Dueling "Joes"

Joe The Plumber was the unexpected "big name" who surfaced at the Obama/McCain third and final debate last night (10/15/08). McCain brought the issue up and was referring to an encounter between Obama and Toledo, Ohio plumber Joe Wurzelbacher (see above video on left). Basically, Wurzelbacher is a plumber looking to buy a company. He’s concerned that Obama’s tax plan will raise his taxes. Some small businesses are organized in such a way that their owners file taxes on their business as individuals. That means that any business owner whose business income was more than $200,000 per year (or $250,000 if they file taxes as a couple) would see a tax increase under Obama’s plan. John McCain made reference to "Joe" several times during the debate.

Everytime I heard the phrase "Joe the Plumber," something in my memory clicked. Wait a minute!!! Mr. Wurzelbacher was not the first person to use this moniker. There was a "Joe the Plumber" (really Jo for Josephine) long before 2008. It was back in the 1960s and 70s, when Jane Withers portrayed the other "Jo" for Comet Cleanser commercials. I am including one of these retro commercials (above on right). Retro is another word for "old." Maybe John McCain should call himself the "retro candidate." Sounds better than old.