BIDEN: "“I don't have any Joe the plumbers in my neighborhood that make $250,000 a year"

[kpete]

October 16, 2008
Biden questions 'notion of this guy Joe the plumber'
Posted: 01:15 PM ET

From CNN Associate Editor Rebecca Sinderbrand
Joe Biden says he doesn't know any plumbers that make $250K.

(CNN) — Joe Biden sounded skeptical of “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher’s working-class credentials Thursday.

“You notice John continues to cling to the notion of this guy Joe the plumber,” Biden said on NBC’s Today show. “I don't have any Joe the plumbers in my neighborhood that make $250,000 a year that are worried.”

“The Joe the plumbers in my neighborhood, the Joe the cops in my neighborhood, the Joe the grocery store owners in my neighborhood — they make, like 98 percent of the small businesses, less than $250,000 a year,” said the Democratic VP nominee. “And they’re going to do very well under us, and they’re going to be in real tough shape under John McCain.”

.................

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in the United States in 2007 was $47,350.

more at:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/16/biden-questions-notion-of-this-guy-joe-the-plumber/

[BattyDem]

1. My nephew's a plumber.

He's not making anywhere near $250,000 a year!

[gateley]

2. Man, don't you just love OUR Joe? nt

[rosesaylavee]

3. But wasn't his business going to make $280,000/year?

And that was his beef? I still think that was rather high revenue for a plumbing business just starting out - but who knows what kind of plumbing he does?

[Barack_America]

5. He's unlicensed. His entire story was BS. nt

[ContinentalOp]

9. True, but it's funny how even the hypothetical is B.S.

Even if we took him at his word, there's no logical scenario where Obama's tax plan would actually hurt that kind of a company or make it harder for the company to pay its employees.

If it was a company that made $280k in profits after all of the expenses and deductions were accounted for, then the guy is hardly hurting and he would only pay a few percent more on the $30k that is above the 250k bracket!

[rosesaylavee]

10. Ha!

Unlicensed and not registered to vote!

Man, so much happens here from the time I sign off to go to work and lunch. Thanks for the fantastically funny update! We're dying here we're laughing so hard.

:rofl:

[NMDemDist2]

19. FYI he is registered under his REAL name Samuel

and he voted in the Repuke primary this year

[ContinentalOp]

6. Net or gross?

If it grosses $280k then he's not going to be taxed anywhere near that amount. If the company makes a $280k net profit, then paying a few percent more on the amount above 250 is not going to be a big deal. And it certainly won't affect his ability to pay his employees since that's all pure profit after expenses.

[rosesaylavee]

13. I agree - not a big deal either way

And it is all hypothetical as I just found out, this guy is unlicensed in addition to unregistered to vote.

Just when you think this can't get any more absurd and surreal - bizarro world is coming unhinged finally.

[sandnsea]

98% of small businesses don't make that much either

And small business is taxed differently anyway. Obama has tax cuts for small business too.

[kestrel91316]

16. IRS doesn't tax gross receipts. They tax net profits.

[tblue]

4. Leave it to Joe to cut right through the BS.

And, just for the record:

[Blaze Diem]

7. and once again a grumbling McBullshit wanders off with his tail between his legs..

Biden assures Joe the Plumber that he will be a short lived McCain fantasy to win him the White House..just like that of Sarah Palin.
Throw us another one McMaverick"..

[Overseas]

8. K&R-- You Tell 'Em, Joe the Senator and Future VP !! //nt

[mzmolly]

11. WTG "Joe The VP"

:toast:

[Kalyke]

12. Way to go, Joe The Senator!

Soon to be Joe The Vice President!

[Dr Fate]

14. I LOVE Joe's constant "in my neighborhood" references.

So spot on- I've been waiting for DEMS to get folksy like this- Joe has not disappointed.

[Oak2004]

15. I believe Joe the Biden over Joe the Plumber n/t

[JBTO26]

17. Exactly what Obama should have responded...

yesterday.

[FatDave]

18. Plumber salary survey

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Plumber/Salary

[Raschel]

20. Biden better be careful; McCain said Todd Palin is a pretty tough guy.

I think he was trying to threaten the Obama campaign with him....

[ErinBerin84]

21. I could listen to Biden talk about his neighborhood all day.