John DiStaso

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John DiStaso is a newspaper journalist who is currently the senior political reporter for the Union Leader, a daily published in Manchester, New Hampshire. He writes the paper's weekly political column, "Granite Status" and was one of the moderators for the 2004 Democratic presidential candidates debate held on January 22, 2004 in Goffstown, New Hampshire. DiStaso is credited with coining the phrase, "Republican in Name Only" or RINO, in 1992.[1]

[edit] Early life

DiStaso was born in New Jersey and moved to New Hampshire with his wife in 1979. There he began his career with the Union Leader first as a stringer before becoming a staff reporter in the early 1980s.

[edit] Sources

• Interview with John DiStaso, The Washington Post blog, January 9, 2006.
• Transcript of the January 22, 2004 Democratic candidates debate.