The MSM loses its mind over undocumented plumbers
Posted on October 16, 2008
[posted by ArrMatey]
By now I hope you read my earlier post below. Link is here. Across the blogosphere, we have news that Joe the Plumber, single father, American working guy, aspiring business owner, is about to be shut down and put out of work, to the great glee of Obama supporters.
I am angry. I know I ought not blog angry. I’m going to count to a hundred, listen to some Men without Hats, and finish writing this in a few….
I’m back. It’s amazing what a few minutes listening to Pop Goes the World can do for you. Here are the links: 1. HotAir reports that “Toledo Moves to Shut Down Joe the Plumber”. 2. NBC affiliate reports that even Joe’s boss is not licensed: “If the boss of a company has valid documentation employees are covered. However, NBC-24 learned neither Joe, nor his boss Al Newell, are authorized to do work in Lucas County.” 3. MSNBC repeats what I’ll shortly show you is incorrect, that boss Newell is not licensed: “And the county Wurzelbacher and Newell live in, Lucas County, requires plumbers to have licenses, but neither is licensed there, said Cheryl Schimming of Lucas County Building Regulations, which handles plumber licenses in parts of the county outside Toledo.”
And so on. Now let me tell you that many news outlets are getting the story right, that Joe’s boss, Mr. Newell (in business since 1974, God bless you sir, I’m sure you could never have imagined all this happening to you in America), is in fact licensed in Lucas County. How do I know? Because the State of Ohio’s computers told me so, and they would tell the media the same if they looked…like I did.
Mr. Newell is licensed. He is licensed in Lucas County. His license number starts with the digits 329 and then has two more digits. I don’t see any need to post more identifying information about innocent people. Search here, plug in the right parameters, and you can download the list of all licensed plumbers in Lucas County, Ohio. It is not difficult, though you have to provide information about yourself as the requester of the information.
So I got this list of licensees.
Mr. Newell is on that list. And if I read the rules of apprenticeship correctly (I am not an Ohio attorney, and yes I could be reading it wrong), the reported date of November 2003 as the date of filing of Joe’s apprenticeship papers seems to be just fine. According to this,
“The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (O.C.I.L.B.), Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance, issues state commercial licenses to the following contractors: electrical, HVAC, hydronics, plumbing, and refrigeration. To receive a state license, an applicant must meet the following requirements: 1) be at least 18 years of age; 2) be a United States citizen or a legal alien-must provide proof of being a legal alien; 3) either have been a tradesperson in the type of licensed trade for which the application is filed for not less than five years immediately prior to the date the application is filed, currently be a registered engineer in this state with three years of business experience in the construction industry in the trade for which the engineer is applying to take the examination, or have other experience acceptable to the appropriate section of the board; 4) not have been convicted of or plead guilty to a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or of any felony; 5) pass the examination in the trade; 6) carry minimum $500,000 contractor liability coverage; 7) pay the applicable fees”
So here’s the point. Many news outlets have gotten it correct, but some have not and that needs to be corrected. Mr. Newell is licensed, and Joe the Plumber is just short of his five years before he can apply for licensure, but as supervised by Newell, he’s o.k.. You can look at screen captures of the entire list of Lucas County licensed plumbers here (part 1) and here (part 2). And as we read the news stories about local officials mobilizing to put Joe out of work, (quote: “A staff person with the Toledo Division of Building Inspection told On Call this afternoon that her division will contact Wurzelbacher to notify him that he can’t work without a license. “We’re trying to track him down,” she said”), consider the following:
Not one of the officers of Local 50 of the union shop of plumbers is on the list of licensees. Disclaimer: I don’t care that none of them are on the list, and I know that not necessarily every one of the union officers are plumbers at all, as they also represent other trades. That said, their spokesman is on record slamming Joe about licensure.
To their credit, an ACORN spokesman has weighed in that, “There is no such thing as an undocumented plumbing person.”
I made that last part up. Now I’m going to go watch some football.
» Filed Under 1st Amendment, Delusional Dupes and DUmmies, Democrats, Elections, Fascism, Liberal Media/Bias, Mobocracy, News, Politics As Usual, Propaganda, Unhinged
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29 Responses to “The MSM loses its mind over undocumented plumbers”
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If only they’d go after unlicensed abortionists with that much vigor.
Why do they want to destroy this working man? Because he DARE question The Anointed One!
Don’t get your panties in a wad. Joe will be fine. He can handle himself. And all the investigations and breathless reports of his background and personal details will simply reinforce the notion that the media is in the tank for Obama.
Thanks for the research. Let’s hope the Joe doesn’t loose his job over this witch hunt.
