Web site urges ‘Joe the Plumber’ to run for Congress
Written by Scott McKimmy | | news@toledofreepress.comIf two college students from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst have their way, the next U.S. congressman from Ohio’s 9th District will be none other than “Joe the Plumber.”
Derek Khann
Derek Khanna, a junior and executive political director of the Massachusetts Alliance of College Republicans, and his friend Trevor Lair, the organization’s chairman, have launched a Web site to gather signatures to petition Samuel J. Werzulbacher to challenge Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, in 2010. Werzulbacher is the Holland-based plumber who has received national media attention for questioning Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama about his tax plan.
“I’m getting ready to buy a company that makes about $250,000, $270,000, $[2]80,000 a year. Your new tax plan is gonna to tax me more, isn’t it?” he asked Obama during a stopover in Wurzelbacher’s neighborhood. Since, he has been praised by the right, including Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, for representing the typical small-business owner and hammered by the left for working unlicensed and owing back taxes.
Khanna said watching the clip inspired him to do some research, from which he discovered what he described as a “dreadful job” by Kaptur in representing her constituents. To express their opinion, Khanna and Lair posted a photo of Joe the Plumber at the top of the home page with the slogan, “Plunge the crap out of Washington, draft Joe Wurzelbacher, U.S. Congress Ohio 9th District.”
“I think that [Kaptur’s] indicative of an overall problem with a number of Democrats, from her all the way to Barack Obama as far as an understanding of tax and the economy,” Khanna said. “And that’s kind of what Joe signifies, bringing common grassroots values from the working world — specifically small businesses — and applying those concepts to the business community.”
The petition drive began Oct. 17, through the Web site, www.joewurzelbacher2010.com, and Khanna did not have a running tally at press time the following day nor has he been in contact with the controversial plumber. He did, however, support Wurzelbacher’s views that tax hikes prevent small businesses from growing and becoming more successful, adding “the biggest thing about Joe is what he stands for, and we shouldn’t discount that.”
“What we’re hoping to do is we’re trying to get enough support behind the petition, and once we get a lot of people to sign the petition, then we’re going to take it to the next step, which is to approach Joe,” Khanna said.
The petition drive’s goal is to collect 50,000 signatures from throughout the country. Khanna admitted the petition is an unofficial effort to show support and not a legitimate attempt to place him on the ballot. The Web site, which he and Lair funded with their own money, also caught the eye of the “Boston Herald,” which covered the petition drive.
“If you believe that keeping taxes low is the best thing for the economy and if you believe that small businesses should not be exorbitantly taxed like they are today, then I hope you will sign up and join the petition,” Khanna said.
You know jack squat about this man, about as much as you knew about Sarah Palin when she was announced at the Republican Convention amid wild cheers. Cheers for what? No one even knew who the woman was at that point, not even now as she is kept from the media.
College has one task.. to teach you to think. Please don’t waste your parents’ money.
This comment was posted on October 19th, 2008 at 6:10 pmI love the idea of Joe the Plumber for Congress……God know he would probably do a better job than anyone in Congress right now.
Go Joe!!!
This comment was posted on October 20th, 2008 at 8:57 pmMsSwin: He can do no worse than the present people
This comment was posted on October 20th, 2008 at 9:05 pmin Congress. We need more working people in the
House and Senate. Maybe then they would not take
money from Sallie May & Freddie Mack, and give
golden parachutes to C.E.O.’s.
Oh for god sake. Isn’t Sarah Palin enough of an embarrassment on the political situation in this country?
Scott Walker
This comment was posted on October 20th, 2008 at 9:13 pmThe average American may be stupid in your eyes but, we know we don’t want SOCIALISM. Since the government is going to “spread the wealth” that would only encourage everyone to sit on their hands or just keep going to school for a living!
This comment was posted on October 20th, 2008 at 9:15 pmWent to try and support your effort but electronic petition not allowing my name to be submitted. Check out site and make sure the electronic petition is functioning so we can support.
This comment was posted on October 20th, 2008 at 9:20 pmWell Joe asked and got the truth from Obama, spread the wealth…….I did go to college and paid for it myself. I too am self employed, I am a glass bead artist and I don’t want to pay a penny more taxes then I already do. If I have to help spread the wealth from 20 years of my hard work to get where I am, I am going to stop working so hard! Won’t employee another person for my business and there goes my health insurance I pay for myself….I don’t want or expect a hand out, never did and don’t want it. We need to give folks a hand up not a hand out……Go Joe you are one of us that share the American Dream! To find out about Sarah go to Alaska.gov and find out who and what she is like I did and don’t believe the left wing media, don’t let them think for you….is’nt that what you went to college for?
This comment was posted on October 20th, 2008 at 9:27 pmI think this is a great idea! Joe is just the average “Joe” and thats what we need in Congress right now. I am pleased to sign the petition for Joe. Even though I live in South Carolina and wouldn’t be able to vote for him while living in this state I think its a great idea!
This comment was posted on October 20th, 2008 at 9:32 pmGO JOE GO!
bob, we said same about george bush.. look where that got us ;)
This comment was posted on October 20th, 2008 at 10:30 pmWell MsSwin; he had to work with a Dem. run congress and senate, who could get anything done in that type of environment? Remember your history? Carter started this housing mess in the 70′s, remember 17% interest and gas lines. In 1997 Clinton signed a housing bill to make homes more affordable for the poor. Those who don’t remember history are doomed to repeat it. If your young you may not have learned this in college or really even know how our government works. It takes the house, senate and the President to pass anything. Look to your senators and represetives before blaming Bush for everything. This has become a great mantra for you on the left. And if this is all you can do is blame Bush, there is a lot of blame to go around…..
This comment was posted on October 21st, 2008 at 6:11 pmDerek Khanna is clearly almost as big a joke as McCain’s campaign advisors. Its simply embarrasing that Joe the Plumber actually appears to have a better command over the issues that McCain’s unvetted VP candidate
This comment was posted on October 31st, 2008 at 4:37 pmAmen to the working man! Thank you Joe for bringing facts to the frontline. As far as Congress is concerned, I am all for your name in the hat. GO JOE!
This comment was posted on November 6th, 2008 at 2:22 amI know I’ll probably get a lot of flame posts for this but I think this needs to be said. The truth about the whole “redistribution of wealth” and socialism debate is that both statements are correct. Increasing taxes on one group and not on another is a redistribution of wealth. It is not a capitalistic ideal. It does lean towards socialism.
In 1981 and again in 2001 Republican administrations cut taxes with the largest cuts going to higher income earners and corporations (the investor class) in the hopes that they would reinvest their increased revenue thereby creating jobs and growing the economy. So without arguing the merits of trickle down economics, did the Republican Party not redistribute wealth?
It’s really easy to start throwing bombs out there like Socialist and Marxis, but the truth is our economic system is a delicate mix of Capitalism and socialistic safety nets: Social Security is socialist. Unemployment is socialist. Medicare and Medicaid are socialist. A 700 billion dollar bailout (or any bailout for that matter is socialist)!
My point is this: If you think the tax structure is good where it is and different income earners are paying as much as they should pay; fine, but it’s overly simplistic to label an adjustment in the tax structure as socialist because it redistributes wealth.
Bottom Line: I respect plumbers and I respect Joe; but Joe is a plumber, not an economist and he definitely shouldn’t be a congressman.
This comment was posted on November 7th, 2008 at 4:28 pm