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• Mar 17, 2008 6:41 pm US/Eastern
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  DiMasi Aide Becomes Target Of Uncomfortable Joke

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DiMasi Aide Becomes Target Of Uncomfortable Joke

Viewers Weigh In On DiMasi Comment

BOSTON (WBZ) ― The St. Patrick's Day Breakfast held before the annual parade in South Boston is a time for politicians to take stabs at each other through jokes and songs. And this year was no different. But along with the jokes came an awkward moment for a DiMasi aide holding up posters for her boss.

Gov. Deval Patrick and other casino supporters whipped together a song about casinos, using the popular theme song for the Foxwoods Resort Casino. "Let's vote and build them nice and tall," Patrick crooned. "Sal, just think about the wonder of it all."

DiMasi had his own jokes to serve up at the breakfast. First he started with his own casino jokes: "Gambling bills are just like casinos, the House always wins."

But when DiMasi started pulling out movie posters, calling them remakes of real life here in Massachusetts starring local politicians -- that's when a comment was made that some think was inappropriate and went too far.

A DiMasi aide was holding up the posters for the 800 or so people at the breakfast to see.

After introducing the first "movie," Sen. Jack Hart, who hosted the breakfast, interrupted DiMasi. "Hold on, who's this? Vanna White?" referring to DiMasi's aid.

DiMasi quickly responded, "Wouldn't you like to know Jack." After an uncomfortable laugh from the crowd, DiMasi added, "I got her from Spitzer's office."

That comment was followed by an uncomfortable groan from many in the audience.

DiMasi quickly offered a quick apology and then moved on.

This video clip was one of the discussion topics on WBZ-TV Monday morning. "The politicians all walk into that room... They're easy targets, but picking on a young woman like that?" said David Robichaud.

"I certainly had a problem with that," WBZ's David Wade responded. "I mean, you want to pick on each other -- that's fine, but when you bring an aide in... and then compare her to one of Elliot Spitzer's prostitutes? I don't think that's proper."

"Some things just aren't funny," WBZ's Paula Ebben replied.

WBZ contacted DiMasi, who declined to comment.

What do you think about DiMasi's comment? Was it inappropriate, or do you think it was just part of the day's jokes? Email your comments.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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