Joe the Plumber: Ban media from war
Samuel Wurzelbacher, aka Joe the Plumber, is in Israel. (Getty Images/Israeli GPO)
(CNN) – ‘Joe the Plumber’ Wurzelbacher told a group of journalists covering the conflict in Israel and Gaza that he didn’t think the media should be allowed to report on war.
“I think media should be abolished from, you know, reporting,” Wurzelbacher said. “You know, war is hell. And if you’re gonna sit there and say, ‘well, look at this atrocity,’ well you don’t know the whole story behind it half the time, so I think the media should have no business in it.”
Wurzelbacher arrived in Israel on Sunday to start a 10-day assignment for pjtv.com, a Web site run by the conservative media outlet Pajamas Media. The plumber-turned-foreign correspondent said he wanted to cover Israel’s side of the conflict, because he thought the media was slanting the story to make it look like “Israel’s being bad.”
In his first day as a reporter, Wurzelbacher described the hardships of daily life in the southern Israeli town of Sderot.
“I’m sure they’re taking quick showers, I know I would,” Wurzelbacher said. “So you can’t plan your day, you can’t take a picnic.“
Wurzelbacher said he thought Israel should have attacked Gaza sooner. He told a group of reporters that he was a “peace-loving man,” but that "when someone hits me, I'm going to unload on the boy.”
He got a first-hand taste of reality in Sderot, when his group heard sirens warning of a rocket attack. With cameras rolling, Wurzelbacher and his group ran into a shelter.
“I’m in the bunker, I’m sitting there angry, outright furious, that I’m letting this terrorist dictate what I’m going to do because they’re firing missiles,” Wurzelbacher said. “It was fear at first, then outright anger, and then me wanting some kind of retribution. I’m not a person that runs from things, but when it’s a missile, you run.”
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I thought the election this past November would have shown the country's media that right wing topics are in the minority.
I believe this is what is called "a slow news day".
This article is so worthless, I can't even believe I am commenting on it! Yikes!
Why is this guy over there, he is a joke and your dicision to send him to represent ant form of media from this great country is a bigger joke. First we got him as plumber, now a reporter, what next, is he going be next a Senator . Put to work on a job, is qualified to do, we are sick of him
Hey Joe – Be a hero – become a martyr.
Then we'll call you Joe the Collateral damage.
PS – Sarah sends her love, and says when she divorces Todd you're the one, baby.................
Who gives a crap what this idiot has to say about anything? Christ, please go the hell away.
This guy is the most vile piece of trash to come out of the last election.
Unfortunately he is right about Israel. If we had let Israel take care of the militant muslim filth that has been trying to destroy that nation for generations there would be no Middle East conflict today. Israel needs our help and deserves that help. Joe needs and deserves a one way trip to Alaska. He and that ditz Palin are made for each other.
Hmm.. can somebody explain what journalism school he went to?
Why is he news?
So if a conservative says media shouldn't report on war, it's against 1st Amendment rights, but when commie liberals try to ban conservative talk radio, it's patriotic? You liberals drive me crazy. The media elected Obama since they refused to challenge anything he says. What will the media say when Obama drives the economy further south by trying to get the government to take over every aspect of our lives? We feasted for many years. What goes up must come down. Let the economy balance out, and we won't have wasted trillions of dollars. And somebody please tell CNN of all people, to quit being so biased. Then idiots like Joe wouldn't have to go to Israel to report both sides.
What a joke Joe is turning out to be. He was initially going over to COVER the war. That presumes BOTH sides, but he actually NOW states that he is over there to cover Israel 's side only. Like that isn't already covered. He can't get into Gaza, so his position now , as a war coorespondent ,is that coorespondents shouldn't be in a war zone.
When does this guys15 minutes end?
This guy's 15 minutes of fame are WAY over. time for him to sink into the obscurity that he deserves. What a stupid, stupid GOPer.
why is the press giving this liar a platform, exactly?
Freedom of information is the lifeblood of a democracy. No one who has any respect for freedom OR democracy would be able to hold such an opinion. This person wants all opinions to be controlled by the government, as long as that government is run by Republicans. It's obvious that he is a Republican first and an American second, if even that.
I know one thing: Pj tv, or whatever their name is just increased their viewership. I can imagine all sorts of people are going to jump on and see what moronic thing Joe has to say if at least on an intermittent schedule. It's sadistic, or maybe self-loathing, but I just have to see what the train wreck looks like.
HE is STUCK on STUPID!! Joe and Sarah keep up the good work over the next 2 years so the republicans can be proud of their next candidates for President and VP.
You've gotta be kidding!! JOE, YOUR FIFTEEN MINUTES WAS UP MONTHS AGO!
Come on CNN and all other mainstream media! Obviously it's a slow day for you guys . . . but please . . . don't give Joe anymore print or air time!!!
This guy had McCain pay his taxes for him and now he gets a free trip to Isreal at taxpayers expense. Life in the good ole US of A. Can't beat it.
This guy is dumber than a box of rocks. Isn't he over there to "report" on the war? No wonder is plumbing business was a failure ... he's better at talking himself out of jobs than keeping them!
It is pathetic that this guy is even in the news. He is nothing less than an idiot.
Dont ever come back Joe the bleep.Stay in your country,we should have known you were an undercover traitor.
Way to go Joe! I'd much rather have some average Joe make some money than some "Know it all political Pundit" Hey wasn't it CNN that was taking reports from a Pro Palistinian Doctor from Norway as though he were speaking Gospel? CNN and MSNBC were the only two news agencies that did not report this news. This same doctor stated that the terrorist had every right to kill Americans. mmmm. If you want my vote for the IDIOT of the year it would be to CNN
Joe the Plumber now Joe the Reporter.
I guess you CAN do whatever you can dream.
Perhaps I should try and follow my dream of becoming the dictator of the universe.
This guy is dumber than a box of rocks. Isn't he over there to "report" on the war? No wonder is plumbing business was a failure ... he's better at talking himself out of jobs than keeping them!
It is pathetic that this guy is even in the news. He is nothing less than an idiot.
Really, is this guy still around?
No one needs to bother trying to make this guy sound stupid, he does a good job by himself.
And what I find truly laughable about this is that he is speaking out against the same "media" that continues to extend his 15 minutes on stage!
Isn't there some scummy reality show that will take him?
Oh, no .... Joe. Please go home and settle into the trade you were trained for. Leave the reporting to Anderson Cooper!
Great picture – Are those the burning remains GOP smoldering in the background?
Joe has a point. Everytime you see those reporters with bombs going off around them, flares to the left of them, chaos to the right of them, you have to wonder if it's all for the backdrop. I don't get it. What's the point? Just give us the facts, not the theatrics.
I'm all for free speech, but ....
I'm also at a loss at what many people use as a source for their information. Part of an open government is the fact that items of interest are allowed to be reported by the media. Certainly we will never get the whole story. And, as a 20-year member of the military I know the whole story will never be reported and many times what is reported is doctored. Much of that is a security issue and to some great extent I agree with that.
Joe: You went, you saw; now just use it as your opinion and quit judging the press the same way you think they have judged you.