Joe the Plumber is now a war reporter in Israel

Hey, remember that old saying, "I'd rather get my international news from an unlicensed plumber than an experienced journalist?"

We don't either.  But if that's your motto, we've got good news for you:  Joe the Plumber is back!

Joe the war correspondent

A conservative web site long known for its international news prowess (Pajamas TV - who else?) has hired the former kind-of plumber/McCain prop/kind-of author to be its war correspondent over in Israel.

By the way, we're not making this up.

Oops

Sure, when Wurzelbacher (his real name)  actually tried to discuss foreign policy during the campaign it was a disaster stating that he agreed with the premise that a vote for Barack Obama meant a vote for the death of Israel.

This led the conservative Fox News correspondent Shepherd Smith to call Wurzelbacher's remarks "frightening."

Later in that same interview Wurzelbacher said, "Listen, you don’t want my opinion on foreign policy. I know just enough probably to be dangerous."

Smith quickly agreed.

He's an expert

But no matter to Pajamas TV.  They not only want Wurzelbacher's foreign policy insight -- they're paying him for it.  They're sending him over to Israel to cover the fighting.

Wurzelbacher will make a 10-day trip to the troubled area to talk to "regular people" about the conflict.

"I get to go over there and let their 'Average Joes' share their story, what they think, how they feel, especially with world opinion, maybe get a real story out there,” Wurzelbacher told WNWO-TV in Toledo.

Starting time

He was scheduled to leave last night for the troubled region, according to the plumber's spokesman.

Wait.  He has a spokesman?

The Toledo Blade quotes Tom Tabback, the guy who really wrote co-authored Wurzelbacher's upcoming book as saying, "They have hired him on as a regular news correspondent and this is his first assignment."

"What they are expecting from him on an ongoing basis is to give the 'regular Joe' perspective on the news, and kind of apply a ... litmus test to what other media may be reporting, what politicians may be saying, which I think is a pretty good fit for him," Tabback said.

Sure.

The Blade reported that Wurzelbacher will be accompanied by a cameraman and a plunger and it is not known whether he will be reporting from Gaza.

Streaming video

Hey, at least you don't have to HBO to watch him.   Barack Obama is still getting plenty of criticism over the decision to grant HBO exclusive rights to the opening inaugural ceremonies.