Is it high time for Obama to tell the lib blog community to lay off Joe the Plumber?

[Le Jacquelope]

Can we afford to have anyone who questions Obama, subjected to the kind of mass gumshoeing that has happened to Joe Wurzelbacher?

This is the biggest enemy of democracy that we have. If you have any failings in life, and you show up on television, the opposition is going to hunt down any and all personal information regarding you, and make it public. There was no reason for this - he was not involved in a crime or a lawsuit. Why do we need to know about his personal life, his tax records, etc.? Let the IRS or state tax board enforce their laws and the contractors licensing board enforce theirs and leave his personal life alone. And his home should definitely be off limits.

Now, granted, this shit happens all the time among forum posters and what have you, but now this is involving a man running for President, and if he doesn't bring the hammer of rebuke down on his supporters, this kind of behavior could escalate to an incident far worse than Bill Clinton's FBI filegate scandal in the future.

I think it's time we use this potentially harmful dig into Joe Wurzelbacher's private life as a reason to seriously strengthen privacy laws and penalize "gumshoe" behavior that has nothing to do with a lawsuit or a criminal prosecution.

Knowledge about Joe Wurzelbacher's life should be dispensed on a need to know basis. We don't need to know about his tax issues or his license status (though he may have admitted this ahead of time?).

And finally, at what point does this reflect badly on Obama with the voting public? American citizens have a right to confront our leaders without fear of the media and a million frothing bloggers storming into their personal lives and (potentially) camping outside their door.

If this gumshoeing had happened to someone who challenged McCain, if there had been a ton of reporters following that person around and (potentially) camping out by their house, there'd be hell to pay. IMO it goes both ways.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

It will explode in Obama's face once people give some thought to what's happening.

Joe Schmo is a schlub whose question embarrassed Obama. Joe asked a question, he didnt smash Obama's face with a custard pie.

But now we see what happens to ordinary people when they question Obama and the question isnt flattering.

Joe aint the candidate, Obama is.

 

[freshface]

Did you miss the debate, where McCain beat Obama over the head with "Joe, the plumber" again and again and again? Joe might not have asked for the attention he's getting, but he was less than honest when he confronted Obama and it blew up in his face. Other than being on the same street as Joe, where is any of this Obama's fault.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

Did you miss the debate, where McCain beat Obama over the head with "Joe, the plumber" again and again and again? Joe might not have asked for the attention he's getting, but he was less than honest when he confronted Obama and it blew up in his face. Other than being on the same street as Joe, where is any of this Obama's fault.

I didn't say it was Obama's fault. I said it's the media and blogging community's fault that people are digging up his personal information and following him around like crazy.

 

[freshface]

I didn't say it was Obama's fault. I said it's the media and blogging community's fault that people are digging up his personal information and following him around like crazy.

So if you agree that it's not Obama's fault, why should it reflect poorly on him and why should he have to take any action. And what action would you have him take? The media and bloggers don't work for Obama.

I feel sorry for him that he became a symbol for the campaign, but he chose to fudge the truth and McCain chose to use it without verifying the facts. That makes it, and him, newsworthy. It wasn't confronting Obama that made him newsworthy.

But I can see where this is much worse than the riots Palin was inciting in her appearances.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

So if you agree that it's not Obama's fault, why should it reflect poorly on him and why should he have to take any action. And what action would you have him take? The media and bloggers don't work for Obama.

Glad you asked.

Do you know why, when Palin came along, Obama came out and reiterated that family members were off limits? It was because the blogging community was falling upon Palin's family like wolves.

You can be held responsible by the public for the actions of your followers, just for being complicit.

I feel sorry for him that he became a symbol for the campaign, but he chose to fudge the truth and McCain chose to use it without verifying the facts. That makes it, and him, newsworthy. It wasn't confronting Obama that made him newsworthy.

But I can see where this is much worse than the riots Palin was inciting in her appearances.

It's not nearly as bad as the riots that Palin was inciting. But who wants to be as bad as her? Or nearly as bad? Or 1/4 as bad?

'Brand Obama' CAN be soiled by the actions of his followers. 'Brand Obama' is held to a higher standard.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

FRESHFACE

Locally, Obama's kool-aid drinkers are harassing kids who wear McCain shirts. They call the kids 'racists.'

 

[jomar]

FRESHFACE

Locally, Obama's kool-aid drinkers are harassing kids who wear McCain shirts. They call the kids 'racists.'

Yeah, that's bad and should be stopped.

 

[Pure]

huh?

Joe Schmo is a schlub whose question embarrassed Obama

doesn't make much sense. "joe" was a plant, most likely, or at very least, soon after, a willing participant in an 'embarrass obama' effort.

how do you explain that his question asked about a small business making just over $250,000 dollars? the point where obama's tax kicks in?

how do you explain his asking about this when he has NO immediate prospect of purchasing his boss's business, AND it's unlikely the business is making that kind of money?

"joe" does not deserve a media rape, but scrutiny, yes. including about his taxes, is that's his issue.

--

the blogging community was falling upon Palin's family like wolves.

well, she uses the family, including dragging the baby to events.

as far as 'wolves' go, the right wing bloggers and malicious mass emailers have been on obama and michele for months

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

PURE

It doesnt matter who Joe really is. Obama is expected to deal with whatever comes along. If Obama had told Joe "I plan to kiss every small businessman's ass twice before bedtime," the comment would never have sprouted legs and teeth.

Obama shoulda been wary for snares...if Joe was a snare. Obama got caught picking his nose.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

PURE

It doesnt matter who Joe really is. Obama is expected to deal with whatever comes along. If Obama had told Joe "I plan to kiss every small businessman's ass twice before bedtime," the comment would never have sprouted legs and teeth.

