Joe (Sam) the Plumber/War Correspondent

[E B]

Source

(CNN) – ‘Joe the Plumber’ Wurzelbacher told a group of journalists covering the conflict in Israel and Gaza that he didn’t think the media should be allowed to report on war.

“I think media should be abolished from, you know, reporting,” Wurzelbacher said. “You know, war is hell. And if you’re gonna sit there and say, ‘well, look at this atrocity,’ well you don’t know the whole story behind it half the time, so I think the media should have no business in it.”

Wurzelbacher arrived in Israel on Sunday to start a 10-day assignment for pjtv.com, a Web site run by the conservative media outlet Pajamas Media. The plumber-turned-foreign correspondent said he wanted to cover Israel’s side of the conflict, because he thought the media was slanting the story to make it look like “Israel’s being bad.”

In his first day as a reporter, Wurzelbacher described the hardships of daily life in the southern Israeli town of Sderot.

“I’m sure they’re taking quick showers, I know I would,” Wurzelbacher said. “So you can’t plan your day, you can’t take a picnic.“

Wurzelbacher said he thought Israel should have attacked Gaza sooner. He told a group of reporters that he was a “peace-loving man,” but that "when someone hits me, I''m going to unload on the boy.”

He got a first-hand taste of reality in Sderot, when his group heard sirens warning of a rocket attack. With cameras rolling, Wurzelbacher and his group ran into a shelter.

“I’m in the bunker, I’m sitting there angry, outright furious, that I’m letting this terrorist dictate what I’m going to do because they’re firing missiles,” Wurzelbacher said. “It was fear at first, then outright anger, and then me wanting some kind of retribution. I’m not a person that runs from things, but when it’s a missile, you run.”

 

[strmrdr]

Way to go Joe!!!

I 110% agree with what he said in his quote.
If the media cant be honest and report what is actually happening kick em out.
Someone hits you then you kick their teeth down their throat.

 

[E B]

More of Joe's "reporting"...

Joe: Media Shouldn't Report War

"I’ll be honest with you. I don’t think journalists should be anywhere allowed war. I mean, you guys report where our troops are at. You report what’s happening day to day. You make a big deal out of it. I think it’s asinine. You know, I liked back in World War I and World War II when you’d go to the theater and you’d see your troops on, you know, the screen and everyone would be real excited and happy for’em. Now everyone’s got an opinion and wants to downer–and down soldiers. You know, American soldiers or Israeli soldiers."

'Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt. -Abraham Lincoln (attributed)

 

[movie zombie]

at least he''s no longer unemployed......

movie zombie

 

[JulieN]

I think the mainstream media has been very fair on their coverage, and have not been pro-Israel or pro-Hamas.

 

[risingsun]

Hamas is a terrorist organization whose stated mission is the destruction of Israel. Palestinian children are indoctrinated from an early age to hate Jews and Israel. There are videos of a Mickey Mouse character urging children to compose songs of hate and death to the Jews and Israel. The children call in with their songs. We have friends living in Israel and my daughter spent a year in Israel. Every time there was a suicide bombing, I worried about the lives of my family and friends. I do not think the media coverage of the events in Gaza has been fair or balanced. The UN and the European nations have typically been anti-Israel. This is nothing new. What many do not seem to understand is that Israel's enemies will never be satisfied until Israel is destroyed. I was truly hoping that this topic would not come up on this forum. Since it has, I felt I needed to speak out and say "never again..."

 

[ksinger]

Date: 1/12/2009 9:35:12 PM
Author:EBree
Source

(CNN) – ‘Joe the Plumber’ Wurzelbacher told a group of journalists covering the conflict in Israel and Gaza that he didn’t think the media should be allowed to report on war.

“I think media should be abolished from, you know, reporting,” Wurzelbacher said. “You know, war is hell. And if you’re gonna sit there and say, ‘well, look at this atrocity,’ well you don’t know the whole story behind it half the time, so I think the media should have no business in it.”

Wurzelbacher arrived in Israel on Sunday to start a 10-day assignment for pjtv.com, a Web site run by the conservative media outlet Pajamas Media. The plumber-turned-foreign correspondent said he wanted to cover Israel’s side of the conflict, because he thought the media was slanting the story to make it look like “Israel’s being bad.”

