John DiStaso

John Joseph DiStaso (February 18, 1954 – April 21, 2022) was an American political journalist from New Hampshire.

Life and career

DiStaso was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey.[1] He received a bachelor's degreei n English literature from Villanova University in 1975 and a master's degree in communications from William Paterson University in 1979; that same year, he married Diane Randazza, and they had two children.[1][2] There he began his career with the Union Leader as a correspondent before becoming a staff reporter in the early 1980s. Beginning in 1982, DiStaso wrote the newspaper's political column, "The Granite Status." He is credited with the earliest use of the phrase "Republican in Name Only" or RINO in 1992.[3] DiStaso was accused of Republican bias in a Columbia Journalism Review article for an interview he conducted with George W. Bush presidential adviser Karl Rove.[4]

DiStaso was one of the moderators for the 2004 Democratic presidential candidates debate held on January 22, 2004, in Goffstown, New Hampshire. He was also a panelist in debates produced by CNN and NBC.

DiStaso was a resident of New Boston, New Hampshire. He and his wife had two children. DiStaso died from pancreatic cancer in Manchester, New Hampshire on April 21, 2022, aged 68.[1][5]

References
  1. Seelye, Katharine Q. (April 28, 2022). "John DiStaso, Star Reporter of New Hampshire Primaries, Dies at 68". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  2. Downey, KC (April 22, 2022). "John DiStaso, 'dean' of New Hampshire's political press corps and WMUR reporter, dead at 68". WMUR. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  3. "RINO - Word Spy".
  4. http://www.cjrdaily.org/politics/our_roving_reporter.php
  5. "John DiStaso, 'dean' of NH political reporters, dies at 68". Associated Press. April 23, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
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