Joe Wurzelbacher, or as Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain dubbed him during Wednesday's presidential debate, "Joe The Plumber", laughs while chatting with the press outside of his home in Holland, Ohio, Thursday Oct. 16, 2008. Wurzelbacher was cited by the GOP presidential candidate as an example of someone who wants to buy a plumbing business but would be hurt by Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's tax plans. Wurzelbacher said he was surprised that his name was mentioned so many other times. The Associated Press
October 17, 2008 – 4:38PM
Updated: October 17, 2008 – 7:25PM
‘Joe the Plumber’s’ AZ driver license suspended
Daniel Newhauser, For the Tribune (East Valley Tribune- Metro Phoenix’s East Valley Region)
A plumbing license is not the only license “Joe the Plumber” is having troubles with. The former Mesa resident has a suspended driver’s license and outstanding court fines in Arizona, according to Mesa Municipal Court records.
“Joe,” whose real name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, was referred to more than 20 times by Republican Sen. John McCain in Wednesday night’s presidential debate for questioning Democratic Sen. Barack Obama’s tax policy.
The man portrayed by McCain to be the typical, hardworking American revealed this week that he actually does not have a plumbing license, and now court records show he should not have a driver’s license either, making it potentially even harder for him to get to work.
Wurzelbacher, who lived in Mesa in 2000 and had an Arizona driver’s license, had his driver’s license suspended by the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division on May 4, 2000, following a nonpayment of a court-imposed fine for civil traffic violations, according to court records.
America’s new political icon, who owes nearly $1,200 in back taxes, according to public records, still owes more than $700 to the Mesa court system.
Records show he was cited for failure to stop at a red light and for failure to provide proof of insurance on Feb. 9, 2000, in a black Dodge truck at the intersection of Dobson and Baseline roads in Mesa.
After failing to pay his original fine of $627.50 issued in March 2000, his license was suspended and the fine was handed over to a collection agency along with a 16 percent surcharge. The now-resident of Holland, Ohio, still owes $727.90 to the Mesa Municipal Court, according to court records.
Nevertheless, Wurzelbacher’s driver’s license is still valid in Ohio, according to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and was renewed as recently as May 2005. Ohio law requires a license to be renewed every four years, meaning Wurzelbacher likely obtained an Ohio license in 2001, one year after having his Arizona license suspended.
With a suspended license in one state, it should not be possible to get a new license in another, said Cydney DeModica, spokeswoman for the Arizona MVD.
The only way “Joe the Plumber” could have slipped through the cracks is a clerical error in which his driving records were not entered into the Problem Driver Pointer System, the national database of information about people with a checkered driving past, said Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles spokeswoman Lindsay Komlanc.
Komlanc added if the Ohio BMV were to receive the information, appropriate action could be taken, including suspension of his Ohio license.
“With a suspended license in one state, it should not be possible to get a new license in another, said Cydney DeModica, spokeswoman for the Arizona MVD.”
What a sad state of affairs this whole Mac Attack campaign is, and now the Bu$h clones are using Un American in their name calling tactics. Looks to me like reality TV at it’s worst.
It’s getting so bad that Joe the plumber is even being defended by the Weekly Standard and Joe is the winner of the whole crap filled debacle. He undoubtedly has become unexpectantly wealthy and will soon be paying his numerous fines, like, what does he care? With his new found buddies from the corporate government he can buy anything he wants.
Hmmm.. what else will we find out about “Joe the plumber”??
McCain sure knows how to pick ‘em. If McCain’s elected he’ll probably make Joe the Plumber the Secretary of the Treasury. Go right along with his outstanding VP pick.
People are getting it wrong. I’m not afraid of joe the plummer. It dores not matter if he’s making $250,000 or he’s not making any money at all. I’m afraid of the gutter economics of Obama. Heill tax every body who’ll make more than $250,000. I hope that is what he is saying. If he’s going to tax only the plummers named joe he’s not going to be collecting much raxes.
But why is he arbitrarily setting the amount at $250,000. Why not $500,000 or at $1.00 Million. Not that I make $250,000 or $1.00 Million. I’m just talking about raising the income levels for tax purposes.
That is totally gutter policy. I think he’s doing this because he does not think there is any black who is making more than $250,000. They are afraid of saying Joe the black. So they are saying Joe the plummer.
