This page was last updated on May 6, 2004.

Kerry connects with people; State Rep. Frank LaGrotta; Beaver County Times; April 30, 2004.

In his letter, Mr. LaGrotta would like us to believe the candidate we see in a 30-minute staged campaign stop tells us about the real person.  Regardless of the candidate or party, I doubt that premise.

Some very engaging people turn out to be very bad.  Likewise, some very good persons aren’t social butterflies.

I don’t have the experience of a career politician like Mr. LaGrotta, but I believe a candidate’s record says a lot more than his ability to glad-hand on a choreographed campaign tour.

Below are comments about specific items in Mr. LaGrotta’s letter.  I also responded in a letter to the editor.¹

“‘I just thought it seemed like he fit in here.’

“‘... he seemed like an everyday guy.’

“‘It’s like he would be a regular if he lived in Beaver.’

“‘I’m voting for him, because he's for me. I’m just one of the little people, but he’s for me.’

“These were a few of the comments, as quoted in The Times (‘Takeout for Kerry?’² Tuesday), made by area residents who had the chance to meet Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John Kerry during his recent stop in Beaver County.”

[RWC] A deception attempt by Mr. LaGrotta.  As per the article Mr. LaGrotta referenced, the four comments above “made by area residents” actually came from only one person, a person “who had already made up her mind” about Mr. Kerry.  Further, Mr. LaGrotta felt compelled to excise “I know he’s got tons of money, but” from the “he seemed like a regular guy” quote. I guess that sentence fragment didn’t fit the “everyday guy” image of Mr. Kerry that Mr. LaGrotta wanted to cultivate.

“...Kerry also is a pretty regular guy who wants to put his military and Senate service to work for the little people like us...”

[RWC] A little us vs. them by Mr. LaGrotta.  Personally, I don’t refer to the strength of this country as “little people.”  Then again, I’m not in the business of creating victim groups and then convincing them their welfare depends on the “care” and “work” of benevolent politicians.

Mr. Kerry may indeed be a nice guy.  I don’t know.  Being the wealthiest person in the Senate doesn’t make you a bad person.  According to The New York Times, Mr. LaGrotta’s “pretty regular guy” treats his butler well, just as we “little people” would treat our butlers.³

1. Letter to the Editor - Kerry is not of the people; Robin Cox; Beaver County Times; May 5, 2004.

2. Takeout for Kerry? Democratic candidate makes stop in Vanport for chat and chow; Michael Pound; Beaver County Times; April 27, 2004.

3. Part Butler and Part Buddy, Aide Keeps Kerry Running; Jodi Wilgoren; The New York Times; April 28, 2004.

© 2004 Robert W. Cox, all rights reserved.