Joe's fame speaks volumes

2008-11-04 09:14

Columbus - Only a few weeks after being repeatedly cited by Republican John McCain in his final presidential debate with Barack Obama, Joe the Plumber became so inundated with media attention that he was forced to hire a publicist.

In keeping with the modern era, hiring a lawyer may be his next step.

The state Inspector General is investigating whether state records on Joe - actually Samuel J "Joe" Wurzelbacher - have been improperly accessed for political purposes.

McCain has continued to use Wurzelbacher as an example of an everyday American questioning Obama's tax plan.

Joe's speedy journey from anonymity to fame to martyr at the hands of the media speaks volumes about modern American culture and politics.

Request for public records 'appropriate'

Records released last week by the administration of Democratic Ohio Governor Ted Strickland showed that 25 separate requests were made within two days of the last McCain-Obama debate for public records on Wurzelbacher.

The requests came from The Associated Press, a host of Ohio newspapers and broadcast outlets, as well as national entities such as CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and Newsweek magazine.

Kelly McBride at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St Petersburg, Florida, said responsible journalists make such enquiries every day.

She called it a "completely appropriate" role for reporters.

Reporters likely sought Wurzelbacher's plumber's licence the day after the debate in order to find his address and go interview him.

But he didn't have a licence. McBride argues that an instantly known plumber without a plumber's licence is the kind of things citizens might want to know about.

"People everywhere should be doing the same thing with your local principals, with your local mayors, with powerful business people in your community," she said.

"Everyone has a set of public records that comes with them, and the fact that Joe is now on the campaign trail with McCain makes it even more appropriate."

'Really, really, really interested in small sideshows'

In short order, Wurzelbacher made a guest appearance on Fox News to discuss his treatment by the media.

"It actually upsets me," Wurzelbacher said.

"I am a plumber, and just a plumber, and here Barack Obama or John McCain - these guys are going to deal with some serious issues coming up shortly, and the media's worried about whether I've paid my taxes, they're worried about any number of silly things that have nothing to do with America."

McBride, of the Poynter Institute, said that in a presidential race daunting in its import, length and ubiquity, glimpses of real people affected by the issues help Americans navigate the campaigns.

"Something has changed with the audience," she said.

"The audience is really, really, really interested in small sideshows."

- AP