A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
by Meg White
Gary Hamilton is the director of the plumbing division at the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry, which has endorsed Obama. Hamilton has been a licensed plumber for about 40 years, and he was dismayed at Wurzelbacher's attempt to speak for an industry of which he is not part.
"He doesn't speak for me as a plumber," Hamilton said. And of the 350,000 members of the union, he said Wurzelbacher "sure doesn't represent them."
The union endorsed Obama in January, before any other union had done so. Hamilton said the problems facing his union, as well as the entire country, make Obama a clear choice. Specifically, he said the economy has been dragging down the pensions of union members, and that spiraling health care costs are making it even more difficult for workers to scrape by.
"We need to get a handle on those issues," Hamilton said. "We think he's going to be very good for the working people."
On the other hand, "Joe the plumber" is not a licensed plumber. He's not even a licensed journeyman or plumber's apprentice. His name isn't even Joe, it's Samuel. But it isn't "Sam 6-Pack" that Gov. Sarah Palin has been referring to. And everything has to fit nicely into the political package to sell on Election Day.
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