Joe the Plumber

How SICK are you of hearing that? If you were to play the drinking game, you'd be rather drunk by now not just off of the word "Maverick" (which, by the way, if I'm forced to endure even four years of hearing that word, I might just shoot myself), but completely wasted off the tired phrase mentioned in the title of this entry.

But let me ask you: his real name is Joseph Wurzelbacher. Does it have a certain "twang" to it? Would that fly in Nashville?

Why do I ask?

I'll get to that in a minute. First you have to hear this.

It's no secret this man unwittingly (and yet somehow wittingly) has been brought into the McCain fold as their mascot of sorts. He shows up to rallies and has even talked policy with those in the audience.

If you didn't think McCain and Palin were a little off their rocker before, you really ought to now. Good ol' Blue Collar Working Man Joe (ah! a song title!) has compelled Fox News' Sheppard Smith to slam Joe for his comments.

According to Keith Olbermann (yeah that's right. I watch Olbermann), one man asked what Joe thought of his idea that "a vote for Obama is a vote for the death to Israel."

Joe's response? "Yeah, I'll agree with you on that one."

If I had a shock emoticon, I'd totally use it here.

But aside from that, the McCain campaign's mascot - who is supposed to represent the middle-class that the campaign believes they're speaking to...

1. ...has a publicist.
2. ...is getting a book deal.
3. ...might be a country western singer sooner than you can say "stupid."

I know what you're thinking:

A. Publicist for what, exactly?
B. A book deal? Are you kidding me? For what? What has this man done? I'll concede that there is every possibility this man has something to say, but...a book deal? Really?

I want a book deal. If you're thinking I'm jealous here, yeah. I am.

C. *Blink* A record deal, too?

From Tennessean.com
"Country singer Aaron Tippin is his manager, Bobby Roberts is his booking agent and The Press Office's Jim Della Croce is his publicist...

"'He is an overnight celebrity, and that notoriety is what needs to be managed,'" Jim said. 'You have a person of substance and quality who is a single father and who is really protective of his son. He is a hard-working guy who is looking for some simple answers and has been thrust into the public eye.'"

"Aaron met Joe when they both appeared on Mike Huckabee's Fox show. 'We started talking, and hey man, he's like me,' Aaron said. 'He likes to hunt and fish, and he's a hard-working guy who came from a blue-collar background. He's still there making a living in the blue-collar world.

"'We exchanged phone numbers. He came looking for somebody to help him with his career. It just exploded. His phone lines jammed… and he didn't know what to do. I was the first person he met in show business.'"

How blue collar of him.

Only in America.