Jon Mendelson’s Friday column, “Bush misses average American,” was quite entertaining. It read like House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s talking points. Does Mendelson really think President Bush’s election foes, Al Gore and John Kerry, would have traveled a different route for a Democratic fundraiser Did President Bill Clinton travel through the slums on his fundraising tours

Mendelson infers Bush was raised with a silver spoon and his jobs were a result of his father’s connections. At least he had jobs. Wasn’t Gore raised with a similar silver spoon Didn’t Kerry marry into money twice Gore and Kerry talk about the average American, as Bush does, but of a redistribution of wealth from the rich to the poor. Mendelson points out the estate tax could be redistributed to repair the roads we drive and pay for homeland security. In Mendelson’s argument, money is taken from one group and given to another group. That starts class warfare. It is also socialism.

Mendelson states Bush’s average American doesn’t mind paying $250 for breakfast. What about the thousands of average Americans who lined up to pay $250, $1,000 and $10,000 to have dinner with the Clintons; and let us not forget the $5,000 cup of coffee in the White House with the president. Gore and Kerry also had breakfast, lunch and dinner with our average American who could pay $1,000 or more.

Why aren’t those average Americans who paid for that cup of coffee with Clinton lining up to write big checks in addition to their taxes to pay the poor and needy through the Democratic social programs They don’t because they’re hypocrites. They want somebody else to pay for those programs.

Both sides raise campaign money through such venues as meals and expensive coffee, a point Mendelson overlooked. Is it right To most Americans it stinks, but, unfortunately, that is the way the game is played. Why The greedy media charge huge rates for advertising so politicians can get their message out.

Every election cycle seems to boil down to the same themes. Elect the Democrats who will try to solve the poor’s problems through higher taxes with more failed social programs or elect the Republicans who will try to keep the Democrats from getting into voters’ pockets. I’ve always preferred the latter, even if it does cost me $250 for breakfast.

• Tim Michael Case is a Tracy resident and frequent contributor to the Tracy Press.