Speculation has been whizzing around about Joe the Plumber. A lot of it is compelling.
I thought it would be wise to take a step back and see what we do know. I am worried about this blowing up the same way that Bush's National Guard documents did.
In that case, there were forged documents that confirmed what we all knew to be true. But because the "proof" was demonstrably fake, it blew up that whole line of attack.
And there is an even more important angle here, and it is worth a read:
It seemed pretty clear to me from the get-go, and probably pretty clear to Obama, that this wasn't an Obama voter. And yet what did Obama do?
He engaged Joe the Plumber. He spoke with him for five minutes, outlining his plans for the economy. And he tried to convince Joe the Plumber that he was right.
You should read it. (Of course by the time I hit publish, I see that it is at the top of the Rec list!)
But I wanted to find out what I could about the Wurzelbackers. Here is what I have so far. It involves the actual connection between two Roberts, a Richard, and a plumbing business...
Most of the speculation seems to be spinning around his last name and people with the same last name, so let's see where we stand. First, Robert Wurzelbacher.
He died Jan 10, 2004: linky
Wurzelbacher . Robert M., beloved husband of Dorothy Wurzelbacher (nee Homer), dear father of Barbara Arndt, Mary (Phil) Hogan, Carolyn Streight and Robert (Beth) Wurzelbacher Jr., and step-father of Christine Wilson, Joan (Jim) Knox, Carolyn Chambers, Douglas (Barbara Valliere) Wilson, and Kathi (Cary) Kindberg, and brother of Dr. Richard (Dorothy) Wurzelbacher. Also survived by 12 grandchildren. Suddenly. Saturday, January 10, 2004. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John the Evangelist Church, 7121 Plainfield Rd., Thursday, January 15, 2004 at 10 A.M. Friends may call at Geo. H. Rohde & Son Funeral Home, Linwood & Delta Aves., Mt. Lookout Wednesday from 5-7 P.M. Family requests memorials to the charity of choice.
This is the heavy donor to the GOP. Note, this confirms that his son is Robert M. Wurzelbacher, Jr. who is the son-in-law of Keating, among other things:
December 13, 1993
Keating Son-in-Law to Serve Prison Term
A son-in-law of the former head of Lincoln Savings, Charles H. Keating Jr., must surrender next year to begin a 40-month prison sentence.
United States District Judge Mariana R. Pfaelzer imposed the sentence last week on the son-in-law, Robert M. Wurzelbacher Jr., who had pleaded guilty to three counts of misapplying $14 million from Lincoln, an Irvine, Calif., savings association.
Mr. Wurzelbacher, 39, was an executive with Lincoln's parent, the American Continental Corporation, which Mr. Keating controlled.
Prosecutors asked for a six-year sentence, saying Mr. Wurzelbacher had volunteered little of use to them after making a plea bargain.
OK. Let's go back to that obit. Robert's brother is Richard. I found this in Cincinnatti:
Detailed Wurzelbacher Brothers Company Profile
This company profile is for the private company Wurzelbacher Brothers, located in Cincinnati, OH. Wurzelbacher Brothers's line of business is water/sewer/utility construction plumbing/heating/air cond contractor repair services.
Company Profile: Wurzelbacher Brothers
Year Started:1957
State of Incorporation:N/A
URL:N/A
Location Type:Single Location
Stock Symbol:N/A
Stock Exchange:N/A
Also Does Business As:N/A
NAICS:N/A
SIC #Code:1623
Est. Annual Sales:$72,000
Est. Employees:1
Est. Employees at Location:1
Contact Name:Richard Wurzelbacher
Contact Title:Owner
That is it so far.
Richard is himself a contributor to the RNC and McCain: linky
Could this be the company that Joe wanted to buy? Still no link to Joe, but it is tempting to go there, no? Perhaps Richard is Joe's dad, and Robert is Joe's Uncle.
That would make Robert, Jr. (Keating's son-in-law) Joe's first cousin. Now I know all my first cousins pretty well. So, Joe would likely know that Keating was his "uncle-in-law."
So...
Can we get from Richard to Joe for sure. I have convinced myself that Richard is Joe's father, but I can't confirm it.