Is ‘Joe the Plumber’ Running for Congress?
- Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:10pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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"Joe the Plumber," of 2008 election fame, is said to be considering a bid to challenge Ohio Democratic Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. (AP File Photo)
Remember Joe Wurzelbacher, the Ohio plumber who questioned then-presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2008 about taxes, prompting him to admit he wanted to “spread the wealth”? Republican Party sources say the man who gained instant notoriety as “Joe the Plumber” is mulling a run for Congress.
According to the Toledo Blade, Wurzelbacher has been heavily courted by party officials to challenge Democratic Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur in 2012.
Jon Stainbrook, chairman of the Lucas County Republican Party, told the Blade there is “high-level interest in the national Republican Party” in a Wurzelbacher bid.
“We are encouraging Joe to run,” Stainbrook said. “He hasn’t made any official decision yet.”
While Wurzelbacher’s already-established national profile would be a boon for fundraising, it would have to be weighed against his lack of political experience, a spokesman for the Ohio Republican Party said.
However, one GOP source placed the likelihood of his candidacy at “90 percent.”
For Wurzelbacher’s part, he would not confirm or deny a congressional run.
“I think it’s a very interesting idea,” Wurzelbacher told the Blade. “That’s as much as I can say.”
A spokesman for Kaptur told the Blade a challenge from Wurzelbacher is “definitely something we would take seriously.”
Kaptur won nearly 60 percent of the vote in 2010, but redistricting next year could make her seat vulnerable.
Since the 2008 election, Wurzelbacher wrote a book called “Joe the Plumber: Fighting for the American Dream,“ participated in national speaking tours and has been involved in ”Alaska’s Healing Hearts,” a veteran’s organization that provides outdoor activities for wounded soldiers.
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Comments (81)
Poogie
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 7:30pmRight on! At this point I would vote for him for our next president! Run! Joe, Run!
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 8:39pmlol. joe…
Report Post »if he is anything like Ron Paul, he might have a good chance.
The-Monk
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 8:43pmMaybe a good plumber can clean out the clogged pipes in Washington DC.
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 2:33amCan Joe, the plumber outwit Barack, the dumber? Signs point to “yes”.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:28amAn inexperienced Republican has GOT to be better than an inexperienced Marxist.
Report Post »Jim in Houston
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 12:18pmEven if his IQ was lower than a brick, he would be head and shoulders better than OweBlamer!
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 7:23pmSay it IS SO, JOE!!!!
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 7:31pmI’ve got the perfect campaign slogan…”We‘re gonna ’flush‘ the ’crap’ out of our state!”
…Eh..well, ok. That was bad. But that‘s why I’m not a comedian. :)
Report Post »pschlentz
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 12:10am@KickinBack:
Report Post »I like it!! Changing it up a bit adds a lot to the mix!
progressiveslayer
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 7:19pmRun Joe run we need someone in congress who actually has worked for a living.Most in congress make it a life long profession,gives them too much time to get corrupted,and term limits would fix that.
Report Post »cpowers
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 5:52amHouse of Representatives is a 2 year term. It was designed that way by our founding fathers just for the reason you state, to prevent “career” politicians. If someone is allowed to make a career out of the HoR, then it is no ones fault but our own. The real solution is to remove the 17th amendment. That amendment took the power of the state’s away from them thus allowing the Fed to gain more and more “bribing power” over the state’s.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:30amI agree. The Senate was to be elected by the states to ensure state’s rights were looked after. When the people elect both sides, that check and balance is removed and you have a popularity contest. Kind of like running for office in high school.
Report Post »Nanner-SW
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 6:37pmOh if only, if only the seats were chosen randomly, such as with jury duty, to get real people who acturally create wealth through their knowledge and labor rather than taking and squandering the wealth of others. Sorry I was zoning off there for a moment. Yah, don’t know crap about his political beliefs but real job experience trumps political experience any day with me.
Report Post »RESTOREVALUES
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 7:20pmI would think his lack of political experience was his greatest asset.
Report Post »ramburner
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 8:04pmAs I said in the 1990 election; we need grandmas that have NO POLITICAL EXPERIENCE and who don’t even know where the bathrooms are, to run for high political office. It is obvious that our current “representatives” have been bought! Yes, Term limits for ALL would be a good thing, and in this next election, unless the candidate voted FOR SEVER debt reduction – SPENDING CUTS, they MUST be REMOVED from office! We MUST get back to the Constitution no matter what programs are CUT; except for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and the Military. ALL other programs are open to be reduced to $0.00 funding and elimination! The Tax Code needs to be reworked to a maximum of a 3 page law. A Fair Tax or a VAT is the best idea with NO loopholes for ANYONE. Corporations and individuals who have money WILL pay their fair share, as well as the “poorest” individuals. ALL MUST pay taxes to support our LIMITED government.
Report Post »Your Name Here
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 9:51pmJoe has more experience than Obama did. Obama is nothing but an ACORN baby that thinks he’ll grow into a mighty oak. I say we cut the tree and poison the roots!
Report Post »neverending
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 6:19pmI hope he does – loved him from day one. He has all the experience he needs and lots of common sense – wish we had many more like him.
