PrintOctober 30, 2008
Joe the plumber, meet Hal the candy bomber
Joe Wurzelbacher will help carry McCain to the Presidency, just as Mr. Gail S. Halvorsen, nicknamed Hal, helped carry President Truman to his successful 1948 reelection.
Mr. Halvorsen was the original "candy bomber" during the 1948-1949 Berlin Airlift. In a moment of compassion, he offered some German children some bubble gum, and promised to "drop candy to them" the next time he flew his plane to Berlin (they would know it was him because he would wiggle his wings). I recently read, and reread, the book "The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour", by Andrei Cherny, in which Truman is hard pressed by Dewey (the "inevitable" winner of the 1948 election). A good synopsis of the book, with an apparent reply by the author, is found here. The author's reply includes:
Mr. Halvorsen was the original "candy bomber" during the 1948-1949 Berlin Airlift. In a moment of compassion, he offered some German children some bubble gum, and promised to "drop candy to them" the next time he flew his plane to Berlin (they would know it was him because he would wiggle his wings). I recently read, and reread, the book "The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour", by Andrei Cherny, in which Truman is hard pressed by Dewey (the "inevitable" winner of the 1948 election). A good synopsis of the book, with an apparent reply by the author, is found here. The author's reply includes:
"Harry Truman, struggling in Franklin Roosevelt's shadow, overruled his entire all-star military and foreign policy team to stand on principle in Berlin, did not allow conventional wisdom to dictate his options when it came to the Soviet blockade, and refused to accept defeat when everyone thought he had lost to Thomas Dewey in the 1948 election."
After reading the book, I believe Hal the candy bomber played a huge role in Truman's successful reelection.
In a similar manner, I also believe Joe the Plumber has already played a huge positive role in McCain's campaign by unearthing the Obama's wealth redistribution plan (socialism). Joe the Plumber will be responsible in no small part for McCain's successful election.
In a similar manner, I also believe Joe the Plumber has already played a huge positive role in McCain's campaign by unearthing the Obama's wealth redistribution plan (socialism). Joe the Plumber will be responsible in no small part for McCain's successful election.