In his first day as a reporter, Wurzelbacher described the hardships of daily life in the southern Israeli town of Sderot.

“I’m sure they’re taking quick showers, I know I would,” Wurzelbacher said. “So you can’t plan your day, you can’t take a picnic.“

Wurzelbacher said he thought Israel should have attacked Gaza sooner. He told a group of reporters that he was a “peace-loving man,” but that ''when someone hits me, I''m going to unload on the boy.”

He got a first-hand taste of reality in Sderot, when his group heard sirens warning of a rocket attack. With cameras rolling, Wurzelbacher and his group ran into a shelter.

“I’m in the bunker, I’m sitting there angry, outright furious, that I’m letting this terrorist dictate what I’m going to do because they’re firing missiles,” Wurzelbacher said. “It was fear at first, then outright anger, and then me wanting some kind of retribution. I’m not a person that runs from things, but when it’s a missile, you run.”

I''ll see your emotie and add a WT.....????

 

[Erin]

This country is sick - I''m so disgusted. Some moron plumber stands up at a presidential debate and says I can''t afford to start my own business even though I''m not licensed blah blah blah and we make him a foreign relations media correspondent reporting on the the war from Israel''s point of view??? How did he get there?

Point A










Point B

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 1/12/2009 9:59:15 PM
Author: EBree
More of Joe''s ''reporting''...

Joe: Media Shouldn''t Report War

''I’ll be honest with you. I don’t think journalists should be anywhere allowed war. I mean, you guys report where our troops are at. You report what’s happening day to day. You make a big deal out of it. I think it’s asinine. You know, I liked back in World War I and World War II when you’d go to the theater and you’d see your troops on, you know, the screen and everyone would be real excited and happy for’em. Now everyone’s got an opinion and wants to downer–and down soldiers. You know, American soldiers or Israeli soldiers.''

''Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt. -Abraham Lincoln (attributed)

Ha. What an idiot. This quote just sums it up for me. Joe the "Plumber"=Not Smart.

 

[swimmer]

The problems in the Middle East are just so complex, it is this insane Gordian knot with no end or beginning, so when fingers are pointed and blame is laid, there really is usually enough to go around. Joe is an idiot, an abject fool who illustrates why this problem has gone on for more than a few millennium. If you are going to go back to Hammurabi, then be prepared to sleep in the dust with your donkey.

I have so many friends fighting on both sides, women in Gaza and West Bank who just want a better life for their kids, and men and women who I served with in the IDF, and of course my family in Israel today. Prayers going out to all, most of whom agree that land for peace must be tried, but the aforementioned untenable position of childish retaliations and rock throwing just adds more to the cycle of violence. Just like you tell your own children, two wrongs don''t make a right, sometimes you have to be the bigger person, and some famous dead guy once said something about "turning the other cheek..."

 

[purrfectpear]

Date: 1/13/2009 12:13:01 AM
Author: risingsun
Hamas is a terrorist organization whose stated mission is the destruction of Israel. Palestinian children are indoctrinated from an early age to hate Jews and Israel. There are videos of a Mickey Mouse character urging children to compose songs of hate and death to the Jews and Israel. The children call in with their songs. We have friends living in Israel and my daughter spent a year in Israel. Every time there was a suicide bombing, I worried about the lives of my family and friends. I do not think the media coverage of the events in Gaza has been fair or balanced. The UN and the European nations have typically been anti-Israel. This is nothing new. What many do not seem to understand is that Israel''s enemies will never be satisfied until Israel is destroyed. I was truly hoping that this topic would not come up on this forum. Since it has, I felt I needed to speak out and say ''never again...''

Darn right.

 

[VegasAngel]

Date: 1/13/2009 12:13:01 AM
Author: risingsun
Hamas is a terrorist organization whose stated mission is the destruction of Israel. Palestinian children are indoctrinated from an early age to hate Jews and Israel. There are videos of a Mickey Mouse character urging children to compose songs of hate and death to the Jews and Israel. The children call in with their songs. We have friends living in Israel and my daughter spent a year in Israel. Every time there was a suicide bombing, I worried about the lives of my family and friends. I do not think the media coverage of the events in Gaza has been fair or balanced. The UN and the European nations have typically been anti-Israel. This is nothing new. What many do not seem to understand is that Israel''s enemies will never be satisfied until Israel is destroyed. I was truly hoping that this topic would not come up on this forum. Since it has, I felt I needed to speak out and say ''never again...''

