It all started innocently enough. Joe Wurzelbacher, now affectionately known internationally as Joe the Plumber, approached a campaigning Barack Obama to question him about his tax policy.

John McCain quickly picked up on his remarks and used him as an example of how Obama’s tax plan would stifle small business. Joe said he didn’t want to be in the spot light after his 15 minutes faded.

Well…he wasn’t in rush to fade away. He seems to have a fascination with microphones. He then accused Obama of being a socialist. The problem is that he got the facts wrong about Obama’s economic plan, which lowers taxes on individuals making less than $250,000 a year. Even Joe admitted that he makes less than that.

Nonetheless, Obama The Socialist seems to be making its rounds. Forget the fact that George The Fiscal Conservative has implemented the largest socialist program in American history – the nationalization of our banking systems, insurance industry, and now possibly the auto industry. If that’s not socialism, than I’m Joe the Plumber.

Now, Joe The Plumber seems to be a Middle East expert. He doesn’t seem to mind the spotlight anymore because he’s stumping for McCain and answering questions on Israel.

In Ohio, a self-identified Jewish person said to Joe that he was “concerned” with Barack Obama’s associations and “It’s my belief that a vote for Obama is a vote for the death to Israel.”

Wurzelbacher answered: “I do know that.” He went to say, “Well, you know what, I’ll actually go ahead and agree with you on that one,” Wurzelbacher said. “You know ... no, I agree with ya.”

(Is it me is the McCain/Palin ticket trying to legally change the word “you” to simply “ya?”)

I confess that I can barely fix a clogged drain, so I’m no plumber. But, I have visited Israel several times and have done a great deal of reading on the subject. It seems to me that Democratic administrations have done a better job of protecting Israel. Even the inept Carter team managed a very successful peace with Egypt. I hated that Arafat slept in the Clinton White House, but Israel is better off with its peace treaty with Jordan. Obama will employ the same people Clinton used to bring the prosperous Jordanian treaty. Bush never talked with terrorist, but we got nowhere with Israeli/Palestinian peace.

From where I sit, I think an Obama administration would benefit Israel and the Middle East. The Bush name, synonymous in the Arab world with three wars, is the best recruiting tool al-Qaeda has. That’s why they’re pulling for McCain. Obama literally means “He is with us” and will make it hard to find people to enlist against him.

Obama’s energy policy is far superior to McCain which is what the U.S./Israel needs to get Iran in line. Look what happened since oil prices fell 50 percent—suddenly Ahmadinejad goes from wanting to wipe Israel off the map to wanting a nap.

I’m sure Joe’s a great plumber, but not so good on Middle East issues. Even if McCain wins, I hope Joe sticks with his day job.

Nice recap on the Joe thing. Scary thing is most Americans will be influenced by entertainment, not facts. Actors seem to have more impact on American voters than scientists, engineers, philosophers, managers, or anyone that’s actually left the United States to see what’s beyond the International House of Pancakes.

So, Joe approached Obama now? I could have sworn that he was in HIS neighborhood, and Obama was walking around in it taking questions from “the people”. I won’t even attempt to change your mind about which administration’s have worked to make Israel safer and which haven’t. I will say this, If Obama wins next Tuesday, Israel will have not been in more danger in a long long time.