PBS Host to Joe the Plumber: Learn To Shut Your Mouth

Bonnie Erbe, who hosts the PBS TV show To The Contrary, wrote a blog on U.S. News & World Report where she is a contributing editor. Erbe writes that Joe Wurzelbacher "had better learn to keep his mouth shut." (http://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/10/16/joe-the-plumber--social-security-is-a-joke-and-liberal-conspiracy-theories.html)

Why?

Well, first Joe the Plumber expresses impure thoughts such as, "Social Security is a joke." Erbe might not like his opinion but it is one man's opinion. So anyone who doesn't agree with Erbe's worldview must keep silent?

Second, Erbe tries to connect Wurzelbacher to Charles Keating of the Keating Five fame and thus a McCain stooge.

On what does Erbe base this information? From a blog entry on the hard left The Daily Kos (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/16/02217/845)

So Erbe sees fit to sully Joe the Plumber because he "may be related" to Republican donor Robert Wurzelbacher, the son-in-law of Charles Keating who served time in federal prison for his role in the S&L Scandal for misappropriation of funds. May be related?

So on the basis that Joe the Plumber might be related to Robert Wurzelbacher, Erbe writes, "Keep watching this story because if it proves to be true that "Joe the Plumber" is a wealthy, Republican regular the liberal blogs are claiming he is, the McCain campaign could go down as the most corrupt and inept in history."

Surely, Bonnie Erbe could have exericsed more due diligence here? Joe the Plumber is either related to him or he's not? Even if he is related then what? Does that make him a criminal? And since when is being rich a criminal act? Are Joe's opinions rendered irrelevant and not worth our attention? In the world of elite liberals like Bonnie Erbe, the Joe Wurzelbachers and other average Joes who put in an honest day of work are to be seen and not heared. Might I remind you that it was Obama who approached Wurzelbacher at his home and asked him for his vote. Obama has every right to ask for Joe the Plumber's vote. Joe the Plumber then has the right to ask Obama a question or two. It might be a foreign concept to the liberal media but votes in this country are earned.

But I say this to the liberal media. Keep the heat up on Joe the Plumber. If you insist on smearing Joe the Plumber because he dares to think for himself then Obama could end up squandering a lead bigger than the Tampa Bay Rays did last night and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.