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CBS's Early Show Discredits 'The Real Joe the Plumber'
On Friday's CBS Early Show, correspondent Jeff Glor reported on the
role of Joe the plumber, a.k.a. Joe Wurzelbacher, in the presidential
campaign: "The McCain campaign is using Wurzelbacher to say their
opponent would raise taxes. Though it turns out, Wurzelbacher himself
owes nearly $1,200 in back taxes and his annual tax bill would
actually go down under Obama's plan." Glor then added: "Obama mocked
the McCain strategy." At the end of Glor's report, co-host Harry Smith
asked: "Yeah Jeff, we're starting to learn a little bit more about Joe/
Steven, the plumber?" Smith mistakenly referred to Wurzelbacher's
first name being Steven, when in fact it is Samuel, and he corrected
himself: "Samuel." Glor responded: "A couple of more things about Joe
the plumber -- Samuel, indeed. He is registered to vote. There were
some questions about that. He does not have a plumber's license,
though. And it turns out his real first name is Samuel. Joe is his
middle name." At that moment, an on screen Graphic appeared with the
headline: "The Real Joe the Plumber" and listed the details Glor
mentioned.