Joe the Plumber

I hope everyone is learning the lesson of Joe the Plumber. Don't ask questions of a candidate who shows in front of your house when the candidate may accidentally tell the truth when answering. It will get you in trouble. [Link]

Ever since Joe Wurzelbacher had his interchange with Barack Obama, “progressive” websites and left-leaning media have been working to discredit Joe and harm him. Indeed, much of the media has shown more interest in investigating Joe than they ever showed in investigating Senator Obama or asking him tough questions. The Anchoress has a summary and round-up of links; see also Hot Air and the thoughtful post at Bookworm Room.

The message is pretty clear: If you dare to challenge a candidate beloved by the “progressive” movement, they will do everything they can to destroy you. You’d better be careful that all aspects of your life are squeaky clean and that your family can stand abuse: otherwise, just keep your mouth shut and don’t challenge those who know better than you. Mess with Obama, and you’ll never plumb in this town again.

John McCain:

Last weekend, Senator Obama showed up in Joe’s driveway to ask for his vote, and Joe asked Senator Obama a tough question. I’m glad he did; I think Senator Obama could use a few more tough questions.

The response from Senator Obama and his campaign yesterday was to attack Joe. People are digging through his personal life and he has TV crews camped out in front of his house. He didn’t ask for Senator Obama to come to his house. He wasn’t recruited or prompted by our campaign. He just asked a question. And Americans ought to be able to ask Senator Obama tough questions without being smeared and targeted with political attacks.

Neptunus Lex quotes the old Japanese saying: “The nail that sticks up gets hammered down.” Today’s “progressives” want very much to hammer down nails in America.

But remember, Obama is not an elitist. [Link]

I hereby offer up the following video of a sneering and condescending Obama, besotted with his own coolness:

And he wasn't vetted. [Link]

I'm listening to Fox, on which an Obama spokeshole is claiming that the McCain campaign "didn't vet Joe the Plumber."

They must be terrified.

[Late morning update]

Jeff Medcalf visualizes the vetting process in comments:

McCain Rep: Excuse me, sir, but I need to ask you a few questions.


Joe the Plumber:: Why? Are you the police?

MR: No, sir, I'm with the McCain campaign. I need to ask you a few questions, on the off chance that you are playing football in your front yard when Senator Obama decides to make an unscheduled stop to try to talk you into voting for him.

JTP: Oh, that's not a problem: I won't be voting for him, anyway, because I'm afraid he would raise my taxes.

MR: That's not the point, sir. The point is, if he were to stop by and ask for your vote, you might ask him questions.

JTP: So?

MR: He might answer them.

Crazy.