Obama leads in Ohio; Joe the plumber not having big impact, poll says

It is about time for Ohio to have it wright this time. Good for America.

Just remember that Joe the Plumber is (by marriage) directly related to Charles Keating. Yes, *that* Charles Keating, the same one the "Keating 5" scandal was named after, and that John McCain was directly a part of.

Joe the Plumber is no 'everyman', and I believe was paid by the McCain campaign to put Obama on the spot.

As a Canadian, I am beginning to hope that McCain wins. I think that American's need one last dose of the Republican Right Wing to truly cure them of it before they wake up and join the civilized nations of the world. I fear though, that the wealth gap will increase, the right and left will harden their positions, and that the country will essentially become the same as the democracies of South America where terrible right wing gov'ts are replaced by terrible left wing gov'ts.

Americans tend towards extremism (like calling people communists or socialists) because of widespread ignorance due to a 3rd world school system. It’s the same reason that they overindulge in Big Macs and seem to be unable to drink 1 beer. More is always better. In governance, balance should be the goal not extremes. Anyway, this is a lesson that must be learned. Go McCain, devastate that middle class a bit more and maybe they will elect Obama next time.

The pathetic nature of the USA does not really bug me because we are doing quite well though this economic crisis (we have regulations regarding the risks that can be taken on our ‘wall street’). We have 17 years of uninterrupted growth (compared to 2 recessions in the USA) and we are set for the future with a well education population.

Good luck America, you need it.

Why would "Joe the Plumber" be an issue in Ohio when he's a phoney? Ya know, the guy could have said "I make $40,000 a year, behind in my taxes and can hardly make it financially" and no one would have thought him any different than the rest of us. He come up with this big story that did not even apply to him. What is strange is because under Obama's tax plan, "Joe" would benefit as well as Newell Plumbing, where Joe works because they also make less than $250,000.

People in Ohio are not stupid!

Poll numbers are far different in Missouri than those I have gotten from other sites. I am seeing Obama up by +5.

When you're reaching at straws like 'Joe the Plumber' I think it's a sign your campaign has lost it's way. You know what I want? I wanna hear McCain talk about what he plans to do for America. I wanna hear about why exactly his tax plan is better than Barack Obama's. I want to know why I should consider voting for this man when he hasn't offered one single bit of evidence as to how his economic policies differ from those of the W. So stop it with the attacks, stop it with the lame slanders of 'socialism', and let's start talking about something real. Cos I ain't buying it McCain, and I don't think many other people are either.

You can do it Ohio. Vote for change. Vote early. The rest of of America is counting on your vote for Change by voting Obama.

Okay, for Libby at #1, who seems to not understand the American democratic process: (a) people are not registered to vote for Obama or McCain or any individual or party. They are simply registered to vote. (b) an excess of voter registration card in the name of Mrs Wilkinson's kitty cat Rosie is certainly a lamentable fraud, but one perpetrated on Acorn who paid the registrar per card -- it does not equal "voter fraud" because -- **now pay attention here, Libby, because this is where we might lose you** -- no one has voted yet. (c) finally, just because Rosie The Cat has a reg card doesn't mean she will have proper ID come election day. sooo...there you go.

How stupid would you have to be to have your vote affected by whether some guy called Joe the Plumber, whose name isn't actually Joe, who isn't actually a plumber, who owes a grand in back taxes and who doesn't believe in social security, is voting for anyone at all? I mean, seriously? I'd love an answer to this one? As stupid as shellfish? As a pet rock?

Obama's message should be 100% positive from this point out. The rest of the Media should be asking John McCain why is is trying to win by divinding this country. I cannot find one instance where McCain and Palin talk about bringin America together. They are simply a destructive force which is more of the same from Buh/Cheney/Rove smear politics.

Good Bye, Mr Clean.

Here's a quarter, go call someone who cares! Like the Lucas County (Ohio) Tax Commissioner's Office to arrange a payment plan for your back taxes, Loser.

To the Canadian, I want to move there.
You nailed it.

All of you that are claiming voter fraud should go to the non-partisan website www. factcheck.org. It pretty well answers this question and says outright that there is no evidence of voter fraud. The GOP has been beating this drum a lot in the past 6 years and this is the reason that those REPUBLICAN attorneys were fired by Alberto Gonzales because they refused to prosecute non-crimes. There is a VERY clear pattern here and it has nothing to with ACORN's voter fraud and has everything to do with GOP voter suppression because voting = loses. Sorta like Ahmadinejad or Mugabe.

McCain's plan is socialism for the wealthy elite: tax breaks for the wealthy and for large corporations forces the rest of us to pay a disporportionate burden.

yet another mccain campaign "gimmick" tanks lol - i guess it was just a coincidence that joe the plumber was a household name with right wing radio shows before and just a coincidence that mccain was the one that dropped him in the middle of this election by mentioning him over 20 times in the debate...

....the voters are paying too much attention this time to fall for any of their distractions or games...

