Subject: Obama hires a plumber

Barack Obama discovers a leak under his sink, so he calls Joe the Plumber to come and fix it.

Joe drives to Obama's house, which is located in a very nice neighborhood and where it's clear that all the residents make more than $250,000 per year.

Joe arrives and takes his tools into the house. Joe is led to the room that contains the leaky pipe under a sink. Joe assesses the problem and tells Obama, who is standing near the door, that it's an easy repair that will take less than 10 minutes.

Obama asks Joe how much it will cost. Joe immediately says, "$9,500." "$9,500?" Obama asks, stunned. "But you said it's an easy repair!" Yes, but what I do is charge a lot more to my clients who make more than $250,000 per year so I can fix the plumbing of everybody who makes less than that for free," explains Joe. "It's always been my philosophy. As a matter of fact, I lobbied government to pass this philosophy as law, and it did pass earlier this year, so now
all plumbers have to do business this way. It's known as 'Joe's Fair Plumbing Act of 2008.' Surprised you haven't heard of it, senator."

In spite of that, Obama tells Joe there's no way he's paying that much for a small plumbing repair, so Joe leaves.

Obama spends the next hour flipping through the phone book looking for another plumber, but he finds that all other plumbing
businesses listed have gone out of business. Not wanting to pay Joe's price, Obama does nothing.

The leak under Obama's sink goes unrepaired for the next several days. A week later the leak is so bad that Obama has had to put a bucket under the sink. The bucket fills up quickly and has to be emptied every hour, and there's a risk that the room will flood, so Obama calls Joe and pleads with him to return.

Joe goes back to Obama's house, looks at the leaky pipe, and says "Let's see ? this will cost you about $21,000."

A few days ago you told me it would cost $9,500!" Obama quickly fires back.

Joe explains the reason for the dramatic increase. "Well, because of the 'Joe's Fair Plumbing Act,' a lot of rich people are learning how to fix their own plumbing, so there are fewer of you paying for all the free plumbing I'm doing for the people who make less than $250,000. As a result, the rate I have to charge my wealthy paying customers rises every day. "Not only that, but for some reason the demand for plumbing work from the group of people who get it for free has skyrocketed, and there's a long waiting list of those who need repairs. This has put a lot of my fellow plumbers out of business, and they're not being replaced nobody is going into the plumbing business because they know they won't make any money. I'm hurting now too all thanks to greedy rich people like you who won't pay their fair share.

Obama tries to straighten out the plumber: "Of course you're hurting, Joe! Don't you get it? If all the rich people learn how to fix their own plumbing and you refuse to charge the poorer people
for your services, you'll be broke, and then what will you do?"

Joe immediately replies, "Run for president, apparently."

A silly way to point out silliness in some of the national political issues.

And "dead on"!


Russ

Wonder if John and his rich wife would loan me one of their 8 vehicles?

On second thought, most are gas hogs. Would really have liked "Big O's" Chrysler 300 M...Hemi engine and all...

R.

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 10-29-2008).]

You Americans are funny people. Your main concern seems to be who is standing for which taxrate. That's ridiculous. Don't you realize, that America has lost its reputation and credibility even among friends? Who in the world is still accepting America's political and economical leadership? Not to speak of the moral claims pronounced so loudly.
Mr McCain is seen in line with Mr Bush.
Only Mr Obama can turn this wheel to the better.
Robbe52 German

I'm shocked Joe "the phony.., didn't pay his own damn taxes" Plumber is still being used by the McCain campaign. Research into Joe's associations makes it VERY obvious how het got where he is today with the McCain's and their cause.

Joe don't give a crap about buying the business. He doesn't even make enough money to buy it even if he wanted to.., and couldn't even get the loan for it considering he owes back taxes and has liens against him. He's just a good old example of how desparate the McCain campaign is getting. Palin backfired and all it took was Katie C's interview for America to really see how clueless this woman is. Then they pull out Joe The Plumber.

McCain is running an OLD MAN'S campaign with old school tactics.., as if he was running for office in 1962. The WORLD HAS CHANGED. We are in a very important generational change as well. MANY younger voters out there now are fed up with this old school Washington mentallity, and are tired of this mess the Rep's have made. McCain is Bush number 3. If McCain takes office we may has well start printing our US Consitution on toilet paper. It would only make sense because the Rep's have been wiping their backsides with the Constitution for years now.