The Left just doesn’t get it – the story was not really about Sam, it was about an issue. The issue is that many small businesses will have their taxes raised and America is going to be in a hurt if Obama is allowed to suck the blood from small businesses so he can “spread it around” to the none productive.
Antimedia, I wouldn’t be too sure. It could all blow over, but they could also try to ruin him with court costs even if he is perfectly legit. It all depends on how vicious they decide to be, and I think we all know by now not to underestimate the left in that regard.
I have linked to your post as a resource for Joe Public meet your neighbor Joe Plumber
I try to teach other children what I have tryed to teach my children. When you grow up you can make something of yourself. Most kids who believe this want to be an owner of a small company, say about 10 employees; that would place them in the $250,000 tax bracket. Although some want to be teachers or fireman. I tell them it does not matter what you do you will be successful if you work hard enough to be one of the best; And, it is easiest to be the best if you do something you like.
This whole ordeal just kills me. Instead of paying attention to what answer is given, they vilify the questioner. I, for one, am much more concerned about “spreading the wealth” than I am about Joe’s plumbing license.
If the so-called MSM had a thread of objectivity remaining, it’s all unraveled now.
Only pinheads can’t see them for what they are.
I’m baffled that all of the people writing comments here are blaming Obama for anything that has to do with Joe the Plumber or the media’s jumping all over this guy’s private life.
McCain put this guy’s name all over the news not Obama, and he should have thought twice about the media scrutiny he should have known would follow. Obama didn’t have a thing to do with it.
Furthermore, where do you guys come off saying that Obama was laughing at plumbers when he mocked McCain for pretending he was defending plumbers here. Obama’s right. You show me how many working plumbers are pulling down over $250K. Don’t get me wrong – I think plumbers do well – its a good job – but $250K? Obama’s tax plan won’t touch them.
Its sad that it turned out this guy isn’t making anywhere near that, has a lien on his house and is nowhere near ready to buy that business. Even if he did buy it though Obama’s tax plan would only tax the “net profit” over $250K. No big deal frankly and only an issue for the biggest plumbing contractors in any area.
McCain’s the guy who decided to take advantage of this situation and embarrassed the guy. McCain’s tax plan would do nothing for him. Obama is actually fighting for guys like this.
Get a grip folks.
I don’t understand, I thought that the “Left”, aka the MSM, loved undocumented workers?
To Lenny above…if it helps, get Squiggy to explain this to ya’ — it might be that most individual plumbers won’t make $250k/yr but, it it likely that a plumbing company (or an A/C company, or a home improvement company) that employs several plumbers will. Joe said he was looking to buy his boss out. Kinda indicates a company of plumbers and not an individual. As for the Obama tax, the additional taxes on a company may mean hiring one less person (a receptionist, an apprentice plumber, or a high school kid trying to make money before heading off to college) or purchasing another van, or new tools or adding space for their work location. Having the 2nd highest business tax in the WORLD has consequences, raising the business certainly will add more consequences. In this time of economic uncertainty, adding taxes to businesses or individuals would be the way to prolong current events.
Lets forget about Joe and face the election.I am sure Obama will not be happy to find Joe out of work, As I know for sure he is the man that will creat jobs for all like clinton did.Mccain said Joe the Plumber recently signed a very lucrative contract with a wealthy couple to handle all the work on all seven of their houses.at the 63rd annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner thursday.So lets forget about Joe he has made him self a star.
Ah, the liberal mindset: They have a right to any private citizen’s private life, no matter how personal.
The invasiveness into Joe’s life smacks of the Chicago-style politics. The digital brownshirts showing up is just plain freaky and smells of a certain German-style politics.
(I was referring mostly to Lenny’s post)
if only abc could have spent the same amount of time investigating the obama ayers connection as they did learning about joe, perhaps we would know more about obama’s background and truthfulness regarding their past together.
Of course, the real question is: Even if any or all of this stuff were true, how would that change Obama’s answer?
If Obama thought going after Joe would distract from the fact that he just told the world he’s a socialist, he may very well have miscalculated.
OK everyone. Time for an economic lesson. First of all, if you own a business you are not taxed on the total income your business makes. All expenses are subtracted first, like the wages of those 10 employees. AFTER all the expenses are subtracted, then you are taxed on the income left over, because that is the amount of money you actually made on your business. So, if Joe has total money coming into his business of $250,000 his expenses are probably most likely more than half that amount. Therefore, he would only be taxed on $100,000 or so of his personal income AFTER expenses. So, Joe would receive either a tax cut or no tax increase under the Obama plan. Clear?
