Miami Beach, FL, October 10, 2007-Tinky-Winky, Dora the Explorer, and Blonde Barbie all walk into a bar.  It sounds like the beginning of a funny and probably risqué joke, but some community activists and local political candidates aren’t laughing at how the three children’s characters are being used in a Miami Beach campaign.

A week ago, voters found fliers in their mailboxes depicting crossed out images of the lovable Tele-Tubby, the educational cartoon character, and the iconic fashion doll.  The rudimentary campaign piece encouraged recipients to “Stop the candidates that represent special groups of voters.”  Voters are also encouraged to “Vote for a candidate that will balance our budget and that looks and talks like YOU and that will represent you with brains on the Miami Beach Commission Dais".

Thousands of voters from Miami Beach received the mailer and many presume three candidates running to replace term-limited City Commissioner Matti Herrera Bower are represented by the three images contained therein; blonde Linda Grosz (Barbie), openly gay Frank Kruszewski (Tinky-Winky), and Hispanic Elsa Urquiza (Dora).  Kruszewski, who received a copy of the flier, condemned the flyer.  “This type of hatred needs to be denounced by everyone.  Anyone that remains silent on this is fueling their bigotry and hatred,” he said.   

Some community leaders have suggested that Deede Weithorn, the fourth candidate in the Group VI race, and the only person not targeted by the mailer, or someone in her camp, could be behind the attempted smear campaign.  In a press release denouncing ‘dirty & bigoted politics by some in Miami Beach’, Herb Sosa wrote, “The fourth candidate in the race, Deede Weithorn, was not represented in the flyer, is suggested to be the “better choice” with her finance background and suggested commonality with Miami Beach voters.”  Sosa, founder of the community action group Unity Coalition went on to say, “The mailer is ethnically bigoted, homophobic and sexually demeaning.”   Weithorn denies any involvement.

GaySOFLA contacted Miami Beach City Commissioner Michael Gongora, currently running for re-election in Group V, about who he thought might be behind the whole tawdry affair.  Gongora, who has himself been the target of unflattering and malicious mailing campaigns in his past election, refused to speculate who might be responsible for mailer.  “I have seen the piece and I am very offended by the content and do not believe the residents of the City of Miami Beach deserve or want this type of politicking in our community,” Commissioner Gongora said.   

GaySOFLA attempted to contact officials at the BBC (Producers of the children’s television show TeleTubbys), Nick Jr. (Creators of Dora the Explorer), and Mattel (Makers of the Barbie doll), but our calls and emails were unanswered as this story went to press. 

In a written statement to GaySOFLA, a spokesman for Thomas Road Baptist Church wrote, “Jerry Falwell has no further comments regarding Tinky-Winky.  Dr. Falwell has gone on to that Celestial TeleTubby Land in the sky.”  Falwell was responsible for outing Tinky-Winky during a televised sermon several years ago.  The children's television star's career has been in a downward spiral ever since. 
 
While most would agree that any type of gender, racial, ethnic, or sexual orientation attacks in an election campaign are despicable and should be denounced, some voters hope the candidates will not be distracted from the real issues.  “I don’t care if you’re gay, straight, black, white, or an oversized purple children’s television star.  Can you find me some damn parking and lower my taxes?” asked Miami Beach resident Carlos Pena, outside a Lincoln Road eatery.  “I’ve been driving around for 45 minutes looking for parking,” he said, explaining his obvious agitation.