Joe Wurzelbacher — better known as Joe the plumber — says his famous meeting with Sen. Barack Obama has made him "scared for America."
“When I was face to face with him, my honest first impression was that I expected something more,” wrote Wurzelbacher in an online chat on WashingtonTimes.com. “I had heard so much about ‘his presence’ in the media that I was surprised to find that he seemed very average. My gut feeling as he answered my questions? I was scared for America.”
Wurzelbacher, 34, became famous two weeks ago when Obama made a campaign stop in Holland, Ohio. Wurzelbacher asked Obama about his tax plan and suggested that the plan would be at odds with "the American dream." Obama defended his plan to Wurzelbacher, and said: "It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they've got a chance at success, too… And I think that when we spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."
The exchange was caught on video, and Wurzelbacher became a household name a few nights later when both Obama and Sen. John McCain mentioned him constantly in the final presidential debate.
In the online chat on WashingtonTimes.com, Wurzelbacher was skeptical when asked if he thought Obama would abide by his promise to raise taxes only on incomes above $250,000.
“That's the big question isn't it,” he replied. “What worries me is that he is deciding that $250k is rich right now, but what's to stop him from changing his mind? As we all know, politicians change their minds at the drop of a poll. Personally, I think it will have to go lower. How else will he pay for all he wants big government to do?”
In the WashingtonTimes.com chat, Wurzelbacher also:
Said he was going to vote for "A REAL AMERICAN. I want a president who believes in democracy and the American People and the American Dream. I want a president who believes in smaller government and the ideals of our forefathers--and doesn't believe those principles are outdated. I want a president who is not going to lead us into socialism and despair. I want a president that can stand amongst some of the great leaders of our past." Said he hoped other Americans wouldn't be scared off from questioning political candidates based on the scrutiny he has been subjected to: "If we are too afraid to question our elected officials, the America I grew up in and love is gone. Maybe if enough of us are willing to question our government and those in other places of power, perhaps we can take back our country." Took the media to task for its behavior in recent weeks. "Shouldn't somebody question the press about their veracity and reliability?" Said the national media questioned his beliefs and private life because "the media has an agenda, pure and simple." Said "100% without a doubt I like the fair tax. It would have to be structured properly of course. But I like the principles of it, and especially the idea of doing away with the IRS."
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