber is the least of that mans worries… He didn’t have my vote anyway, and it wasn’t because of Joe the Plumber. Lets face it McCain is,well, and Idiot. Yup a true Republican speaking her mind…

    Comment #14 by sandraOctober 17th, 2008 at 3:01 pm

15. The guy is on wikepedia now. Totally crazy.

    I’m comforted that I don’t hate either candidate, I don’t think either have a clue on some things, but I don’t detest either of them.

    And you know part of bushes appeal was he kept his manparts where they are supposed to be, and I think we will continue with that, with either candidate.

    And they can promise the moon and back, and it doesn’t mean that it will happen one bit.

    Comment #15 by SarahOctober 17th, 2008 at 5:35 pm

16. only my personal opinion, but anyone who believes everything that politicians say really needs a reality check.

    Comment #16 by beckyOctober 17th, 2008 at 8:49 pm

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