Joe the Plumber owes Ohio back taxes

Take note, America. Speak out against Obama and the media will tear you down. Three stories about him so far in the Trib today. He isn't registered to vote. He voted for McCain in the primary. He's not really a plumber. Someone with the same last name owes back taxes. Don't challenge the messiah or the press will be after you.

Say it ain't so, Joe!

HA, that's nothing, LOOK AT OBAMA'S BACKGROUND, now THAT is something to talk about.... well, unless your MEDIA THAT IS ssssssh, the elections almost over !

Does the plumbers oweing back taxes make the question asked any less valid? Obama today said "who knows a plumber who makes 250K" What about plumbers, painters, small business men who start their companies and grow them. I started with two employees 19 years ago. I now employ eight. Should "my" company profit exceed 250K should I be taxed more. I pay property, fed, SS, state. How much more is enough. I'm the one who grew this company I should enjoy the benefits of running it properly and keeping it together.

So I guess that allegedly owing the state taxes that might be in dispute (they never make errors of course) gives a person less credibility? The writer of the article should focus on the message, not the messenger. The reason that America is so successful is because of small businesses just like his. Socialism in any form never works, and it never has. People are entitled to what they earn, and deserve to keep all they can for their own benefit, or to benefit others of their choosing, not the state.

Still the top 1% of the population has 20% of the wealth. Maybe we can go a little higher on the tax breaks.

Joe the Plumber should worry more about paying his real taxes on real income than his hypothetical taxes on hypothetical income!

You mean even talking to Obama means you'll have to end up paying more taxes?

Oh come on please, the Messiah! No, in this world of instant messaging, instant access and instant searches .. everyone should be careful of what they say in public, especially when the camera's are rolling. Joe, isn't so smart, he should have known people would have been checking. I just hope "Joe" doesn't have any real skelton's in his closet. Isn't it ironic that his name is also the first name of Palin's Joe six pack reference? Things that make yu wonder!

That is just ignorant to state that speaking out against Obama gets the media after you. C'mon....Really?? He put himself into the spotlight by making the remarks he did. Heck the media picked up on it instantly...and because McCain used his name so much during the debate....media went bonkers as they always do...so of course they are going to look into the simplest things such as what is his professional credentials, is he registered to vote, who did he vote for in the primary, and look at taxes owed....that's all the media and had nothing to do with Obama. I'm not an Obama supporter either, I'm undecided who to vote for. I just don't like to see ignornant comments.

He's in the spotlight, whether he wants to be or not, and that's public record. I'm constantly surprised at how little critics of the media understand about how journalism works.

wouldn't it have been nice if the media vetted Obama this thoroughly?

isn't it a little embarassing to conduct this kind of investigation (including the spreading of lies) but we don't know a thing about what Obama did during his years at Columbia.

Joe has lived in both Arizona AND Alaska, according to Intelius.com:

Toledo, OH
Tucson, AZ
Eielson Air Force Base, AK
North Pole, AK
Mesa, AZ

Gimme a break people, this was McCain's idea to put this guy up on a pedestal. How else would media have known to seek him out BEFORE the event? It is Obama's fault that the guy isn't licensed and owes back taxes? If McCain's people would have screened him first they would have known it and maybe chosen another example. As for Obama's past, please! He's been in the national spotlight since 2004. He certainly has had his fair share of criticism for his pastor and next door neighbor. But if there was anything truly shady it would have been dug up by now. The media are experts at building someone up just to tear them down.
I'd like to hear more from Matt about his business. I support Obama but you make a good case for why small business owners who are reinvesting in and growing their businesses need to be left alone.

Considering McCain is the one who kept bringing up Joe's name in the debate , maybe you should blame him for people checking up on who is Joe!

This is turning into a suspicious situation. Just Google "Joe the Plumber" and "Charles Keating."

That's all I'm sayin' . . .

