Is Joe Wurzelbacher related to Charles Keating — and does it matter?

By Michelle Malkin  •  October 16, 2008 05:12 PM

Scroll for update…Eisenstadt is a hoaxer

That’s been the left-wing blogger obsession all day. It started with a post from GOP blogger Martin Eisenstadt, who says that Joe Wurzelbacher the Plumber is a “close relative” of Robert Wurzelbacher, who is the son-in-law of Charles Keating. Robert Wurzelbacher served time for his role in the Keating 5 S&L scandal, gave a lot of money to Republicans, and is retired in Cincinnati. There is still no clear indication how exactly they are related and what “close” means.

I asked a reporter on scene in Ohio to check on the claim. He told me that Wurzelbacher was asked this morning at an impromptu press conference outside his house whether he’s related to Keating, and the reporter said Wurzelbacher answered that he didn’t know anything about that. I’ve asked the reporter to follow up and ask specifically if Wurzelbacher is related to Robert Wurzelbacher. Still waiting to hear back.

FYI, there is no mention of the issue in this NYTimes piece published at 1:30pm Eastern. Several left-wing blogs have also erroneously misidentifed a totally separate and unrelated “Joe Wurzelbacher” in Cincinnati as Joe the Plumber — and quietly backtracked after wetting their pants over that find.

The Keating connection claim has sent the left into conspiratorial frenzy. Joe is a plant! Joe is a liar! Joe is a [profanity] member of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy programmed by John McCain!

Insane.

Obama dropped in on Wurzelbacher’s neighborhood, not vice versa. And there are plenty of “close relatives” in families who have nothing to do with each other, do not speak to each other, and stay away from each other’s politics and business.

But Team Obama will grasp at any straw to bring this guy down. I’ll have more on Joe The Plumber Derangement Syndrome in my syndicated column tomorrow.

***

JTPDS takes over Toledo.

***

Update: Well, this explains the Keating/Wurzelbacher hoax. The person who spread the rumor is a hoaxer.

~ For the latest breaking news, be sure to join Michelle's e-mail list ~
Posted in: Joe The Plumber

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Comments


  1. #201
    On October 16th, 2008 at 10:19 pm, FamilyMan said:

    mattymatt10
    GOOSE STEP ANYONE!!!!!!

  2. #202
    On October 16th, 2008 at 10:20 pm, southsideironworks said:

    McCain has his moment, lets hope he takes it all the way to the White House.

  3. #203
    On October 16th, 2008 at 10:21 pm, brooklyn red said:

    Misscheryl said:
    Off subject but Gallup shows Obama 49% and MCain 47% which is within the margin of error!

    Yup, now watch as they turn on each other… oh I love it so much. They have the loyalty of cockroaches… feel free to qoute me.

  4. #204
    On October 16th, 2008 at 10:21 pm, vickisoup said:

    Oooohhh….matt; sorry you got such a pummeling. I was busy feeding family, etc.
    Back to the topic at hand, I do get your point, in that those with glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, and that McCain should be above it all as the person of honor he’s known to be. What’s offensive (mildly, I admit) to me and a few others is that you are suggesting that this event, in whatever form it turns out to be, could somehow cast a pall over a campaign that has been, to almost all conservatives, totally skewed by every media outlet besides Fox, using others who are unashamedly biased and flamingly in the tank for Obama.
    So I refer you to my earliest post on this thread that victory would taste sweeter still if McCain/Palin wins by using a tactic from the Dems’ playbook.
    I’m done; thanks for listening.

  5. #205
    On October 16th, 2008 at 10:23 pm, torabora said:

    Those waskly Republicans fooled da BO in visiting Joe’s hood just so they could ambush him with the ONLY person in AmeriKKKa who will be hurt by BO’s plan. It was all planned by Bush’s brain.

