Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

Italian Club raps Rossi video

The Italian Club of Seattle is objecting to the state Democratic Party's new video on likely GOP gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi.

How badly are they objecting? They say it's distasteful and racist. They say it is "beyond offensive."

They want Gov. Chris Gregoire to have it taken down from the state party's Web site, and an apology from her and State Chairman Dwight Pelz -- just before Pelz gets his pink slip.

The problem, club President Brian DiJulio says, is the use of the theme song from "The Sopranos" as the background for the video. It's negative ethnic stereotyping.

"As Italian-Americans, we celebrate the positive contributions our cultural heritage has made to Washington's rich and diverse history," DiJulio wrote to Gregoire. "We thereby call on you to demand Mr. Pelz's resignation and help find a replacement capable of respecting the culture of others."

To see the video, and read the whole letter, click here.



The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.