EIGHT IS ENOUGH - NOT THIS TIME!

This stunt was only scheduled for 3 days. It worked beautifully - No examination of McCain's gruesomely skewed to the wealthy tax plan. The funny part is that they actually used a middle class symbol to try and deceive the electorate until even Joe figured it out: hey, there using me and I would benefit under Obama's plan! Oops!

It is hard to imagine that McCain could do a much worse job as the GOP candidate--he's not pushing the GOP's core issues, he picked a grossly underqualified running mate, he's been mean and hateful, and he keeps saying stupid things and denying reality. Who would vote for a person like that? I was a Republican but Bush and McCain have driven me into the Democratic party. I don't want to be associated with a bunch of clowns.

I have no idea why this is such a big deal....

The GOP stock is plummeting fast...along with its image.

It's bad enough they have Limbaugh race-baiting atop of idiot mountain (fiercely attacking a 4 star general for not marching in lockstep with the party). But, the most telling sign is that many conservatives view the McCain-Palin ticket as weak -- as many admit behind closed doors. However, more are speaking publicly about their disappointment in the GOP ticket, especially as the Nov. 4 date approaches.

It's clear that the Republican brand is eroding fast.

90% of the country make under $250,000 a year, so even if Obama was a socialism which he isnt, 90% of the people would benefit.

I'm sorry but every time the McCain/Palin ticket mentions " Joe the plumber" they just make me mad. Memo to the McCain campaign, Joe the fake plumber has admitted he played fast and loose with the truth. When you keep bringing up his name you remind us that you don't care about fact checking or vetting your surrogates. Sort of like when Sarah Palin kept saying she said " thanks but no thanks to the bridge to nowhere". We finally got you to quit saying that , what is it going to take to get you to quit spreading the myth of Joe the plumber.

I am a buckeye, and I sure as hell don't believe "Joe the plumber" . All I want is for myself, disabled, and husband, 65 years old, be able to stay in my home, keep my house, feed myself, keep warm without these ridiculous prices, and buy the medications that I need. You know, with the republicans, we sure have a lot to worry about. I am praying that Obama/Biden get in office, he stays safe, and we bring my country back.

To Libby: Voters in W Virginian, in early voting using the electronic voting machines that lack a paper trail, are reporting that no matter who they pull the lever for, in both the Presidential and Senate race, their votes keep coming up Republican even though they are pulling the lever for dem.

In California, a man running a republican signature gathering group called YMP, have had their head guy arrested for voter fraud where people thought they were signing a petition for stricter law against child molesters, had their registration switched from Dem to GOP. Get off your high horse jackass

,

As a Canadian, I'm embarrassed by Bob.

In fifteen days, "Joe the Plumber" will be relegated to the pantheon of forgotten cultural idiocies, sort of like the "pet rock" craze all those years ago. Look for him to show up in "Trivial Pursuit" games in a decade or so.

~A~

McCain and his buddies have already brought us the down side of socialism by forcing the taxpayer to bail out all of his Wall St. buddies to the tune of over 1 trillion dollars, yet in a true socialist system, the taxpayer would have received the benefit of such an expenditure, with things like Health Care or Education.

Instead, he gave tax cuts to the rich, and spread the debt to us.

Great Job!

Joe the Plumber was a McCain plant! McCain met him first and like the attack dog that he is, he sic Joe on Obama. McCain is a con artist from way back, and just like Palin's 'can I call you Joe' remark, it's a set up!

People don't understand that over $250,000 is your taxable income after expenses/deductions. So Joe the Plumber would have to make considerably more and under this scenario he would have an extremely successful business; most likely not a small business. The average plumber in Ohio is ~ $47,500.

Are Repulicans truly that dense? Taxation is "redistribution" of wealth. So you all agree that like Joe the Plumber, people shouldn't pay their taxes? Your Bush is the one that has socialized our banking system! not Obama. Your party has destroyed our country, it is OVER. YOu will not be in positions of power again, you can not lead.

Higher taxes for the wealthy could reduce the number of wealthy women available for marriage to "entrepreneurs" like John McCain.

Joe the plumber isn't a plumber will pay less taxes with Obama, although I have read he doesn't pay his taxes. What about the 4000 + joe the dead soldier who has died in Bushes retarded war. If Mccain wins we are a nation of idiots. I am a retired veteran and think loving the flag and our idiot leaders means nothing. Caring about your fellow Americans and having compassion is patriotic. Being pro military doesn't mean killing them in an unnecessary war. Shame on the USA for the last 8 years. What a disgrace Bish Cheney have been

Marketing can only take you so far before the goo of fallacy gums up the gears.

correction, it's Joe the Liar. He is not a plumber nor is his company. He's a handy man making scratch of doing plumbing work. What Joe the Liar should do if he wants to own a plumbers biz is get a license and vote for obama so he can do better than he is now and so can his customers, then he can buy that business and yes pay fair taxes like everyone else

The Obama campaign didn't 'attack' Joe the Plumber; the poor guy got put out there by Sen. McCain and then the media checked out his story. Like many Republican tales, Joe didn't stand up. His name is Sam, not a licensed plumber, isn't buying a business, and would get a tax CUT under the Obama plan. That's the part of this whole Joe the Plumber that has sticking power: the lame-brain claims that quickly turn out to be false on the facts and wrong in judgment.

