So these four candidates go into a debate and three of them start out by saying what an honor it is to discuss important issues before such a distinguished audience and the fourth says (pause for effect), “Hey, I feel like the straight man up here with the Three Stooges.” (Pause for painful, embarrassed silence.)

That certainly was the response of we who witnessed Jonathan Carter lay that sizable egg during the 1994 campaign, the first time he ran for governor, at a debate during the annual meeting of the Maine County Commissioners Association. The other three candidates – Joe Brennan, Angus King, Susan Collins – all looked absolutely bewildered by this bizarre remark. The audience, a couple hundred commissioners, sheriffs, clerks, treasurers and such, all looked like they wished they were somewhere, anywhere, else. The charitable view among this roomful of seasoned political types was that the kid choked. His first shot at the Big Time and Carter got the yips and blurted out something stupid. Could happen to anybody.

That charitable view held until a couple of nights later when, to open a debate on public TV, the kid said exactly the same thing. Blurting out something stupid was a premeditated act.

It’s now eight years later. Jonathan Carter’s not the kid anymore; he’s a veteran performer on Maine’s political stage. Unlike the shoestring, makeshift campaigns of before, he now – thanks to the hard work and generosity of a lot of Maine taxpayers, voters and legislators – has $900,000 in public funds to spend on his campaign for governor and an official party, the Green Independent, from which to operate. He’s not just getting a shot at the Big Time, he’s smack in the middle of it and the egg he’s working up is a whopper.

The ad causing all the commotion – the one with the Mafioso voice using Mafioso slang to question John Baldacci’s anti-casino chops – is evidence that, although Carter’s name recognition and campaign bank account have grown considerably, his sense of humor remains as shriveled as ever. Using this Italian-American stereotype clearly violates the election ethics pledge all gubernatorial candidates signed. It runs afoul of at least two of the 10 Key Values of the Green party to which Carter presumably subscribes. It’s just plain stupid, a highly objectionable use of the public funds entrusted to him in this, the first campaign for major office bankrolled by public funds. But Carter thinks it’s funny.

It would be good, by the way, for the candidate and his campaign manager to agree upon a common defense. Carter says it’s not an Italian-American voice on the ad; it’s a Brooklyn voice. Tom Fusco says, heck yes, it’s an Italian-American voice; when you’re playing the organized crime card, you’re not going to use a Jewish or Irish voice, are you?

Take a moment to remind yourself that this is the inclusive, sensitive, diversity-celebrating Green Independent Party we’re talking about here. Any resemblance to the Redneck Knuckledraggers Party is purely coincidental.

Lots of people have bad taste and poor judgment. One question rank-and-file Maine Greens should be asking is why is the concentration so high within their party leadership? Another is how much more damage should this leadership be allowed to do?

The damage already is substantial. Three of the most influential environmental, social and political activist groups in Maine have endorsed gubernatorial candidates in recent weeks. Although these groups have long-established agendas that make them the Greens’ core constituency, Jonathan Carter is 0-for-3. Sonny Corleone came out of the ambush at the toll booth in better shape.

First, in late August, the Maine Sierra Club, an outfit synonymous with Green, endorsed the Democrat, saying Baldacci’s leadership qualities gave him the edge over Carter. The humor-challenged Carter proved the Sierra Club’s assessment correct by dismissing the endorsement as “laughable.”

Then came the Maine People’s Alliance, a social and environmental justice organization. Same endorsement, same reason, same “who needs ya” dismissal by the peeved Carter.

Finally, just this week, the concrete slippers. The Dirigo Alliance is the umbrella for many of Maine’s most influential and persistent political activist organizations, it is the reason Maine has publicly financed campaigns and improved ballot-access laws that allow new parties, such as the Green Independent, to take root and to have a chance to thrive. Its endorsement was remarkably blunt: Baldacci has a record for uniting people; Carter has one for being divisive. Again, ever helpful in confirming damaging assessments of his leadership qualities, Carter responded by calling the Dirigo Alliance – the group most responsible for breaking the two-party stranglehold – a “front” for the Democrats.

The referendums, legislation, appropriations and tax-form check-offs that make this publicly funded campaign and official party status possible were brought about at a time when it was quite clear the greatest beneficiary would be the Greens. Maine voters, taxpayers and lawmakers knocked themselves out to give this new party a chance. That chance is about to be blown by a guy who apparently never learned the difference between funny and offensive.

The Greens probably will survive this campaign. After all, this is Maine – a golden retriever with 900 grand could get the necessary 5 percent to stay an official party. After Election Day, the Greens might, however, want to get themselves some new leadership. If not, the joke next election might go something like this:

Knock, Knock.

Who’s there?

Green Independent Party of Maine.

What Green Independent Party of Maine?

Bruce Kyle is the assistant editorial page editor for the Bangor Daily News.