  6. #206
    On October 16th, 2008 at 10:37 pm, MichaelO said:
  7. #207
    On October 16th, 2008 at 10:41 pm, flenser said:

    I do get your point, in that those with glass houses shouldn’t throw stones

    I’m waiting for matty to demonstrate that this is occuring. On the Republican side.

    The only instance of it I can see so far on the part of the left. They have yawned with indifference regarding The One’s lifelong friendship with terrorists and racists. It’s peculiar to see them turing purple with rage because (allegedly) some private citizen is distantly related to a white-collar criminal.

    But that’s what makes them totalitarian thugs.

  8. #208
    On October 16th, 2008 at 10:42 pm, ajmontana said:

    Oh gee, I’ll take a look at that ad… lmao… around the 3rd of Nevuary.

  9. #209
    On October 16th, 2008 at 10:45 pm, MDH3 said:

    It’s peculiar to see them turing purple with rage because (allegedly) some private citizen is distantly related to a white-collar criminal.

    Allegedly being the operative word. By now we should be used to the Snake Oil, Smoke And Mirrors (SOSAM) the Left uses in a pathetic and transparent atempt to deflect honest inquiry.

  10. #210
    On October 16th, 2008 at 10:50 pm, Jewels said:

    AGAIN. Why does this matter?

    Obama still said what he said. It’s not like Joe was forcing Obama to confess he was a socialist. Pretense really doesn’t matter. You think there aren’t any plumbers out there in Joe’s position? Gimme a break.

    It’s a nonsense game of distraction.

  11. #211
    On October 16th, 2008 at 10:59 pm, Bud Fox said:

    I am Joe the Plumber.

  12. #212
    On October 16th, 2008 at 11:01 pm, CCM said:

    OT: Have you seen this page? http://www.neverfindout.org/

    Great ads! Donate if you can.

  13. #213
    On October 16th, 2008 at 11:05 pm, granite said:

    On October 16th, 2008 at 7:07 pm, docjohn52 said:

    I seem to remember a music group, from the 70’s? who had included in their lyrics, the phrase “Share the land”

    FWIW, I believe that song “Share the Land” was by The Guess Who.

  14. #214
    On October 16th, 2008 at 11:17 pm, committed said:

    I just saw on another blog that someone has dug up something charging that Joe is a wife beater. They are “vetting” him like he is running for President.

  15. #215
    On October 16th, 2008 at 11:21 pm, ajmontana said:

    lol, too funny, nothing at all matters but Odopeys answer….. what a bunch of fools…..

    what if it was Ayers that asked him? lmao

  16. #216
    On October 16th, 2008 at 11:22 pm, flenser said:

    They are “vetting” him like he is running for President.

    And they are vetting Obama like he’s running for Plumber.

    But that’s what happens then the vetters are all Fascists.

  17. #217
    On October 16th, 2008 at 11:27 pm, Misscheryl said:

    I think Obama should denounce all the trouble these people are causing Joe the Plumber. Course, he won’t do that.

  18. #218
    On October 16th, 2008 at 11:43 pm, emjem24 said:

    It’s a shame that someone, Joe, who just asked a simple question and “dared” to criticize or state an opinion on what is most definitely a flawed tax plan, is being villified by the lefties. I don’t care if he’s an unlicensed plumber or owes taxes if he works on both to better himself to help out his family and future.

    I feel a special kinship with Joe ’cause my father was steamfitter/plumber for over 30 years. I don’t think he (my father) was licensed because he worked for a private business (a university) and the training/educational requirements were different back then. Now, the unions and the State have a stranglehold on how one becomes a plumber and the normal direction that follows for any union-based profession.

    Even though I’m a teacher, got my education/training in my master’s program and then my licenses, it felt like a goat rope. There are many educated people out there that could do a better job teaching than the trained professionals. It’s a matter of common sense, integrity, and dedication that many union poobahs of different fields neither want or accept.

    I was raised by Joe The Plumber. People like him are the backbone of America and if the elite media and the Dems/Repubs try to castigate and dismiss them it will be to their peril.

