The fact that we’re discussing Joe Plumber’s background and personal problems instead of Obama’s plan to forcibly redistribute wealth from those who earned it to those who didn’t, means the media ruse has worked…
Stealing is stealing, even if it’s from people who can “afford” it.
I know you don’t need me to dumb anything down, GSJ. 
I will, however, break it down.
Citizen asks question, press overhears, press doesn’t know citizen, press finds out about citizen – and then, what, the press doesn’t publish what it knows because citizen has said “constitutional right”?
Again, the blame for this PR cluster lands at the feet of the McCain-Palin campaign – not on the free press or Mr. Wurzelbacher.
I thought that was what you were saying, but I wanted to be sure since it disturbed me.
There are two flawed assumptions in your reasoning:
The Press didn’t just “know”, it had to go digging for what they found.
That they regularly go digging into the lives of people who ask Presidential candidates questions.
Neither assumption holds true. So why did they go digging if not to discredit the man? Obviously he posed a threat to Obama.
All that being said…
Let me get this straight…you really think that any citizen who asks a question of a Presidential candidate is subject to having his life dug into and exposed to the public?
You don’t think this might have a chilling effect on our democracy by making people hesitant to show up at campaign events etc, let alone speak or bother to ask a question that isn’t revolting in its obsequiousness?
The citizen has a constitutional right to ASK the question of someone that’s ASKING for his vote. He likewise has a reasonable expectation of privacy. That the press tried to pillory him publicly is revolting.
That you want to blame McCain-Palin for this is absurd.
You’re thinking too hard man.
I’m comfortable with my premises, John. YMMV. 
To answer your questions: “yes” to the first; and “no” to the second.
Out. 
That’s actually quite sad. I’d humbly ask you to give it more thought and consider what I said.
I have never seen the likes of this election, media bias, voter fraud, down right lies. If the truth about Obama was brought out there would not even be a race Mccain would win hands down, look how close they are with all the Obama cover up. As far as a citizen asking a question the last time I checked we live in the U.S.A. and do not need to qualify the question or worry about persicution for asking ,remember the only stupid question is the one that is not asked. I’d rather get it straight frome the horses mouth than read the pc answer on the web site.
That is quite a disgusting point of view.
The attacks on this guy do not surprise me at all. Obama is the media’s golden boy and they will try to destroy anyone who dares challenge him. Lets send a message on election day, vote and make a difference.
Private people have an expectation of privacy. “Joe the Plumber” is a private person.
Public figures have no such expectations (or should expect such rights).
Asking a candidate for president (I won’t say “presidential candidate” as Obama is in NO WAY presidential) a question at a public forum does not make you a public figure.
A lot of good people owe back taxes. It really shoul dhave no bearing on the issue at hand - except for the sheeple who thinks bho is the second coming and actually walks on water. Any more than did Sarah Palin’s daughter being prgnant AND ENGAGED (something the same press you’re defending seems to have glossed over).
I wouldn’t care if bho’s daughters were crack hos or were single parents - unless their dad is trying to propose legislation where the American tax payers will have to step in and provide alimony and/or child support; or we have to pay for their abortion and any subsequent medical expenses (which is something that bho does support and is part of his welfare agenda). JM2CW.
They actually don’t. Your mortgage, arrest, driving, tax etc records are all available to ANY person of the public. And if your local governments records are online, like many, it would take but 30min for me to get all of that information, legally. People here are mistaken what is right thing to do with what is actually legal. They SHOULD have left him alone but trust me it’s not illegal if they don’t. The “expectation of privacy” is a legal term and does not apply here. Just wanted to get that straight for everyone.
No one said the press broke the law, they did however cross a line. I used “reasonable expectation” purely in the vernacular, as opposed to legal sense. It’s entirely reasonable, from the quotidian perspective, for a private citizen to ask a question of someone who asks for his vote and still expect some amount of privacy from the press.
While it is not legally applicable, as the “expectation of privacy” is purely a government prohibition, you will often hear the press justify their behavior of invading the privacy of “public persons”, if the press now views it as legitimate to target a private citizen who simply asked a question, than you tell me where that slippery slope stops? Ethically, the press’ actions are of dubious provenance.
Whether something is “legal” or “ethical” are two different considerations.
I understand. We are on the same page. I was just clearing up what seemed to be confusion on what was legal. I 100% agree that they SHOULD have left this man alone.
I don’t think you tax records are public and available. Tax liens would be as they are a matter of court record, and property tax BILLs. But your tax returns are not.
But that does not change the expectation of privacy – people taking those records and publishing them for the world to see on the front page. I am not talking about anything legal – just ethical and proper and moral.
Charlie Rangle owes backed taxes…far in excess of what Joe owes.
I don’t recall a major effort to discredit HIM or a bunch of organizations trying to cost him his job.
Funny how that works out, isn’t it?
yeah I was totally thinking of that myself !!!
So I got to watch Joe the plumber on Mike H.'s show last night. I thought the guy is an honest, hard working single father that is trying to live his dream (of owning his own business). One other thing about Joe is that he is a Veteran. At the very least, he deserves a certain level of respect for serving his country. To date, I don’t think he has gotten it.
Talking with my wife, we discussed what it would look like if Obama had come walking down our street and I was “Joe the Plumber.”
I wonder what they would dig up on me? Would they even mention that I served my country (in uniform and out)? They would see that I am an 07/02 and then find out that that I do not even have a gun smith license! :eek: Oh the horror of a gun shop owner not having a formal gun smith license (and works on guns)!
As most people are aware, I know a thing or two about the AR platform. I am sure “Joe the plumber” knows a thing or two about plumbing. So the license thing is a red herring to me.
C4
I agree, the licensing is a red herring. Licensing is basically a state run cartel. The fewer providers in a profession that have the state approved license means higher wages. But one thing I think that continues to be missed in this discussion is that Joe the Plumber would have been left alone if not for the McCain/Palin campaign monopolizing on the gaffe by Obama. I have no sympathy for the liberal media, but they did not set out to discredit this man for asking a simple question, they were discrediting a tool used by the McCain/Palin campaign.
Now let’s praise Joe the Plumber for bucking the IRS and the state licensing cartel, that gets my admiration.
:eek::eek::eek::eek: CANCEL MY ORDER!!! HOW DARE YOU??? Seriously? There is a gunsmiths license? Learn something new everyday…
The thing of it is though is that Joe didn’t ask for this attention. He simply asked a question. This does NOT give the liberal media the right to do what they are doing IMHO.
Joe is really making people across America realize EXACTLY what they are getting with the Obama tax plan (socialism) and I do not fault McCain for using him at all. I would have done the same thing they did.
C4