Joe the Plumber, the American man who was thrust onto the national stage last fall when he dared to ask the anointed one a question that made him look bad, has put down his plunger and headed to Israel.

On a trip sponsored by Pajamas Media TV, Joe went to Israel a few days ago and has already begun sending back reports. Some people in the media are having none of it.

David Sugerman, a writer for the Examiner in Boston, wrote a piece last week titled “New Reason to Leave This Planet. Joe the Plumber to Become War Correspondent.”

In his piece, Sugerman laments:

“And we’re supposed to listen to Joe the Plumber? Please. We’ve spent the last eight years embracing the ultimate average Joe who has run our country into the ground. It’s time for competence and discernment. Joe, please.”

Of course, the President Elect’s lack of experience is no problem at all for Mr. Sugerman, who wrote on his own blog after the election:

“Senator Obama left me in tears. As I’ve said before, regardless of who you support and what happens, we’re better as a country for his candidacy.”

So Joe the Plumber isn’t qualified to go report on the situation in Israel because he lacks experience but Obama, who could make or break policy that actually affects the outcome of the current conflict is perfectly qualified regardless of his stunning lack of experience. Joe is to be scoffed at while Obama makes Mr. Sugerman weep tears of joy. Yeah. OK.

Michelle Malkin has a jewel of a piece on the subject which she published this weekend called “Who’s Afraid of Joe the Journalist?”

“If a community organizer can be president and a Saturday Night Live comedian can be a U.S. senator, why can’t a plumber be a reporter?”

Hear, hear Michelle.

Finally, for anyone who’s wondering how Joe’s doing over there, check out this update from PJTV where Joe comes under rocket fire, video included.

Give ‘em hell, Joe!

UPDATE:

Mr. Sugerman, who is mentioned twice in this post responded today with a lengthy comment which you can read by viewing the comments for this post. While American Glob appreciates Mr. Sugerman’s response, I can’t help but continue to see a double standard is still afoot.

He makes this point:

“My criticism of Joe the Plumber is more that the situation in the Mideast is profoundly complex, and here’s a guy whose sole qualification for reporting and analyzing this complex situation is his celebrity.”

Well, isn’t Barack Obama’s sole qualification for president “his celebrity” as you put it? It’s certainly not any real experience.

He goes on to say:

“But more important, don’t you think he’ll do a better job than the guy who has been in charge for the last eight years? Admittedly, that’s a low threshold–maybe we should aim higher?”

Frankly, I hope Obama does as well as George W. Bush has done. Like so many liberal writers, Mr. Sugerman ignores the fact that the economic crisis we currently face is due largely to Chris Dodd (D) of Connecticut and Barney Frank (D) of Massachusetts.

Furthermore, George W. Bush has kept America safe and prevented any further attacks on our soil since 9/11.

I hope for the sake of America that Barack Obama is capable of protecting our country during his watch.

God help us all if he fails.