Who is Joe the Plumber? Well, the times online is calling him "the real hero of the debate" last night, and as a result, he's become an overnight celebrity.
So who is Joe the Plumber? Well, his real name is Joe Wurzelbacher, and he's a plumber who works in a small town in Ohio called Toledo.
Last week, Joe the Plumber, who works 12 hour days, pointed out that he would be deemed a "high earner" under Obama's plan to tax wealthy earners if Joe goes along with his plan to start his own plumbing business, which he estimates will bring in $250,00 a year.
In the Barack Obama and John McCain debates last night, McCain brought it up in front of the public. The question of "Who is Joe the Plumber?" opened up a whole new can of worms.
"Joe wants to buy the business that he's been in for all these years," McCain said. "Worked 10, 12 hours a day. And he wanted to buy the business, but he looked at your tax plan and he saw that he was going to pay much higher taxes."
Joe the Plumber is an unlikely celebrity, but he is the perfect candidate to symbolize the issues of Obama's tax plan.
Celebrity Tradesmen
Who is Joe the Plumber?
Trend Themes
1. Celebrity Tradesmen - The rise of non-traditional celebrities in trade professions creates branding and endorsement opportunities for businesses.
2. Small Business Taxation - The debate around taxation for small businesses highlights the need for innovative tax solutions and support for entrepreneurs.
3. Personal Branding - Individuals like Joe the Plumber becoming public figures highlights the importance of personal branding and reputation management in today's digital age.
Industry Implications
1. Trades and Services - Trades and service industries can capitalize on the trend of celebrity tradesmen by partnering with relevant personalities to promote their products or services.
2. Tax Consulting - The complexity of small business taxation presents an opportunity for tax consulting firms to provide innovative tax planning and advisory services.
3. Digital Marketing and PR - The rise of personal branding underscores the demand for digital marketing and PR agencies to help individuals manage their public image and maximize opportunities for endorsements and partnerships.