memeorandum: ACORN: McCain's a zero on foreclosures (Frank James/The Swamp)

7:50 PM ET, October 16, 2008

Top Items:

Joe in the Spotlight — One week ago, Joe Wurzelbacher was just another working man living in a modest ranch house in Toledo, Ohio, thinking about how to expand his plumbing business. But when he stopped Senator Barack Obama during a visit to his block this weekend to ask about his taxes …

Marty / Martin Eisenstadt's Blog:

Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher related to Charles “the Crook” Keating. Oops. — John McCain did great tonight in the debate. But every time John mentioned “Joe the Plumber,” some of us in the campaign banged our heads against the wall. If Steve Schmidt had any hair left, I hear he would have been pulling it out tonight.

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Ben Smith's Blogs, The Moderate Voice and Political Machine

Toledo Blade:

‘Joe the Plumber’ is focus of presidential debate's first few minutes — The story of “Joe the Plumber” - Joe Wurzelbacher of Shrewsbury Street in Springfield Township - became a centerpiece of the early minutes of the presidential debate last night. — And Joe the Plumber became the subject of national and international interest.

Discussion: Hot Air, Washington Wire, Hotline On Call, Ben Smith's Blogs, MSNBC, Political Radar, Newsweek Blogs, Pat Dollard, Pajamas Media, Townhall.com, Achenblog, Political Machine, Corrente, Openers, Think Progress, Gawker and Wake up America

Robert J. Elisberg / The Huffington Post:

The “Joe the Plumber” Story Hits an Amazing New Low — Just when you didn't think things could get worse for John McCain - they go in the toilet. — Literally. — So, you remember Joe the Plumber, who John McCain kept relentlessly bringing up. And up.

The Campaign Spot:

After Targeting Joe the Plumber, Obamabots Pledge To Expose Scandals of Guy in Rockwell's ‘Four Freedoms’ Painting — Thank God we live in a free country, where you can speak your mind on public issues, without fear that those who disagree will respond by exposing anything you've ever done …

Discussion: PoliGazette, Gateway Pundit, Fausta's Blog, MSNBC and The Impolitic

Jonathan Martin / Jonathan Martin's Blogs:

Joe the Plumber: No new taxes — and no old ones, either — Joe the Plumber really is no fan of paying taxes. — According to records from the Lucas County (OH) Court of Common Pleas found by my colleague Avi Zenilman, Samuel J. Wurzelbacher has a lien placed against him to the tune of $1,182.92.

Discussion: The Corner, Tax Foundation, TaxProf Blog, Political Machine, TIME.com and Donklephant

Jonathan Martin / Jonathan Martin's Blogs:

Joe not a licensed plumber, McCain's enthusiasm not diminished — The Toledo Blade is reporting that Joe the Plumber is actually not licensed. But that, combined with his apparent tax lien, isn't lessening McCain's ardor. — He said in an interview with Fox's Carl Cameron today that he hoped …

Discussion: Emptywheel

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:

Joe's registration — Joe Wurzelbacher doesn't immediately turn up in the Ohio voter registration database, leading to some speculation last night that he's not registered to vote. — But the Toledo Blade reports that he appears to be a registered Republican, and a primary voter at that:

Discussion: Think Progress, The Campaign Spot, The Jawa Report, Washington Monthly, Hot Air, Stop The ACLU, D-Day, Newshoggers.com and Mother, May I Sleep …

Tom Elia / The New Editor:
How the Left Works — By now everyone who follows politics …

Discussion: JustOneMinute, The Anchoress, Daily Kos, American Power and Wizbang

Joe Klein / Swampland:
Senator Government V. Joe the Plumber

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Kevin Drum, The Impolitic, Time and The Sideshow

Michelle Malkin:
New McCain ad: “Joe the Plumber”

Discussion: Riehl World View and Wake up America

Brian Montopoli / CBS News:
Joe The Plumber's Chat With Couric

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Political Radar, The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, The Caucus, New York Times, Hotline On Call, Gateway Pundit, Washington Post, The New Republic and Outside The Beltway

Frank James / The Swamp:
Joe the Plumber owes Ohio back taxes

Discussion: Marc Ambinder, Washington Post, Change of Subject, Tax Foundation and pandagon.net

The Trail / Washington Post:
Joe the Plumber: Not a Licensed Plumber

Discussion: Scholars and Rogues, The New Republic, National Review, The Reaction, American Prospect and The Sundries Shack

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo: JOE THE PRIVATIZER — It turns out Joe the “Plumber” …

Lara Jakes Jordan / Associated Press:

Officials: FBI investigates ACORN for voter fraud — WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is investigating whether the community activist group ACORN helped foster voter registration fraud around the nation before the presidential election. A senior law enforcement official confirmed the investigation to The Associated Press on Thursday.

