Joe 'the Plumber' Wurzelbacher enters race for congress

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Joe 'the Plumber' Wurzelbacher enters race for congress
Joe 'the Plumber' Wurzelbacher has entered the 2012 congressional race
saying Congress needs more mechanics, bricklayers and plumbers.

By JOHN SEEWER, Associated Press / October 27, 2011

Samuel "Joe" Wurzelbacher was thrust into the political spotlight after
questioning Barack Obama about his economic policies during the 2008
presidential campaign. He officially launched his campaign for Congress in
Ohio on Tuesday night.
Wurzelbacher said he's running as a Republican in Ohio's 9th U.S. House
district, a seat now held by Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving Democratic
woman in the House. She's expected to face a primary challenge from Rep.
Dennis Kucinich after Ohio's redrawn congressional map combined their two
districts into one that appears heavily tilted toward Democrats.

Wurzelbacher has become an icon for many anti-establishment conservatives
and has traveled the country speaking at tea party rallies and conservative
gatherings since becoming a household name.
"Americans deserve all kinds of people representing them," he said. "Not
just an elite, ruling class."

He said he's seeking office because he's seen too many people forced out of
their homes and leave Ohio because of the poor economy.

"All I'm asking for is a fair shake," he said.

Wurzelbacher insisted that he's not trying to capitalize on his fame. "I've
been Joe the Plumber for three years now," Wurzelbacher said. "I haven't
made millions of dollars off it."

Republicans who recruited him to run in what is a blue-collar district
stretching from Toledo to Cleveland think his fame will help bring in enough
money to mount a serious challenge. He set up a website to raise money
within the last week.

Cuyahoga County Republican Chairman Rob Frost, who had announced he would
seek the GOP nomination, dropped out last week, clearing the way for
Wurzelbacher.

"People have said this is a guy who took his 15 minutes of fame and turned
it into a half hour," said Lucas County GOP Chairman Jon Stainbrook. "But
you've got a guy who's out there and people are relating with him."

He'll appeal to people who are tired of politics as usual, Stainbrook said.
"He's tapped into this sentiment that things in Washington are screwed up,"
Stainbrook said

Politicians, Wurzelbacher said, too often try to patch problems instead of
fixing them. "I'm not the kind of plumber who uses duct tape," he said

Wurzelbacher, 37, went from toiling as a plumber in suburban Toledo three
years ago to media sensation in a matter of days after questioning Obama
about his tax policies and being repeatedly cited by Republican U.S. Sen.
John McCain in a presidential debate.

He campaigned with McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, but he later
criticized McCain and said he did not want him as the GOP presidential
nominee.

Since then, he's written a book, worked with a veterans' organization that
provides outdoor programs for wounded soldiers and traveled the country
speaking at tea party rallies and conservative gatherings.

He said he's also been building houses and working as a plumber.

Wurzelbacher has shown a disdain for politicians - both Democrat and
Republican.

"Being a politician is as good as being a weatherman," Wurzelbacher said at
a tea party rally last year in Nevada. "You don't have to be right, you
don't have to do your job well, but you'll still have a job."

He said on Tuesday that he decided to enter politics as a Republican because
he figured he'd have no chance to win as an independent.

"Is it the lesser of two evils?" he said. "I don't know."

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2011/1027/Joe-the-Plumber-Wurzelbacher-enters-race-for-congress

Roto-rootering the system is the goal of Joe!

Doc