Kerry's very-interested, supporting foreign "leaders"

Kerry ought to be a European. I can hear you say out loud: but we knew that already! But I mean, literally.

European countries are now arguing about which one of them has the privilege and honor – ahem – of being the country of origin of John F. Kerry's family.

Privilege and honor? Well, not exactly. It's actually more about… promotion.

After Kerry's French cousin, Brice Lalonde, spent weeks on a self-promotion tour, insisting he was not only supporting but also advising his American first cousin, now some (2) people in Poland – yes, of all countries, Poland – are claiming Kerry's great grand-mother was born in their country.

A Jewish merchant, Isaak Frankel (born in 1767) lived in Biala, near Prudnik. He married Johanna Fisher of Glogowek. Their child, John Kerry's great grand-mother, was Mathilda Frankel (born in 1845), according to "Wyborcza".

Though it appears that Isaak Frankel was actually Mathilda's grand-father. Isaak's son, Jacob was Johanna Fisher's husband and Mathilda's father (More details here). Anyway, that's not the point of this post. So let's move on.

"We have to think about a way to take advantage of this promotional fact, that John Kerry has roots in our neighborhood," said Glogowek's burgomaster, Jan Mender, to "Gazeta Wyborcza". "There might be a Kerry street one day," he joked.

Seems like Kerry, not surprisingly, has a couple of European cheerleaders (now we know which foreign "leaders" Kerry was referring to: two Polish burgomasters) supporting him in Poland (though it appears that the two towns concerned were apparently German or Prussian at the time of Kerry's great grand-mother's birth).

But wait, are they supporting his program? Huh uh. Not exactly.

As of now, [Glogowek's and] Biala's burgomaster[s] have decided to send the democrat candidate a letter.

"What wouldn't we do to get some promotion! But all in all, we are proud that his family comes from here," said the burgomaster to "Gazeta Wyborcza".

What wouldn't they do to get some promotion? Just about anything? Well, apparently.

The website of the little town (14,000 inhabitants) of Glogowek has even created a special page for Kerry.

Notice that they're not saying they wish he will win (contrary to his French cousin). Visibly, the burgomasters (Polish burgomasters, John, not foreign leaders) are only interested in some promotion. I cannot blame them, except for their lack of insight into who they should ask for help.

Though we have to admit that visiting little towns lost in the middle of nowhere is more of a job for a haughty French-looking Senator of Massachusetts, soon-to-be-defeated US presidential candidate, than a job for the most powerful man in the world. So I guess I can try to understand those guys.

Evidently, not everyone has the privilege to have received President George W. Bush or to be able to inaugurate a plaque in his honor. Heh.