Lets get this right shall we?

1.) The media went after "Joe the Plumber" because he was an obvious fraud from the outset. No plumber in a 2 person company makes a quarter million in a years time. Also, a strange coincidence that he shared the surname of Charles Keating's son in law.
2.) "Joe the Plumber" sought out Obama who was walking down the street. Obama did not go to his door specifically as many reports would have you believe. If Obama went to Joe's door, then why is all of the footage of their conversation showing them out in the street?

To all those buying into the hype that Obama is somehow affiliated with voter fraud... PLEASE step back and reflect on the years 2000 and 2004.

As a Floridian, those two years are indelible in our minds, as we will NEVER forget the Republican set up (Kathleen Harris and Jeb Bush) STEALING the entire election... so we don't want to hear one word about the democrats and voter fraud. There is no-one more experienced with voter fraud that the Republican party.

By his own admission, Joe the Non-Plumber will pay less under Obama's plan. He could use the over $900 he'll get from Obama to pay off his back taxes and unpaid AZ traffic tickets.

When Joe gets in the voting booth, he's going choose Obama. And if he doesn't he's an even biger fool than he already appears to be.

Joe Six-pack, Joe the Plumber, Hockey Moms... I refuse to vote for ANYONE that dumbs down the American voter to a ridiculous generic name that's supposed to encompass millions of us. McCain and Palin have done nothing but pander to the lowest IQs. I especially love how McCain's newest mascot, Joe the Plumber, isn't even a plumber. What a crock. McCain vetted the guy as well as he vetted Palin.

Don't worry about registration fraud. It's nothing compared to the election fraud being engineered by the GOP. When you vote, be sure WHO you voted for is recorded on the machine and not someone you did not vote for. It's happening right now in West Virginia. Votes for Obama/Biden are being recorded for McCain/Palin.

"Obama leads in Ohio 51 percent to 42 percent among likely voters..."

This is the first clear lead by, and great news for, Obama -- Ohio had been very close in the polls until now. McCain must win Ohio to have any shot at the WH -- if this Obama lead holds, it's good night John and Sarah.

Joe the Plumber only highlights John the Opportunist.

It's interesting that Obama is getting $150 million from plumbers, while welfare queen McCain is getting all his $$ from the "gummint".

Who's the socialist???

We have 17 years of uninterrupted growth (compared to 2 recessions in the USA) and we are set for the future with a well education population. Good luck America, you need it.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This statement is a riot. Envy based Canadian condescension combined with an apropos spelling error. I suggest you learn to conjugate your mother tongue unless you're trying to prove that even Canadian children get "left behind" .

To Emi Briet....i started thinking the same thing about "Back-tax Plumber Joe" and his question to McCain...it was too much of a coincidence.
The repubs are a bunch of sleezebags and always will be.
And to the Canadian....we don't need McPain and his outrageous healthcare plan....it would be devastating if employees were to lose their employer-sponsored healthcare benefit. Most people cannot afford to buy their own insurance, digging the hole deeper for people to get out of.

Every voter's booth this time should have a "flight" attendent passing out barf bags. What a ridiculous amount of hoo-ha over one person. After calm, rational consideration; I am voting for whomever Tinker the Bell picks. At least on November 5th I will still have access to her brand of happy fairy dust. Actually, I am voting for the first one of those well-rehearsed, handled, marketed, well meaning but so out of touch dweebs ---who actually answers the question asked of them. Just once. Again, I am living in a fairy tale world, but that's okay--they know me here.

Since when is not paying your taxes and not being a licensed worker good? I make a decent salary, I pay my taxes, I went to public schools, I drive on public roads, I pay my bills, I live within my means and I support our troops even though I did not support the reasoning to go into war. Since when does that make me UN-patriotic?! All parts of America are pro-America and people can differ in their views and still love their country. I have had enough with this lying, people bashing, polarizing dictatorship. 8 years is enough, enough is enough.

As an American, Bob's words resonate pretty well. Though I do hold out hope that we have finally had enough division and polarization in our country.