@matt

If you did a little research about Obama's plan, you would realzie that the 250k is not gross revenue, its net. So after you pay your 8 employees, yourself, benefits packages (which you would have a discount on under Obama's plan), and all of those other taxes, if you have more than 250k, any amount over the 250k would be taxed 39%, and 250k would be taxed 36%(current rate). Get out a pen and paper and write down the numbers, and see how much of your money would actually be affected. You will probably see that it is very little.

this proves that Americans are over hearing all of the hatred spouted by McCain and Palin. It worked for W Bush, McCain thought it would work for him - no dice.

If only Obama could ask a critical question of himself then MAYBE the media would go digging through his tax records and garbage cans, too. This guy's behind on his property taxes and that makes him the worst kind of criminal to Obama's MSM lackeys.

Joe finds taxes a taxing subject. I can not understand why since he does not seem to pay them.

Obama is going to win this thing. Deal.

Another attempt by McCain to appear in touch with "real" America. First was his choice of a vapid "hockey mom" who can't even quote a Supreme Court case in her interview with Katie Couric -- despite the fact that, if elected, she'd serve as President of the Senate. Now he's pulling (non-licensed) plumbers out of the woodwork. If Joe the Plumber had been Joe the Lawyer complaining about paying higher taxes on his salary, people would be laughing at him.

Kyle, Thank you for the information. You are spot on!

Just another great job of Vetting by the McCain campaign.
Who's in charge of this "Ship of Fools"?

joe the plumber has been more thoroughly vetted in 12 hours by the "liberal media" than obama has been in 18 months.

And I think its way past time reporters spread out their divorce records in the papers and on TV for all to see. I mean if it’s good enough for joe the plumber its good enough for reporters.

Salute to the media for getting the facts, unlike the guy who brought up "Joe Plumber" in the debate! Since when is citing facts biased? Biased was exhibited by McCain, who in the face of contrary facts, kept on repeating rumors and not disclosing all of the facts (e.g. Overhead projector for planetarium? Not naming the board on which Obama "associated" with Ayers? Holding Obama responsible for comments made by a third party who already has recanted?)
McCain claims to be the consensus builder, but he did not once acknowledge agreement with any of Obama's proposals. How do you build consensus with that type of behavior? Last night, Obama showed himself to be the even-tempered, open-minded leader that this country needs - not only voicing agreement with McCain on important issues, but also commending McCain as well. Unlike the military, in civilian life, you can't lead unless you're willing to at least listen.

So this guy who McCain picked to use as an example of why Obamas tax policy will not work, doesn't pay his taxes and it's Obamas fault. Reasoning like that is exactly why your candidates champaign is in the toilet!

What was Barack Obama doing at Columbia University? He was earning a B.A. in Political Science with specialization in international relations, and writing a thesis on Soviet nuclear disarmament. What was McCain doing at the Naval Academy? Trying to come in last in his class?

The issue here is that McCain is erratic, jumping on an opportunity to exploit this one little sound bite, and once again his staff haven't so much as googled their new champion. Plus, the guy clearly doesn't even understand Obama's plan. The rest (no liscence, owes back-taxes)....well that's just icing. ;)

And he'll have to owe more taxes if Obama is elected. That's right Obama, go tax the plumbers, not the Ivy league lawyers with million dollar houses.

Whay would Joe The Unliscenced Plumber care about taxes? He apparently does not pay them.

The new conservative whine is the media. Blame the media. How about blame yourselves for your horrible policies that are screwing the middle class.

Obama 08

Guess what? My husband and I own a small retail grocery store and we owe taxes, State and Federal!!! I wish Obama would knock on my door. I'd be happy to go over his Socialist plan and show him, on paper, as I have done w/ my accountant, how his GREAT plan would only ensure my past due taxes would not only continue to NOT be paid, 6 of my full time employees would be laid off, who by the way, would then be allowed to draw unemployment, more government money going out.How does this help anyone?

It's all good. Obama's tax plan will cover Joe's debt.

