“Joe” the “Plumber” leaves the GOP

by Jeff Fecke | May 7, 2009 • Faux plumber Samuel “Joe” Wurzelbacher has looked at today’s Republican Party, and decided it’s too sad and depressing for him to be a part of:

“Samuel Wurzelbacher, better known as Joe the Plumber, tells TIME he’s so outraged by GOP overspending, he’s quitting the party — and he’s the bull’s-eye of its target audience,” the article says.

Mr. The Plumber has been a figurehead among Republican activists since last October, when a chance encounter with Barack Obama and the active promotion by McCain campaign turned him into the face of blue-collar conservatism. If he’s not willing to call himself a Republican, they’re really in trouble.

Yeah, “Joe” is totally outraged at the out-of-control spending. And he’s willing to cut deep — across the board! — with just a few eensy-weensy programs spared:

“[H]e also said he wouldn’t support any cuts in defense, Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid — which, along with debt payments, would put more than two-thirds of the budget off limits.”

You know, I’m not sure what’s sadder: “Joe” or the Republican Party.