My husband has family In Israel too. I''m not surprised by the outrage in Europe at all, lots of Arabs live in Europe. I totally support Israel & as you said they will never be left alone because it is a Jewish state.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 1/13/2009 12:13:01 AM
Author: risingsun
Hamas is a terrorist organization whose stated mission is the destruction of Israel. Palestinian children are indoctrinated from an early age to hate Jews and Israel. There are videos of a Mickey Mouse character urging children to compose songs of hate and death to the Jews and Israel. The children call in with their songs. We have friends living in Israel and my daughter spent a year in Israel. Every time there was a suicide bombing, I worried about the lives of my family and friends. I do not think the media coverage of the events in Gaza has been fair or balanced. The UN and the European nations have typically been anti-Israel. This is nothing new. What many do not seem to understand is that Israel''s enemies will never be satisfied until Israel is destroyed. I was truly hoping that this topic would not come up on this forum. Since it has, I felt I needed to speak out and say ''never again...''

I do not have deep knowledge of this subject, but I''ll have to agree that Israel should not tolerate terrorist attacks, Marian.

(What Sam the Plumber is doing there is pretty much beyond me, though.)

 

[princesss]

Wait, let me get this straight:

Joe the Plumber is there reporting on a war, but he doesn''t believe reporters should be allowed to cover the war?

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 1/14/2009 8:25:12 PM
Author: princesss
Wait, let me get this straight:

Joe the Plumber is there reporting on a war, but he doesn''t believe reporters should be allowed to cover the war?

Ha! Good point!

 

[risingsun]

Date: 1/14/2009 8:00:44 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006

Date: 1/13/2009 12:13:01 AM
Author: risingsun
Hamas is a terrorist organization whose stated mission is the destruction of Israel. Palestinian children are indoctrinated from an early age to hate Jews and Israel. There are videos of a Mickey Mouse character urging children to compose songs of hate and death to the Jews and Israel. The children call in with their songs. We have friends living in Israel and my daughter spent a year in Israel. Every time there was a suicide bombing, I worried about the lives of my family and friends. I do not think the media coverage of the events in Gaza has been fair or balanced. The UN and the European nations have typically been anti-Israel. This is nothing new. What many do not seem to understand is that Israel's enemies will never be satisfied until Israel is destroyed. I was truly hoping that this topic would not come up on this forum. Since it has, I felt I needed to speak out and say 'never again...'

I do not have deep knowledge of this subject, but I'll have to agree that Israel should not tolerate terrorist attacks, Marian.

(What Sam the Plumber is doing there is pretty much beyond me, though.)

I have some posted editorials by Charles Krauthammer that give a some background about the conflict involving Israel.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/04/AR2006050401458.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101780.html
If second link doesn't work:
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/persecution/pch0206.htm

The phrase "never again" was used after the Holocaust to remind us to never forget what happened and never let it happen again.

 

[ksinger]

Date: 1/14/2009 11:59:04 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 1/14/2009 8:00:44 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006

Date: 1/13/2009 12:13:01 AM
Author: risingsun
Hamas is a terrorist organization whose stated mission is the destruction of Israel. Palestinian children are indoctrinated from an early age to hate Jews and Israel. There are videos of a Mickey Mouse character urging children to compose songs of hate and death to the Jews and Israel. The children call in with their songs. We have friends living in Israel and my daughter spent a year in Israel. Every time there was a suicide bombing, I worried about the lives of my family and friends. I do not think the media coverage of the events in Gaza has been fair or balanced. The UN and the European nations have typically been anti-Israel. This is nothing new. What many do not seem to understand is that Israel''s enemies will never be satisfied until Israel is destroyed. I was truly hoping that this topic would not come up on this forum. Since it has, I felt I needed to speak out and say ''never again...''

I do not have deep knowledge of this subject, but I''ll have to agree that Israel should not tolerate terrorist attacks, Marian.

(What Sam the Plumber is doing there is pretty much beyond me, though.)

I have some posted editorials by Charles Krauthammer that give a some background about the conflict involving Israel.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/04/AR2006050401458.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101780.html
If second link doesn''t work:
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/persecution/pch0206.htm

The phrase ''never again'' was used after the Holocaust to remind us to never forget what happened and never let it happen again.

