Just before 8 am Eastern time on the Tuesday edition of CNN’s American Morning, anchor John Roberts interview Joe "the Plumber" Wurzelbacher, and something unusual happened. After a battery of questions from Roberts suggesting Joe was throwing John McCain "under the bus," Joe shot back that the media does that to candidates it supports. Roberts took offense, since "I’m a journalist," and Joe laughed at that. Roberts insisted Joe should not cast aspersions against him, and Joe said he didn’t mean to attack Roberts personally. (He should have said "I’m sure the Media Research Center has a thick file of your biased remarks.") Here’s how the exchange went:
ROBERTS: But if you disagreed with some of his policies, why were you out there on the campaign trail supporting him?
WURZELBACHER: Do you agree with every candidate and your candidate's policies?
ROBERTS: Hey, I'm not out there stumping for anybody, I'm a journalist. (Joe laughs heartily)
WURZELBACHER: I'll leave that one alone.
ROBERTS: No, seriously.
WURZELBACHER: You know I was out there, I told everybody, Obama’s --
ROBERTS: Excuse me, Joe. Why would you cast aspersions on my journalistic integrity. I don't even know you?
WURZELBACHER: [Pause] Oh, I wasn't -- you specifically, and in general some of the media, you know is very slanted to the left. You personally, John, I don't know you, I don't mean to cast any kind of bad things about you, brother.
ROBERTS: All right.
WURZELBACHER: I just, you know, in general you can say the left pretty much shot me up, wouldn't you say?
ROBERTS: Well, I mean, you know, I guess when you entered the political fray, you've got to expect that some people are going to take some shots at you, you know, when you get out there and you enter into that political arena. It's a tough place to be. It's a little bit like a gladiator sport --
WURZELBACHER: Oh, absolutely.
ROBERTS: And you are going into the coliseum.
But that’s not the case if the "average Joe" is accomplishing some liberal objective – take, for example, Cindy Sheehan. She wasn’t subjected to rough questioning from the liberal media.
That’s not even the case if you’re a media-appointed political savior, like Barack Obama.
We nominated Roberts on our Best of Notable Quotables ballot in the category "Let Us Fluff Your Pillow Award for Soft and Cuddly Interviews" for this May 5 exchange on American Morning:
JOHN ROBERTS: I want to just stipulate at the beginning of this interview, we are declaring a Reverend Wright-free zone today. So, no questions about Reverend Wright. Our viewers want us to move on, so this morning we’re going to move on. Is that okay with you?
BARACK OBAMA: Fair enough. That sounds just fine.
Here’s the Roberts pounding that proceeded today's media-bias-protest exchange with Joe the Plumber:
ROBERTS: Joe Wurzelbacher, you probably know him better as Joe the plumber. He became a blue-collar talking point during the final leg of the presidential campaign. Well now, Joe is out with a new book with his take on American values. Joe Wurzelbacher, author of "Joe the Plumber: Fighting for the American Dream" joins me now from Toledo, Ohio.
Joe, good to see you. I guess the book is available on your Web site which is secureourdream.com. It's coming out in stores I believe, first in the new year. In the book you say that the McCain campaign was, "fragmented and disorganized." And you go on to say, "I did not want him for the Republican ticket. I do not agree with a great many of his policies, nor do I care for aspects of his voting record." Now, he stood by you after you had said during an interview that a vote for Barack Obama was a vote for the death of Israel. He was there backing you up, but you're throwing him under the bus now. Why?
JOE WURZELBACHER, AUTHOR: I'm not throwing him under the bus, the things I spoke about, his voting records, I mean that's factual. You know, we talked about -- he wanted to make other senators famous for having pork ,you know, in a bill, and yet he goes back to Washington, you know, suspends his campaign and goes back to Washington and votes for a $700 billion bailout, when Americans are in a time of need. You know we're taken advantage of and money is you know, ‘you wash my back, I'll wash yours.’ Money was thrown, you know, Michigan International Speedway got what, $250,000? So many other different organizations received pork.
So it's not that I'm throwing John McCain on the bus. I have said it in my book, I respect John McCain for the service he provided our country, and, but as far as his voting record, I mean, you know, he proposed the amnesty bill for the illegal aliens. And I mean, that got a lot of negative publicity, a lot of, you know, opinion polls you know, proved the American people don't want it, yet they don't listen to us. So I'm not throwing McCain under the bus. That's just factual and that’s what happened.
