Obama Plumber

Barack Obama said he plans to "spread the wealth around" to a plumber complaining about Obama's tax plan during a campaign stop in Toledo, Ohio. in October 2008. His response was criticized by some columnists and bloggers as being socialist. The plumber asked Obama if he was going to raise his taxes. Obama responded he did not want to "punish " the plumber for being successful, but that a redistribution of wealth is good for everyone.Fox News: Obama to Plumber: "...Spread the Wealth Around" (October 14, 2008) Obama plans to raise taxes on those who make over $250,000 a year.ABC News Blog: "Spread the Wealth"? (October 14, 2008)

"It's not that I want to punish your success, I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you; that they have got a chance at success too."'ABC News Blog: "Spread the Wealth"? (October 14, 2008)

"My attitude is that if the economy is good for folks from the bottom up, it's gonna be good for everybody... I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."ABC News Blog: "Spread the Wealth"? (October 14, 2008)

— Barack Obama to a plumber in Toledo, Ohio

"If Barack Obama's goal as President is to spread the wealth around, perhaps his unconditional meetings with Hugo Chavez, Raul Castro, and Kim Jong-Il aren't so crazy - if nothing else they can advise an Obama administration on economic policy. In contrast, John McCain's goal as president will be to let the American people prosper unburdened by government and ever higher taxes."ABC News Blog: "Spread the Wealth"? (October 14, 2008)

— McCain spokesman Michael Goldfarb in a written statement to FOX News