Joe the Plumber

I turned on the TV this morning and it seems like all I heard about was Joe the Plumber (pictured above watching last night's debate). Barack Obama was in my town the past several days and he was approached by Joe Wurzelbacher, a plumber in the area, who told Obama he was trying to buy a plumbing business and asked the senator why his taxes would be going up under Obama's plan.

Mr. Obama said, in part, "It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody that is behind you, that they have a chance for success, too. I think that when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

In the presidential debate last night, John McCain used this exchange to make a point. He kept referring to "John the plumbers" around the country and how Obama's tax plan would hurt them.

Regardless of which side of the political fence you are on, you have to admire what John McCain did here. In bringing up Joe the plumber, he was attempting to show the American people two things. One, that he is listening to the needs and concerns of the people. And two, that he can communicate in an understandable way. He didn't go off on how smart he is, he simply was talking here in terms that everyone could understand. Very smart.

In our daily lives at work and at home we can learn from this. Let's listen more and not try to impress people with all we know.

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

James 1:19b