ROBERTS: But I guess the throwing him under the bus aspect of this Joe, comes in from the idea that you were out there on the campaign trail, you were stumping for John McCain, you didn't say anything about it then. He loses the election. Now you’re writing a book for profit, saying all of these things about him. Many people take that as throwing him under the bus. If you felt so strongly about it during the campaign, why didn't you say something then?
WURZELBACHER: Well no, it's not so much that people are saying I'm throwing him under the bus, the media is saying I'm throwing him under the bus. So you know, let's correct that. You know, let them make the decision when they read the book. You know, so far I have heard that and it's been written about in the last couple of weeks since the interview with Glenn Beck, that I’ve thrown him under the bus. But that's just what I heard from the media. It's not what I heard from the general populace of America. Like I said, so they read the book, they can decide if I have thrown them under the bus, I just stated facts. I just stated facts about other politicians as well. So it's not, you know, I'm not singling John McCain out, he just happens to be the one I got to meet and you know, work with for six hours. So he's a good example that I can use.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
ROBERTS: Excuse me,
December 23, 2008 - 13:36 ET by midnight cowboyROBERTS: Excuse me, Joe. Why would you cast aspersions on my journalistic integrity
"Journalist integrity" That is the mother of oxymorons.
It would be nice to see JTP run for congress. He's the one of the few out there showing he has some stones.
Journalists haven't had integrity in years
December 23, 2008 - 13:40 ET by Mary Louise TurnerJohn Roberts is yet another arrogant, elitist know-it-all Beltway "journalist" who has no clue about how average Americans live. And to say that JTP cast aspersions on his "journalistic integrity" is a farce. Journalists haven't had integrity in generations!
Contrast
December 23, 2008 - 16:19 ET by KC MulvilleJoe the Plumber was involuntarily "drafted" into politics by the media when they trampled into his front yard, and he had the nerve to ask the Favored One a question.
John Roberts volunteered to get into politics, and gets paid a media star salary for asking questions (even if they're pure softballs) of the Favored One ... so, by that same logic, why can't John Roberts be ridiculed, investigated, and scorned?
But no. Joe Plumber laughed at him, and Roberts responded with a threatened complaint about someone questioning his journalistic integrty.
Reality check
December 23, 2008 - 13:41 ET by dboExcuse me, Joe. Why would you cast aspersions on my journalistic integrity?
Maybe because you referred to the democratic party as "we".
http://www.newsbuste...
Man! That gets their
December 23, 2008 - 13:42 ET by mattmMan! That gets their hackles up!
BTW - Joe didn't "enter the public arena," the media put him there because Odumbo asked his opinion and Joe exposed him for the marxist punk he is.
Way to go Joe!
Maybe Joe heard John
December 23, 2008 - 13:44 ET by Jack BauerMaybe Joe heard John Roberts on Sept 12, 2008, when he stated on CNN:
WE? Is that the royal "we"?
http://www.eyeblast....
Or maybe he remembers this CNN ambush, I mean interview...
http://jakeho.wordpr...
Who is casting aspersions on whom?
December 23, 2008 - 13:46 ET by 911isbusyJoe actually ticked me off here. Roberts has him on soley to cast aspersions on his integrity and then after the laugh and the "excuse me" from Roberts, Joe goes into "hey I'm sorry brother" mode. No wonder the MSM is so powerful, even folks on the right believe the MSM's own bullshit.
Those who have not swords can still die upon them.
Joe could have replied...
December 23, 2008 - 13:48 ET by CTBecause I have seen your broadcasts and you own the microphone.
Do you really believe the American people think you're innocent of blatant bias?
Joe for public office?
December 23, 2008 - 13:49 ET by jazboI'd say great, but I think he's far too honest and has too much integrity to enter that filthy business... And it is a business. Ask Gov Blago, the most honest politician in recent history when it comes to commenting on reasons to run for office.
Those who believe in nothing will believe anything.
Why in the world would JTP
December 23, 2008 - 13:59 ET by UtherpendWhy in the world would JTP back down from ANYONE on CNN? The same network that has chewed his a$$ on numerous occasions.
He should have looked directly at Roberts and said, "Yes John I am casting dispersions on you and all the MSM who have carried Obama over the finish line this past year. Prove to me who you voted for and then we will have a serious discussion about how you arent biased or in the tank for Obama."
When Roberts pulled the I am an independent lie he could have slammed him to show any of the times he showed ONE republican candidate in a positive light in the election.
These people hate him, why is he trying to make friends with them or worry about their feelings, the time for kid gloves is LONG past.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you."
$$
December 23, 2008 - 14:03 ET by AgnosticBook Sales!