And oddly enough, there are others who take an entirely different view of the situation...

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/1/14/leading_israeli_scholar_avi_shlaim_israel

 

[risingsun]

Karen~I have great respect for your posts on this forum. I am aware that my views about Israel are not widely held. I often feel as if I am a "voice in the wilderness." When people talk about negotiations with Hamas or Hezbollah, I can only shake my head. When these groups are dedicated to the destruction of Israel, what can come from such discussions? There has never been a true cease-fire by these groups. I don't believe that Hamas was elected by a democratic process. As a terrorist organization, how could this be? As a child, I remember buying trees for Israel. After 60 years on this earth, I am no longer naive enough to expect peace in my lifetime. I believe there is much thinly veiled antiSemitism, which fuels this particular fire. I want to see six million Jews living in peace in Israel. It's been ~60 years since the Holocaust and the Jewish homeland remains at risk. I don't know the answer to this terrible situation. I would like hear about something that could realistically make a difference. Hamas needs to be held accountable for what it is doing to the Palestinian people.

 

[diagem]

It realy sounds better when the explaining comes in their native language....

Extremely interesting dialogue...., well..., kind-a!

And important to hear IMO (for those interested)

(contain subtitle)


http://switch3.castup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ai=214&ar=1050wmv&ak=nul

 

[ksinger]

Date: 1/15/2009 9:05:37 AM
Author: risingsun
Karen~I have great respect for your posts on this forum. I am aware that my views about Israel are not widely held. I often feel as if I am a ''voice in the wilderness.'' When people talk about negotiations with Hamas or Hezbollah, I can only shake my head. When these groups are dedicated to the destruction of Israel, what can come from such discussions? There has never been a true cease-fire by these groups. I don''t believe that Hamas was elected by a democratic process. As a terrorist organization, how could this be? As a child, I remember buying trees for Israel. After 60 years on this earth, I am no longer naive enough to expect peace in my lifetime. I believe there is much thinly veiled antiSemitism, which fuels this particular fire. I want to see six million Jews living in peace in Israel. It''s been ~60 years since the Holocaust and the Jewish homeland remains at risk. I don''t know the answer to this terrible situation. I would like hear about something that could realistically make a difference. Hamas needs to be held accountable for what it is doing to the Palestinian people.

Risingsun, please don''t take what I posted as anything like me defending Hamas. I''m not. The point I was trying to make is that this issue is very likely not cut and dried. The person whose interview I posted has far more knowledge - both researched and first-hand - than I do, and certainly more than many here on this board, (that is no comment on your level of knowledge by the way), and he sees things in a different light. I do not know lots about the Middle East, I''m no expert. But because of the complexity of the issues, I don''t automatically assume that Israel is lilly white, or that they have not done things along the way that have helped create and exacerbate the situation they find themselve in today. I''m a firm believer that we make true what we hold in our minds, individually and collectively. If our mental construct of the world is one that has us as under siege from outside forces, then our actions tend to create those outside forces. Thus we can say "See?? Didn''t I tell you so??" Our vision of the world is thus reinforced. On an individual level you see this with women from abusive homes. They unconsciously choose abusive men who reinforce what they''ve been taught to think about themselves - that they are going to be, or deserve to be, abused. Children from alcoholic homes marry alcoholics.... On a personal level I have a friend who steadfastly held the view that it was inevitable that teenagers are horrible. He and his ex have both done everything in their power as parents to ENSURE that this child would BE the horrible person they assume a teen must be. Not surprisingly, he is now what they held in their minds. How much more powerful then, is the collective vision that a culture holds? I know this may sound airy-fairy and estoteric, but I mention it because it is part of how I view the world, and it colors how I approach issues. It is how I approach my own life and the situations I find myself in. So far it''s worked pretty well for me.

Admittedly, I need to educate myself further - as I said my knowledge is limited, not non-existent, but limited. The middle east situation IS ever swirling and complex and has deep roots. But knowing myself, I doubt seriously that once I have delved more deeply, I''m going to see the Israeli situation in a black/white good/bad dichotomy, any more than I see the US and its actions in that manner.

 

[ksinger]

Date: 1/15/2009 6:49:22 PM
Author: DiaGem

It realy sounds better when the explaining comes in their native language....