JTP... Bush and McCain redistributed the wealth when Bush came to office giving all my rich friends huge tax breaks they didn't even need and which they didn't put back into their companies. Taxes are a redistribution of our money. Where is the McCain slogan Country First... we can't fix health care, social security or rebuild our military without taxes.... so why not put country first and say I'll pay more taxes to help save this great country if I'm making over 250k a year.. but no I suppose we should all be greedy and give more tax breaks to Exon and the already filthy rich... Let's let the Radical Republicans use fear once again to put John and Sarah in control of our country..

joe owe taxes...... he is not a plumber just a contractor... the Mccain camp is exploiting that man.. they need to stop invoking that man into their message...... I feel sorry for Joe..... if Joe didnt prosper under Bush administration how does he think he will Prosper under the MCCAIN ADMINISTRATION!!!!!! THE ONLY THING THAT THE MCCAIN CAMP DO IS IMPOSE ON UNEDUCATED PEOPLE.... I FEEL SAD THAT JOE DIDNT EVEN KNOW HE WOULD SAVE MORE MONEY AND BENIFIT MORE UNDER A OBAMA/BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. I HOPE JOE SEES THE LIGHT!

Also for Libby #1 While these registration errors are being sold as fraud-as was explained to you above-the Republicans are up to their old tricks. Purging names from the list of registered voters and not contacting them so that they will not even be aware until it is election day that they have been removed. As usual the Republicans are causing a ruckus while they try and cheat their way into another victory. What they cannot accomplish with lies and playing on the fear and intolerance of voters, they will accomplish by stealing a person's right to vote.

Is everyone blind? Sarah Palin couldn't run a day care center; she's just an arrogant idiot who has NOTHING intelligent to say and can't even see she's being USED. She's full of lies and half-truths, and she's vindictive as the day is long, making supporters nothing but angry (this is NO way to run a campaign). People like Powell DON'T want her in the White House for GOOD reason; therefore, Obama gets the backing. Wake up, folks.

I think the whole Joe the plumber tactic is as useless as the whole Obama being a Muslim strategy. It is almost as useless as the "suspending the campaign" strategy as well. McCain should actually speak to the American people, like he says he does, like we are his "friends" and tell us what he really thinks. Not try to scare us about Obama, or even act like his campaign is not important to him because we all know it is.

When old John Complain loses, he will have written the final chapter of a long and self-congradulatory government career, one spent entirely at the taxpayer's expense. Old John Complain has never held a job in the private sector and has always taken his pay straight from the U.S. Treasury. Maybe that's why he's so fascinated by "Joe the Plumber". He marvels at someone's ability to make money in the open market. (Even though it turns out that Joe, like old John, is just a right-wing gimmick.)

I'm glad to know that Ohio is not a pro-recession state like it was looking there for awhile in the polls. Welcome back, Ohio!

I don't feel sorry for the media, however, JOHN #2 response on this thread, "It is not Joe the Plumber story that voters should think about. He was never the issue. The issue is Senator Obama's response to the question Joe asked. The media attacked Joe instead of highlighting the Senator's response." It was McCain who released the wolves since he decided to make Joe the centerpiece of the last few weeks of the campaign. I've seen the Obama 'spread the wealth' comment many times on cable TV - the media was equal opportunity at least on this story. McCain picked up where they left off in his stump speeches.

To the Canadian:
Glad things are going well for all you folks up there. We've had your back for some time now, and while we don't look for payback, it sure is nice to know your arrogance is so transparent....Enjoy your cheap drugs as we foot the bill for R&D
Enjoy your peace and prosperity for generations while our troops, technology and bucks kept you safe.....only don't count us out just yet.....WE ARE ABOUT TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK....OBAMA will win , and thanks for your liberal immigation policy that brought us ATTA......real nice of you...we won't forget.......

It appears more than a few Republican hopefuls are buying in to the 'voter fraud' red herring thrown out there by the McCain campaign.

Here's the deal, folks. ACORN is nothing more than a signature gatherer. They are required, once the signatures are gathered, to submit them to the 'authorities' for review and filtering, whether they know they may contain some invalid signatures or not. This is why the checks and balances are in place.

This type of filtering and checking goes on ALL THE TIME. It is not anything to be afraid of or to demonize, as McCain and crew are attempting to do. Simple petition drives to get amendment changes on the vote card go through the same exercise, ACORN or not. The filtering and review affect all parties and benefit NO PARTY.

None of the bogus signatures will be voting, folks. This is much ado about nothing other than a continuation of the divisive approach McCain has chosen in his campaign. It is meant to demonize Obama by some form of association. It is not meant to advance in any positive way a unifying campaing or hope for America agenda. More to the point, it is false in its implications, just like most everything else in the failed McCain campaign these days.

Libby said: "Wonder how many times they counted each person who said they were for Obama. If it is anything like the way they registered people for Obama, then there is a lot of fraud in those returns."

With respect Libby, you're drinking the kool-aid. NOBODY has been registered "for Obama", nobody. The whole Acorn thing is a few people who get paid "by the name" on a registration form for registering new voters. They wanted money without doing the work so they registered names like "Mickey Mouse", etc. But there is no "Voter Fraud" here because "Mickey Mouse" won't show up to vote. The only thing that happens is that groups like Acorn, which legitimately register voters, are out a few bucks to these shysters. Oh, and just to make the point, the only reason this became a story at all is because Acorn itself reported the attempts of these people to defraud them to the police. Otherwise nobody would have known a thing. It was Acorn that made the story public and the McCain campaign that twisted it. Sorry.

