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Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, "Joe the Plumber", right, speaks to a small crowd during a campaign stop in Ohio. (AP)
Last update - 14:22 29/10/2008
Joe the Plumber: A vote for Obama is a vote for the death of Israel
By The Associated Press
Tags: Israel News, Joe the Plumber 

"Joe the Plumber," the small business aspirant and overnight media sensation who has endorsed John McCain's presidential campaign, said on Tuesday that he believed a Barack Obama presidency would spell "the death of Israel."



The Ohio plumber, whose real name is Samuel Wurzelbacher, agreed with a Jewish McCain supporter who asked him during an election rally in Ohio if he believed "a vote for Obama is a vote for the death of Israel."
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"I'll go ahead and agree with you on that," Wurzelbacher told the man, retired Florida lawyer Stan Chapman who was visiting Ohio.

Wurzelbacher, who also said he believed Obama would make America a socialist nation, was joined at the rally by Rob Portman, a former Ohio congressman and budget director under President Bush, who said he disagreed with Chapman's assessment of Obama's foreign policy.

Shortly after Wurzelbacher's statement was made, the McCain campaign issued a statement saying "while he's clearly his own man, so far Joe has offered some penetrating and clear analysis that cuts to the core of many of the concerns that people have with Barack Obama's statements and policies."

Wurzelbacher was later interviewed live by phone on Fox News, where he said "listen, you don't want my opinion on foreign policy. I know just enough about foreign policy to probably be dangerous."

After the interview, anchorman Shepherd Smith expressed alarm at Wurzelbacher's statements on Obama and Israel, calling them "frightening."

Wurzelbacher became famous after he was referred to constantly in the final presidential debate. McCain has been portraying the plumber as emblematic of people with concerns about Obama's tax plans.

Wurzelbacher himself has undercut the Republican message about him by revealing he makes far less than $250,000 a year. He actually stands to fare better under Obama's tax plan, but says Obama's plan would hurt him if he were able to buy the plumbing business from his current employer.

Portman said an Obama administration would mean increased taxes on Social Security, dividends and small businesses.

"In the tough economic times that we're in, we shouldn't be raising taxes on anybody," said Portman, a McCain adviser.

Wurzelbacher's first trip to the podium was without notes. He often apologized to reporters gathered in a flag store for talking from his gut.

"I'm honestly scared for America," Wurzelbacher said.

He later said Obama would end the democracy that the U.S. military had defended during wars.

"I love America. I hope it remains a democracy, not a socialist society. ... If you look at spreading the wealth, that's honestly right out of Karl Marx's mouth," Wurzelbacher said.

"No one can debate that. That's not my opinion. That's fact."

Wurzelbacher also said he had spoken with a lawyer about news reports that his state records had been accessed, perhaps illegally. The Ohio inspector general is investigating who or why accounts assigned to Attorney General Nancy Rogers' office, the Cuyahoga County Child Support Enforcement Agency and the Toledo Police Department were used.

Wurzelbacher was scheduled to make stops in Dayton, Middletown, Milford and Cincinnati. The bus tour included guests billed as Mary the Flag Lady, Mike the Painter and Linda the Fitness Trainer.

