Joe the Plumber will help GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan raise money when he stumps in New Jersey tomorrow.
Credit: Getty Images Photo
In lieu of appearance fee, Lonegan will buy Joe the Plumber's books
By Matt Friedman | May 4th, 2009 - 11:04amSteve Lonegan's gubernatorial campaign is not paying Samuel Wurzelbacher, a.k.a. "Joe the Plumber," a speaking fee for tomorrow's much hyped fundraising event in Clark. Instead, they agreed to buy copies of his new book.
Lonegan strategist Rick Shaftan said that he did not know the exact number off the top of his head, but that the campaign agreed to purchase "100 or 200" copies of Joe the Plumber: Fighting for the American Dream. They'll be distributed to campaign donors of $125 or more, who will then have the opportunity to get the books signed by Wurzelbacher.
"We're buying a ton of books. That's how we worked it out," said Shaftan.
Wurzelbacher's book retails for $24.95, though the price was slashed to $16.47 on Amazon.com. A Web site that offers to book speaking engagements for Wurzelbacher sets a minimum budget of $8,000 to $10,000, although Wurzelbacher told Shaftan that he is not represented by the booking agency.
Shaftan said the Lonegan campaign ran the event by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, which approved giving donors the books as long as they deduct the purchase price from their matching funds submissions.
Wurzelbacher was a brief media sensation last year, having been embraced by John McCain's presidential campaign after questioning Barack Obama's small business tax policy while he visited his Holland, Ohio neighborhood. He faced ridicule, however, after reports surfaced that he was not a licensed plumber and that he owed taxes, and has run into more controversy during his post-election life. He's become a spokesman for a DTV transition company, said that the media should not be allowed to report in war zones during a stint as a middle-eastern correspondent for Pajamas Media, started the activist Web site secureourdream.org and has become a spokesman for a company that charges 99 cents to vote to "abolish the IRS."
"Joe went through a lot. We're happy to help him out," said Shaftan.
Lonegan met Wurzelbacher at an Americans for Prosperity summit in Wisconsin, Shaftan said.
"He's even more happy to help him out because of [Republican gubernatorial candidate Christopher] Chrstie's opposition to the flat tax... Chrsitie is taking the Obama/Corzine position in support of the progressive income tax," said Shaftan. "[Wurzelbacher] is the guy who stood up to Obama and said that if I'm successful and make $250,000, why should I have to kick a big piece over to the government?"
Lonegan is not the only candidate bringing in celebrities. PolitickerNJ.com's "Inside Edge" reported last month that Christie plans to hold a fundraiser with actor Frank Vincent, who played New York mob boss Phil Leotardo on "The Sopranos."
Campaign spokesman Bill Stepien said that the Christie campaign has not paid anybody to appear at a fundraiser.
"I just know for our endorsements, whether it's in-state or Rudy Giuliani, they'll support Chris without an appearance fee or buying books," said Stepien. "I think it's telling that he's had to pay his biggest endorser in books for his support."
Stepien also reiterated a frequent point that Christie's campaign has made since it decided to engage Lonegan rather than ignore him.
"I'd also say that every plumber in New Jersey is going to need a book deal to cover the higher taxes they're going to pay in the Lonegan tax plan," he said.
"This is a reminder of the Jim Wright./New Gingrich book deals where contributors were expected to 'buy the love' through their books," said Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton). "I think they would be better off buying a copy of ethics for dummies."
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So....
...does this mean that Joe would be speaking on behalf of and endorsing Christie had he agreed to buy a boatload of his books???
Forgive me for stating the obvious, but what a joke!
Steve Lonegan: Fighting for your right to have your cake and eat it too!
Only One Word For It
Ha!!!
SL get a life.
Sam is nothing more than a
Sam is nothing more than a liar who concocted this phony story about buying a business and is now trying to make a living off this lie. What a joke. Bringing him to the campaign only proves how B rate this campaign is along with all the other Shaftan campaigns are.
nj_politics_2008
Except for Nick Sacco. At least he knows how to leech off of one winner.
Steve Lonegan: Fighting for your right to have your cake and eat it too!
Isn't it interesting
that the Lonegan campaign associates themselves with average people trying to make a living and a better life for their families while the Christie campaign choses to embrace people that pretend to be criminals.
mixed emotions
amusement vs pity.
as nelson would say "hah hah".
Sad...so sad
attacking the little people. Again unity on the 3rd of June Dino. Think about it
Paramus
I neither need nor want unity with bozos like you. You're not that important. You don't even know how to spell 'bowel' for crying out loud!
Steve Lonegan: Fighting for your right to have your cake and eat it too!
Is this a surprise?
Is anyone surprised that Lonegan is paying for Joe the Plumber to come to NJ? Another great use of taxpayer matching funds. This lying, distorting campaign has wasted money on negative campaigning and a tax plan that would raise taxes on 75% of seniors and 70% of all New Jerseyans.
Is this a surprise?
