The Sopranos have so successfully equated Italian Americans with criminals, that the Opponent (Ms. Straight), of an Italian American candidate (DiVincenzo), felt confident enough to use the acceptance by DiVincenzo, of a campaign contribution from a man with a TWENTY YEAR OLD "WHITE COLLAR" offense, as a Campaign issue!!!  

As Dr. Manny Alfano cleverly queried Ms."Not-So" Straight, "Should the American Heart Association or the Cancer Society also return that man's contributions?"

You have seen this "tarring" before, and unless we do our best to convince our fellow Italian Americans, and the General Public that when The Sopranos (or any Negative Sterotypes) are permitted to intentionally degrade any individual or group, we are ALL less as a Civilized Society!!! (and ALL aspiring Italian American politicians have a BLEAK future!)
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COUNTY EXECUTIVE CANDIDATE PLAYS 'SOPRANOS' CARD
AGAINST OPPONENT OF ITALIAN AMERICAN DESCENT

BLOOMFIELD, N.J. -- "They're playing 'The Sopranos' Card" said Dr. Manny Alfano, regarding the complaint by Essex County Executive candidate Candy Straight about her opponent Joseph DiVincenzo's acceptance of a campaign contribution by a man with a 20 year-old white collar offense. 

Alfano, Director of the One Voice Coalition -- a Bloomfield-based anti-bias group does not endorse political candidates -- responded to an accusation Friday by the Straight campaign which apparently tries to paint DiVincenzo as one who consorts with criminals. Straight said DiVincenzo should return the donation.

"It's the same drum being beaten as on HBO's The Sopranos. Everyone with an Italian name is considered connected. And this type of campaigning just adds to the defamation of all Italian Americans," Alfano said.

"I have consulted with the members of my advisory board, which is comprised of Republicans and Democrats and they're all incensed with this transparent attempt at character assassination," Alfano said. 

"Ms. Straight is sticking her finger in the eyes of all Italian Americans by insinuating guilt by association. She informs us of an organized crime investigation of her opponent's contributor but the investigation was dropped because the investigators found nothing," Alfano said.

"I have a question for Ms. Straight" Alfano said. "Should the American Heart Association or the Cancer Society also return that man's contributions?"

Alfano said Straight should publicly apologize. He also called on both Republicans and Democrats to step into the forefront to have their party renounce these tactics and inflammatory press releases.

The Italian American One Voice Coalition has stated over and over that such tactics and press releases taint the electoral process and they paint Italian American political leaders or anyone with an Italian name with the same reparative innuendoes.

One Voice calls for the immediate end to this type of ETHNIC mud-slinging. 

"It is not good for the electoral process, Italian Americans and New Jersey.

It is unacceptable! We ask that both parties denounce this form of ETHNIC 
profiling," said Alfano.
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ITALIAN AMERICAN ONE VOICE COALITION
              97 Irving Terr., Bloomfield, NJ 07003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2002
Information contact: Dr. Emanuele A. Alfano----(973) 429-2818