October 20, 2008
Posted: October 20th, 2008 05:45 PM ET
The Statement: Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, speaking at a rally in St. Charles, Missouri, on Monday, October 20, said "Joe the Plumber," an Ohioan who has become a central figure on the campaign trail, "didn't ask for the political attacks on him from the Obama campaign." Get the facts!
The Facts: Sen. Barack Obama and Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, a plumber, discussed taxes on small businesses during a campaign stop on October 12 outside Toledo, Ohio. Wurzelbacher said he was about to buy a company that makes more than $250,000 a year and was concerned that Obama would tax him more because of it. McCain - who seized on the exchange at last week's presidential debate in Hempstead, New York - dubbed the man "Joe the Plumber" and characterized him as a symbol of an everyman entrepreneur who would be burdened by Obama's tax plan. Since then, Wurzelbacher's life has been under a media microscope, and news outlets reported details including the fact that Wurzelbacher didn't have a plumbing license. McCain spokesman Brian Rogers gave CNN three examples of "political attacks" the campaign says the Obama camp has made on Wurzelbacher - each from October 16: –Obama said on MSNBC's "Race For the White House," that McCain is "trying to suggest that a plumber is the guy he is fighting for. How many plumbers do you know making $250,000 a year?" –Sen. Joe Biden said on "The Tonight Show" that "I don't know many plumbers who are making $250,000 a year and worried about it. We're kind of worried about Joe the fireman, Joe the policeman, Joe the real plumber with a license." – Speaking on the "Today" show, Biden also said said, "I don't have any 'Joe the Plumbers' in my neighborhood that make $250,000 a year and are worried." In an interview with CNN on October 16, Wurzelbacher clarified that the company he wants to buy makes well less than $250,000 a year - which Obama says means his taxes would not be increased. Families making more than $250,000 could see taxes go up under Obama's plan, according to the campaign, while those making less than that amount would not see any raise. The Verdict: In Dispute. McCain regards these comments as political attacks on Joe Wurzelbacher, but the comments also can be interpreted as Obama campaign commentary on the McCain campaign's rhetoric. Filed under: Barack Obama Fact Check Joe the plumber |
The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com. CNN=Politics Screensaver
New in the Ticker
hambypCNN: @AP_Ken_Thomas excellent duane spencer reference. let's try to work in lee scruggs, too, before the season ends.
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:14:50 -0800 @wolfblitzercnn: Shocking - what's happening in Baghdad. Five terror attacks. More than 100 killed and 400 injured amid fears the violence will increase.
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:08:29 -0800 hambypCNN: Kaine vs. Steele on Situation Room today in 6P hour.
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:55:02 -0800 @edhenrycnn: My colleague Dan Lothian and I show what's it's like on the road with the President - http://bit.ly/7XSU53 #cnn
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:09:21 -0800 hambypCNN: Big game for the Hoyas tonight against Butler @ 7PM. @moelleithee, @mikemadden and @karentravers will be watching, and you should too.
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:04:26 -0800 Categories
Archive
Popular Posts
|
Loading weather data ...