Poor Sam the Plumber's Helper, aka Joe. In his confusion he likened Obama's "dancing around" his question to "Sammy Davis, Jr." , the singer, instead of to Fred Astaire, the dancer. Doesn't he know the difference?

8 YEARS

REMEMBER WHAT REPUBLICANS
HAVE DONE IN THE
LAST 8 YEARS!!!

Katrina, four dollar gas, a trillion dollar war, rising unemployment, deregulated housing market, global warming, 9-11 and $700 Billion dollar bail out ON THEIR WATCH…no more.

To James the Canadian. Don't be embarrassed by your fellow countryman, Bob. He is 100% correct in his assertions as to what is going on in my country. Sad, but true.

LIDDY, Gordon Liddy is that you claiming fraud?

I have no sympathy for "Joe the Plumber." He sought out his 15 minutes of fame by deliberately attacking Obama's policies in a public forum. That his wish for fame turned out to be a double-edged sword should not make us think he is somehow a victim.

Joe the Plumber was McCain's trojan horse forJoe the CEO

We need to recognize it for what it was, a ploy! And it didn't work. Rrepublicans are trying every, and any, thing to get another chance at the failed past 8 years. It bothers them that a majority of us want change and can see through their schemes. This country and it's citizens are becoming possessions of the Republican party. The party is divided and their aim is to divide the country.

To Bob @ #10: As an Obama supporter (& American), I'm happy to acknowledge your constructive comments, and would like to share some thoughts on your own recent elections, commensurate with our nation's level of interest in them:

(crickets chirping.)

Jealous much?

To Stephanie at Post #15. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Libby's Post #1 is so depressing to me because it shows me that people just listen to soundbites and regurgitate what they hear without thinking about it. The drummed up drama around ACORN by the McPalin campaign is a slight to all thinking Americans. I guess they hope that there are enough Libby's around to glide them, the hate-mongers, back into the presidency for another 4 years.

I read all these lines by people too stpuid to see that this nitwit they are in love with(the One, the Messiah, the Obama) is a freaking Socialist !! he hangs out with them, he reads their books, he goes to their churches...and youtell me that doesn't matter ? You make such a deal of Joe the Plumber, and he was never the issue...it was your boy's answer to his question that should send alarm bells off in your tiny minds. Jesus, youare so fullof Bush Hatred, you'll vote for anybody, no matter the cost to this country....shame on you. When the Dem/Lib/Socialists are done withus, I do hope you'll be proud ........................chumps.

Wow. I'm with the Canadian. The kind of reactions that I see from the far left and far right, resemble some of the worst examples of comprehensive thought. Unfortunately, most of what I read are talking points from either Fox News or MSNBC. It is a testament to the influence that the media has, or it is an indictment of the critical thinking skills of the American public. We have become a nation of High School and College dropouts. When the term "intellectual" has become a dirty word. We have already gone past too far. We actually had a President elected, because he was the kind of guy you would want to drink a beer with. (No BS). What happened to wanting the "smart" person to make the hard choices. The problem is, the "smart" person no longer reflects the us. The smart person is a wuss, in (non-intellectual) conservative circles the smart person is a whiney liberal. (See character portrayals of Hannity and Combs). This is sad stuff.
What's really sad is that we in America have required History and Government classes in our educational process. However most don't understand the simple workings of the Constitution, let alone what it actually says. The whole process of representation by government, on which voting is based, has been established with an essential flaw. The "census" or the way in which citizens are counted was established in a way that leans towards the types of individuals "Republicans" normally represent. Rich, White, Landowners. The constitution of the US states that anyone other than those just mentioned are counted as 3/5ths of a man or 60% of 1 whole. This is the whole premise on which the White majority has been established. There are exponentially more people of color, and naturalized immigrants, than there are anglo-saxans (caucasians). The biggest fear of the power wielding "majority" is to have the wool removed from the eyes of the people. The "Voter's Rights Act" which is a shameful document. Grants African-Americans and their descendants "TEMPORARY" permission to vote which must be extended every 25 years. Ronald Reagan and "W" were the 1st two Presidents required to renew the agreement. Not make it permanent. So as you read this African-Americans, keep that in mind. You are still not full citizens!
My fellow Americans. Pick up a book. Or get put on a shelf.

Its funny that the first responders name is Libby. Like G Gordon Libby? The planner of watergate and convicted felon who is friend's with McCain? With friends like that....

And BTW The head of a Republican Firm in California, who was working for the Republican GOP, today was arrested for trying to perpetrate vote fraud. How many arrests have been made linking to ACORN. Ummmm. ZERO.

What does Joe represent?
A guy that does plumbing work without a license.
A guy who complains about taxes on an income he doesn't make.
A guy who doesn't pay taxes on income he does make.

