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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Joe the Plumber

Joe the Plumber stories: 23 news summaries

1 - 20 of 23 Stories | 1 2 Next >>

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(Newser) - Meghan McCain talks to Out.com about her campaign for gay marriage and her role as pseudo-spokeswoman for a new generation of Republicans, and one line is sure to catch a lot of attention: "Joe the Plumber—you can quote me—is a dumbass," she says of the... More »

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gay rights • Meghan McCain • Joe the Plumber • Republicans • Samuel Wurzelbacher

 Gay Activist 
 Swipes Back at 
 Joe the Plumber 

Activist prez: Who cares?

May 7, 09 9:21 AM CDT
(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,... More »

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gay rights • homosexuality • Joe the Plumber • Samuel Wurzelbacher

(Newser) - Being honored at a Washington event last night skewering the liberal media made Samuel Wurzelbacher—better known as Joe the Plumber, of Campaign ’08 fame—“horny,” the Washington Post reports. “God, all this love and everything in the room—I’m horny,” the Republican everyman... More »

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Chris Matthews • Bill Maher • liberal media • Joe the Plumber • conservative media • Samuel Wurzelbacher • Media Research Center


 Joe the Plumber Sues 
 Over Privacy Violations 

Snooping part of pattern of hostility, claims Wurzelbacher

Mar 6, 09 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... More »

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lawsuit • Bill Maher • invasion of privacy • Joe the Plumber

OPINION

As a Reporter, Joe the Plumber's a Good Plumber

Would-be journo mainly full of crap

Feb 11, 09 10:07 AM CST
(Newser) - In our YouTube world, "anyone and everyone can play journalist," but not everyone should, writes James Rainey in the LA Times. Case in point: Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher. In his work for conservative Pajamas Media, "Wurzelbacher looks about as capable with a microphone and a... More »

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journalism • Bill Maher • economic stimulus package • Joe Wurzelbacher • Joe the Plumber • Pajamas Media • conservative media

Reporting From Gaza, This Is
Joe the Plumber

Campaign celeb tries war journalism for conservative website

Jan 7, 09 4:23 PM CST
(Newser) - Perhaps in an effort to ditch his infamous moniker, Joe the Plumber is swapping plunger for pen. The Ohio businessman, the presidential election’s "average American," will spend 10 days near Gaza covering Israel’s perspective on the conflict for pjtv.com, Internet arm of conservative Pajamas Media.... More »

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Israel • Gaza • news • Arab Israeli conflict • reporting • Joe Wurzelbacher • Joe the Plumber • Pajamas Media

GLOSSIES

 2008 Hall of Infamy
Inductees 

A month-by-month gallery of the year's most ignominious figures

Dec 25, 08 8:21 PM CST
(Newser) - As we look back at the great people who made their mark this year, let us not forget to document the schlubby, the sneaky, and the just plain criminal. Vanity Fair has done the legwork, rounding up a month-by-month rogue's gallery. Some highlights:
  • January: Rudy Giuliani's Florida
... More »

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Rudy Giuliani • Robert Mugabe • politics • Eliot Spitzer • Carly Fiorina • Lipitor • Radovan Karadzic • Rod Blagojevich • Mark Penn • scandal • Robert Jarvik • He Kexin • Richard Fuld • Joe the Plumber • Best of 2008

 Joe the Plumber 
 'Appalled' by McCain 

Campaigning made him feel 'dirty'

Dec 10, 08 5:30 AM CST
(Newser) - Joe the Plumber, a sidekick of John McCain's presidential campaign who came to represent the common man, now says he was "appalled" by the Republican candidate, Politico reports. Plumber Joe Wurzelbacher, who appeared at campaign stops with McCain, told a conservative radio show host his up-close look at presidential... More »

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John McCain • Bill Maher • campaign trail • bailout • Sarah Palin • Joe Wurzelbacher • Joe the Plumber • President Obama

 Joe the Plumber 
 Grabs Book Deal 

Chooses small publisher, says he's "spreading the wealth"

Nov 20, 08 9:29 AM CST
(Newser) - Before the 2008 election is a month old, Joe the Plumber plans to have a book on the shelves, the New York Times reports. Samuel J. Wurzelbacher has signed a deal with PearlGate Publishing to write “Joe the Plumber: Fighting for the American Dream,” due in bookstores Dec.... More »

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Bill Maher • Election 2008 • Joe Wurzelbacher • Joe the Plumber

OPINION

Arugula as 'Hope Salad,'
and Other Obama Changes

How president-elect can deliver, concretely, on campaign mantra

Nov 11, 08 6:27 PM CST
(Newser) - In case you haven’t heard, Barack Obama wants to bring change to America. Culture11 offers a list of what that change might mean:
  • When daughters ask for a puppy, Daddy shouts: "Yes we can!"
  • French win fries debate in White House cafeteria. Arugula now known
... More »

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Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Joe Biden • White House • Secret Service • change • Joe the Plumber • President Obama • White House dog

