by Elmo Adams

Created on: October 19, 2008   Last Updated: October 25, 2008

Joe the Plumber

After swatting at Gotchas since his convention, John McCain had a Gotcha of his own in his back pocket and he slid his palms together in anticipation of opening the door to the cage.

On Wednesday night during the last 2008 presidential debate, Candidate McCain would release Joe the Plumber. In our youTube world order which records 99 percent of everyone's life, a tape existed that revealed a recorded conversation with Joe and Barack Obama. Joe questioned Obama about buying the business that currently employed him and wondered if he netted over 250,000 dollars in the new venture, would the Obama tax plan work against him. Turns out it might. The rate could be 36 percent instead of 39. But, more importantly, something may have been said about "spreading the wealth around."

In the GOP Holy of Holies (formerly located on Wall Street but now moved to a bunker near Omaha) a sacred text proclaims that if there is anything that should not be "spread around," it is wealth. There are many things to do with wealth, but spreading it around is not one. You can invest, lend, borrow, or donate wealth. You can also mismanage, steal, or just plain lose it, but all of these are preferable to "spreading it around." This awful phrase brings to life visions of the arch villain Robin Hood and his possibly gender confused group of anarchists. So, McCain was armed to the teeth. He had the nuke option that would clear as crystal define Obama as an unrepentant wealth re-arranger. Obama wanted to take 16 hour a day working guy Joe's wealth away from him and "spread it around."

<p>Even if you are no fan of the GOP or McCain, you had to feel a little good for the guy. For a brief time, he wore a smile that did not look like it would crack his face or break his teeth. It was a regular guy smile. He was happy. Joe the Plumber had made John McCain happy.

But, you know what's next. The sun rose, and the youTube world order woke to a new day that would include checking out Joe the Plumber. Seems Joe is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher. He is not a plumber if that means the type that have a license. The Obama tax plan would probably benefit him. Also taxes seem troublesome for Sam as there is a lien on his house for some he has not paid.

What doe all this have to teach us? Quite a bit. But not just the fish in the barrel partisan stuff. First it makes it clear to me that fame and fortune are not all on the positive side. And, if there is a choice, take fortune. I don't know how these fifteen

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