Some people spend too much of their effort trying to game the system instead of working hard and playing by the rules. Then they feel sorry for themselves when they don't succeed.
McGreen

You can forgive Joe the Plumber for having a tax lien. That could happen to anybody. There but for the grace of God go any one of us. But to be so opportunistic as to say you are buying the company and that you make $250,000 a year and that you are a Republican on the merits of not wanting to pay more taxes is sad, and what bothers me the most is that he has been reported to not have even voted in the last several election cycles. This is simple grandstanding that backfired for him. And John McCain, and I can not believe John McCain had the gaul to say that Obama's people brought this hardship on his Plumbship.

Actually I saw the entire exchange between Obama and Joe on YouTube (get the six minute verison, not the FOX-edited version) and thought it was one of Obama's finest hours. Here he is explaining his tax proposal to a random guy for like five minutes solid, going into detail, giving numbers, etc.

Later on I found out that right-wing people were championing that exchange as a reason NOT to vote for Obama. I just don't get it.

From JOE KLEIN @ TIME
John McCain had a fabulously loony weekend, flipping out charges and attacks like a mud tornado. The truly remarkable thing about McCain's attacks, especially on Obama's economic policies, is that McCain, in each case, is "guilty" of supporting some version of the policies he's attacking:

1. He attacks Obama for increasing "welfare" by providing refundable tax credits--that is giving people the cash equivalent if they don't pay enough in income taxes to reap the full benefit of the credit--but McCain's own $5000 health insurance credit is also refundable.
2. He attacks Obama for spreading "socialism," but McCain supported the bailout that enabled the Bush Administration to partially nationalize the banking system last week. If that ain't a (very mild) form of socialism, I don't know what is.
3. He attacks Obama's tax plan as a form of "spreading the wealth"--the words Obama used when talking to Joe the Unlicensed Tax Dodger in Ohio--because Obama would reduce taxes on the middle class and pay for it by restoring Clinton-era marginal tax rates on the wealthy. And yet, McCain proudly voted for a major tax hike and wealth redistribution scheme in his early days in his early days in Congress. In fact he touts it regularly, including on Fox News Sunday, as bipartisan cooperation at its finest:
Ronald Reagan's agenda was very different from that of Tip O'Neill's. Yet Ronald Reagan and Tip O'NEILL sat down together across the table and sat down and worked out a way to save Social Security for quite a period of time.
In fact, that was an enormous--and necessary--tax increase, but it tilted heavily against working Americans. Payroll taxes have been increased no fewer than seven times since Reagan was President and, so far as I know, never been cut--but large capital gains and marginal rate cuts, and all sorts of corporate loopholes, have been built into the tax system during that same period--a massive redistribution of wealth toward the wealthy

If Joe cant afford to pay taxes - how can he afford to buy a business?

I'm voting Obama and I like Joe the Plumber, even if he isn't one. He is a young single dad who wants to someday own his own business . There is a clear path for him to do so, he just doesn't know what it is. I have been a small business owner of a tiny real estate brokerage since 1996 and a vacation rental since 1998. I do not come close to earning $250,000, but I'd sure like to. What Joe needs to know is to do as his son is and do his homework. The difference in pay between a license and unlicensed work is vast. He then needs to look into small business loan opportunities. To make $250,000 he would need to hire other plumbers and to reach that income would take quite a long time. The tax advantages to him until that time are more generous under the Obama plan. At $250,000 income, even though his taxes would go up a little, as an employer under the Obama plan there would be credits towards company health care. Under the McCain plan, his own health care and the health care of others would be taxed for the first time in history. In the end Joe makes more money now and would save more money later on the Obama plan. The big buck differences are for the extremely wealthy - sorry, Joe. Neither you nor I benefit from that.

Joe the plumber:
not licensed as a plumber, doesn't have a business license, doubtful to purchase his boss's business, wife left him high and dry, lied multiple times. What is there about this loser that any of us couldn't possibly identify with? Typical Republican bs.

Rebooblican demagogues jumping from one failed talking point to the next. Joe the Plumber is irrelevant to anyone who listened to him say, "People who make more should pay more taxes, what is that about?" It's about cutting some slack for people who are struggling, you twit! Now it's on to "Obama is a socialist." Palin has no idea what that statement means, and what exactly are we doing with $750 Billion bail outs to banks, car makers, insurance companies and fat cats? It's OK to give away the store to the rich. But when we talk about spreading the wealth to people who are scraping by, now we scream 'Socialism!"? Who buys this tripe?

Libby, you need to educate yourself about ACORN and what they do. I'm sure you have no idea. They don't register anyone. They simply take names and information of people who want to register. They then flag applications to register which they think are fraudulent. By law, they have to turn in every card that is filled out - even the ones that are obvious jokes. Then the state supervisor, not ACORN, goes over all applications AGAIN and sends out registration cards to the people who are legit. This is a non-story. Please stop harping on it.

