As Joe Wurzelbacher, aka Joe the Plumber, looks for support for a possible congressional run, he wont find a lot of backing in one particular demographic: Plumbers.
Some of the nations most notable plumbing trade organizations are reacting to news of Wurzelbachers run with disinterest or, in one case, disgust.
Rick Terven, Sr. is with The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (know simply as UA to the 340,000 members it claims) and writes POLITICO in an email:
As you know both Dennis Kucinich and Marcy Kaptor are also considering this race and have stood by working families time and time again. In doing so they both have earned the strong support of our members in Ohio. Joe the Plumber may have played a part in the 2008 election story, but we know that the plumbers of the United Association and all other plumbers who care about working people will continue to support either Democratic nominee, not Joe the Plumber.
Joe the Plumber does not represent the United Association nor our union members in any way. This is someone who appears to care more about being a celebrity than actually helping working families.
It was revealed this week that Wurzelbacher filed papers for a potential House run in northern Ohio, although he has yet to make a final decision.
Jim Kendzel is the Executive Director and CEO of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers and hadnt heard of Wurzelbachers run until POLITICOs phone call. And he didnt seem moved by it either way, saying: We encourage all of our members to be active in legislative and code process both at the local and state and federal level promoting good plumbing, engineering practices.
But as for Wurzelbacher, specifically?
We really dont have any comment related to that.
Well, except on one minor detail: I dont believe hes actually a plumber.
Kendzels right. Wurzelbacher rose to prominence during the 2008 campaign between Barack Obama and John McCain and earned the moniker Joe the Plumber, even though it was subsequently revealed that he wasnt a licensed plumber.
Its a distinction thats not lost on the plumbing community.
I dont think hes actually licensed, said Charlotte Perham, senior director of communications for the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association, which bills itself on its website as the oldest trade association in the construction industry.
I dont know a lot about him, said Perham, although she did know that hes not a member of our organization.
At this point, we dont have any comment.