Joe the Frickin' Moron

I don't know about you, but I was sick of the guy they're calling "Joe the Plumber" about five minutes after he was introduced by the Republicans. "Joe" is being paraded around the country by the McCain campaign as if he's a national hero, even after he's been shown to be a total fraud who doesn't hold a plumbing license, who isn't making over $250,000 (which is the justification that he used to complain about Obama's tax plan, he's only HOPING to buy a business while making around $40K), and most of all, his first name isn't even "Joe"!

Fake plumber Samuel Wurzelbacher is getting out of control now. The GOP has programmed him like a Commodore 64 to repeat McCain talking points, and even come up with some outrageous claims, such as a Barack Obama presidency would mean the "death of Israel" and end democracy in America. This is a guy they're seriously talking about running for Congress in two years.

In the space of about a week, Joe the Plumber has been transformed from an anonymous plumber's helper (BTW, this isn't a pun), to a national hero of the "everyman", to a frothing ultra-conservative wingnut. It would be funny if it wasn't so obviously a symptom of a complete breakdown of the GOP's values. They are a party in deep trouble.

From The Raw Story:

(Fox) network noted that the McCain campaign seemed hesitant to distance itself from Wurzelbacher. Correspondent Carl Cameron said that the McCain campaign was going to put out an ad today criticizing Obama policies on Israel.

"Just a coincidence?" he asked. "We report you decide."

Later Tuesday afternoon, Shepard Smith pressed Wurzelbacher on his comments, reminding the woefully misinformed McCain backer that Obama has consistently voiced support for Israel. Pressed several times to explain how he could agree with the conclusion that Obama would lead to the death of the Jewish state, Wurzelbacher was unable to come up with any good reasons aside from Obama's position in favor of negotiating with rogue regimes such as Iran.

"You don't want my opinion on foreign policy," Wurzelbacher said. "I know just enough to kind of be dangerous."

Smith seemed to agree with that assessment, implying that the only source for Wurzelbacher and the supporter's concern was "hateful things spread on the Internet." The host clearly worried that Wurzelbacher's endorsement of such a view might inspire violence against the candidate.

Why, Smith asked, would Wurzelbacher believe Obama was lying when he spoke of the importance of Israel's relationship with the United States.

Wurzelbacher was flummoxed. All he could offer was an appeal for people to "go out and find their own reasons ... go out and get informed."

"Joe's" time in the spotlight is finally almost over. Sadly for Joe, he willingly allowed himself to be used by the GOP like an old dish towel, and he spent the total of his fifteen minutes of fame as a mindless tool of the Republicans. He's already a dismal punchline for the McCain campaign and the GOP.

Good riddance "Joe".