Obama shoulda been wary for snares...if Joe was a snare. Obama got caught picking his nose.

No he didn't, he answered a voter's question honestly.

If you're making $250,000 a year in a business, you can afford the extra $1500 you're gonna pay in taxes. Period.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

SELENA

Maybe so, but raising taxes has never been a winning scheme to attract voters.

Its like showing up for a date, and the girls dad wants to know whats up for the evening, and you say "Oh! I thought we'd do some weed and fuck for a while."

 

[Selena_Kitt]

SELENA

Maybe so, but raising taxes has never been a winning scheme to attract voters.

Its like showing up for a date, and the girls dad wants to know whats up for the evening, and you say "Oh! I thought we'd do some weed and fuck for a while."

If it's done correctly, it certainly CAN be a winning strategy. In this economy, I think the middle and lower class are FINALLY sick enough of the wall street folks to say enough is enough. The majority of the people - 95% - hear "no taxes." The rest? The party's over, fellas. Cash in the chips you have left.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

SELENA

The folks know that the elites wont pay a dime more in taxes, regardless of who gets elected. They know who pays for the party but doesnt get invited for the fun.

 

[Dragonlipz]

Quit making a victim out the Joe the B***S******

Joe W put himself out there and tossed some BS in front of God, Obama, and CNN.....He lied or at best exaggeratted his entreprenurial experience and about his profession. So the talking heads are bumping their gums about a guy who claims to be hindered by a tax on those who can afford to pay them? The guy hasn't even paid his state taxes....doesn't even have a plumber's license. He's a liar and needs no sympathy from anyone.
And I can afford to pay my taxes. I'm damned glad that I can afford to pay my taxes and enjoy this wonderful country.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

DRAGONLIPZ

It still doesnt matter. Joe is a citizen and can ask candidates questions. Joe isnt running for office.

Obama stepped on his own dick when he answered Joe's question.

Ted Bundy or Charlie Manson could have asked the same question; who asks the question is irrelevant to what the answer is.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

Joe Schmo is a schlub whose question embarrassed Obama

doesn't make much sense. "joe" was a plant, most likely, or at very least, soon after, a willing participant in an 'embarrass obama' effort.

how do you explain that his question asked about a small business making just over $250,000 dollars? the point where obama's tax kicks in?

how do you explain his asking about this when he has NO immediate prospect of purchasing his boss's business, AND it's unlikely the business is making that kind of money?

"joe" does not deserve a media rape, but scrutiny, yes. including about his taxes, is that's his issue.

--

the blogging community was falling upon Palin's family like wolves.

well, she uses the family, including dragging the baby to events.

as far as 'wolves' go, the right wing bloggers and malicious mass emailers have been on obama and michele for months

Granted, the GOP has a lot to answer for regarding whipping post girls like Murphy Brown in light of trotting out Sarah Palin like this and forgiving her unwed pregnant daughter.

Right Wing bloggers have been attacking Michele and Barack Obama as a family for months, and it has utterly backfired over and over again in their faces. I would never want liberal bloggers to follow their path - why follow the elephant-trodden path of catastrophic public relations failure?

Besides, while Palin does trot out her family when it's advantageous to her, while trying to keep them shielded when it's not, there's just too many other big rusty nails that exist to pin her to a wall. Her corruption investigation, her interviews, her debating skills... why torpedo Palin when she hits iceburgs more often than Wilt Chamberlain hits... well, you get the picture.

As for Joe Wurzelbacher, I see enough stuff on him to turn him into a big fat liability for McCain without inquiring into his tax records. Apparently, the way it appears to me, you could just inquire into his business and find out he's a bullshitter.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Apparently, the way it appears to me, you could just inquire into his business and find out he's a bullshitter.

The perfect poster boy for the Republican party, then.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I'll bet no one but me read the Joe/Obama dialogue.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I'll bet no one but me read the Joe/Obama dialogue.

Yep, just you. It's all about you.

 

[jomar]

I'll bet no one but me read the Joe/Obama dialogue.

I read it. I didn't think he stepped on his dick, but I can see how his 'spread the wealth around' comment can be used to rally the over 250k crowd, that 5% of small businesses.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

JOMAR

I'll wager Obama wishes he hadnt said it.

I cant imagine why anyone will vote for McCain, so I dont waste much time on him; I pay attention to Obama. Obama is tripping a lot of 'step-on-my-dick' sensors.

Most Democrats are hot to be done with the Bush Regime, and their enthusiasm is making them impatient and rash. They sense victory and feelings are strong. But they may cost Obama the election. The election may stop being about Bush the idiot and become all about Obama the bully. People may decide that 4 years of McCain the dolt is better than 4 years of a sanctimonious bully.

The election is Obama's to lose. I'm betting he pisses it away.

 

[jomar]

JOMAR

I'll wager Obama wishes he hadnt said it.

I agree. McCaine hit him over the head with it and it took off to stupidland.

I cant imagine why anyone will vote for McCain, so I dont waste much time on him; I pay attention to Obama. Obama is tripping a lot of 'step-on-my-dick' sensors.

Most Democrats are hot to be done with the Bush Regime, and their enthusiasm is making them impatient and rash. They sense victory and feelings are strong. But they may cost Obama the election. The election may stop being about Bush the idiot and become all about Obama the bully. People may decide that 4 years of McCain the dolt is better than 4 years of a sanctimonious bully.

The election is Obama's to lose. I'm betting he pisses it away.

It is his to lose, but I'm not sure what you're referring to about Obama bullying. The media pounds from both sides.