A person may be won over with logic and reason but the masses must be bought with spectacle and platitudes. - 2008 Elections
His audiance is not the
December 23, 2008 - 14:35 ET by UtherpendHis audiance is not the people that like CNN, his potential buyers for his book would buy more books if he gave them back double what they give him at CNN.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you."
My guess Uther,,,
December 23, 2008 - 17:09 ET by JPR1Joe had to mentaly stop and check his language. Some people working in the trades have distinct and often "colorful" expressions they call forth when they hear BS. He did ok considering the venue. With some polish this man could speak loudly for ordinary working Americans.
The media is just
December 23, 2008 - 14:00 ET by TucsonicanThe media is just remarkable in their tunnel vision.
The way the election process works we get left with 2 primary candidates and a whole slew of minor players. I can't speak for everyone but McCain wasn't on my "A" list until he became the only viable candidate running that wasn't named Obama. At that point I had a choice - the same choice Joe had - either vote for McCain or throw the vote away and, by default, chalk one up for the "messiah".
Is Joe throwing McCain under the bus by not supporting him 100%? No way!! There were some of McCains policies that he didn't agree with and that's the whole story!
The obvious intent here was to cast aspersions on the reasons Joe had for writing the book. Believe me, if I were yanked out of my nice, comfortable, PRIVATE life by the media for asking a candidate a question that he answered poorly (but truthfully!) and couldn't work for several months because the press followed me around like puppies looking for table scraps I'd write a book too!!
Playing Chicken
December 23, 2008 - 14:01 ET by fitzfongJust once, I would love it if a guest shot back at one of these self-important blowhards with "Why, yes, I am questioning your integrity...do you really want me to embarrass you by getting into why?". John Roberts threw that cynical dare out there knowing that Joe would feel pressured to call off the dogs. The "challenge" came from a coward, and I would love to have seen Joe nail him on live TV. The last person to put one right between a smug journalist's eyes was George H.W. Bush...and that won him the 1988 Election.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
fitzfong.blogspot.com
What Joe should have said to Roberts..
December 23, 2008 - 14:04 ET by Gary HallWhat Joe should have said to Roberts..
Wasn't JTP initially just a
December 23, 2008 - 14:14 ET by nicksmith112Wasn't JTP initially just a regular guy that dared to ask an unscripted question to the KING and within 48 hours his whole life story was leaked to the left-wing loony media?
Has any state employee gone to jail for that yet???
I'm a refugee from the Democratic Party.
lighten up, Nick
December 23, 2008 - 14:24 ET by SickofLibsthat was just, you know, "some people taking some shots!"
She was suspended
December 23, 2008 - 17:49 ET by NorthCoasterShe was suspended without pay for 30 days and decided to quit before the 30 days was done.
what a little J.O.
December 23, 2008 - 14:22 ET by SickofLibs"Why dareth thou doth casteth aspersions upon mine journalistic integrity. I don't even know you?"
Notice it's I don't even know YOU, not YOU don't even know ME.
And since when do you have to be a personal acquaintance with someone to know they are FOS?
JTP
December 23, 2008 - 14:40 ET by A Typical Patriot'Journalist integrity' is something that the media have bestowed upon themselves. It has absolutely no meaning whatsoever. It's right up there with 'anonymous sources'. They made it up.
"Oh, I'm sorry John...
December 23, 2008 - 14:32 ET by WhoIsJohnGaltI didn't realize that you HAD any journalistic integrity-where is that you're hiding it?"
Would have been a sound bite for the ages.
These phony so-called, and
December 23, 2008 - 14:37 ET by bigtimerThese phony so-called, and I do mean so-called journalists, don't like it when they get their blatant bias thrown back in their faces....
John is still upset he didn't get Sweet Katie's spot as he so well-deserved....
Just ask him.
Joe for Prez!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Can we get that as a ringtone?
December 23, 2008 - 15:19 ET by Mike BrattonSeriously?
"I'm a journalist... Ha ha ha ha ha ha... I'm a journalist... Ha ha ha ha ha ha... I'm a journalist... Ha ha ha ha ha ha..."
Priceless.
--Mike
www.thebrattonreport...
If I were a dictator
December 23, 2008 - 15:21 ET by choselife3xI would BAN the phrase, 'you know'. I love ya, Joe, but you know, you're just killin' me here.
Joe was spot on in what he DID say, but it would have come across much more clearly and forcefully if it weren't watered down with all the 'you know's. Makes him sound wishy-washy.
