Tel-Chai Nation

Joe Wurzelbacher came to Israel and Sderot, and while there, minced no words in letting know what he thinks of the MSM:

Samuel Wurzelbacher of Ohio, aka Joe the Plumber, arrived in Sderot at noon Sunday to show local and foreign reporters how to do it right.

"You should be ashamed of yourself," he told foreign reporters.

"You should be patriotic, protect your family and children, not report like you have been doing for the past two weeks since this war has started," he said.

Wurzelbacher, the man who stole the limelight from Republican presidential candidate John McCain during the American election campaign, has found a new job - as a correspondent for the Internet Web sites PJTV and Pajamas Media.

Armed with a camera and a temporary Government Press Office card, he got a taste of reality in Sderot, visiting a house hit by a Kassam rocket two weeks ago and experiencing a "Code Red" alert first-hand. He also observed and reported from the house where a Kassam landed on Sunday afternoon.

The people of Sderot "can't do normal things day to day," like get soap in their eyes in the shower, for fear a rocket might come in, Wurzelbacher said. "I'm sure they're taking quick showers. I know I would."

He also wondered why Israel waited so long to act. "I know if I were a citizen here, I'd be damned upset." He described himself as a "peaceloving man," but added, "when someone hits me, I'm going to unload on the boy. And if the rest of the world doesn't understand that, then I'm sorry."

Wurzelbacher had already announced that he would arrive in the area for 10 days to cover Operation Cast Lead and to assist in getting out the Israeli side of the story.

"I want the average American Joes to understand the story here from the point of view of someone like them," he told WNWO, a TV channel in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio, before heading here.

During the election campaign, Wurzelbacher (who supported McCain) warned Jewish voters in America that voting for President-elect Barack Obama would be a death blow to Israel, saying, "Obama has offered to sit down with the enemies of Israel."

But in Sderot, he seemed just as intent on teaching a thing or two to the media. "Do you think this is normal, the way you cover this conflict and give away information to your enemy?" he asked the journalists that gathered around him.

"It makes me sick to see the way you behave - you guys need to be protective of your homes, your children, your family."

"I am angry," he said, "and this is why I came here."

While I think he could've gone further, I give him credit for alluding to Ehud Olmert's incompetant government, which, as implied, waited far too long.

I guess that's why I'm disappointed in Ed Morrissey at Hot Air, who seems to be blowing it again by suggesting that Joe is screwing up:

...Joe seems ready to make the same mistake that the MSM does, which is picking sides rather than reporting. He’s made it clear that his mission is to tell the Israeli side, which is unfortunately badly needed at this stage. At least he’s honest about that, but it doesn’t make him that much better than his mainstream media peers. If they announced that they felt a duty to report the Palestinian side of the conflict because they genuinely believe that Israel is the aggressor, would that make their reporting any more objective or truthful? Not really.

So says the same man who paid lip service to Grover Norquist (and I should hope that since he was told what Norquist is really like, that he won't make that mistake again). Is he saying that Joe is not allowed to tell the MSM what kind of disgusting cretins they're being for siding with terrorists, as CNN has been doing with this vile propaganda? And is he trying in any way to apologize for Olmert or even Sharon, who led to this in the first place by implying that nobody's allowed to criticize them for the right reasons? Again, just when I hope the man learns a lesson, he suggests otherwise. Again, an apology is in order, Morrissey.

Here's another detail on JTP from Reuters (via Michelle Malkin):

“Israel is being attacked and they’re defending themselves,” Wurzelbacher told reporters. His remarks were interrupted by an alert for an incoming rocket which sent him dashing to a concrete shelter. No one was hurt.

Thank goodness. But you see that he's clearly facing serious risks in going to Sderot. Here's PJTV's page of updates, and here's wire service pictures of JTP over here. And here's an interview with Joe from Israel National Radio.

Update: some more people come to the defense of Joe.

Labels: Israel, jihad, msm foulness, Ohio, terrorism, United States, war on terror