Like so many RightWingers Joe "Weisenheimer" was not what he claimed to be. It is always a good thing to aspire to greater things but when you fool yourself along the way, don't pay the taxes you already owe, and delude yourself into voting against your interests and those of your neighbors to feed your ego, ... you should seek help. His connection to the Keating Five was particularly amusing!

THANK YOU@Kathryn!!!

It's AMAZING how stupid some people are. WE ALL have to pay taxes, and nobody likes it, but if we didn't, we wouldn't have schools, libraries, ROADS, etc. I can't believe they're playing this socialist card, I guess that makes them fascists!

Here’s another shout out to the Canadian. You really nailed it and thanks because someone may read your post and hopefully, understand it! I couldn't agree more about the level of our citizens' education or interest in becoming more educated by picking up several books and reading them regularly. The ability to analyze the written word is lagging here because people for years have been made to believe that being a Joe Six Pack is the only thing necessary to be a citizen. The elite 2% love to keep us natives ignorant to easily take advantage.

All of this discussion seems moot since we know Ohio's voting machines are rigged. It doesn't really matter how Ohioans vote-- McCain will win the state.

I saw another article where Rick Davis is considering playing the Rev. Wright card.
After reading that the Joe the plumber card has failed, I now know why. The McCain camp knows that they are running out of time. Would McCain run our government like he's running his campaign? Would anyone with half a brain like to wake up on Nov 5th with McCain in the Oval Office and Sarah Palin as our Veep? That is one scary thought. America, please get out and vote. If you liked the way GWB has run our beloved country into the ground, then you'll love a McCain-Palin administration. We as responsible Americans cannot afford more of the same. Let's send a message that we want this country to move forward and restore our good will and integrity on this planet.

Obama-Biden08!

I think many of us would agree that we have no particular problem wtih the actual individual who happens to be "Joe the Plumber" (his views are a little weird, but, of course, who cares? Actual scrutiny of him, in particular, is a fool's errand)-- our problem is with the mythology that the McCain campaign tried to build around him: the sham folksiness. Middle class voters in Ohio can see through this act, and I think rightly feel insulted by this "used car salesman" tactic. The references to "Joe the Plumber' and "Joe Sixpack" are so vague and patronizing that it becomes obvious to anyone that the Republicans don't really know any such people. They are inventing an empty demographic like a bunch of ad men.

"As a Canadian, I am beginning to hope that McCain wins. I think that American's need one last dose of the Republican Right Wing to truly cure them of it before they wake up and join the civilized nations of the world. I fear though, that the wealth gap will increase, the right and left will harden their positions, and that the country will essentially become the same as the democracies of South America where terrible right wing gov'ts are replaced by terrible left wing gov'ts.

Americans tend towards extremism (like calling people communists or socialists) because of widespread ignorance due to a 3rd world school system. It’s the same reason that they overindulge in Big Macs and seem to be unable to drink 1 beer. More is always better. In governance, balance should be the goal not extremes. Anyway, this is a lesson that must be learned. Go McCain, devastate that middle class a bit more and maybe they will elect Obama next time.

The pathetic nature of the USA does not really bug me because we are doing quite well though this economic crisis (we have regulations regarding the risks that can be taken on our ‘wall street’). We have 17 years of uninterrupted growth (compared to 2 recessions in the USA) and we are set for the future with a well education population.

Good luck America, you need it." Sigh...

To the person who said Ohioans are not stupid - not true. I am from Ohio. We're the biggest morons on the planet, seriously. We have a median IQ of 10. Did I say "median"? - golly that is a big word, what does it mean? You can count on us to vote for the GOP, because - and I mean this in all sincerity, only a complete blithering fool would vote for the GOP after the treason of the past 8 year.

If Sam (Joe's real name) was a plumber who wanted to buy a business he would be able to save more money per year with Obama's bigger tax break. Thus he would be able to own the company sooner. If you calculate the years of owning a business that Sam would own under Obama's tax plan you will see that Sam's lifetime earnings would be higher with Obama's tax code. The McCain plan would let Sam keep a little more of the profits once he owns the company and nets over $250,000 but it could never make up for the lifetime losses from the additional years it would take to earn enough to buy the business under McCain's tax proposal. The American Dream is better off with Obama in the short and the lont run.

They can just stick "Joe-Blow, the plumber's helper" where the sun doesn't shine!

This American in Canada agrees with Bob. And to Grannie in Naples, although some undesirables have slipped through Canada's immigration process, Mohammed Atta was allowed into the US by US Immigration to attend flight school! I blame the dismal US mass media for failing to educate the population as much as I do the schools. Neither is up to the standards prevailing when I was a student there.

"Libby" is apparently a fan of fairy tales. (S)he believes the tall tale about Ohio registrations like (s)he apparently believes the equally tall tale about "Joe the Plumber."

JOY THE PLUMBER WAS PAID BY MACCI N. WAKE UP . AMERICANS.

