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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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20

Gay Activist Swipes Back at Joe the Plumber

Activist prez: Who cares?

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(Newser) – Joe the Plumber's latest social commentary is a non-issue, according to a leading gay rights activist. “It would matter if Joe the Plumber mattered,” the Human Rights Campaign president said of Samuel Wurzelbacher’s recent labeling of gay people as “queer” as in “strange and unusual,” the AP reports. “Queer” is “not like a slur, like you would call a white person a honky or something like that,” Wurzelbacher told Christianity Today.

“I’ve had some friends that are actually homosexual,” he continued. “And, I mean, they know where I stand, and they know that I wouldn’t have them anywhere near my children. But at the same time, they’re people, and they’re going to do their thing.”

In this Oct. 30, 2008 file photo, Samuel
In this Oct. 30, 2008 file photo, Samuel "Joe The Plumber" Wurzelbacher speaks at a rally for Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. in Sandusky, Ohio.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
Samuel
Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher speaks during a tax day "tea party" protest Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Mich.   (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, and Samuel 'Joe The Plumber' Wurzelbacher arrive at a rally in Mentor, Ohio, Oct. 30, 2008.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, and Samuel 'Joe The Plumber' Wurzelbacher arrive at a rally in Mentor, Ohio, Oct. 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
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People don't understand the dictionary—it's called queer. Queer means strange and unusual. It's not like a slur, like you would call a white person a honky or something like that. You know, God is pretty explicit.
- Samuel Wurzelbacher

It would matter if Joe the Plumber mattered. One thing among many things we learned in the 2008 campaign is that he doesn't. - Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign

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20 comments
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Alexandria
May 7, 09 9:24 AM CDT
Why/how is this d-bag still in the press? Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
freethemall
May 7, 09 11:28 AM CDT
The reason he is still in the press, is because he is a hero to closet bigots. These are the ones who are fond of bandying about the concept of "politically correctness/incorrectness". They assume that many people share their retrograde views but are hesitant to express them for fear of censure. Because "Joe" is not thusly hesitant, he is a hero to them.
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shonangreg
May 7, 09 9:37 AM CDT
For the same reason American Idol has its quota of untalented hacks. Being cruel, watching stupid people make fools of themselves, and knowing fellow viewers actually believe some idiot spouting off utter non-sense, these are all staples of Reality TV, ambulance chasing, and news/entertainment. Everyone wants to pretend they're better than everyone else. Disguised cowardice has become hip. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
woody66
May 7, 09 11:25 AM CDT
Joe's cognitive dissonance is humorous. He knows (or knew) gay people he calls (called) friends but wouldn't let them near his children. Some basis for a solid friendship. Reminds me of an Archie Bunker episode I watched once................only it's real (with Newser placing a Google "Gay Personals ...find gay singles in your area" ad right below the story. Now what would Joe think about that ?).
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Hip
May 7, 09 9:46 AM CDT
Joe the Loser Reply
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-1

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