OPINION

Campaign Buzzwords
We'll Be Happy to Discard

The pitbull with lipstick might've been a game-changer, but enough already

Nov 4, 08 4:05 PM CST
(Newser) - It's an inevitability of any election season: Some phrases will get bandied around so much that the hapless American, simply trying to do his civic duty by paying attention, will be crushed under the sheer weight of political verbiage. The Red Eye lists the worst offenders:
  • Change: As in,
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • Obama 2008 • maverick • McCain 2008 • Election 2008 • Sarah Palin • Wasilla • Joe the Plumber

Ohio Cops Flush Plumber Joe's Speeding Ticket

Toledo police worried about 'negative repercussions'

Nov 4, 08 1:08 PM CST
(Newser) - It seems Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, or as John McCain dubbed him, “Joe the Plumber,” lives a charmed life. Wurzelbacher was caught going 50mph in a 35mph zone in Toledo last week, but America’s favorite toilet doctor got off with just a warning. The officer decided a ticket... More »

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Toledo, Ohio • Election 2008 • Joe Wurzelbacher • Joe the Plumber

(Newser) - John McCain capped a busy day of campaigning with an appearance on Saturday Night Live, where he teamed with his VP-lookalike, Tina Fey, to poke fun at himself and Barack Obama. In the opening sketch, he and "Palin" hawked wares on QVC because he's a true maverick—"a... More »

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Saturday Night Live • John McCain • Tina Fey • McCain 2008 • Election 2008 • Joe the Plumber

 New Video Hit: 
 'Where Are You, Joe?' 

McCain's guest nowhere to be found during first Ohio rally

Oct 31, 08 11:10 AM CDT
(Newser) - The image of John McCain looking for a nowhere-to-be-found Joe the Plumber has surfaced on YouTube and is being forwarded by gleeful Democrats, notes MSNBC's First Read blog. “Joe’s with us here," McCain said at an Ohio rally yesterday. "Joe, where are you?," he asked,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
John McCain • Ohio • gaffe • Election 2008 • campaign rally • Joe Wurzelbacher • Joe the Plumber

(Newser) - We already knew he could fix a toilet and stir up a presidential race. Now, Joe the Plumber may be dazzling us with a country album on Inauguration Day, Politico reports. It seems the artist formally known as Joe Wurzelbacher has teamed up with a Nashville PR firm and is... More »

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country music • Election 2008 • Joe Wurzelbacher • Joe the Plumber

 Joe the Congressman? 

Would battle popular northern Ohio representative

Oct 25, 08 11:40 AM CDT
(Newser) - Joe the Plumber is mulling a 2010 congressional bid. The man John McCain turned into an instant celebrity—and the centerpiece of the GOP campaign in the home stretch—told radio host Laura Ingraham yesterday he might take on a highly popular incumbent in northern Ohio, CNN reports. “I'll... More »

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Congress • Election 2008 • Laura Ingraham • Joe Wurzelbacher • Joe the Plumber

ANALYSIS

McCain's Final Strokes Paint Obama With Lefty Brush

Democrat's tax plans amount to 'welfare,' Republican charges

Oct 24, 08 3:19 PM CDT
(Newser) - John McCain criticized Barack Obama’s economic plans yesterday as the Republican focuses on portraying his opponent as a tax-and-spend liberal with a socialist vision for America, the Los Angeles Times reports. McCain had hoped to iconic plumber Joe on his tour of central Florida, but Joe Wurzelbacher refused. Instead,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • small businesses • Election 2008 • Florida voting • tax policy • Joe Wurzelbacher • Joe the Plumber

McCain Kicks Off Fla. Tour; Obama Heads to Hawaii

Obama says decision to visit grandmother was easy to make

Oct 23, 08 5:02 PM CDT
(Newser) - The economy continues to be issue No. 1 on the campaign trail. John McCain kicked off his “Joe the Plumber Tour” in all-important Florida, blasting Barack Obama's tax plan for redistributing the wealth of ordinary Americans like Joe. Obama again linked McCain to the failed economic policies of George... More »

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Florida • Barack Obama • John McCain • Hawaii • Election 2008 • The Early Show • Joe the Plumber

Obama's Plumber Calls Joe Out

Wurzelbacher hurts pros by having no license, he says

Oct 18, 08 6:41 PM CDT
(Newser) - Joe Wurzelbacher may be the most famous plumber this side of Super Mario Brothers, but Troy Dunn doesn't think much of him. “Joe the Plumber isn’t even a licensed plumber,” says Dunn, the 44-year-old licensed journeyman who fixes Barack Obama’s toilets. “He's taking our work.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • Election 2008 • Joe Wurzelbacher • Joe the Plumber

 Candidates Trade 
 Barbs for Laughs 

McCain and Obama share charity event spotlight at height of campaign

Oct 17, 08 7:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - Just one night after their chilly final debate, Barack Obama and John McCain spent another evening in close proximity, with much different results. They poked fun at themselves, and each other, at New York’s Al Smith Dinner, an annual political roast that raises money for charity, reports the New ... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • Election 2008 • Joe the Plumber

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