  19. #219
    On October 17th, 2008 at 12:03 am, emjem24 said:

    I*hate*mycountry said:
    Joe “The Plumber” is as fraudulent as the rest of you people.

    The guys doesn’t pay his taxes
    The guy doesn’t have a plumbers license
    They guy won’t endorse McCain
    The guy isn’t trying to purchase his company

    This guy is full of it

    Hey, Ihatemycountry, what are you doing to hate your country today? So, if we’re all “frauds” (cough cough) then what are you? Pure as the driven snow? Do you have any integrity or do you show how brave you are with your little tirades on MM? Here are a couple of factoids for you:

    I’m a military spouse.
    My husband has been in the military for 16 years.
    I’m a certified and licensed Social Studies teacher in three states and have a master’s degree in that field.
    I will be voting for McCain even though I disagree with him on many issues (what do you disagree with Obummer about- what color Che vest you’ll wear for the day?).
    I will become an independent after this election.

    What have you, or any liberal, done for this country? Do you give to charity? Or do you think that everyone should live according to your socialist principles?

    The only fraudster on here is you, lgm, and the rest of the liberal, Obummer fight club who want to put us in our place for not supporting The One. How patriotic. The only thing that guides you and your vote is your “cut” of the Obummer homeslice.

    MM posters disagree on many things such as what conservativism is, where it’s headed, and what it means to all of us. You’re not interested in that and neither are your fellow liberals. I’m not interested in liberalism because I sucked on the koolaid and got tired of getting lectured about being nice to all the victim classes in this country.

    The only poser in this forum is you. What do you even stand for? Do you even know? Or do you make it up as you go along? :roll:

  20. #220
    On October 17th, 2008 at 12:12 am, ajmontana said:
  21. #221
    On October 17th, 2008 at 12:17 am, ajmontana said:
  22. #222
    On October 17th, 2008 at 12:25 am, Flyoverman said:

    When you look at this situation what is the reason the Left now hates Joe the Plumber?

    Answer: He asked Barack Obama a simple, direct question. Obama gave him a direct answer.

    Result: For causing Obama to tell the truth, the Left feels Joe should be pilloried. He would be a hero if he helped Obama lie?

    The twisted logic is too bizarre to fathom. Unhinged is an appropriate term.

  23. #223
    On October 17th, 2008 at 12:29 am, Mojave Mark said:

    Ihatemycountry

    should change his name to Ileftmycountry. Chiao! Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. If Barrack Marx gets elected you may not be able to leave.

  24. #224
    On October 17th, 2008 at 12:32 am, emjem24 said:

    nyk said:
    Particularly when she has called you out on your collective, mind-blowing hypocrisy.

    Said by yet one more suburb-fleeing, urban oasis-embracing, all-knowing liberal automaton. Nah, nah, you’re not a hypocrite, are ya?

    We criticize Obummer. We criticize McCain. What do you not get? Do you even disagree with Obummer on anything? Do you believe that “spreading the wealth” is fair?

    Of course, you’d actually have to have some integrity to even admit Obummer, like McCain, is far from perfect, has questionable associations, and is not a post-racial, post partisan politician.

    Or you could simply heed this advice:

    WE DONT LIKE OBUMMER. GET OVER IT ALREADY!!!

  25. #225
    On October 17th, 2008 at 12:52 am, Judabuggs said:

    Good evening everyone,

    I just found this video link on a PUMA blog. It is very entertaining and has great background on Obama.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu3CdSZRKu0

  26. #226
    On October 17th, 2008 at 1:33 am, nyk said:

    nyk’s point, as I read it, was that calling out shady relationships on one side, but not calling out shady relationships on the other side, is hypocritical.

    I went out hours ago, or I would’ve responded before…but yes, this is exactly what I meant.

  27. #227
    On October 17th, 2008 at 1:37 am, nyk said:

    Do you even disagree with Obummer on anything?

