JOE "THE PLUMBER" WURZELBACHER RELATED TO CHARLES KEATING FIVE SCANDAL CROOK

photo source

Joe the Plumber emerged from the final presidential debate as an undecided voter who became an overnight celebrity. It seems appropriate at this time to borrow an expression from Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Say it isn't so Joe... The true identity of John McCain's average "Joe" has been revealed and he is not your run of the mill "Joe Six Pack".  In fact Joe Wurzelbacher who was conveniently renamed "Joe the Plumber" during the presidential debate is connected to the Keating 5 scandal that Senator John McCain wished to go unmentioned during this presidential campaign. It must be noted that John McCain raised the issue of guilt by association during the debate when he mentioned Barack Obama's connection with William Ayers.

UPDATE: MSNBC confirms Joe "The Plumber" Wurzelbacher doesn't have a plumbing license. Joe the Plumber has already made his debut in an online ad for the John McCain campaign. Questions have been raised about whether Joe was planted to put a partisan spin on the issues.  For instance, how was it that a newspaper was present when Joe was watching the debates (they took the picture above) if Joe didn't know his name would be mentioned? source

KEATING ECONOMICS: John McCain & The Making of a Financial Crisis

Joe the Plumber from Ohio made the rounds during the morning talk shows bashing Barack Obama. He just forgot to mention that he is related to Charles Keating who was the crook involved in the Keating Five scandal. Watch Joe call Barack Obama a Socialist who  wants to " spread the wealth". Joe Wurzelbacher made a comment on Fox about Obama having a  "Sammy Davis" tap dancing routine while conducting interviews including one with Katie Couric.

Joe the Plumber Calls Obama a Socialist for his "Spread the Wealth" Comment on Fox News

John McCain did great tonight in the debate. But every time John mentioned “Joe the Plumber,” some of us in the campaign banged our heads against the wall. If Steve Schmidt had any hair left, I hear he would have been pulling it out tonight. He reportedly screamed at John’s debate prep team tonight (out of earshot of reporters, of course). “You idiots - he’s related to Charles Keating… of the Keating Five scandal!” They thought they had a real live Joe Six-Pack who’s spurned Barack Obama’s tax plan. But what they forgot to do was check on Joe Wurzelbacher’s background.

Turns out that Joe Wurzelbacher from the Toledo event is a close relative of Robert Wurzelbacher of Milford, Ohio. Who’s Robert Wurzelbacher? Only Charles Keating’s son-in-law and the former senior vice president of American Continental, the parent company of the infamous Lincoln Savings and Loan. The now retired elder Wurzelbacher is also a major contributor to Republican causes giving well over $10,000 in the last few years.

Does any of this make Joe the Plumber a bad guy? Of course not. In fact, after that ill-fated night at the Watergate, he may finally be giving plumbers a good name. But at a debate where John goes full bore on Obama for guilt-by-association with William Ayers (and dodges a bullet by Obama not mentioning Keating Five), the press is going to bring it back front and center by midday tomorrow once they delve deeper into the most popular plumber in America. source

Obama Explains His Tax Cut Plans To Plumbing Business Owner

Just when you didn't think things could get worse for John McCain -- they go in the toilet.

Literally.

So, you remember Joe the Plumber, who John McCain kept relentlessly bringing up. And up. The apparently undecided plumber who had complained to Barack Obama that he couldn't buy his own plumbing company because he'd have to pay 3% more in taxes. The plumber who John McCain lauded as an Everyman while oddly proclaiming "Congratulations! You're rich!" in the midst of a disastrous recession. The fellow who said that Barack Obama "tap dances better than Sammy Davis Jr."

That guy.

Well, it turns out he's the one gliding around the dance floor so much, you should expect to see him soon on "Dancing with the Stars."

You see, Joe Wurzelbacher is apparently related to Robert Wurzelbacher. Who is the son-in-law of (are you ready...?) Charles Keating!

Yes, that Charles Keating. The Charles Keating of the Keating 5 Scandal. For which John McCain was reprimanded by the United States Senate, for his involvement in attempting to illegally influence government regulators. The Charles Keating who John McCain has been trying to avoid have mentioned. So, he basically mentioned it 24 times.

(By the way, lost in all the attention paid to John McCain not getting the same career-ending censure by the Senate, as did the other four defendants - the reason for that is because he'd been in the House of Representatives at the time of his transgression. The Senate decided that they didn't have jurisdiction over him to give the same penalty. So, his career was saved.)

Anyway, back to Robert Wurzelbacher, Joe the Plumber's father. You see, Robert Wurzelbacher was an executive of American Continental Corporation, the parent company of Charles Keating's Lincoln Savings. That's the bank which caused citizens to lose their life savings and cost U.S. taxpayers $3.4 billion. As part of that scandal, Robert Wurzelbacher pleaded guilty to three counts of misapplying $14 million and served 40 months in prison.

And now, Lincoln Savings, Robert Wurzelbacher and Joe the Plumber are back with John McCain.

"Congratulations!  You're rich!," indeed.

Never mind that Joe the Plumber has state tax liens files against him. As the court representative says, Joe the Plumber might not even be aware of the lien.

Never mind that Joe the Plumber says he wasn't convinced by Sen. Obama's argument.  Given his background, why should he be?

Never mind that Joe the Plumber is concerned about a tax increase if his business makes over $250,000. After all, since any business has an estimated value of five times its annual profit - that means Joe's hoped-for business is valued at $1.25 million. So, either he has that in the bank or can get a loan for its value. (Assuming he can get a loan today, of course...). Though, now you see why John McCain gave Joe the Plumber a shout out, "Congratulations! You're rich!"

But then, maybe John McCain gave Joe the Plumber a shout-out because he wanted to give a boost to a friend's relative. Nice touch.

So, apparently these are the people who John McCain seems to keep palling around with. 

Mind you, I thought it odd when John McCain first brought up Joe Wurzelbacher's but then never referred to his last name again. I thought perhaps he'd forgotten it. Or it was too hard to pronounce. Apparently though there was a better reason for him to quit saying the name "Wurzelbacher" 24 times. If only Sen. McCain (R-AZ) had remembered the pesky Tivo, where you can rewind. source

Comments

[Ben]

Look at the Address on Keating Ave where Joe lived.

1960 W KEATING AVE APT 150, MESA AZ 85202-7011
http://www.webofdeception.com/joetheplumber.html

Then use http://maps.google.com and type in Senator John McCain.

All three AZ addresses under McCain's name are right by Joe The Plumber's house! One is right around the corner, 2.5mi. I'd assume these are McCain's offices and his house is near by.