Politics / Joe the Plumber Joe the Plumber's Story Line Springs a Few Leaks By John Johnson, Newser Staff Posted Oct 16, 2008 9:18 PM CDT Copied Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., facing camera, talks to plumber Joe Wurzelbacher in Holland, Ohio, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Tired of Joe the Plumber? His life has been turned upside since he became an unintentional media celebrity, the New York Times notes. Among the odds and ends: He is a single father, 34, whose real name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher. He does plumbing work for a contractor but is not a licensed plumber. Ohio doesn't require it, but Toledo does. He works in Toledo and lives in its suburbs. He owes nearly $1,200 in back taxes. Explaining why he initially challenged Obama: “You know, I’ve always wanted to ask one of these guys a question and really corner them." He complained that he "still got a tap dance," adding, "almost as good as Sammy Davis Jr.” He called Social Security "a joke" and said: "I have parents. I don't need another set of parents called the government." (More Joe the Plumber stories.) Report an error