I think Obama's going to win.., I just fear for the man's safety when he take office. They're going to have to roll him around in a bullet proof bubble because we still have a nasty skid mark on the underpants of this nation from long ago that we can't seem to wash out. All it took was for Obama to announce his running for us to see that times really haven't changed that much. Obama was judged not by his ability to lead, but look how fast the ignorance deeply rooted in our society took over. Racism because of the man's name. Suddenly he's a terrorist, blah blah blah. Look how quicky all of those obvious false statements took over.

Then you got people at McCain rallies saying "kill him, hang him, he's a terrorist". Then that old bag took the mic at that one rally who made a racist statement that aired all over the world. McCain supporters booed him for defending Obama just for saying he's a decent man when people at his rallies scream out racist remarks. It just shows how ugly thing still are....

We've got a long way to go people. 4 more years of Bush policies will just add another 4 long years to the ride.

I mailed in my ballot this morning...But I'm staying out of the Bar for now...Looks like it might get too rowdy.

C_K

Oh? SO associations do matter? And I never, ever, saw anybody fantasizing about killing Bush. Nope. Never happened. But of course if it had happened, it would have been totally justified.

[This message has been edited by FAEbGBD (edited 10-30-2008).]

Rory, I'm sure you're a decent guy 'cause most good musicians are, and you ARE a good musician. It's sometimes difficult to understand another cultural perspective unless you've lived in that culture. There are some here that would say that my affirmation of Squeak's observations is just another case of a 'brother' sticking up for a 'brother'. I'm an old man, who has lived through times and experienced things that even Squeak would shudder at.

When you think about it, it's nothing short of a miracle that most Black people can still love and feel patriotic about a country that has enslaved them for half of it's existence and physically, mentally, and psychologically tortured them the other half. Whatever you think of Black America, you have to know that it was created by White America. After 400 years, it is only in last few years that most Blacks in this country are beginning to realize a tiny piece of the 'American Dream'. Even today, despite representing nearly 15% of the population, there is only one (1) Black in the U.S. Senate. If Barack is elected, there will be none (as in ZERO).

Sure there probably have been death threats towards Bush. Let's face it, the Presidency is a dangerous place. But it's all political. When you add to that the deep-seated, unreasoned, hatred that some on the fringe of our society have for any but their own, you can see why it might be a little bit unnerving to be the first Black president.

Sure, there have been threats and even attempts (some successful) on former presidents, but, if you'll recall, never by a Black, Asian, Hispanic, or Native American. Again, I'm not saying that Whites have a monopoly on hate, ignorance, prejudice, and intolerance; I'm just saying that if we're looking for bad guys here, there are plenty to go around.

As for the election, I say, let the nation decide; and when it does, let's all get behind that person and try to build a better, more tolerant, country and world.

chas

OK, I'm going to go on a 100 line rant about blind america. Fair? Over 70% of blind people aren't working. I mean working age blind people whose only malady is blindness, no other cognative disorders or whatever. Sure, they can go to college, and then wind up doing nothing with it. And you know what? There's never been a blind president either. That's just not right! I don't need lessons about what it is to be part of an under priveleged segment, ok? But I'm not paranoyed and feel like the country is against me either.

Given the state of technology at this time, there is probably no reason other than discrimination in hiring for a 70% unemployment rate among the blind population. But frankly, I would think that having experienced that discrimination would make one more sensitive to, and appreciative of, the feelings of members of other groups who suffer similar discrimination through no fault of their own.

My wife (PhD/MSW) spent a career working with blind and deaf populations, and believe me, they could have no stronger advocate. Any hint of prejudice against anyone with ANY disability or challenge, physical or mental, was absolutely NOT TOLERATED in our household. Thirty years ago I made the mistake of repeating a stupid Ray Charles/Stevie Wonder joke. I don't think our relationship is completely repaired even to this day.

I understand that people see the world through cultural filters and form opinions and values based on their own life experiences, but I also know that we have a choice of how we respond to our feelings. I do something stupid every single day and know that I could be taking a higher road even as I'm doing it , but I always know that when it comes right down to it, when the rubber meets the road, I'm gonna' do the right thing. And if I ever actually hate anybody, it's going to be because they actually did something to merit it, not just because they exist.

chas