UPDATED: Dems take heat over web video

One could say the Democrats' latest web video has gone viral since its release; but not the good kind of viral, more like the flu kind of viral. The video, which juxtaposes a black and white image of Dino Rossi with a series of local news reports about the BIAW's "mud-slinging" on Rossi's behalf followed by news clips talking about the BIAW's agenda.

No problem there.  

But it also plays the theme song to "The Sopranos" in the background, a move that is being harshly criticized by both the state Republican Party and the Italian Club of Seattle.

Earlier today the Italian Club of Seattle wrote a letter to Governor Chris Gregoire discussing their displeasure about "a recent online video posted by the Washington State Democratic Party 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. Governor Gregoire, we believe we have your sympathy when we assert that using someone's ethnic heritage as a negative should not be condoned in this campaign."

They also called on Gregoire to urge the Democratic Party to remove the video from youtube, and for the resignation of state Democratic Party Chair Dwight Pelz.

The Republican Party jumped on the claim later Wednesday afternoon. State Republican Party Chair Luke Esser wrote a press release echoing the Italian Club's claims of racism and calls for the video's removal.

"Gov. Gregoire's political operatives have engaged in bigotry with this web video in order to shift the focus away from the ethical clouds surrounding Gregoire," said Esser,. "This video is offensive to every Italian-American in this state and should not be tolerated. 

"Furthermore, Gov. Gregoire, who dramatically announced last week that we had hit ‘rock bottom' with negative campaigning, should call on her party's Chairman to immediately remove this video and offer an apology."

UPDATE: The Democratic Party has removed the video, and will be re-releasing it soon with new background music. Read Party spokesman Kelly Steele's response to the Seattle Times below.

"Our video is in no way meant to allege or imply that Republican Dino Rossi or his extremist, right-wing developer allies have ties 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. That being said, we’d like to apologize to Rossi’s friend Mr. DiJulio, his organization, and anyone else we may have inadvertently offended. The video will be replaced shortly with an identical message regarding Rossi and the BIAW’s sleazy attack campaign, using a different song.

"As an aside, Rossi doesn’t seem to have a problem with referencing The Sopranos when he’s attacking Gov. Gregoire. Here’s what he said in a speech just yesterday on Mercer Island:

'[Rossi] criticized the state's reliance on the gas tax and ‘sin’ taxes from alcohol and cigarette sales. ‘Sin taxes are so easy to raise,’ he said. ‘But they are already so high they are one of the highest in the nation. If we raised them anymore, Tony Soprano would want to get some of that action.'"

UPDATE: New video here.