Why It's No Problem That Joe the Plumber Lacks a License

Loaded

"He asked a legitimate question."

'Do you believe in the American dream' is a loaded rhetorical question intended to start the conversation by putting Obama in a box. Could you imagine asking any politician of any stripe that question and getting a curt answer?

"Obama in answering his question never let him speak again."

Untrue. Watch the video.

Obama did predominate in the discussion afterward, but he was answering loaded questions and questions about the specific impact of policies on a particular situation (hypothetical rather than real, as it turns out). If you asked a physics professor who was passionate about the subject about the nature of the matter and the construction of fundamental particles, would you expect a brief answer and chit chat back and forth in response?

Newton of CA @ Oct 18, 2008 10:08:52 AM

exceptions to the rules

The devil's in the details. Competence without a license is still illegal. Much like all the hardworking illegals in our country...still lawbreakers. The hypocrisy of Republican sales pitches is injurious to our country. Every person with a criminal record faces obstacles, including immediate non-consideration for employment based on a past conviction and a debt ALREADY PAID to society, yet we argue on behalf of lawbreakers like your "plumber" who has not yet even paid his debt via fine, incarceration, being banned from practicing in the field. Based on the standards of our society, Joe should probably face immediate termination from employment unless we use the Republican hypocrisy of what's good enough for you doesn't apply to me. More relevant than Joe is his personification of the Republican idea that "I'm special", coming from Republicans. Every pro-Republican who actually believes in what they spout should have rejected their federal and state governmental health benefits from day one. How dare McCain argue that not every American should have access to the "cadillac" of health care based on circumstance or personal health while he drains the system using this persistent entitlement...and he's got millions. If every one of those hypocrites, their families and their cronies were expected to live by the standard they are imposing on us we'd see change occur. But Republican has become synonymous with hypocrite.

conoutofconsumer of NC @ Oct 18, 2008 09:44:31 AM

He's a liar because he said he was about to buy a business when he is clearly not.

Alevia of NE @ Oct 18, 2008 08:54:22 AM

Sloppy Joe

The controversy over Joe Wurzelbacher isn't about whether he is a plumber or not. That's semantics. It's about Joe's deceitfulness.

Joe claimed to be an undecided, independent voter. He is anything but. He is a registered Republican who has participated in conservative talk shows.

Joe claimed that his interest in asking the question he asked of Obama was because he is in a position to buy a business. He is not.

Joe created the impression that he is in a position to be able to earn $250,000 a year, and thus affected--however slightly--by Obama's tax proposal. He is not.

By implying that he is in a position to purchase a plumbing business, Joe created the impression that he is licensed. He is not.

Joe went out of his way to state that Obama didn't impress him like he expected him to. What was the point of saying this, if not to accuse others of swooning for Obama?

Joe's view was that Obama "tap-danced" like Sammy Davis, Jr. Given the above facts, it's clear that the one doing the tap dancing was Joe himself.

In short, Joe approached Obama to bait him, with the outcome a foregone conclusion.

The reason for raising the question of Joe's owing back taxes is three-fold. Does it reveal that Joe’s real problem is that he doesn’t want to pay taxes, period? What does it say about Joe's character, honesty and dedication to civic responsibility? And if Joe can't pay a $1100 bill in two years, how is he ever going to buy a $250,000 business?

If you suffer from ideological bias, you would never think of those facts and questions.

If you’re capable of being honest enough with yourself to be able to see just how disingenuous Joe, the McCain campaign, Fox News and the Republican National Committee have been over this issue, watch the entire actual conversation between Joe and Obama, without anyone’s editing and/or commentary:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1a4_1224166209

Non-concern for truth and honesty is the #1 thing killing the conservative movement and the Republican party--of which I used to be a part.

No more.

JJ of TX @ Oct 18, 2008 05:32:22 AM

Ability to practice law

Res Ipsa is right when he says "I agree...and furthermore, I shouldn't have to pass the bar to be able to practice law." If fact, no one does have to pass the bar in order to practice law. Each law abiding citizen practices the law everyday. We practice law when we comply with income tax forms, obey speed limits, read governmental rules and regulations. As most teens know, parents are avid instructors and advisers on legal issues; often centered on traffic laws and drinking laws. Colleges typically offer legal advice from non-lawyers on how students can make use of federal and state laws regarding scholarships. Real estate agents often advise on legal issues regarding home ownership and policemen give legal advice when arresting people (you have the right to remain silent).

Some might allege that extending legal services in return for money is restricted to lawyers. That, too, is false, as the NOLA press demonstrates every day by selling their excellent legal advisory books in return for money.

Marvin McConoughey of OR @ Oct 17, 2008 22:41:30 PM

Something I should have added above:

Becoming a licensed plumber is not just a matter of filling out forms and paying a fee; it's not that sort of license. Plumbers have to pass an exam, and that exam is not easy.

Residential service is what comes to mind when most people thing about plumbers, but it is only one aspect of the trade. There are also plumbers who specialize in commercial construction, and plumbers who work on site crews (you see them working outdoors in the street, usually in ditches or in sewers). Fixing a toilet or sink is not that hard - most homeowners have done it - but laying out pipe for an entire high-rise building? That takes years of education. And do you think you could go into a sewer and know exactly what's going on down there? No, you couldn't. This stuff is all included in the plumbers' licensing exam. The licensed plumber fixing your toilet knows a lot more than you think.

AHK of IL @ Oct 17, 2008 21:50:22 PM

A license

a plumber does not make.

Larry of WA @ Oct 17, 2008 21:42:57 PM

Get a life you people

He asked a legitimate question of Barack Obama. Obama in answering his question never let him speak again. Being a liscenced lawyer hasn't seemed to make a difference in congress either. These guys are a bunch of idiots. I'm sure all you liscenced geniuses out there know better.

dan of CA @ Oct 17, 2008 19:02:39 PM