I am from Zimbabwe where Mugabe is king of cheating but from what I have heard so far in this column and the Joe the plumber story --- I think republicans can easily compete with Mugabe on lying and fooling people

Let's see now--"Joe the Plumber" isn't actually a plumber, he actually would benefit under Obama's tax plan (not McCain's), he owes taxes instead of paying them anyway, & he likes to go on Fox "News" talk shows where he can safely distribute more of his misleading B.S. Is he vying for Caribou Barbie's job? Or a McCain cabinet position? How about Secretary of the Treasury? Send the whole pack of liars and right wingnuts home. Elect for a better future; elect Obama.

Let' see:
1.Obama's credentials: less than 143 days in the U.S. senate.
2.Associated with a race hating, U.S. bashing preacher for 20 yrs but "didn't know
he was a "race baiting. American bashing preacher". Never heard any of "those"
sermons.
3. Associated with an unrepentent terrorist. Yes, it happened a Looooong time
ago, but the terrorist isn't sorry and wished he'd done more. Obama started
his political career in Ayers' living room. But, somehow none of that matters
now, does it?
4. ACORN: trained Acorn volunteers at one time and has given money to them.
Yet, Obama has never reprimanded ACORN for their attempt at voter registration
fraud in at least 12 states.
5. Obama wants to "spread the wealth" around, code words: socialism.

So the hatemongers are the "in the tank" for Obama and the media attempts to skewer an average guy like "Joe the Plumber". Gee, the media actually checked his "tax records","his personal life" and have vetted him. Only problem is, Joe ISN"T running FOR POTUS He is an average citizen who has flaws and quirks like the rest of us. Are You Perfect. If You were cast in the limelight the media WOULD pick you apart, that is what they do best! The MSM has become the "voice of theObama
destroy machine".
Obviously the "anointed one" is perfect therefore, no scrutiny needed.

And for the blogger who said Palin couldn't even run a "day care center", I guess
you haven't figured out by now who the governor of Alaska is: Sarah Palin.
You obviously were left in a day care center as a kid for too long because your
brain has shriveled.

As a Canadian, I laugh at Americans who think McCain should even get one vote.
If I could vote, THAT ONE 08/12

Good luck America, and join the world by electing someone with brains this time.

I saw her in an scripted interview last night regarding Relgion - she might want to explain what she is doing practicing witchcraft in the you tube video. She acts like we are stupid everyone has seen this video. Are we ever going to get an answer on this. I am just curious - what was she doing there?

She really is out of touch with reality. I can understand how Alaska overlooks this, but the rest of the world is not that stupid.

Sarah Palin - John McCain's new legacy

Do the Obama haters know the difference between voter registration fraud and voter fraud? Apparently not. Listen haters, if Mickey Mouse shows up he only gets to vote once. Now if Mickey Mouse tried to vote more than once then you'd have a reason to gripe.

I was born and raised in Ohio. I find it hard to beleive that ohioians aren't smart enough to see that Obama is a nothing more than a smooth talking lawyer. How easy it is for him to sneak things past us as if we are in a deep sleep. The man is going to destroy what little we americans have left. I have heard of his Muslim connections and faith (all could be hear say) yet has he himself stated that he is of Christian Beleive? I would think that if he is he would be proud to let the world know if he is. Child abuse is a crime yet he has no problem with child abortion even in very late stages. Isn't this sorta the same. How can a man who has never served in the military have a clue of what our sons and daughters are going through. How they must feel when they think they are doing the right thing by fighting for their country. Seeing their friends being killed next to them and being told that they must follow fair play. Its Vietnam all over again. Get it over with by letting them do the job. Then get them home. I hear about the lack of experience Palin has running for VP. The real lack is in Obamas who is running for PRESIDENT. People, Please wake up, stand up and start having pride in our country again. Obama is not the answer.

I was born and raised in Ohio as well. First, I find it hard to believe that Ohioans, with the state of their economy at this point, would entertain the thought of another four years of voodoo economics. Secondly Senator Obama is transparently Christian in faith and there is absolutely no evidence otherwise, except the desperate lies being thrown around by the McCain camp. Senator Obama has solid experience enough to make a real difference in this country, but what will REALLY make the difference is his moral and ethical character, his steadyness and brilliance, and his understanding that the President of the United States is there to serve the people. To his credit he choose Senator Biden, with all of his experience, as Vice President, as opposed to Senator McCain, who chose Palin purely to theoretically gain enough women voters to win the election. Palin has a very checkered background, as is coming out little by little during the investigations going on in Alaska; is either really not very bright, or just so overwhelmed that she appears that way, and is just a mean little bulldog. In addition, don't forget that if we are looking for someone who understands and identifies with the American people, Senator Obama with his quiet lifestyle and successful marriage should appeal far more than Senator McCain, who has so much wealth that he cannot remember how many houses he has, allegedly had an affair on his disabled wife, and then left her and married a multimillionaire Distribution heiress. Hmm. Mr. Sheets, as I remember the Ohio I grew up in, Senator Obama clearly represents the values of the people in Ohio.

hahahha libby, NICE ONE!