Because my husband is a plumber, and apparently your average Joe Plumber makes mad cash in Holland, Ohio. $250,000 after 15 years? Jeff’s been a plumber for 12, and we’ll be lucky if we break $40K this year.
Don’t know the Joe the plumber story? Here’s the whole bit.
I really don’t understand why McCain found Joe the Plumber to be such a selling point. I watched this video yesterday afternoon (and I’m so glad I did, or else I would have been lost during the debate) and I thought Obama did a great job answering this man’s question.
First of all, he was extremely thorough, covering all points, not just the ones that immediately worked to his soundbite benefit.
Obama said that under his plan, Joe would have been saving more money all along, and would have been in a position earlier to make this business decision.
He said that Joe would get the lowered tax rate for the first $250,000. The higher rate would only apply beyond that number (in Joe’s case, for an additional $30,000 at 39%, which is what the rate was under Clinton.)
He said that Joe would get tax breaks for any new positions he created.
He said that he would get tax breaks for healthcare costs.
He said that he would eliminate the capital gains tax for small businesses.
He pointed out that by easing the financial pain of those making under $250K a year, those people would be in a better position to be customers.
He said he doesn’t mind paying a bit more (3%, remember, on $30,000: we’re talking a whopping extra $900, and I’m thinking that amount might be offset by all the other breaks. But I’m no accountant) to help people like waitresses who are struggling to make rent because business is slow.
And yet…McCain is the one invoking the Joe the Plumber saga? How, specifically, does this work in his favor? I don’t understand.
Not that it ultimately matters, because Joe Wurzelbacher isn’t even registered to vote in Ohio.
(We know how I feel about people who haven’t registered to vote.)
Other notes on last night’s debate:
- On the subject of making exceptions on a ban on late-term abortions, when the health of the mother is in danger, McCain pulls out the rabbit ears in reference to the mother’s “health”:
“That’s the extreme pro-abortion position“.
“Obama. He’s health for the mother.”
Excuse me? Can you get any more offensive? As Obama rightly said, no one is pro-abortion. That is a vile thing to say. Senator McCain, don’t you dare airquote women’s health. (I’m still mad about Palin airquoting the concept of alternative energies, as if akin to the Easter Bunny and garden fairies. )
- McCain wants to let war veterans become teachers without going to all that trouble of training and achieving certification? Are you freaking kidding me? Why aren’t people jumping all over this?
- And, of course, there was this.
I’m sorry, but that’s funny.
I’m all done venting now.
What caught your attention during the debate?
Are you, like me, looking forward to November 4th, when presumably you get your life back?
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