International Law

Leave 'Joe the Plumber' Alone...

I don't really care much about, or for, 'Joe the Plumber.'

John McCain's repeated references to him in last night's debate were grating, to say the very least.

Nonetheless, today's media assault on this individual's privacy is offensive and dangerous.

We have learned that he is unlicensed as a plumber and has owed back taxes. His political party registration has been publicized. Racism has been intimated. His family tree has been connected to Charles Keating (of Keating Five fame). We have even heard charges of inaccuracies on his Facebook page.

I am sure there will be more to come.

For goodness sake - all this average, Ohio man did was ask one tough question of Barack Obama. He is a private citizen who was entitled to do so - without any fear of reprisal or harm.

Instead, he's getting the Valerie Plame treatment.

Talk about a chilling effect on freedom of speech.

(Not that Joe has figured this out, mind you - he's happily riding his fifteen minutes of fame, so it seems)

Thumbs down to the various media sources and leading blogs who have run with this ill-conceived story.

- Garry J. Wise, Toronto

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Full post as published by Wise Law Blog on October 16, 2008 (boomark / email).