Is anyone surprised that Lonegan is paying for Joe the Plumber to come to NJ? Another great use of taxpayer matching funds. This lying, distorting campaign has wasted money on negative campaigning and a tax plan that would raise taxes on 75% of seniors and 70% of all New Jerseyans.
Paramus
I would not argue with Dino about bowels. From what I have read that he has posted about Christie, I am sure he is an expert on bowels.
DiMarco
Wow, way to lower the curve of the thread. As always, you're all class just like your boss, Illions.
Your trailers must be right next to each other.
Steve Lonegan: Fighting for your right to have your cake and eat it too!
Pretty good ROI
I'd say the $8000 buys about 500 books. Giving them all away, to donors of $125 or more, would raise at least $62,500. Not a bad ROI, on paper.
That is if he can find 500 people who want to have Joe's book, and want Lonegan as Governor.
Personally, I am buying lottery tickets instead..
"Fighting for the American Dream"?
I didn't know "Joe the Deadbeat Plumber" was working for Dusty Rhodes.
Sounds like he's just a paid mercenary.
I guess Joe's idea of the "American Dream" is making a few shekels off of a losing political campaign.
If Joe really wants to make money he should become an auto mechanic so he can fix Shaftan's broken down campaign bus.
I don't know how much money Joe got for writing his book but I bet the Crayola Crayon company made out pretty good.
spell defeat
Dino...does not understand humor and the play on words
Bowel Movements or the super bowl of defeats, Whatever. The fact is that Christie has not got a conservative bone in his body. You and your ilk can dress him up in the mantle of a conservative but it wont work. You cant dress a liberal sheep in wolves clothing.
I see that Lonegan has signs up all over the place. Dino be ready to unite with Lonegan on June 3rd.
Blasting Joe
Wow, what bitter comments about this man. All he did was come out of his house and ask Obama a question , next thing you know the government is checking his taxes, the news media is going thru his personal life, and the dems/ Unions attack him as a "scab" plumber.
Now you people on here blast him because he is stomping for Mr.Lonegan?
I have news for you pompus nerds, middle class people like this guy and I know of at least 8 people just today who said they want to go hear him speak.
You "stuck up " elitist jerks are out of touch with mainstream working families in NJ who vote dem usually because the GOP in this State lost its way in the late 1990's and have never found their way back.
But stop trashing this guy because he supports another candidate, that's just stupid and juvenial.
"You will never ever be BCRO
"You will never ever be BCRO Chairman."
Never say never. You never know.
"I know of at least 8 people just today who said they want to go hear him speak."
I know of at least 8 people just today who said they want $1000 to go hear him speak.
That's because they don't lead empty lives and have better things to do with their time.
Steve Lonegan
I am proud to support a candidate whose grass roots, word of mouth, take it to the people campaign is more than holding its own against the "presumptive" nominee who has had every possible political advantage and yet still can't seem to close the deal. Lonegan's consistent and conservative message is starting to resonate in a big way. And say what you want about Lonegan, he has never needed polls to tell him what his core beliefs are.
"I know of at least 8 people just today who said they want to go
Clifford $ 8 k will get you and Alan Marcus about 2 months rent at the BCRO. You will need more than 8 people and $ 8 k
Hello! Lonegan's Tax Plan Would Lower Taxes On NJ Plumbers!
Christie's campaign is getting their facts wrong again! That's not dirty campaigning, that's making their candidate look stupid! At least, when they attack Steve Lonegan, they should get their facts straight!
According to the United States Bureau Of Labor Statistics, the typical annual salary of a plumber is $47,000. Under Lonegan's tax plan, a plumber would pay less taxes, not more taxes. Hello! Lonegan's tax plan would lower taxes on New Jersey plumbers!
not to be "stupid and juvenial",
but does lonegan make joe horny?
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/joe-the-plumber-tells-co...
PC. Don't you get it
You say Joe the Plumber is getting picked on for supporting Lonegan. Are you that naive? This is just another stop on a book tour. They are paying him to be here (via buying books). With that they have bought the baggage that comes with him. And Carey try as hard as you might, your abacas is wrong. 70 % of all New Jerseyans and an embarrassing 75% of seniors will pay more in taxes under the Lonegan plan.
jtp on "queers"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/04/joe-the-plumber-queer-mea_n_196...
JOKE!
Lonegan is the joke of the GOP - if this stunt having joe be the ONLY person endorsing him this is beyoned pathetic!
Fortunately, Lonegan will lose next month and will have to crawl back and figure out what next losing seat to go after
Stay the course!
Gored, Dino & Zorro-
You are pathetic.
Lonegan is a tidal wave and you cannot stop him. I was a Christie supporter but cannot turn away from the vigor and clear depth and common sense of Lonegan's stand onthe issues.
The polls speak for themselves - we cannot afford another Christie (Todd Whitman) as Governor. The middle class is fed up with Republican moderate elites.
sdddd
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