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Joe the Plumber Sues Over Privacy Violations

Snooping part of pattern of hostility, claims Wurzelbacher

By Gabriel Winant,  Newser User

Posted Mar 6, 2009 9:12 AM CST

(Newser) – “Joe the Plumber” is suing former Ohio officials for violating his privacy, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Employees of the state’s family services department (since resigned) checked Samuel Wurzelbacher for unpaid child support obligations, after Sen. John McCain elevated him to prominence. “You shouldn't have to regret asking a reasonable question in a public forum of a presidential candidate,” says the head of the group representing Wurzelbacher.

Wurzelbacher says this is just one example of how the campaign caused long-term damage to his reputation. “I can no longer actually work as a plumber,” he told the Washington Post. That's because anything he does—like break a pipe—would become national news. “I've spoken to some of my plumbing buddies in town and no one really wants to touch me right now.”

Samuel Wurzelbacher,  in the region to report for the conservative US  pjtv.com Web site, poses for pictures in a house damaged by rockets fired by Palestinian militants from inside the Gaza Strip.
Samuel Wurzelbacher, in the region to report for the conservative US pjtv.com Web site, poses for pictures in a house damaged by rockets fired by Palestinian militants from inside the Gaza Strip.   (AP Photo/Moshe Milner, Government Press Office, handout)
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens to Samuel Joe The Plumber  Wurzelbacher speak at a rally at Mentor High School in Mentor, Ohio, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens to Samuel "Joe The Plumber" Wurzelbacher speak at a rally at Mentor High School in Mentor, Ohio, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Samuel Wurzelbacher, in the region to report for the US conservative pjtv.com Web site  poses for pictures, near the southern Israeli  city of Sderot, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009.
Samuel Wurzelbacher, in the region to report for the US conservative pjtv.com Web site poses for pictures, near the southern Israeli city of Sderot, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009.   (AP Photo/Moshe Milner, Government Press Office, handout)
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On election night, I actually loaded my guns up because I was getting death threat after death threat all the time. - Joe the Plumber

I show up to your house. Say, you lean way left. . . . You don't like my politics. You sit there and say, 'Joe the Plumber overcharged me, Joe the Plumber broke this.' That makes national news. - Samuel Wurtzelbacher

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 23 comments
oldgoat
Mar 9, 2009 3:16 AM CDT
Gee Joe maybe they don't want to touch you because you aren't a licensed plumber. Maybe because you have shown that you are more interested in getting your face in public. Did you really think that your background would remain secret once you started becoming a news item? At some point your 15 minutes of fame will flame out and then you will need to go back to doing a job.
bacimom
Mar 8, 2009 8:38 PM CDT
Not like Fox News right?
Shannonals
Mar 7, 2009 10:47 PM CST
Samuel Wurzelbacher is an idiot.

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