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 6:39pmI like this,an honestly citizen representative not a professional politician.
Report Post »crazedbanshee
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 6:42pmWhats so great about that….from what I saw in the video he just sat and listened with no rebutal for the whole thing.
Report Post »psst
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 7:37pm@Crazed. That was the whole point.
Report Post »What did you want? Joe an average citizen to get in a heated arguement w/ Soetero?
Soetero admitted to the World right then and there he was a communist. Still is.
And all hell broke loose on Joe. Like it was his fault ,Soetero ,whom at that time did not have his pocket teleprompter freely admit he was a commie.
The MSM then went after Joe like gravy on rice. Like it was his fault Soetero admitted he was a marxist. They Ohio dems went into his background w/ a fine tooth comb. One would have thought he was running for office and they were digging up dirt to run against him.
Joe, a private John Q citizen being given the KGB scrunity by Soetero’s lapdog media.
republapig
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 6:15pm“While Wurzelbacher’s already-established national profile would be a boon for fundraising, it would have to be weighed against his lack of political experience”
His lack of political exp is a positive to me. It means he doesn’t know how to steal from us yet.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 6:18pmway to go dude…u r better than *****! I am sure u will not sell us out !
Report Post »susie4dy
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 6:11pmWe need real people in the Congress and the house and the wh!
Report Post »georgiavietvet
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 6:08pmmore power to “joe the plummer”. he just needs to understand that the left will try to crucify him. hope he is strong and can stand up to all the lies they will throw at him. i would definitely vote for joe……………………………………….
Report Post »Juniemoon
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 6:00pmRun Joe run, you would make a great congressman.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 6:09pmWe need good men to run for offices and Joe is not a career politician, which put him in a very desireable catagory. Good luck Joe!
Report Post »stumblemouth
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:55pmIf people want a different kind of government there needs to be different, nonprofessional representatives in government. People who look at public service as a temporary assignment that can just as easily be done by nearly any other citizen. No man or woman currently serving in Congress is indispensible. No matter who is running, no one needs to serve more than two terms in any office, or even one term for a senator.
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:52pmCan’t wait to read the lefty-troll-posts about how Joe is a hateful, racist, sexist, homophobic, right wing radical. Or an “Astro-Turf- Tea Party Plant” at best.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:45pmIt would be great for JTP , winning a seat and giving a great big ssseeee-ya to Barry. JTP has more experience in most regards compared to the Dufus in Chief.
Report Post »rodamaa
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:43pmMaybe with his plumbing experience, he can help drain the cesspool which is Washington.
Report Post »MIBUGNU2
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 6:07pmGO FOR IT JOE !! Show Pelosi HOW to actually drain HER
Report Post »SWAMP…Just make sure it sucks her up too !!!
NOBALONEY
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 6:29pmHe won’t allow any leaks.
Report Post »woodyb
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:37pmToo bad that he cannot run for OBOZO’s former Senate seat — SYMBOLISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:33pmJoe sure got under obama’s thin skin . He’s been vetted by the media, they never left any orifice untouched. Somebody illegally hacked into government computers to get all of his financial info & leaked that.
Run Joe run….
Report Post »TEXASGRANNY73
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:32pmThe first US citizen attacked for asking a question.
Report Post »Recall: He was in the “wrong” neighborhood.
He was a “set up”.
GO JOE.
wewantchillywilly
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:30pmthat clip said it all.
Report Post »skippy6
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:28pmWe need to replace the Elite with fresh blood.. If Joe knows what the Constitution is all about then he would get my vote..
Report Post »ares338
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:27pmHe would be at least as good as what they have now!
Report Post »LOJ
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:25pmWow I think it would be great if Joe did run, he has a hands on view of What Obama said about Redistributing the Wealth….Go Joe…..You have a super chance!
Report Post »Hemingway in Cuba
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:24pmDo we even know anything about his stance on the issue? Is this just a case of the Ohio GOP looking to run a political celebrity?
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:52pmLike Al Franken??
Report Post »MIBUGNU2
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 6:17pmAt least He had the BAL**S to stand up to Bama..
Report Post »He didn’t swoon or kiss his ring like the the crowds
he usually surrounds himself with.. GO JOE..
Brizz
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 10:37amCould be like sending Mr. Smith. We need someone to represent the people, not the established elite.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:23pmWhat district? Wow-I would love to be able to vote for a real, non professional human being with guts!
Report Post »elkslayer
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:23pmHe doesn’t need experience. He has 3 raido talk show avdvisors.
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 6:20pmAs apposed to the entire MSM apparatus Obama had as “advisors” while ascending to the Presidency of the United States of America with NO experience? I’ll take those “three radio talk radio hosts” over the 65 imbeciles fighting for their ratings on your side any day of the week.
Report Post »grandma7
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:19pmOh I Hope So!!1
Report Post »Pericles
Posted on August 27, 2011 at 1:24amPlease oh Please run Joe! Our country needs a good laugh. And if Palin ran for President, oh think of the comic relief we could have. I am getting gitty just thinking of it.
Report Post »hi
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 5:17pmWe finally can get someone in there that actually worked for a living and owned a business!
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