Discussion: The Huffington Post, MiamiHerald.com, Hot Air and D-Day

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
RETURNING TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME

Discussion: Washington Monthly, TPMMuckraker and D-Day

Sarah Laskow / The Center for Public Integrity: ELECTION '08: ACORN, Stuck Between a Law and a Hard Place

Mary Pat Flaherty / Washington Post:
Ohio Files Appeal to Supreme Court on Voter Registration Data

Discussion: Political Machine, SCOTUSblog and ACSBlog

Michelle DeArmond / PE Angels Baseball:

Inland GOP mailing depicts Obama's face on food stamp — Download story podcast — The Press-Enterprise — The latest newsletter by an Inland Republican women's group depicts Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama surrounded by a watermelon, ribs and a bucket of fried chicken, prompting outrage in political circles.

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Pam's House Blend, The Daily Dish, Think Progress, Political Byline, Washington Monthly, Capitol Alert, Oliver Willis, Gawker and The Campaign Spot

Matt / Think Progress:

Confirmed: McCain To Appear With Virginia GOP Chairman Who Compared Obama To Osama Bin Laden — Earlier this week, Time magazine's Karen Tumulty reported on how Jeffrey Frederick, the chairman of the Virginia Republican party, gave GOP volunteers talking points on “the connection between Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden.”

Discussion: The Daily Dish, City Desk, Comments from Left Field and Raising Kaine

Joseph Nye / Financial Times:
Beware an October surprise from bin Laden

Discussion: Commentary and Pat Dollard

Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:
Virginia GOP Mailer Depicts Dems — And Obama? — As Appeasers Of Terrorists

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, The Corner, The Daily Dish, Newsweek Blogs, American Power and Change of Subject

James Pethokoukis / US News:

Money & Business — Did Barack “Spread the Wealth” Obama Just Blow the Election? — No. Really. You're kidding me. Barack Obama actually told that Joe the Plumber guy that he wants to “spread the wealth around.” What, did Obama just get done reading the Wikipedia entry on Huey “Share the Wealth” Long or something?

Discussion: protein wisdom, Booman Tribune and Big Brass Blog

Sol Stern / Wall Street Journal:

Ayers Is No Education ‘Reformer’ — The new media spin is worse than Obama's original evasion. — One of the most misleading statements during the presidential debates was when Barack Obama claimed that William Ayers was just “a guy in the neighborhood.”

Discussion: pw, The Corner, pushback, The Quick and the Ed, Atlas Shrugs, The Real Barack Obama and www.redstate.com

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:

Harsh GOP robo-call hits Ayers — A harsh new robocall (above) — at least the third in a series — attacks Obama for having “worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers” whose group “killed Americans.” — Robocalls are a relatively inexpensive way to deliver a negative message …

Discussion: TPM Election Central, The Huffington Post, The Moderate Voice, D-Day, Comments from Left Field and TIME.com

Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:
Latest McCain Robocall Alleges That Obama Denied Babies Medical Care

Discussion: Washington Monthly

Edward T. Pound / National Journal Online:

Lobbyist Speaks: Rumor Of McCain Affair False, Damaging — VICKI ISEMAN TALKS FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT THE GOP NOMINEE, THE NEW YORK TIMES, AND THE STORY THAT CHANGED HER LIFE. — In one of the most sensational stories of the presidential campaign, The New York Times published a 3,000-word …

Discussion: Jonathan Martin's Blogs and Emptywheel

zombietime:

The Left's Big Blunder — The disastrously counter-productive strategy of Obama's supporters — Two campaigns are being waged right now for the presidency of the United States. No, I'm not talking about the Obama campaign and the McCain campaign. I'm talking about the real-world campaign and the meta-campaign.

Discussion: Reason, www.redstate.com, Whiskey Fire and AMERICAN DIGEST

LiveScience:

Americans Flunk Simple 3-Question Political Survey — Some news audiences are more politically savvy than others, according to a new poll, with readers of The New Yorker and similar high-brow magazines being the most knowledgeable. — The survey, conducted between April 30 and June 1 …

Discussion: JammieWearingFool, Outside The Beltway, Comments from Left Field and www.redstate.com

Gallup:

Gallup Daily: Obama 49%, McCain 43% — Obama maintains lead, but falls under 50% — PRINCETON, NJ — The latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking report from Monday through Wednesday shows Barack Obama with a 49%to 43% lead over John McCain among registered voters.