Tuesday, Nov. 10

I don't know Milt and Ruth Bass. Perhaps they are so nice that they will someday take over St. Peter's job. However, I take exception to the column in Sunday's paper written by Milt Bass concerning Mike Capuano, candidate for U.S. Senate. ("Travels with Capuano," Nov. 8.)

Sometimes their columns criticize people in order to advance a personal preference. Such was the case with the Sunday column. Milt Bass didn't try to say positive things about his candidate; he decided to take that time-worn path of hurting the candidate running against his candidate. That is unfortunate and wrong.

Mr. Bass wrote that he supports his candidate because she is from Berkshire County (complete with a little ditty). This is silly. This U.S. Senate seat was held by Ted Kennedy for 47 years. The election of the next senator is far too serious to be decided on geography, gender, or ethnicity. Mr. Bass does a disservice to the voters with this inane excuse for supporting a candidate. It needs to be decided on the experience, passion and knowledge that each person possesses. He doesn't extol the virtues of his candidate, but chooses to disparage the experience of her opponent. That is wrong.

I find it interesting that experience in foreign affairs gained through foreign travel is viewed as a negative by Mr. Bass. Would you hire a plumber with no previous experience? How about a surgeon? Yet, in politics, experience is used as a weapon

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against that person. I would think that after eight years watching the actions of a president with no foreign experience, we would welcome someone who has traveled to foreign countries, met with foreign leaders and can talk intelligently about global policy.

I have known Mike Capuano since he was the mayor of Somerville. He cleaned that city up and has done a masterful job as a congressman. I believe him to be the best person for the job, based on his passion for service, his intelligence and his experience in such areas as foreign policy. He has made tough decisions as a congressman and deserves recognition for that.

Mr. Bass can be for whoever he wants to for whatever reason he dreams up. But the people of Berkshire County should elect the next senator based on their credentials and not birthplace. Considering Ted Kennedy's importance to Berkshire County, we deserve better and we deserve someone who can deliver on that legacy. That person is Mike Capuano.

DANIEL BOSLEY

North Adams

The writer is a Democratic state representative.