A taxing time for plumber

HOLLAND, Ohio - The "Joe the Plumber" story sprang a few leaks yesterday.

Turns out the man cited by John McCain as the typical, hardworking American taxpayer isn't a licensed plumber. And court documents show he owes nearly $1,200 in back taxes.

"Joe," whose name is Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, was cited in Wednesday's final presidential debate by McCain for questioning Barack Obama's tax policy. He instantly became a media celebrity, fielding calls during the debate and facing reporters outside his home near Toledo yesterday morning for an impromptu nationally televised news conference.

He acknowledged he doesn't have a plumber's license, but said he did not need one because he works for someone else.

But Wurzelbacher still would need to be a licensed apprentice or journeyman to work in Toledo, and he is not, said David Golis, manager and residential building official for the Toledo Division of Building Inspection.

Wurzelbacher owes the State of Ohio $1,182.98 in personal income tax, according to Lucas County Court of Common Pleas records. In January 2007, Ohio's Department of Taxation filed a claim on his property until he pays the debt, according to the records. The lien remains active.

- AP

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A San Bernardino County Republican group has distributed a newsletter picturing Barack Obama on a $10 bill adorned with a watermelon, ribs, and a bucket of fried chicken.

Linking Obama to demeaning racist stereotypes drew denunciations from various GOP officials after the illustration appeared in the October newsletter of the Chaffey Community Republican Women, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported yesterday.

Diane Fedele, president of the group, said she had no racist intent when she decided to use an illustration she got in an e-mail message. "I never connected," she told the newspaper. "It was just food to me. It didn't mean anything else."

- AP

WASHINGTON - Rep. John P. Murtha (D., Pa.) apologized yesterday for saying his home base of Western Pennsylvania was racist in talking about Barack Obama's prospects for winning the state.

In a statement issued by his office, the 17-term congressman said: "I apologize for making the comment that Western Pennsylvania is a racist area."

Murtha made the remark in an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday.

He said in the interview that it had taken time for many Pennsylvania voters to come around to embracing a black presidential candidate but that Obama should still win the state, though not in a runaway.

- AP

DUBLIN, Ireland - The race is over as far as Ireland's biggest bookmaker is concerned.

Paddy Power P.L.C. says it is so sure Barack Obama will win the presidential election next month that it paid off yesterday on all bets it had taken backing the Democratic candidate. It said it shelled out 1 million euros, about $1.35 million.

"We declare this race well and truly over and congratulate all those who backed Obama - your winnings await you," the company said in a statement.

- AP