While Barack the plumber is draining your pockers, his supporters are plumbing the depths of Joe the plumber's life:
The media’s finally starting to vet acquaintances of Barack Obama.
Wurzelbacher registered as an apprentice with the Ohio State Apprenticeship Council in November 2003, according to Dennis Evans, spokesman with the Department of Job and Family Services. Records show his training, which was sponsored by A & W Newell Co. of Toledo, should have been wrapped last year.
“We don’t have a record of completion,” Evans said. “All we know is that he registered in the program and has gone through to the point where we should have record of completion, but we don’t.”
And that’s not the only record that’s missing from Wurzelbacher’s file. He doesn’t have a plumbing license required by the city of Toledo to practice, according to a staffer with the Toledo Division of Building Inspection. Wurzelbacher, who now works for Newell Plumbing & Heating Co., said the owner, Al Newell, has a plumbing license and that “because he works for someone else, he doesn’t need a license.”
But even that’s not true, according to the Toledo Division of Building Inspection. Wurzelbacher can’t legally do plumbing work without a license, regardless of his boss’s certification.
A staff person with the Toledo Division of Building Inspection told On Call this afternoon that her division will contact Wurzelbacher to notify him that he can’t work without a license.
“We’re trying to track him down,” she said.
Also revealed: His boss’s business probably doesn’t bring in anywhere near $250,000 a year so he should stop dreaming about turning it into one that does and what that might mean for his taxes. Which should be easy enough; he’ll probably be out of work soon anyway. Should have known better than to ask a media darling a tough question before your affairs were in order, Joe.
UPDATE: Instapundit with poignant points:
DANNY GLOVER: The press and the plumber. They've done more investigations into Joe the Plumber in 24 hours than they've done on Barack Obama in two years . . . .
UPDATE: Related thoughts here.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Alex Bensky emails: "Remember when the Clintons asked the media to lay off Chelsea and they did? I actually thought it showed that the msm were not entirely without principles or ethics. However, not only is Joe the Plumber better investigated than Obama, but we've heard more about Bristol Palin in the last couple of months than we heard about Chelsea during the entire Clinton administration."
MORE: A reader emails:
The harassment of Joe the plumber is the singular biggest mistake of the Obama campaign. The MSM is making Joe a martyr. Heck, DKos just published Joe's home address. Obama is now not only a Marxist but a Marxist bully - just another Chicago thug. America roots for the underdog and they will not take this action kindly. If Joe were a hero yesterday, wait a few days.
Obi Wan's line in Star Wars when fighting Darth Vader comes to mind - "Strike me down and I will return more powerful than you can possibly imagine." Americans will realize what happened to Joe could easily happen to them. And they will remember this come November.
Well, we'll know soon enough. And reader Donald Gately emails: "Joe the Plumber is the new Linda Tripp, apparently. What I find really fascinating is the fact that the media elites are treating Joe the Plumber as if he is the one who is out of step with mainstream America, while Bill Ayers is an 'Eagle Scout' (as per Tom Frank).
I am linking to your post from the Blogscan of Joe Public meet your neighbor Joe Plumber
MSM is making Joe a martyr. Heck, DKos just published Joe's home ... Joe is on my prayer list.
Posted by: Wayne from Jeremiah Films | Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 11:57 PM
Point taken, but how about a cartoon of an American citizen being tortured? Or being strip searched getting onto a plane? Or how about Americans coughing up their hard earned money to bail out (er, socialize) the banking system.
Are we freer today than 8 years ago?
Posted by: Andy | Friday, October 17, 2008 at 08:05 AM
“ how about a cartoon of an American citizen being tortured?”
You mean like the one where a caged McCain is being pocked with sticks by Obama and Hillary?
Care to share with us all the list of American citizens that have been tortured? What is you definition of torture?
“Or being strip searched getting onto a plane?”
How about a cartoon showing planes flying into the WTC?
Again, list please, with all particulars. Are you saying there is never a case for strip searches, ever?
“Or how about Americans coughing up their hard earned money to bail out (er, socialize) the banking system.”
No cartoon need, if Obama is elected you’ll coughing up your hard earned money for many different things. No doubt since you’re against socialism you’ll be voting for McCain, right? If not, you need to educate yourself.
“Are we freer today than 8 years ago?”
Freer? I didn’t realize we need to be freer, but to answer your ridiculous question, yes; we’re just as free as we were 8 yrs. ago, and safer, care to argue that point?
Posted by: tim aka The Godless Heathen | Friday, October 17, 2008 at 09:53 AM
Now plumbers are showing up at Obamessiah rallies with plungers and "I am Joe the Plumber" t-shirts.
Good work, gentlemen!
Posted by: Mommynator | Friday, October 17, 2008 at 02:59 PM