Joe The What ???

Just when we thought that we heard the last from the man who has become known as Joe “The Plumber,” Samuel J. Wurzelbacher is now back in the news but only this time he isn’t bemoaning Barack Obama’s tax plan nor is he snubbing John McCain rallies. The conservative online news site, pjtv.com, has hired Wurzelbacher as a war correspondent in Israel. His stated ten day project is to travel around the country, asking the so called “Average Joes,” about their feelings regarding the war in the Gaza strip. Of course several questions should arise from this story, including the following.

While the state of US journalism has been in near collapse over the past 30+, one should still expect news professionals to have a firsthand world view before they are ever hired by any syndicate. One must wonder what an Ohio resident who poses as a plumber knows about the detailed history of the Gaza conflict. By putting a novice into the international ring, especially one with such a narrow understanding of world affairs, the only possible outcome of his “reporting” is to perpetuate a one-sided view. But more to the point, this stunt, much like the image of “Joe The Plumber” serves only to forward one of a long series of false dialogues normally used to rile the rightwing base every four to six years. Even if one were to take seriously the premise of the project, it’s curious that a more seasoned journalist who could better articulate the conclusion that this conservative outlet has already come to, was not used.

Then there is the question of why no Palestinians are being interviewed for this project, only Israelis. Unfortunately the residents of the Gaza strip have long been portrayed as terrorists or, “non-people,” by much of the American mainstream media. How else then can one explain the total lack of coverage on the gates, walls and check points that surround Gaza, making the residents in the area prisoners and turning the entire region into one big jail. It is equally disheartening to see no press given to the fact that the Israeli Government has had its finger on the pulse of the Palestinian people and the functioning of their everyday lives. This ranges from the now infamous separation wall, which cuts farmers off from their land and family members from each other, to the overt manipulation of the area’s political system.

For good or ill Hamas did win the most recent election that was allowed by outside forces, and this includes the United States. The outcome of those election results was the cutting off of oil, food and water and medical supplies to the non-Jewish residents of Gaza. Even before the outbreak of violence, all supply levels had remained at near crisis level. And should be noted that even at the time Hamas was still the legitimate Government of Gaza, Israeli airstrikes assassinated several cabinet members and killed crowds of civilians. Perhaps if Joe Wurzelbacher was serious about his role as a so called journalist, he could very well interview the Palestinian mothers who saw their infants blown in half or the children now orphaned after watching their parents being blown apart. Or does he see them too as “elitists” as he did Barack Obama?

Then there is Joe, the man behind the image. Samuel J. Wurzelbacher came onto the scene, claiming that he was just an average American, making $200,000 a year, who was just trying to open a business as a plumber, which he is not licensed for, and Obama’s tax plan would hurt his chances at success, a claim that has long been discredited. And when it became obvious that his presence on the McCain campaign would make little difference in the outcome of the elections, he publically bashed the Republican ticket. So the final question I have is what is Joe’s credibility even as a person?

Until next time.