Joe who?

OK, just to clear up any misconceptions, this has little to do with the Canadian political landscape. Sorry to disappoint any Canadian political junkies out there, but this has absolutely nothing to do with Joe Clark, a now well-respected Canadian political statesman who while relatively young and politically inexperienced, became the butt of editorial cartoonists across this land and so, "Joe Who?" as he was dubbed by the Toronto Star, was born. Clark's best statement during his career? “A recession is when your neighbour loses his job. A depression is when you lose your job. Recovery is when Pierre Trudeau loses his job.”

I digress.

Seems as if south of the 49th parallel, members of the Republican party, particularly Presidential hopeful, John McCain and his Caribou Barbie sidekick, Sarah Palin, have claimed the first name of "Joe" as the leading given name in their rhetoric-filled vocabulary. Palin, you may recall, introduced the world to the notion of "Joe Six-Pack" as a description of an average American male (note: not all American males are obese and have a drinking problem). McCain in the early stages of the final Presidential debate of 2008, brought forth the character of "Joe, the Plumber" who, after 26 mentions (five for Obama and 21 by McCain) during the 90-minute debate, gained near legend status within 24 hours of his induction into the US Wall of Shame.

Once again, it soon became apparent that McCain and his handlers had not delved under the covers to find out a little more about this fellow - sound familiar, Sarah Palin? In every day life, “Joe” is Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, a resident of Holland, Ohio. He claims to be a plumber - yet he has no license or papers and brashly claims he does not need one. “Not so”, says David Golis, manager and residential building official for the Toledo Division of Building Inspection. In fact, the Association of Plumbers, Steamfitters and Service Mechanics revealed that Wurzelbacher was not a licensed member of their trade. Golis went on to state that "Joe" should also be a licensed apprentice or journeyman to work in Toledo, Ohio - and he's not.

McCain eagerly stated that under Senator Obama's proposed tax plans, a budding entrepreneur like "Joe" would be taxed more if his company's annual revenues exceeded $ 250,000.00. Seems Joe has plans to buy this plumbing business from his employer "some day". Obama has stated clearly on more than one occasion that small business revenue of $ 250,000.00 and down, would continue to be taxed at the current rate of 36%. Anything greater, would be taxed at 39%.

So, if "Joe" somehow had the financing in place to buy this business (according to his 2006 tax return, filed as a matter of public record due to a divorce, he claimed an income in the mid $ 40's), he would need to be licensed. That may present problems since "Joe" has also not completed the training program necessary to sit the examination for a license test.

McCain’s exuberance to present a "gotcha" on Obama may well backfire and the victim could well be "Joe". This fellow even owes back taxes - which should be of no real consequence here. McCain's, one might argue, well intended framing of "Joe" as an average future business owner has placed "Joe" front and centre in the public's eye. A position I'm betting he personally wished he was not in. He and his employer may find themselves under most unwelcome scrutiny; something, at the outset, no one imagined would be the result of yet another Republican "shout out".

Democrats claim that this individual could not possibly have enough income to face a tax increase under the Obama plan. What they perhaps were unaware was McCain’s tongue-in-cheek statement during a speech at a benefit/fund raiser in New York City yesterday evening: “Joe, the plumber, recently signed a very lucrative contract with a wealthy couple to handle all the (plumbing) work on all seven of their houses.” McCain was referring to his own personal property holdings.

Who knows, John. Your actions may leave “Joe” unemployed and you on the moral hook for the welfare of the Wurzelbacher family. But then again, that would reduce your personal tax bill since you would have additional dependents.

And the rich continue to get richer.

©Andy Donato, Sun Media