Joe the Plumber could only speak at an Obama rally

[barondave]

I was reading, over on Daily Kos, how Joe the Plumber stood up John McCain. At a rally, McCain asked him to stand up, but he wasn't there. Indeed, 2/3 of the crowd were bussed in to inflate McCain's puny numbers. But not Joe.

For a couple of weeks, something has been bothering me about the whole story. Not that Joe (who isn't named Joe) the Plumber (who isn't licensed to be a plumber) would have his taxes raised (he owes back taxes). But that he had to raise these issues at an Obama rally.

Bush is a coward, and hasn't spoken to an unvetted person in years. When he was running for president, both times, he established "free speech zones" so that real people couldn't ask him questions or boo in the wrong places for tv.

McCain, for many years doing really well with "Town Hall" meetings, has abandoned the format he practically invented. It's very hard for an average Joe to ask him a non-talking point question. McCain is adopting W's campaign tactics as well as his politics. He has fallen so far.

Joe the Plumber had to go to Obama for answers. Which he got. Obama spent several minutes talking to him.

Joe is entitled to his opinion about the candidates, but it's clear, again, that Barack Obama listens and it's clear Barack Obama knows his stuff.

Tonight, I'll be at the Clinton/Franken rally at the Mpls Convention Center. It'll be raucus, but fun. I hope to take pictures and do some interviews. It would be nice if I could talk to the candidates and/or Bill Clinton, but I'm not holding out for that honor.

Comments

[joshuwain.livejournal.com]

What time is the rally?

[barondave.livejournal.com]

Rally is at 7:30, doors open at 7 at the convention center. Frankly, I think it will be crowded and I'm going earlier.

The e-mail announcement has two different links to RSVP, and neither of them actually do anything. I guess it's just for a count. I spoke to Obama HQ a few minutes ago. It's first come, first serve.

Hall A. I bet we won't all fit in.

[joshuwain.livejournal.com]

Well, I certainly am looking forward to seeing your photos and report!

[calimac.livejournal.com]

Your other criticisms of him are valid, but his name is Joe. (http://calimac.livejournal.com/322480.html) Middle names, and nicknames derived from them, are perfectly valid use names.

[barondave.livejournal.com]

Valid "use" names, yes. But that's not what he goes by in telephone books and such. I have no problem with him being called Joe, or not being a licensed plumber... if you are universally known by that moniker. But if you're going to be touted on National tv, and even start a singing career, perhaps your nom de politico should match your billing. (I have a problem with him being a scofflaw, but that's a different issue.)

To put it another way: He has the right to be called whatever he wants, and I have the right to poke fun at him for it.

Further, whatever he's called doesn't obscure my main point, that he is known for talking to Obama, not McCain. That's not a criticism of him, that's a criticism of McCain and his handlers. They should have vetted him a bit more carefully before making him the centerpiece of their campaign...

[calimac.livejournal.com]

The man known officially as Walter F. Mondale is known informally as Fritz. (Middle name, Frederick.) Gonna bash him too?

I agree, this has nothing to do with his being a scofflaw and that it was inane for McCain to pick him up. So when you've got good arguments, why throw in dumb ones that only detract from your credibility?

[barondave.livejournal.com]

That's a bad example. He's known as Walter "Fritz" Mondale. His nickname is presented as such. In none of McCain's speeches, in none of Palin's speeches, in none of the advertising is he Samuel "Joe the Plumber" W__.

And why do I use lesser arguments in addition to the strong? Piling it on. You live by the sound bite, you die by the sound bite. At this point, I'm not going to give McCain/Palin anything.

Ask me again next week... or better, Jan. 21.

[asimovberlioz.livejournal.com]

If I ever met Mr. Franken, I'd probably say to him, "He only took tips."

[calimac.livejournal.com]

Mondale is referred to in that form when the disconnect in his name needs to be explained. On the one hand, if he were just a guy on the street introducing himself informally, he'd be "Fritz". On the other hand, "Fritz" does not appear in his legal documents at all.

The very fact that Joe the Plumber is Samuel J. on official documents shows that, in the same circumstances, he could be called Samuel "Joe" Wurzelbacher. But that's not how he was introduced to the world. He was a guy on the street who called himself Joe.

Then the media had trouble finding him on lists until they discovered he was legally Samuel, a fact he'd been under no obligation to mention when he was talking to Obama, and they think he's putting one over on them. That's ridiculous.

Like you say, "die by the sound bite." Here we could be nodding in agreement that Joe and McCain both totally munged the taxation issue, and that Joe isn't the salt-of-the-earth type he put himself across as, and instead we're discussing this insinuation that he has no right to call himself "Joe".

[barondave.livejournal.com]

and instead we're discussing this insinuation that he has no right to call himself "Joe".

And yet, what I actually said was, "He has the right to be called whatever he wants, and I have the right to poke fun at him for it."

I think we're done with this conversation.

[calimac.livejournal.com]

Sure you can. And I can equally say it's unfair and illogical.

This morning I saw him referred to in a newspaper photo caption as: Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher. I think that answers your objections.

So sure, we can be done with this conversation.