Joe the Imaginary Friend

My mind groans as America gets caught in yet another stupid spin cycle, this time entitled "Joe the Plumber," recently created by John McCain.

It does not matter that the guy's first name is Sam, not Joe. It does not matter that he's not a real plumber. It does not matter that by now, everybody in America knows that none of this "Joe the Plumber" business is actually real.

But why let reality get in the way of a good cry. The Republicans think they have a superior tax policy. They need to put a face to it. For the tv cameras, of course. So they find this guy out of nowhere, wrap the scenario around him, breathe life into him by calling him out in a nationally televised debate, and then sit back and watch it snowball into a monster.

And America loves it. I have a sick feeling that from now until November 4, Joe the Plumber, previously known as Joe Sixpack, will dominate the news cycle. Everyone will be asking him hypothetical questions, feeling sorry for him, producing skits about him from SNL to Youtube, even though they all know its just a charade.

We all love our imaginary friends. They make our problems and sorrows seem real, our actions justified. We get to dress them up like a Ken or Barbie doll. And we get fiercely protective of them.

Sometimes I ask myself, am I in a loony bin?