LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: KINDER ATTACKS GROUP THAT GIVES TO GOP

To the editor:

I read with great interest the July 17 column by state Sen. Peter Kinder attacking the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare -- a group with over 90,000 members and supporters in Missouri -- because they have rated U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft as having one of the worst records in the Senate on Social Security and Medicare.

Nowhere in Kinder's column does he refute what the NCPSSM states: that on preserving Social Security and Medicare and providing a prescription-drug benefit under Medicare to help seniors pay the high cost of prescription drugs, John Ashcroft's record is the second worst in the Senate.

Kinder also fails to mention that the NCPSSM has given $4,500 in campaign contributions this year to Republican U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Girardeau. Does he fault Emerson for the company she keeps?

Just last week, John Ashcroft's colleague, Republican U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond, invited Max Richtman, executive vice president of the NCPSSM, to a fund-raising event for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, a group that supports Ashcroft's candidacy that has accepted $30,000 from the NCPSSM.

Does Kinder fault Bond for the company he keeps? Furthermore, if Kinder is so disgusted with the NCPSSM, will he publicly ask Emerson and Bond to return all of the money they have either received or raised from the organization? Ashcroft should stop attacking Missouri seniors with his votes, and Kinder should stop attacking your readers with his double talk.

If not, I'd like to wait until hypocrisy starts trading at $40 a share and then buy stock in Kinder's column.

TONY WYCHE

Communications Director

Carnahan for Senate

St. Louis