The first generation internet celebrity in the United States, Joe the Plumber, passed away and became famous overnight after debating with Obama
Fifteen years ago, Samuel Joe Wozelbacher, an ordinary plumber from Ohio, USA, saw presidential candidate Barack Obama campaigning in the village and came forward to question his tax reduction policies. He engaged in a brief debate and was later known as "plumber Joe.". He was seen by the media as a representative of ordinary people and became famous overnight in the United States.
This first generation American internet celebrity later became a guest of honor for right-wing conservatives, witnessing the escalating political struggles of the Donkey Elephant Party, but failed to enter politics and returned to his old profession. His family said on the 28th that Wozelbacher passed away due to illness at the age of 49.
【 Overnight fame 】
Joey, the eldest son of Wozelbacher, said that his father had been ill for a long time and passed away in Wisconsin on the 27th. His family said on a major illness fundraising website earlier this year that Wozelbacher had pancreatic cancer.
Wozelbacher's wife Katie wrote in a statement to CNN: "He is an ordinary, respectable man who, after being brought into the public eye by asking a question, tries to do something meaningful for his beloved country."
On October 12, 2008, in Holland Village, a suburb of Toledo, Ohio, Wozelbacher walked up to Obama wearing a gray T-shirt and shaved his head, and asked his most concerning question: "I'm calculating for a small company with an annual revenue of $250000 to $280000. Your proposed tax plan will make me pay more taxes, won't it?"
Obama previously proposed that if elected president, he would reduce taxes on the general public and increase taxes on those earning over $250000 annually. Obama listened to Wozelbacher's opinion and told the burly plumber that this tax plan may not increase his tax payments. Obama expressed confidence in his plan.
Subsequently, the two shook hands and bid farewell, and Obama wished Wozelbacher all the best.
Three days later, in the final presidential debate, Republican presidential candidate John McCain criticized Obama's economic policies, believing that his Democratic opponent's tax plan would constrain the development of small businesses. Obama countered that small business owners like Joe the Plumber will become beneficiaries of tax cuts. Throughout the debate, the name "Joe the Plumber" appeared more than ten times, and Vozelbacher immediately became famous throughout the country.
Wozelbacher was later invited to participate in McCain's campaign rally. However, according to the opinion poll results, his support has not changed the trend of McCain's approval rating falling behind Obama's.
[Failure in Politics]
After the 2008 presidential election, Wozelbach became the target of many anti establishment conservatives. He participated in rallies of the Tea Party and other right-wing conservatives across the United States, giving speeches.
Driven by the Tea Party movement, the Republican Party regained control of the House of Representatives in the 2010 midterm elections, increased Senate seats, and won multiple governor positions from the Democratic Party. Members of parliament from the Tea Party became an emerging force in Congress, which later evolved into an important political force supporting former Republican President Donald Trump.
According to the Associated Press, Wozelbacher wrote a book that collaborated with a veteran group to provide outdoor activities to injured soldiers.
In 2012, Wozelbacher ran for Ohio's ninth congressional district, which is the territory of the Democratic Party, under Republican solicitation. The Republican Party believes that Joe the Plumber's reputation can attract enough campaign funds to win the election.
During the campaign, Vozelbacher criticized the United States for building fences along the border with Mexico and for shooting at illegal immigrants attempting to cross the fence. He also argued that Nazi Germany's gun control led to Jewish people being unable to defend themselves and being slaughtered, supporting gun ownership and causing controversy. He ultimately suffered a disastrous defeat to his Democratic opponent.
The family said that Wozelbacher later gave up politics and returned to his old job, continuing to work as his plumber. Joey, the eldest son, said that his father chose to "serve Americans again" with his own business and skills.
Original [Special Draft] Debate with Obama Becoming Famous: The First Generation Internet Celebrity in the United States Passes Away