Hey...question for all you Libs...Why is Obama running ads in Illinois?? What a waste of money and you are going to trust him with yours?

mccain lovers always have to turn everything negative around and place to obama, mccain was the one kept talking about joe the plumber but you all say they're on Joe now for disagreeing with obama's plans. he's the main one talking about the taxes but he's not even paid up on his.

Leigh Brown.
Obviously if you owe taxes, that would not change under Obama. You would be paying the same amount under him (I imagine you do not make the $250K treshold) His plan taxes you at 36% as you are taxed now. Once your net income goes over $250K then you pay 39% in the amount in excess of $250K that you make , not on the total amount. Get it?

Actually, McCain threw Joe in the spotlight last night by using "Joe the plummer" to prove his points. He doesn't really relate to Joe, he was just using him to appeal to voters. It didn't work. I make over $250,000/year and I'm still voting for Obama!! The downfall of the economy will hurt my business way more than a slight tax increase. If the economy improves, jobs are increased, then businesses (like mine) will have more success. I see the big picture.
Obama/Biden 08

It is pitiful that the media can do more research into "Joe the Plumber" in one day than they have done on Barack Obama in two years!

Shame on them.

What has the media and the Obama campaign so upset and out for blood is that Obama slipped and said "spread the wealth."

That is very damaging so they are both trying to change the subject to make it about the plumber and to punish him for asking the question.

It really is shameful, but you can't get rid of the clip in which Obama lets the mask slip, exposing his socialist agenda.

Rage on.

Posted by: leigh brown | October 16, 2008 5:16 PM

OK, so you are a tax cheat, am I supposed to feel sorry for you? Run your business better, don't look to other taxpayers to go easy on you. Are you taking more than a $250,000 in pay? Maybe if you weren't so generous in your pay to yourself your company could pay it's back taxes. Survival of the fittest, and you aren't apparently the fittest. You're no better than the bankers taking their huge salaries as they run the company into the ground.

This election has become a joke - thanks mainstream media. However, there is a solution. Wherever I go, I am talking about this situation and changing minds - and people are starting to wake up. It is amazing how much different this race is today compared with yesterday.

I believe that, when you combine, what the media is doing, what Oblama is saying, understanding his policies, and the realization that we could become a socialized society, is alarming many people.

Finally, can anybody explain to me why the McCain-Palin ticket is within a few points of that Oblama - Biden wood tick?

So Joe is concerned with purchasing a business that will "make" $250,000 per year and how he will be taxed. As the owner of a small construction company, let me tell you. First, if your gross receipts are $250,000, you can optimistically net 20% - and that's optimistically after all expenses. So now we get $50,000 of taxable income.

But if you are saying your company will have net profits of $250,000, that means your company grosses $1,250,000. (Really). So let's calculate your taxes using the current tax rate of 36% - $90,000. Let's now calculate taxes at Obama's proposed increase to 39% - $97,500 - an increase of $7,500 a year.
Joe, good luck on that business and let me know when it starts making $1,250,000 million!

Yeah, like everyone here is saying, trying to get away with not paying your taxes is what everyone does. His customers don't mind that the business figures they'll be paying taxes when they decide what to bill. And what does it matter if Joe doesn't pay, everyone else can carry him. Does he have Medicaid on his kids, too? Surely nobody cares about that. And if he hires a few illegals under the table so they can all make more money, hey, good for him. Everyone does it. I just wonder how anything gets funded when everyone is cheating? Hmmm....

Joe the Plumber: His real name and the other tax liens

webofdeception.com

Thanks to Joe and the comments mentioned here about back taxes, the IRS and state will be coming for you next April for their money owed by you...plus penalties. Keep those I owe taxes comments coming.

Again, all this talk about Joe and his taxes is beside the point.

Obama said he intends to "spread the wealth." It was caught on camera and is being used in McCain campaign ads already. Sarah Palen is bringing it up in stump speeches.

