Headline Surfer video produced by Serafina Frederick / A political ad on the radio by state Republicans and endorsed by dist. 8 GOP state senate candidate Dorothy Hukill makes fun of her Democratic opponent, Frank Bruno, by using a Brooklyn-style Italian-American accent similar to that of the character Vinnie Barbarino in the TV show, "Welcome Back Kotter," starring John Travolta. The Hukill ad showcases two characters named "Vinnie" and "Joey" who portray Bruno as "Frankie Bruno," a "political boss in Volusia" who wants to tax everything in sight as well as taking expensive trips on the public dime. Bruno is the twice-elected Volusia County chair.
.jpg)
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The advertising in the dist. 8 Florida Senate race between Republican Dorothy Hukill and Democrat Frank Bruno is starting to get really ugly and personal, too.
It's not just the high-priced TV ads between the two political heavyweights that have raised more than a few few eyebrows in the 2012 general election season.
A Florida State Republican Party radio spot against Bruno that hit the airwaves this week has drawn the ire of voters, especially those of Italian-American heritage because of the exaggerated New Jersey-style Italian-American accents.
.jpg)
Eddie Colosimo, of Port Orange, president of Bikers/Americans For First Amendment Rights, Inc., was so incensed by the radio spot, he wrote a comment directly on Dorothy Hukill's Facebook page, just before midnight Tuesday stating: "Dorothy, you over stepped your bonds with this last last ad. If you were runing againist Oboma would you have Amos and Andy in your ad talking about him ? I have been telling my membership, just a few thousand in Volusia county to support you. I don't like this ad and I don't like his politics. This has to make me rethink this race and how I adviise my members. May niether are deserving."
Headline Surfer was not able to get a return call from nor her campaign manager-son, Jonathan Hukill late Tuesday.
Bruno released a statement earlier in the day Tuesday, describing the radio spot as "hateful" and "the latest in a string of dirty advertising that has been the hallmark of the Hukill Campaign."
The ad, which is playing on local radio, features "Vinnie" and "Joey" speaking in exaggerated Italian-American New Jersey-style accents and characterizing "Frankie Bruno" as a "political boss," which Bruno does not find amusing in the least.
"I am saddened that Dorothy Hukill would attack my heritage and play on false stereotypes," Hukill said Tuesday. "I am a proud Italian American and a long time member of the Sons of Italy. My opponent would rather attack my heritage than focus on the issues, such as her taxing middle class families and gutting education."
Bruno added, "Every nationality should be offended that she would ever make such viscous attacks on another person's heritage.
Ironic or not, Bruno is from New Jersey, having moved here with his wife, Mary, in 1970, settling in Ponce Inlet and opening up a print shop. He has been Volusia County chair the last eight years and a member of the County Council for nearly 20 years.
The Florida Democratic Party issued a statement in a story published by the Orlando Sentinel, condemning the radio ad, stating: “This offensive, derogatory ad is insulting to all Floridians who expect and deserve a substantive debate about the important issues facing our state… Hukill’s self-serving behavior, and the GOP’s broken politics, are exactly why Florida families are fed up with Tallahassee, and we call on the RPOF to pull these offensive ads and apologize to Florida’s Italian-American community.”
Colosimo wasn't the only person of Italian-American heritage to react negatively to the Hukill radio ad.
After hearing the ad, Louis Rosa, president of the Port Orange (Florida) Order Sons of Italy in America, responded, "No one, especially our elected officials, should ever single out a nationality and perpetuate stereotypes."
Rosa added, "This is a slap in the face to the Italian-American Community."