Where is the interest in the other named person in the debate- i.e. Mr. Ayers? Why does the media ignore this story?
Just now, on this morning, did NBC state that Joe was not licensed. They made no mention of any of the information in your research. Specifically that he does not need a license due to his apprenticeship…
Hopefully they will continue to report that McCain in behind in the polls…I’m sure that the polls are as accurate as their research…and that REPUBLICANS get out and vote.
Funny though, I don’t see anyone trying to register anyone to vote in my working class (typical-urban-melting-pot) neighborhood.
There is a bit more to becoming a plumber in Ohio than just five years of work for a licensed plumber.
Here is a website which lists detailed requirements during the five years leading up to sitting the licensure exam:
http://www.phccohio.org/ApprenticeshipBrochure_2008.pdf
Treacher’s absolutely right. Joe could have been misguided, mistaken or a complete liar and that ~still~ wouldn’t change the fact that Sen. Obama said, “I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”
All those that think that pajama boy has ANY interest in what is good for “the common man” is just plain ignorant. Go out and educate yourself on pajama boy…DO NOT believe what TV presents.
To represent the “common man” he should be worried about paying his bills now, he should be driving a seven or eight year old car, living in a house worthless than he paid for it and maybe less than his mortgage. He should earn about 50k a tear or LESS…not millions for a book that was probably ghost written anyway.
Why is the “common man” so LAZY they cannot learn the facts BEFORE they speak. Times were “good” under Clinton because a lot of “blue sky” got exchanged, it was only the semblance of wealth and good times. CREDIT got much easier to come by…that is when the REAL crisis started.
I sure do wish my fellow Americans weren’t so dumb, because their stupidity is very detrimental to ME.
try these sites out:http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2008/10/13/howard-stern-exposes-why-so-many-people-support-obama
and a nice portrait photo of pajama boy:
http://o.bamapost.com/
This is all BS, these “licenses” are crap to begin with…first of all you do not need to have a licencse to be a plumber, you need one to be a plumbing contractor. Second these union morons are completely irrelevant they are mafiaoso, screw them.
Pre-School teachers don’t have licenses, I know my mom has worked as one for 20 years….but the business that hires them has to have one…same for construction etc. Atypical [edited] from the [edited] media who knowingly lie and refuse to ever investigate anything at all…pathetic.
The election is over, and you anti-choice bigots can spend the next eight years basking in Clintonian prosperity while blaming any negative setbacks on “socialism” (which works for most people, excepting the rich.) Don’t worry, you can keep supporting our troops (most of whom fall short of the 30 pull-ups I can do) as they flail blindly about Iraq and fail miserably in Afghanistan. And don’t worry, as an ACLU employee I’ll keep fighting for your rights (even 2nd Amendment) even though you are retarded, like Trig Paxel Van “I should have been aborted because I REQUIRE TAX $ AND PRODUCE NOTHING FOR SOCIETY” Palin. Election over.
**Note to ADMINS: do NOT delete this comment**
LOL,,I cant even believe that there is enough people that really care about this for you to have even taken the time to look all of this up. BTW, fricknfarms,,it must get pretty lonely at the top,,,,alone.I voted for Obama because,,,I am so sick of all the negative BS put out by the rep. I would never vote for McCain just for that reason and as for palin,,,,lol,,nice joke.
Joe – I guess what Rush and Hannity say is true. When liberals don’t like what they hear, they attack and change the subject. How can “spread the wealth around” not be a socialist remark? Oh and keep the name calling and insults up. It proves how mad you are that Joe got your candidate all tied up with his own policies. Good day Sir. I said good day.
Joe wote in part: “And don’t worry, as an ACLU employee I’ll keep fighting for your rights (even 2nd Amendment) even though you are retarded, like Trig Paxel Van “I should have been aborted because I REQUIRE TAX $ AND PRODUCE NOTHING FOR SOCIETY” Palin. Election over.”
++++++++++++++++
Your a cold, cold heart! God forgive you!
oh, for those of you that don’t know…
ACLU stands for “america’s clueless losers unglued”
all us real joe’s in america stand up to thugs and protect the weak (that means all your hard work for nambla is wasted..)
hey are you the guy that busted the lady with the mccain sign in nyc?
“even though you are retarded, like Trig Paxel Van “I should have been aborted because I REQUIRE TAX $ AND PRODUCE NOTHING FOR SOCIETY” Palin.”
Wow. So that whole “pro-choice” thing is really designed to only give liberals the choice of which babies should be born?
If we start thinning out the weak, make no mistake that your number will come up sooner than mine will.
skinhead supports white guy big story