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      1.   Joe "Plum-plum" representing the IQ of the average McCain voter ? 00:53  |  Swiss (Dino) 29/10/08
      2.   "A vote for Obama is a vote for the death of Israel" 00:54  |  Amir 29/10/08
      3.   This is getting silly 00:56  |  Nathaniel 29/10/08
      4.   Inevitably ... 00:56  |  Axel 29/10/08
      5.   this is news? 01:04  |  dan 29/10/08
      6.   Swiss Dino 01:14  |  sabra 29/10/08
      7.   What makes Joe the Plumber a guru? 01:20  |  Janice 29/10/08
      8.   jim the garbageman 01:21  |  Hirz 29/10/08
      9.   Who`s stupid? 01:23  |  Shaul 29/10/08
      10.   Just shows desperation of the failing McCain campaign 01:39  |  Dan 29/10/08
      11.   Quick question... 01:40  |  Druid 29/10/08
      12.   Joe the Plumber thinks Israel is a city just.. 01:42  |  marc 29/10/08
      13.   Gefreiter Axel,these "stupid country" smashed your clever IIId Re 01:44  |  Absolute Sweden 29/10/08
      14.   Obama and Israel 01:49  |  Geoff 29/10/08
      15.   This is not merely getting silly, it`s getting stupid 01:50  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 29/10/08
      16.   David the writer says Obama is not the Death of Israel 01:54  |  David 29/10/08
      17.   What an utter idiot 01:55  |  The Wise bard 29/10/08
      18.   Joe thinks Jews are stupid 01:58  |  Mark Lincoln 29/10/08
      19.   Joe the Plumber 01:59  |  Dvorah 29/10/08
      20.   The McCain team still believes in fantasies 02:00  |  Mark Lincoln 29/10/08
      21.   Nathaniel, please. Obama is WELL known... 02:00  |  BBSNews 29/10/08
      22.   Swiss (1) and Axel (4) 02:02  |  Shmuel 29/10/08
      23.   What a joke??!!! 02:06  |  Kat 29/10/08
      24.   seriously? 02:09  |  Morty 29/10/08
      25.   I like this guy 02:11  |  Frank 29/10/08
      26.   taxes,elections,etc 02:17  |  Shmuelshachor 29/10/08
      27.   # 16 shmuel 02:18  |  Axel 29/10/08
      28.   Nikeesha Rasheeda Coleman-Cohen,it`s clear your IQ 02:21  |  Absolute Sweden 29/10/08
      29.   #1 Swiss Dino 02:25  |  Jim 29/10/08
      30.   A real "Joe the Plumber" wouldn`t care about Israel either way 02:27  |  Natallie Durson 29/10/08
      31.   Incorrect sabra... 02:27  |  BBSNews 29/10/08
      32.   NEWS!! Joe the Plumber now top advisor to McCain! 02:27  |  Pablo B 29/10/08
      33.   Joe the Useful Idiot 02:32  |  josh 29/10/08
      34.   Joe the Plumber is right 02:36  |  Brod 29/10/08
      35.   Swiss Dino #1 02:37  |  Philippe 29/10/08
      36.   Sabra # 6 02:40  |  Philippe 29/10/08
      37.   1 & 4 are not elitest Shmuel... 02:43  |  BBSNews 29/10/08
      38.   "Halloween" Costume 02:48  |  guy 29/10/08
      39.   ENOUGH ALREADY 02:51  |  joe 29/10/08
      40.   Inanity and insanity 02:55  |  Isaiah 29/10/08
      41.   jewish americans! 03:00  |  bashar 29/10/08
      42.   Shmuel, you are giving Joe far too much.. 03:09  |  marc 29/10/08
      43.   Is Samuel Wurzelbacher is related to... 03:12  |  Maureen Ann 29/10/08
      44.   joe the plumber 03:14  |  Jerry 29/10/08
      45.   Joe The Plumber Should Run for PM of Israel. 03:24  |  One in the know 29/10/08
      46.   Well, me on the other hand.... 03:30  |  John The Marine 29/10/08
      47.   If I were Obama 03:32  |  Baz Mann 29/10/08
      48.   to Axel on #25 03:34  |  Shmuelshachor 29/10/08
      49.   U.S. election getting more surreal.... 03:36  |  Smadar 29/10/08
      50.   I`m wondering... 03:37  |  Mher 29/10/08
      51.   WHO ARE YOU VOTING FOR 03:42  |  TOBIA 29/10/08
      52.   Absolute Sweden? 03:45  |  Jacob 29/10/08
      53.   shuel the freir 03:45  |  Bronxite11 29/10/08
      54.   Joe is relatively right 03:50  |  Dr. R. B. 29/10/08
      55.   To BBSNews 03:54  |  Proud Jew 29/10/08
      56.   Your right Joe ! 03:54  |  Sean 29/10/08
      57.   Even Faux News considered this remark over the top 03:55  |  ghostoflutherblisset 29/10/08
      58.   My Country is the Greatest Nation on Earth. Live with it. 03:56  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 29/10/08
      59.   No Pablo, you have it wrong 03:57  |  Mark Lincoln 29/10/08
      60.   Joe the Plumber Halloween costume 03:58  |  PL 29/10/08
      61.   To Natallie Durson 03:59  |  Proud Jew 29/10/08
      62.   AXEL stupid country?? why do they win so many Nobel prizes? 04:00  |  PETER SM 29/10/08
      63.   Joe the Jackass 04:00  |  Yair 29/10/08
      64.   Good point Joe the Thinker 04:02  |  Mark Lincoln 29/10/08
      65.   Infinite 04:03  |  dovvod 29/10/08
      66.   How Funny Axel And Swiss (Dino) 04:06  |  Eli 29/10/08
      67.   Joe the untrained uncertified plumber 04:18  |  Yaffe 29/10/08
      68.   Why does haaretz hate Obama so much? 04:29  |  Dani 29/10/08
      69.   So now we treat moron quotes as "news"? 04:31  |  jonathan 29/10/08
      70.