I know it. Every body knows it. I’m daring to say the truth. I’m probably being foolish to say it. But the way election is proceeding and creating black oriented racism I must speak up now or never.
Hillary Clinton was forced ot of the elections. They said why is she in the elections. so she bowed out. Now every body is doing it to McCain. Whites and blacks alike. They can’t get him off the Ballot. So they are creating fear in the minds of every body to vote against Obama.
I’m a democrat although I do not contribute any money to it. I’m not a registered democrat. I just consider yself a democrat and vote blindly for any black who opposes republicans. But this time I’ll Vote against Obama because I’m afraid of his gutter policies.
So what are they saying the republicans defrauded in getting people to register as republicans. They may have registered them as republicans. But they can’t force them to vote against Obama.
This article makes no sense at all.
People have wrongly turned on Joe the plummer. It does not matter if this joe has a license or this joe is practicing plumbing without a license. The issue is whether Obama should be setting $250,000 at which he’ll stop giving certain benefits. The issue should not be whether he’ll be giving the benefits only to the pumbers named joes if they are plicensed. This gutter taxes.
McCains health policy is better. if they can’t buy any insurance policy at all the government has medicaid. Poor people get medicaid from the government. If they can’t afford to get edicaid from the government they should get some money from the government to buy their own insurance. If they can’t is not an issue at all. They’ll get the medicaid whther or not McCain gets elected or wheter or not obama gets elected.
“This article makes no sense at all.”
Well, if you can’t make sense out of it, why are you voting for a cracker? Especially one who has the same policy as Bu$h. You could write in Joe the Plumber
or better yet Joe Lieberman, who is an imitation Democrat who is dedicated to the Republican party.
OBAMA + DEM CONG = USA RIP
I see the trolls are out in full force… That’s ok.. they can crawl back under their little rocks in a couple of weeks.
LOL
Obama/Biden 2008
VOTE!
He may be an incoherent jackass – but the ‘Talking Points’ make it through the befuddlement.
Who is the effective communicator in this case ?
He thinks he’s scared.
To become a registered voter in Ohio, a person needs a valid driver’s license or state photo id. Joe obained a drivers license illegally in Ohio because he had a suspended drivers license and unpaid fines in Arizona. Should Joe be allowed to vote if he became registered with license he obtained illegally?
Sam “Joe” has got to be a plant. So, he onced lived in Arizona, what a coincidence. He estimates a $250,000 income, what a coincidence. His last name, Wurzelbacher, what a coicidence, and lives in Ohio, what a coincidence. And now, Fox news has adopted him, what a coincidence. No, this didn’t happen by coincidence. And, Fox seems to like his economic policy. If Palin has to drop out, Joe the Plumber might be in.
I believe that this whole america is a joke. People believe whatever thy are told because they can’t form their own opinions. What is happening to Joe the plumber is indicitive of our government. I can’t trust either candidate. It does not matter what Obama says or McCain, who ever gets into office will be another puppet, following along with what ever the government tells them. Our Government put Saddam into office, so, why not Obama to? Neither candidate will help us little people, they both talk a lot of BS. Once in office it will all remain the same and we will still lose our homes and jobs. What McCain or Obama has to say don’t mean squat. And Social Security is a JOKE..Joe is right. Elderly from other countries can come to USA and collect a social security check they Never Worked A Day in Their LIFE for. While our own elderly can’t even afford food. Our elderly have to choose between Dog Food and Prescriptions. WTF is up with that?? We the people will still lose our homes and jobs and either candidate will be sitting in the oval office comfortable, food in mouth and roof over head with no worries. While we all suffer. So no I DON”T CARE. Like Joe I am ired of all the lies, and promises. Our Government needs to stop saving all these other countries and sending money and JOBS over seas,. Our Government needs to take care of the home land and F the rest..Stop Giving our Social Security to ALIENS. They did not WORK for it. Make them earn it like the rest of us.
um… correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t people making over $250K annually already paying taxes?
I don’t see anything wrong with Ohio suspending Joe’s drivers license if he owes money to a DMV in another state. He should not be able to just skip town to avoid paying what he owes. And if he doesn’t even have his plumbing license, I doubt he’s making more than 250k a year.
