Tom at Kn@ppster posted a video of Rick Sanchez’s commentary regarding Samuel “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher’s new gig as a war reporter. He is now in Israel reporting for the conservative website Pajamas TV. Joe the Plumber told Toledo, Ohio reporters the following about why he is doing this:
I get to go over there and let there [sic] “Average Joes” share their story, what they think, how they feel, especially with world opinion, maybe get a real story out there.
Rick Sanchez of CNN seems more than a bit peeved about Joe’s comments about journalists covering war:
While I’m not sure about Tom’s predictions coming true, I definitely agree with Sanchez’s commentary. Joe the Plumber utilizing his fifteen minutes of fame doesn’t bother me (I’ve gotten used to tuning out stuff like that), but like Rick Sanchez, I do take offense at his calling for media to avoid covering the hell of war. Joe himself hoped to “maybe get a real story out there.” With the way media covers Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton as if it was a matter of life-or-death national security, I would think Joe would want the media to actually start covering things that really are life-or-death national security issues. When the media does its job (which it rarely ever does), it can ferret out wrong-doings that those in power would like to sweep under the rug. Besides, freedom of the press is one of the five guarantees in the First Amendment. Or do conservatives not believe in the First Amendment?
My recommendation is that Joe the Plumber get a real story from his trip to the Middle East. He’s in Israel talking to “Average Joes”. Why stop there? I propose that he stay true to his mission. Instead of just hearing one side of the story, why doesn’t he talk to “Average Joes” in Gaza? The West Bank? Lebanon? Other parts of the Middle East? I’m sure that “Average Joes” exist everywhere throughout the world. They too have their stories that deserve to be told. I’ve never been to the Middle East, but I’m sure their “Average Joes” want the same things America’s want — to live free and in peace.
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