    Debates with you inevitably disintegrate into lengthy rants that have nothing to do with the subject at hand so I’ll keep this short: Yes (in politics, as in real life, almost no one agrees with anyone on EVERYthing). But that has NOTHING to do with what we’re talking about. I’m not sure what your point is. MY POINT, is that I notice hypocrisy here. The end.

  28. #228
    On October 17th, 2008 at 1:48 am, fulldroolcup said:

    It’s precisely because Barack foolishly told a working class guy that he wanted to take more of his earnings as taxes to “spread the wealth” that he’s in trouble.

    Barack didn’t say that to a well-heeled entrepreneur that some libs (or even “moderate” squishes) would shrug about and conclude “he can afford it”.

    No. He said it to a working stiff.

    To the extent Obama’s thugs attempt to vilify this guy they show their contempt for ALL working stiffs who hold out hopes of becoming better off.

    Working stiffs have had their eyes opened.

    I sure hope McCain and Palin pound the issue into the ground!!!

  29. #229
    On October 17th, 2008 at 2:03 am, flenser said:

    Totalitarian Thug said;

    MY POINT, is that I notice hypocrisy here.

    What hypocrisy? You want us to pretend that some citizen being distantly related to Keating is the same as your Presidental nominee being pals with racists and terrorists. The only hypocrisy here is your own.

  30. #230
    On October 17th, 2008 at 2:06 am, flenser said:

    nyk’s point, as I read it, was that calling out shady relationships on one side, but not calling out shady relationships on the other side, is hypocritical.

    Too bad that nyk can’t quite describe what he thinks the “shady relationships” are on our side.

    If Joe the Plumber was friends with racists and terrorists, that STILL would not be comparable – because he is not running for President! Your Mugabe clone is.

  31. #231
    On October 17th, 2008 at 6:12 am, St. Louis Blue said:

    Not to go OT or anything, but last night I flew back to St. Louis from NYC and was fortunate to be upgraded from coach to first class. The last two people to board took the seats in front of me.

    Guess who. It was Al Sharpton and Jess-uh Jack-suhn. I assume that they were flying in early for Obam-uh’s rally this weekend.

    They conversed loudly throughout the first hour of the flight, but not understanding jive, I missed the substance of the conversation.

    When things quieted down later, Jess-uh put on his reading glasses, pulled out a crossword puzzle and started working on it.

    A few minutes later Jack-suhn leans over to Sharpton and says, “Say Al, what’s a four-letter word for nyk that ends in u-n-t?”

    Sharpton looks back at his in disbelief and says “aunt”–except it sounds like “ahhnt.”

    There’s three seconds of dead silence and Jack-suhn says to Sharton, “Say Al, could I borrow an eraser?”

    :lol:

  32. #232
    On October 17th, 2008 at 7:56 am, flaming_o said:

    When left wing bloggers attack JW for voicing a simple concern, it shows there’s an empathy gap in America.

  33. #233
    On October 17th, 2008 at 7:57 am, flaming_o said:

    Aren’t we all related to Kevin Bacon? Maybe that’s the connection.

You must be logged in to post a comment.


Ohio taxpayers paying to defend government snoops

November 18, 2009 09:27 AM by Michelle Malkin

14 Comments

In defense of Joe

January 14, 2009 07:23 PM by Michelle Malkin

42 Comments

JTP in Sderot: “Do you think this is normal, the way you cover this conflict…?”

January 11, 2009 09:47 PM by Michelle Malkin

31 Comments

“He also observed and reported from the house where a Kassam landed on Sunday afternoon.”

“Is that an airplane or a helicopter?”

January 11, 2009 11:51 AM by Michelle Malkin

38 Comments

“Professional” question of the morning.

Who’s afraid of Joe the Journalist?

January 9, 2009 08:38 AM by Michelle Malkin

199 Comments

Joe the Plumber heads to Israel

January 7, 2009 12:52 PM by Michelle Malkin

83 Comments


Categories: Joe The Plumber

Follow me on Twitter Follow me on Facebook