BTW, you do not need a drivers license to vote in Ohio:
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/voterInformation/bringid.aspx
… my point is, Joe can get some other form of valid ID in order to vote.
Here’s the problem. Barack interviewed him. John McCain used him and still invokes his name in his campaign. They thrust him into the spotlight and my prediction ( http://freespeech1787.wordpress.com/2008/10/20/say-it-isnt-so-joe-i-guess-it-is/ ) came true. The media is looking at Mr. Samuel Joe Wurzelbacher and every last thing in his life. Joe, I feel for you. You were thrust into something you may not have wanted to be in and now both parties should help you out. Ohhh, and Joe the plumber really will never earn the requisite amount of money to meet Barack Obama’s level where he’d be taxed. So I leave it you peeps. Be well!
It is very interesting how “Joe the Plumber” got into the scene and I do agree with Linda that this could have been a plant as I was thinking that as well. It is also curious that I heard some people in Oregon started an online campaign to raise money for Mr. Wurzelbacher. I wonder will he accept this to help pay his back taxes? Isn’t this like receiving a handout which he has stated he feel that Obama is condoning a socialistic system. It seems to me that accepting that money from other concerned citizens would be like accepting a welfare check. I feel for his plight, but honestly, “Joe the plumber” has not been helped in these past 8 years and he wants to continue his plight with McCain? I have to wonder!!! Fox news and the Mcain campaign are the ones who keep “using” this mislead American “everyday Joe” Good Luck!
McNasty has found one more victim to bring in his messy politics. Its a shame that Joe the plumber does not have his license. Maybe he can get them back if he kiss enough of McNasty’s #ss. U betcha!!!
IT’S AMAZING TO ME THAT ALL THIS POOR GUY DID WAS ASK A QUESTION – WHICH ALOT OF US SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ASKED, AND WHEN CAUGHT OFF GUARD, OBAMA ACTUALLY ANSWERED HONESTLY AND SEND LET’S SPREAD THE WEALTH.
WELL HE CAN SPREAD HIS OWN WEALTH. TELL THOSE IN CONGRESS TO STOP SPREADING OUR WEALTH AND START CUTTING THEIR OWN SPENDING! LET THEM COLLECT SOCIAL SECURITY, LET THEM BUY INTO A HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN.
TELL THEM ALL TO GET A LIFE!!
So you guys plan on trying to destroy sam w for simply asking a question? ANd the idiot that runs this blog calls mccain a cracker? wow,, is obama a “ni#$er” then if mccain is a cracker? you folks want to persecute our people? let’s see how you like your dirty laundry aired in public
Well, Paul, and a howdy do to you too.
I am the Owner of this blog and never once have I called McCain a “cracker”.. as a matter of fact, that word is not even in my vocabulary. You have attacked me with lies and untrue accusations and I will NOT tolerate it.
So, I would advise you to get back on your high horse and ride on out of here.
All 50 states in the United States require Hair Cutters to get a Barbers License but not all 50 states require plumbers to have a License… Pretty screwed up huh? Ohio and Pennsylvania are among these states that doesn’t require you to have a Plumbing License to Practice. They basically leave it up to the towns and cities to decide weather or not you can Practice Plumbing in that town without a License. A lot of times the town says “well the state don’t require one so why should we”, which is also ignorant. If the Township requires a License then You also gotta go through the Town or city to get your license. The state gives these towns and cities the authority to issue a Plumbing License which can easily become corrupt. Some People could easily get a License without putting in their time or having the Knowledge needed just because they know the right people. The State gives to many organizations the power to dish out Plumbing Licenses. There are some other States that do this too but not many. I have a feeling that Ohio’s Plumbing & Sewer Problems in the Future will be through the roof. By the time they realize that they should have made it a law to get the license through the state the damage will already be done! I work for a Plumbing company in Illinois. We have to go through the state here to get a license. We keep our License at the top of our Website. It is something that we try to show to our clients immediately so that they know that they are dealing with a legit company and not just some fly by night. So is Joe the Plumber Legit??? Even though you don’t have to get a License through the State you are still suppose to get them through the townships and the cities that require a license unless you just don’t work in those towns since you don\’t have a license. Then you would have very limited work because all the major towns probably require a license unless you work in the illegally. It makes you wonder if Joe the Plumber can even handle his own business much less handle the Business for the whole state.