(CNN) - Samuel Wurzelbacher, also known as "Joe the Plumber," kicked off his congressional campaign Tuesday night, hoping to win over an Ohio House seat for the GOP.
"Our current system is all about control. It needs to be fixed," Wurzelbacher said. "They keep on putting duct tape on it. I'm not the kind of plumber that uses duct tape."
Wurzelbacher gained GOP rock-star status in 2008 after challenging then-presidential candidate and Sen. Barack Obama on his small-business tax plan.
His confrontation quickly became a popular anecdote in the presidential election, frequently used as a campaign message by the Republican Sen. John McCain and running-mate Sarah Palin.
The plumber-turned-celebrity has since capitalized on his fame by writing a book and making multiple media and campaign appearances.
While he turned down a chance to run for office in 2010, he's now challenging Rep. Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving Democratic woman in the House, to represent Ohio's 9th congressional district.
Making his announcement at Tony Packo's, a Hungarian restaurant in Toledo, the candidate said he's confident of a win, as said he knows how to "keep it simple."
"I don't have to remember what I said five years ago because I believe it. That's what it comes down to," he said. "They're not going to catch me in a lie. I'm not concerned about that at all. You've got to keep it simple and that's what it comes down to running for Congress."
– CNN's Gabriella Schwarz contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
a male sarah palin....lots of cute sayings no real solutions....
So this is the guy who was working without a plumber's license, who made up a story about he was going to buy to business, and had a lien against him for unpaid taxes. As long as he doesn't like Obama, being a liar, a fraud, and a tax-dodger doesn't matter to Republicans.
And the circus that the old man from AZ started continues three years later.
For a plant, and a bad one at that, he has really milked his 15 minutes of fame. Too bad they can't put duct tape on a few of them starting with him!
Then again, it IS Ohio who we found out last week are really not up to their laws are they? All those animals killed. Where was Samuel?
First, McCain gave rise to the undeserving Sarah Palin. As she's fading away, we've now got Joe the Plumber.
Anyone who thinks "simple" is always the answer when it comes to ensuring the rights of 300 million Americans clearly has no in-depth knowledge or grasp of the complexities of the human race. Life is not a series of "yes" or "no" answers. This is how partisan hacks are born.
Nothing wrong with having a personal plumber on stand by.
Ha Ha Ha ONLY IN AMERICA
Wasn't his 15 min. up years ago. Some people don't want to go un-notice.
Joe go stick your head in the jon.
Gag me with a spoon....
Here we go. Another candidate with no qualifications but 15 seconds of fame. Didn't we have enough with Sarah Palin?
Joe the plumber will be showing a lot of crack from kissing a lot of back sides as he brown noses along the way to making a complete and utter fool of himself. Pass the popcorn!
Just what we need, another nut runnng for office. Oh well I guess he has the lying down pat, should fit right in.
You get what you vote for.
but, but, but....he is NOT really a plumber. In the words of the "birthers", show me his license.
They're not going to catch me in a lie, he said. Except for the one he made when he said he was a plumber and was considering buying a plumbing business.
Another celebrity running on the GOP ticket. No brains required – just popularity.
"I'm not the kind of plumber that uses duct tape."
- I'm not a plumber - Fixed it for ya Joe.
And this is what the Republicans have to offer. Quite predictable. All emotion, no intellect (no, I did not say intelligence).
Go Joe. Leave the duct tape at home along with the teflon tape. You'll need stronger tools than that to fix the broken political system.
Simple huh? Is humanity simple? Is running a country simple? I don't know why people who get a little notoriety think all of a sudden they know how to fix our government. What we don't need is another simpleton in congress.
Everybody has a right to run. Besides that he will fit right in with most other Republican/Tparty candidates – check out his past and you find a habit of making things up while making it simple minded.
Joe! Why no president? You're as qualified as most of the GOP candidates.
"They're not going to catch me in a lie"
Didn't he lie about actually being a licensed plumber
Sir- I know plumbers- plumbers are friends of mine. You sir, are no plumber.
Oh, good lord. Hasn't he already pushed his 15 minutes?
Other than platitudes, does he actually have a platform? Don't worry it's a rhetorical question.
Really? Are there any serious Republican left in the party?
Great, the GOBP deathcult works even harder to lower the collective IQ of our politicians.