Published: October 30, 2008 10:52 pm         

This plumber a card-carrying Joe

TERRE HAUTE — His name isn’t Joe, but he is a licensed plumber — and he supports Sen. Barack Obama for president.

Mark Swaner, 46, training coordinator for the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 157, turned a poster into a yard sign in Terre Haute, letting people know just that.

The sign states “The real Joe the Plumber supports Obama.”

Swaner said he supports Democratic presidential candidate Obama because he believes Obama will create jobs for the middle-class, raise middle-class wages and protect pensions.

“Joe the Plumber,” otherwise known as Samuel J. Wurzelbacher of Ohio, became famous during the last presidential debate between Obama and Republican candidate Sen. John McCain. He questioned Obama on a campaign stop about his tax policy and how it would affect him if he owned his own business.

Wurzelbacher, who later turned out to be an unlicensed plumber with unpaid back taxes, has since endorsed McCain. McCain mentioned him numerous times throughout speeches as an example of the middle-class worker who would be hurt by Obama’s tax policy, according to an Associated Press story.

Obama’s tax plan calls for no tax increase for families earning less than $250,000 a year.

“Joe the Plumber was a joke,” Swaner said, noting Wurzelbacher couldn’t buy the plumbing business he spoke about because it’s not for sale and he doesn’t have a license. “Even if he were to buy it, he wouldn’t have an income above $250,000 and would have benefited from Barack Obama’s plan, he’s just not smart enough to figure that out.”

To become a plumber, Swaner said he had to attend an accredited plumbing school for a minimum of four years and take a practical and written exam to graduate followed by a four-year apprentice program.

Swaner also noted the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada was the first international union to support Obama.

According to a letter posted on the United Association’s Web site, the organization endorsed Obama on Jan. 9.

“Barack Obama is the choice of the UA because he has always fought for working people throughout his career and will do the best job of bringing badly needed change to Washington,” the letter stated. “… We remain a bipartisan organization. However, our best hope for clear direction and responsible change in our national government calls for our support of Barack Obama.”

“For the working man,” Swaner said, “we honestly believe Barack Obama is the best choice.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.