With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

Joe the Plumber says John McCain 'screwed up my life'

Joe the Plumber, the mascot of the 2008 John McCain campaign for the US presidency, has lashed out at the veteran US senator from Arizona for "screwing up" his life.

Mr Wurzelbacher was thrust into the international spotlight when Mr McCain made repeated reference to him during one of the televised presidential debates. The two men had met days before and Mr Wurzelbacher had voiced fears about likely tax increases if Barack Obama were to become president.

But the unexpected notoriety caused him instant problems, with reports the next day that he practised plumbing without a licence.

Mr Wurzelbacher has no illusions about Mr McCain's motivations. "McCain was trying to use me," he told Scott Detrow, the reporter. "I happened to be the face of middle Americans. It was a ploy."

Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)