Apparently internal polling in the Obama campaign shows that this hurts badly

That is what has brought him all this attention to the plumber and the wrath of lefties far and wide.

The right wing should dry its crocodile tears about Joe's privacy. It's absolutely relevant that Joe doesn't have a plumber's license and that he's delinquent on his taxes.

John McCain, and no one else, is the one who made Joe into a temporary celebrity. Before he did so, his staff should have checked out Joe and Joe's background. To put Joe in the public eye without vetting him was just one more example of McCain's impulsive bad judgment.

The fact is that 'Joe' would get more money back under Obama's plan and wouldn't pay any more in taxes if his 'company' made under $250k - at $280k it'd be like $900 more.
Of course, if 'Joe' had an 'accountant' and incorporated he could salary himself at $250k and his company could net $250k and he could then save those few hundred dollars...and like John McCain said, "You're RICH, Joe!"

Now for the REAL John McCain:
http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/39179-mccain-s-youtube-problem-just-became-a-nightmare

Joe said he was an undecided Independent. Then it turns out that he's registered as a Republican, and supports John McCain.

Yes, people went digging to unearth the truth about Joe's voting record. And they found a lot more.

Guess there's a lesson here. But it's not about speaking out against Sen. Obama; it's about speaking truthfully. Joe publicly misrepresented his status as a voter.

Why would anyone distrust the Dems to limit income tax increases to $250K earners & beyond? Because it sounds so oddly familiar:

On Jan. 19, 1992 Bill Clinton said, "I want to make it very clear that this middle-class tax cut, in my view, is central to any attempt we're going to make to have a short-term economic strategy."

But on Jan. 14, 1993 at a press conference, Bill Clinton said, "From New Hampshire forward, for reasons that absolutely mystified me, the press thought the most important issue in the race was the middle-class tax cut. "I never did meet any voter who thought that."

On Sept. 8,1992, Bill Clinton said, "The only people who will pay more income taxes are the wealthiest 2 percent, those living in households making over $200,000 a year."

In response to a Bush-Quayle ad that people with incomes of as little as $36,000 would pay more taxes under the Clinton plan, Bill Clinton said on Oct. 1, 1992, "It's a disgrace to the American people that the president (Bush) of the United States would make a claim that is so baseless, that is so without foundation, so shameless in its attempt to get votes under false pretenses."

Yet the NY TIMES in the analysis of Clinton's budget wrote, "There are tax increases for every family making more than $20,000 a year!"

With liberalism, intentions matter, not results. Symbolism Over Substance (SOS).

When taxes are raised on those who create the jobs in this country, costs are passed along to the consumer and middle class and jobs vanish. The massive growth of government is not the solution It is the disease. Where are all the social engineers when GM loses $39B in one quarter or Ford drops $9B?

Dems decry obscene Exxon oil profits, but ignore the fact that:
"... just one corporation (Exxon Mobil) pays as much in taxes ($27 billion) annually as the entire bottom 50% of individual taxpayers paid in 2004 (most recent year available), which is 65,000,000 people! Further, the tax rate for the bottom 50% was only 3% of adjusted gross income ($27.4 billion / $922 billion) in 2004, and the tax rate for Exxon was 41% in 2006 ($67.4 billion in taxable income, $27.9 billion in taxes)."

Also, the guy is not a plumber. He doesn't have a license.
Looks more an more like a McSameastheOldBoss plant.

Mittforpresident......You simply forgot to mention that Exxon is a global company. Exxon pays 81% of its taxes outside of the US.

I own 2 businesses, employ 10 people, pay taxes and hate the paperwork.

That said, it's not a matter of "why should I be punished" if taxes go up for making more." That's business. Profit never was free. It's how MUCH more will it cost for my improved profit. I have no problem paying for my success. Give me a number and a percentage. As the old saying goes, "Talk is cheap. Whiskey costs money."

