Joe the Plumber, What Plumber?
Joe the Plumber, Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, former welfare recipient, along with his parents, is a con-artist. He is not registered to operate as a plumber in Ohio, which means he’s not a plumber.
Joe the “Plumber” claims he can work under the license of his boss, Al Newell, but according to Ohio building regulations, Joe the “Plumber” must maintain his own license to do plumbing work.
Mr. Newell, himself is unlicensed!
So neither Wurzelbacher nor his employer, Al Newell, are licensed! This is according to Cheryl Schimming of Lucas County Building Regulations, which handles plumber licenses.
So, not only is Joe the Plumber conning us about himself, he is wrong about his boss, Al Newell.
In fact, if Joe and Al are doing any plumbing work, their activity is illegal. Joe said it’s his understanding he can work under Mr. Newell’s license as long as the licensed contractor works on the same site. But this is not the case – both are unlicensed.
This fact that they violate the Ohio licensing could would prevent either Joe the Plumber or Al Newell from getting a license, at least not for a long looooooong time.
Now, it comes to light that Joe the Plumber has a tax lien against him for $1,500.
Fear not, however, for Joe the “Plumber.” He has friends in high places. He has become the darling of John McCain, Sarah Palin, and the likes of Sean Hannity.
His friends have made arrangements have been made to set up a website for Joe the “Plumber” to solicit funds to pay off his $1,500 to the tax guys, and to spot him $500 to apply for a plumber’s license (even though he is not eligible, thanks to his illegal “plumbing”).
Last time we looked, the website, www.savejoetheplumber had raised over $1,800 for Joe. He says he will donate the excess proceeds to charity – yeah sure.
Now that Joe has made the rounds of the TV shows, especially FOX news, where he was at his con-artist best – it shouldn’t surprise to see him get his own show – or even run for senate – thanks to the McCains, Palins, and Hannitys of this world.
On October 24th, it was reported that Joe the “Plumber” said he may consider running for Congress in 2010, challenging longtime Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D) in the Toledo-area district.“I’ll tell you what, we’d definitely be in one heck of a fight,” Wurzelbacher said during an appearance on the Laura Ingraham show, “but, you know, I’d be up for it.”
Matt Drudge also dumbed down to the level of Joe the “Plumber” by running the following headline -
Drudge report, Oct 24, 2008
[...] how Joe the Plumber’s complaints about Barack’s tax plan invalid because he actually doesn’t pay taxes, how Joe the Plumber not actually a [...]
This is probably the worst thing that a “plumber” could do, it’s quite simple to go on a course and LEARN how to do thing properly and becom LICENCED not putting lives at risk and getting JOB SATISFACTION AND PRIDE in what he does. My opinion, LOCK HIM UP, set a good example for the con artists.
There’s just to much politics in plumbing these days…
Greg: Thanks. We too plumb deeply into the facts behind the facts.
John the Plumber