WA Democrats to change Sopranos-themed Rossi ad

The Washington state Democratic Party says it will change a video ad that pictures Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi accompanied by the theme song from "The Sopranos," after a Seattle group said the ad was offensive to Italian-Americans.

The Italian Club of Seattle sent a letter Wednesday to Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire, calling for removal of the video and asking for state Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz to step down.

The video played the theme song from the hit series about Italian-American mobsters, while criticizing Rossi's ties to the Building Industry Association of Washington, a powerful lobby group in the state. A black-and-white photo of Rossi, who is of Italian descent, is on-screen the entire time.

"We understand that in this gubernatorial election, various claims will be made by candidates and interested parties against the other candidate," wrote club president Brian DiJulio. However, the video "attempting to associate Dino Rossi with criminal activity through the use of negative ethnic stereotyping is beyond offensive.

"Whether the State Democratic Party thought it clever to link Rossi to Italian-American criminals through the use of a popular mobster TV show is irrelevant; it is distasteful, and it is racist."

Democratic Party spokesman Kelly Steele said the video was not meant to imply a tie to the mafia or organized crime.

"It's a catchy song, which we thought jibed stylistically with our communication about Rossi's designated attack squad - the BIAW - who continue to pour millions into false and misleading attack ads against Gov. Gregoire," Steele said in a statement.

Steele apologized to DiJulio and "anyone else we may have inadvertently offended" and said the video would be replaced by one offering the same message, but a different song.

Steele said Pelz would not step down, something that DiJulio said he still wanted.

"They can pretend they didn't have any intention of overtones of him being mafioso or mobster-like or on the take, but that's exactly what it was implying," DiJulio said.

Rossi campaign spokeswoman Jill Strait said it was "unfortunate that the Washington State Democratic Party would choose to put out a Web video that is offensive to many.

"It's clear they are willing to say and do anything to win," she said in a statement.

Gregoire's campaign spokesman Aaron Toso noted that her office didn't make or approve the video.

"We think the party has taken the appropriate action in changing the music for the video," Toso wrote in an e-mail.

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On the Net:

Washington state Democrats: http://www.wa-democrats.org

State Democrats YouTube videos: http://youtube.com/wademocrats

Italian Club of Seattle: http://www.italianclubofseattle.org

Gregoire campaign: http://www.chrisgregoire.com

Rossi campaign: http://www.dinorossi.com