Orange Republicans offer Kerry-Heinz ketchup alternativ

Chester-The Orange County Republican Committee is offering free bottles of W Ketchup for a limited time at their Headquarters in Chester. A press release from the committee states: "Americans allergic to the subtle Democratic flavor of Heinz ketchup (Heinz empire heiress Teresa Heinz-Kerry is married to John Kerry) can now plunge their ‘freedom fries' into a 100-percent guaranteed, patriotic alternative: W Ketchup!" "You don't support Democrats. Why should your ketchup?" says the W Ketchup Internet site www.wketchup.com, which promises a totally U.S.-made condiment, right down to the bottle. "Choose Heinz and you're supporting Teresa and her husband's Gulfstream Jet, and liberal causes such as Kerry for President," the website says. "Heinz has 57 varieties, but also 57 foreign factories. W Ketchup comes in one flavor: American!" Lest you think the "W" is a stand-in for the president's nickname, the site says W Ketchup's initial actually stands for "Washington," as in the first president, George Washington, whose face adorns the bottle beneath the Stars and Stripes. Dutiful Republicans who nonetheless prefer Heinz Ketchup need not despair. Theresa Heinz, a former Republican, has no involvement with the HJ Heinz Company's management and owns less than 4 percent of Heinz stock. And, in the 2004 election cycle, 88 percent of the Heinz Company's political contributions went to the GOP, and only 12 percent to the Democrats. Heinz is the 11th biggest political contributor among food products manufacturers. In addition, Heinz's CEO and chair is Republican who contributes large sums to the Republican National Committee and Republican politicians — which may send Democrats looking for their own alternative. To pick up your free bottle of W Ketchup, stop by the Orange County Republican Committee Headquarters, located at 1 Winkler Place. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call the Orange County Republican Committee Headquarters at 469-5200 or the "OCRC WKetchup Coordinator" Carmen Dubaldi at 863-6171.