Extremely interesting dialogue...., well..., kind-a!

And important to hear IMO (for those interested)

(contain subtitle)



http://switch3.castup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ai=214&ar=1050wmv&ak=nul

Interesting. I''m not sure what I think of that. That one guy she was talking with, was clearly a religious nut (they''re the same in any language), but she seemed very shrill to me, and all her points were cast in on/off black/white opposites. That is a huge red flag to me whenever it occurs. Life, people, and situtations are never that simple. Still, an interesting thing to watch. Who was she? (I don''t recall seeing any explanation of that...of course why would they if everyone there already knows?) Is she a commentator? Activist? Just curious.

 

[risingsun]

Date: 1/16/2009 4:29:18 AM
Author: ksinger

Risingsun, please don't take what I posted as anything like me defending Hamas. I'm not. The point I was trying to make is that this issue is very likely not cut and dried. The person whose interview I posted has far more knowledge - both researched and first-hand - than I do, and certainly more than many here on this board, (that is no comment on your level of knowledge by the way), and he sees things in a different light. I do not know lots about the Middle East, I'm no expert. But because of the complexity of the issues, I don't automatically assume that Israel is lilly white, or that they have not done things along the way that have helped create and exacerbate the situation they find themselve in today. I'm a firm believer that we make true what we hold in our minds, individually and collectively. If our mental construct of the world is one that has us as under siege from outside forces, then our actions tend to create those outside forces. Thus we can say 'See?? Didn't I tell you so??' Our vision of the world is thus reinforced. On an individual level you see this with women from abusive homes. They unconsciously choose abusive men who reinforce what they've been taught to think about themselves - that they are going to be, or deserve to be, abused. Children from alcoholic homes marry alcoholics.... On a personal level I have a friend who steadfastly held the view that it was inevitable that teenagers are horrible. He and his ex have both done everything in their power as parents to ENSURE that this child would BE the horrible person they assume a teen must be. Not surprisingly, he is now what they held in their minds. How much more powerful then, is the collective vision that a culture holds? I know this may sound airy-fairy and estoteric, but I mention it because it is part of how I view the world, and it colors how I approach issues. It is how I approach my own life and the situations I find myself in. So far it's worked pretty well for me.

Admittedly, I need to educate myself further - as I said my knowledge is limited, not non-existent, but limited. The middle east situation IS ever swirling and complex and has deep roots. But knowing myself, I doubt seriously that once I have delved more deeply, I'm going to see the Israeli situation in a black/white good/bad dichotomy, any more than I see the US and its actions in that manner.

Karen~I do not disagree with you about Israel needing to be held to accountable for its own actions. What I am stressing is that Israel's mission is not the destruction of Palestinians because of their culture or religion. Palestinians have been used as pawns by other, extremist nations to strike at Israel. These same nations are happy to give weapons to Hamas, but do not offer aid in rebuilding their land in a positive, healthy way. As a mental health therapist, I am well aware of the difference between the internal and external locus of control theory. Having worked with abused women, for example, I have a number of clients who have chosen nonabusive partners, while others have not. It is a complex set of dynamics. Sometimes when a country is a target, it has little to do with perception and everything to do with actions. If Hamas would care for its people, I do not believe Israel would be in Gaza now. I think Hamas has invited this attack and it's an impossible situation for all concerned--except for Hamas and it's supporters.

ETA: I in no way think you are defending Hamas!

 

[swimmer]

Thank you both for your very thoughtful posts.

 

[strmrdr]

I have been keeping quiet because the protection of Israel is a subject I am passionate about and might tend to rant more than a little.
But today after a long night of work these words ring in my ears..

"In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;

And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;

And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;

And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up."

Never Again!!!

 

[risingsun]

Date: 1/15/2009 6:49:22 PM
Author: DiaGem

It realy sounds better when the explaining comes in their native language....

Extremely interesting dialogue...., well..., kind-a!

And important to hear IMO (for those interested)

(contain subtitle)



http://switch3.castup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ai=214&ar=1050wmv&ak=nul

The female speaker in this video is Wafa Sultan, an Arab-American psychologist. It was broadcast on Al-Jazeera TV on 02/21/06. MEMRI is the Middle East Research Institute. There are videos and blogs on their website that demonstrate the outcome that institutionally organized terrorism has as its goal.