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
Conservatives Need to be Prepared
December 23, 2008 - 16:14 ET by deerjerkydaveIf I ever EVER go on television for an interview by a so called journalist, I am going to come armed with evidence of their bias. That way when they accuse me of being critical of their "integrity" I will be ready to blast away.
All conservatives should follow this advice as well.
I'm afraid ol' Joe has a
December 23, 2008 - 16:33 ET by Chris NormanI'm afraid ol' Joe has a future in the Republican Party, given his backing down in the face of Robert's phonily taking offense at his rhetorical question comeback. Roberts' challenge regarding campaigning for someone you disagreed with (on some positions) would normally be ludicrous, except for the fact that many Obama supporters, like him, apparently didn't disagree with anything Obama did or said. That said - let me at him!, let me on his show!, let anyone here on that show!
Good Manners
December 23, 2008 - 19:41 ET by richb313Maybe he just has good manners. To accuse someone who is interviewing you to help the sale of your book would be impolite at best. He did not go on that interview to accuse any specif person but the news industry and politcs as a whole. If he had responded as much of you seem to have wanted him to Joe would have been the small man. Anyone who sees or reads this interview can clearly see this. Public gotchas do not advance anything, however putting this whole mess in the publics eye does.
Way to Go Joe.
Oh, please.
December 23, 2008 - 20:16 ET by Chris NormanConservatives and especially Republicans have been far too polite and restrained far too often in the face of rude and direct attacks by the media. Roberts was extremely rude to him - condescendingly questioning his support of the candidate of his choice. That attack alone removed any rule that Mr Wurzelbacher be restrained. Small? Since when is it "small" to defend a legitimate question asked in response to a condesending and ludicrous attack? Since when will many in the CNN audience appreciate any magnamity from a conservative? You must be from the "School of 'Please Sir, May I Have Another'".
Chris,
December 23, 2008 - 20:37 ET by R D HelmI agree, Joe should have stomped on him.
Extreme Obsessive Politeness Disorder (EOPD) seems to be an affliction that affects only republicans. John McCain appears to have an acute case of it, and even Newt has recently proven he is not immune to it, either.
I am blame it on the over-use of anodized aluminum cookware. :-)
-Dave
Merry Christmas everybody!
John Roberts was a
December 23, 2008 - 16:40 ET by Quidnunc SavantJohn Roberts was a VJ on Much Music in Canada years ago then graduated to CTV as a morning news anchor . I can attest to his liberal bona fides.
"Go f*#& yourself , I say what I want." Oriana Fallaci
"It's a little bit like a
December 23, 2008 - 17:11 ET by Benny"It's a little bit like a gladiator sport " and "And you are going into the coliseum" since when is asking a presidental canindate a question considered "sport" and like "walking into "the coliseum?" I thought it was our patrotic duty to "speak truth to power"? Joe should have slammed that whinney little bitch, but instead he backs down. Say it ain't so, JOE.
In Joe's defense, two
December 23, 2008 - 17:30 ET by thebutlerdiditIn Joe's defense, two things: First, just because we all know how Roberts is, doesn't mean Joe has ever even watched him, maybe he doesn't know how Roberts presents himself. #2: Joe is not a media savvy guy, he has no training on how to deal with these people, and he wasn't sure how to answer the question, delicately. He seems like a super-honest guy, but he is just not "media ready." As for Roberts saying you entered the arena, put yourself out there on the stump, I wish Joe had of thought quickly and said, well, it didn't matter by that time, the media, and state of IL workers had already excoriated me! They had given me everything except a rectal exam, so what did I do to deserve that??
I would agree...
December 23, 2008 - 17:52 ET by andophiroxiaHere we are going on could have, would have, and should have's. Sure, Joe could have answered better, but then again he didn't ask to be thrown into the spotlight. I think he did all right, not awesome, considering he never groomed or got groomed to be in the spotlight.
Poor fellow. I think he's done ok with what he's done, and I agree with you, he's too much of an honest guy.
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ~ Winston Churchill
Yeah but... I would love to
December 23, 2008 - 18:18 ET by Clear thinkerYeah but... I would love to see Joe the Plumber have his own talk show on Fox. Honesty is a highly regarded commodity for Conservatives, and he seems to fit the bill. With a little bit of polish, he could end up being a great one. IMHO.
Hot Obama Love
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
That's a good idea. If he
December 24, 2008 - 11:36 ET by andophiroxiaThat's a good idea. If he had his own show, he could call the shots on how things would be done in that time segment. In fact, a lot of conservatives should look to actually getting their own shows rather than being part of a shooting range on MSNBC and their ilk.
