It is SAD to see the proliferation of such "tactics".
It's reassuring to see OSIA is taking an interest. 

Be more "attuned" and vigilant in the future, and encourage OSIA to continue 
it's ALERT campaign, and your friends to join IAOV. There is strength in Numbers!!! (Info at bottom) 
========================================================
POLITICAL PROFILING OF ITALIAN AMERICANS
AN ALARMING TREND, REPORTS SONS OF ITALY

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2002 - The media's fascination with "The Sopranos"
and other mob shows has invaded the political arena to the detriment of
Italian Americans in government, reports the Order Sons of Italy in
America (OSIA), the oldest and largest national organization in the
country for men and women of Italian heritage.

OSIA cites an alarming trend in recent news stories that likens Italian
American political figures to the fictitious Mafia characters and
situations in such mob hits as  "The Sopranos" and "The Godfather."

"This political profiling corrupts the democratic process as well as the
rules of fair play," says OSIA Executive Director Philip R. Piccigallo.

In just the past six weeks, OSIA has found examples of the stereotyping
of Italian American politicians in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today,
Newsweek Magazine, and the New York Sun.  Targeted were former New York
gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo and U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli
of New Jersey, whose withdrawals from their respective races were
chalked up to being made "offers they couldn't refuse."

In its Oct. 14 issue, Newsweek offered up a two-page spread, "Tony and
'The Torch'" by Jonathan Alter, that reads more like a "Sopranos" script
than a news article thanks to its liberal use of mob-speak (Torricelli
"seemed likely to get whacked in November ... because when you 'rat out'
New Jersey, the voters treat you like Big Pussy."). The article draws
analogies between Torricelli's current political situation and the HBO
series' main characters and plots.

In Maine, U.S. Congressman and gubernatorial candidate John Baldacci
discovered a political opponent is airing a TV commercial that attacks
Baldacci by using phrases from "The Sopranos" spoken with a "mob"
accent. [See www.cartergov.com, "About Us," "Multimedia," "Commercials"
for an on-line viewing.]

"It is what we have been saying all along," says Piccigallo. "It isn't
'just a movie' or 'only a TV show.'  The line between fiction and fact
has become dangerously blurred to the detriment of Italian Americans in
public life. These events present irrefutable evidence of the very real
damage stereotyping does to Italian Americans. Instead of telling
Italian Americans to 'lighten up,' the press's reporting should clean
up."

Established in 1905, OSIA has more than 575,000 members and supporters
and a network of 700 chapters coast to coast. OSIA works at the
community, national and international levels to promote the heritage and
culture of an estimated 26 million Italian Americans, the nation's fifth
largest ethnic group, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. # # #

Sons of Italy News Bureau
219 E St., NE * Washington, DC 20002
(202) 547-2900 * (202) 547-0121 - fax
www.osia.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    
======================================================
ACCENTUATE the Positive, ELIMINATE the Negative!!!!

Speaking out with One Voice against Negative Stereotyping 

"Italian-American One Voice" Coalition is a national network of activists enabling the Italian American community to act as one united voice when dealing with defamation, discrimination and negative stereotyping.

Member organizations provide a liaison with the IA One Voice Coalition to disseminate information to the Italian American community and protest with one voice against each outrage against our heritage, culture and character. 

Italian American One Voice - Who We Are 

Web Site:

Italian American One Voice Coalition 
http://www.italianamericanonevoice.org/iaindex.html