Yesterday, as we left church, I turned on the radio (I am an XM Radio junkie) and it was tuned to Fox News (I’m also a Fox News Junkie).  Before I could turn the channel, I heard Neil Cavuto mention the ubiquitous ‘Joe the Plumber’.  I simply had to hear what Joe was going to say.  I have been saddened by the way the Dems have attacked Joe.  In fact, they have treated him almost as repulsively as the Republicans who have exploited him.  All the while, good-ole-Joe has been a great sport.  He has ranged from great insights (nailing Obama on redistribution of wealth) to colossal gaffs (admitting that he accused Obama of being a threat to Israel while knowing nothing of his record on the subject), but there has never been a dull moment with ‘Joe the Plumber’ on the scene.  Yesterday was no exception.

Cavuto managed to press Joe until he admitted that McCain was almost as big a socialist as Obama due to his desire to ‘bailout’ home owners (you’ve gotta love Joe’s honesty), then he revisited the ‘Joe the Plumber’ for Congress rumors.  It was here that Joe (whose presence on the campaign trail has made me wince) made my day.  In responding to Cavuto’s question about running for Congress, Joe said he would not do it because of his duty to his family.  He mentioned his thirteen year-old son and the importance of his role as a father.  Cavuto came back with the age-old, “you can take your family to Washington” argument, but Joe held his ground.  It was refreshing, and ironic at the same time.

I don’t know if Joe the Plumber is going to stick to his guns.  However, in a time when staunch pro-family conservatives are falling all over themselves to promote Sarah Palin as a pro-family VP pick, Joe the Plumber set the record straight.  Sacrificing your family on the altar of a political career is not pro-family.  As I have said before, I am unapologetic in my application of a double standard here.  I believe men and women have different responsibilities in the home (Titus 2:5; 1 Tim. 5:14, etc.).  Thus, not every politician with children is in the same boat (gotta love those, “what if Sarah was a man” emails).  I just hope that in the post-Palin era, we see more of Joe’s type of commitment and less of Sahah’s. 

VB