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ~ Winston Churchill
BTW, if you haven't seen it,
December 23, 2008 - 17:34 ET by thebutlerdiditBTW, if you haven't seen it, and like parody, you must go to IOWAHAWK's site and read "Silly plumber, lit is for crits." It is a great take on the snotty review that was on here a few weeks back in regard to JTP's book. Of course, ALL of IOWAHAWK is excellent! I swear, I have read everything he has done going back to about 2000. I wish he would write a book. If anyone who hasn't read him, and wants to know the best stuff, e-mail me and I will point you in the right direction.
Roberts HAS journalistic integrity
December 23, 2008 - 17:40 ET by TheHistorianHe keeps it in a box so that he can open the box and look at it sometimes. He has been the subject of Newsbusters several times before; see http://newsbusters.o...
and
http://www.newsbuste... as two examples. You will notein the second link that he walks away instead of defending his own remarks, which either makes him ashamed of them or recognizing that hsi remarks were garbage.
"What experience and history teach is
this - that people and governments never have learned anything from history,
or acted on principles deduced from it."
G. W. F. Hegel
Joe the Plumber has the
December 23, 2008 - 18:13 ET by Conserv1Joe the Plumber has the right to campaign for a candidate who he does not completely agree with. It just proves that McCain wasn't a conservative, and was the lesser of two evils.
Joe:"But I know you!"
December 24, 2008 - 10:02 ET by SkipperMLMToo bad Joe didn't see or remember this so when Roberts said, "I don't even know you".
Joe could have said, "Yeah, but we know you!"
http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/checker.aspx?v=yd4zIrDkIr
And why "It's a little bit like a gladiator sport " to Joe and NOT Oprah?
Apparently
December 23, 2008 - 20:32 ET by RESTLESS 1Joe is not a Newsbuster just yet. I would love to have been on the answering end of that question.
"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
Joe's great simply because
December 23, 2008 - 22:27 ET by RR GOPJoe's great simply because he is what he is-a typical American who is not in awe of these knuckleheads. We never used to cow-tow to these self-proclaimed elitists and the press used to be with us in lampooning their arrogance...now they're a part of it.
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
It took me a while, but I
December 24, 2008 - 11:54 ET by taocpaIt took me a while, but I found it on the MRC website:
Co-host John Roberts:
“I want to just stipulate at the beginning of this interview, we are
declaring a Reverend Wright-free zone today. So, no questions about
Reverend Wright. Our viewers want us to move on, so this morning we’re
going to move on. Is that okay with you?”
Barack
Obama:
“Fair
enough. That sounds just fine.”
From "Notable Quotables"
Memo to John Roberts, if that's your idea of journalistic integrity, no wonder Joe the Plumber was laughing at you and the MSM. It's a joke.
You spoonfed the masses that BO was some type of savior, yet he was an unqualified, political hack from Chicago with an Ivy League education who looked good and spoke well. Yet you trashed Sarah Palin to no end about her education and how she wasn't smart (heck, she has a journalism degree, but oh wait, it's not Ivy League). At least she worked her way through college, something that used to be considered noble. BO never told us where he finished at Harvard Law. Don't you find that a bit interesting?
Journalistic integrity my fanny.
Go back to Canada and just go away.
Tom
That Roberts sure is a
December 24, 2008 - 11:57 ET by benrandThat Roberts sure is a jerk, he is in Rick Sanchez territory.
These are images of the real "John Roberts" !
Dig those Vuarnets!
http://farm4.static....
http://farm4.static....
http://farm4.static....
Joe's
December 24, 2008 - 13:38 ET by afuellaugh was the best part of the video. Joe Wurzelbacher is not a practiced pol and was not comfortable going against a biased hack like Roberts. He represents what allot of us think and know about the MSM.
Roberts premise that Joe is some big player in the party and deserved the savage attack he received, because he asked the "Annointed One" a question and actually got an answer, is all very reasonable in Roberts world of spin, bias and lies.
I would like to see Conservatives and Repubs ignore the MSM completely, for awhile and see what happens, it couldn't be any worse than what they are experiencing now? Why talk with someone you know won't give you a fair shake, either from the reporter or their audience?
Roberts and many of his brethren hacks will be looking for employment soon as the diminishing revenues from advertizing are impacting the dime a dozen cookie cutter MSM networks hard. They are in the same position the US legacy auto manufacturers are, too much capacity, in a weak market with overhead fixed costs going up like pensions, medical, salaries, property and new lower cost competiton models moving into their markets.
No Representation in NorCal