First Off,
Joe can thank McCain for bringing his name up during the debate. I agree what plumber makes over 250K a year? At that point you arent just a plumber you are a business owner. So what's wrong with spreading the wealth? Someone gave you a chance when you started off in your trade, you dont see the need to do the same for someone else? Yet, you want someone to do recognize the potiential in your child when they try to break into any industry that they are going in.
The American Dream, should be real for everyone and it will only be that way if we help pull each other up. Not let certain people stay on top.

Republicans are a funny bunch. They think that Obama's comment about "spreading the wealth" will actually help them. After watching the government bend over backward to lower taxes for the top income bracket under Bush and seeing how well that has worked for the rest of us, the 80-90% of us below the $250,000 threshhold aren't going to cry much when Obama raises taxes on the top 10%. But I hope they do make this their new core message (along with Ayers and flag pins) and spend millions promoting it. It should be very amusing to hear these modern day corrupt Sheriff of Knottingham types tell us why rich folks shouldn't pay more taxes.

Bill Barack Hussein Bin Laden Obama:

We are in a global economy. If a company can't compete globally, they will not grow to the size and strength to pay $27,000,000,000 in taxes in one year. If they can't compete globally, they can't employee thousands of people in the US. You will not be satisfied until you drive every reputable business out of business or nationalize them all. Domestic tax rates also drive business to expand and locate outside the US, where they can increase profit. Libs believe profit is a dirty word. We can't all be on the dole. Libs have a hard time believing that you can REDUCE taxes and increase tax revenues. The economy is a zero sum game to you. You do not own a business, make payroll, or create jobs, other than jobs you pay for with tax dollars.

billr: you simply forgot to mention that over 71% of Exxon's profits come from non-US operations.

What I find interesting is the main stream left media spent so much time on the guy and no investigation on Obama’s association with Acorn. What are they afraid they might find. The real issue is what will happens to the company that makes over $250 k and has lets say has 5 employees. I owned a business for years before I retired and Obama's plan would increase my cost by just about one employee. Why would I creat one more job and expand my business if I could just stay below the $250 k income. What incentive do I have. Why should I work for the government, All I have to do is enjoy my $250 k income with no risk. 39% of my hard work going to the government, why bother.
If I made $500k I would just look to lay off someone to keep my cost down. THAT IS JUST COMMON SENSE COST CUTTING.
I AM NOT GOING TO LET OBAMA SPREAD MY WEALTH AROUND.
By the way I gave 10% of my income to the local food bank and matched my employees giving. My dollar went 100% to help. Obama's plan would have the government distribute the wealth and take there normal 80% cut to administer it. Ask yourself when was the last government economical successful program?

News Flash...........Joe the Plumber is an idiot!!!!!!!!! The is championing the cause of an economic policy that designed to keep him "thinking " of owning a small business and never actually owning one. As opposed to Obama's plan that give him at least a $500- $1049 tax break. What an ingrate!! He obvious want Mccain in office for other reasons that has nothing to do with a practical solution to an economic crisis.

From each according to his ability to each according to his need. Spread the wealth. build from the bottom up. These are socialist ideas. The way democrats in the media have investigated this guy is disgusting. It is suppression of freedom of speech as it will make people fearful to ask the hard questions or speak out against the democratic party. This is scary stuff America. We are are the verge of the United States of Socialist America. With Obama, Biden, Pelosi, and Reid in control we will make a sharp left turn. Just think of the radical supreme court justices that will be put in place. The American dream goes from a chance to be rich to stuck in the very large middle class.

I'm voting for Joe the Plumber in this years election. Joe you're number one in our hearts, number one on the polls.

It's amazing how truly clueless some people are. It's not your BUSINESS income level, it's your PERSONAL income level. 5 days left and people STILL do not know what they're talking about.

We don't need bigger or smaller government, we need better government.

Well said Barack.

I'm trying to think of a time when McCain has called on the American people to all contribute in our cause for energy independence, or, call on us parents to turn off the video games and make the kid do his or her homework, or read to our children at night.

Barack just gets it. McCain is out of touch.