John McCain certainly has an irritating habit of plucking unqualified people from obscurity and turning them into political celebrities: First, it was Sarah Palin, and now, Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher. For most people, the name Wurzelbacher is nothing more than a mouthful to pronounce, but his household nickname ““ “Joe the Plumber” ““ should sound familiar.
Made famous in 2008 for pressing then-presidential candidate Barack Obama on his tax policy, Wurzelbacher has announced he is running for Congress. He will run as the Republican candidate for Ohio’s 9th Congressional district. Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur is the district’s current incumbent and has been since 1982.
Wurzelbacher has become the GOP’s mascot for championing the rights of working-class Americans. And I see the attraction. Not only does he appeal to blue-collar Americans, a demographic that the GOP is often accused of overlooking, but his large name recognition leads to a huge fundraising potential, both of which can build a supportive momentum that may be difficult to defeat.
He has, like many successful candidates before him, built his candidacy on the idea that Washington needs change. And the only hope for change comes from someone who can stand outside of the dirty partisan game, someone who remembers what being an average American is like, someone closer to home.
Yet, Wurzelbacher has used his fame to travel the country, speaking at tea party rallies and other conservative events, even knabbing a book deal. That is hardly a man above partisan politics. Furthermore, the name on the ballot will be Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, not “Joe the Plumber.” How many constituents will recognize Wurzelbacher as “Joe the Plumber”?
His famous 2008 stint with President Obama (and possibly the ensuing scandal from his lack of a plumbing license), has sensationalized Wurzelbacher and blinded the GOP from focusing on his potential. Rather than heavily considering his qualifications, the GOP bets his celebrity status to be the better indicator of promise. With the impending elections, party influence may change, and the GOP needs to defend its authority in Washington. Empowering and recruiting an unknown is rash. He could be brilliant or terrible, but without meticulously examining his ability, especially with his questionable past, it would be imprudent to elect this man into office.
I hope the constituents of the 9th District continue to practice sound judgment at the polls. If Wurzelbacher wins, the country may just officially be taking its first steps down the drain. And I have a feeling that such a plumbing fiasco will be one far too complicated for “Joe the Plumber” to fix.