The hosts of Radio Mambí's weekday morning drive-time show generally reserve their fiercest attacks for Fidel Castro or his younger brother Raúl.
But these past few days the popular show En Caliente has let callers unleash attacks against another Raúl: Raul Martinez, the former Hialeah mayor, a Democrat running for the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives now held by Republican Lincoln Diaz-Balart -- a favorite of the show's hosts.
The issue has stirred controversy in Miami's exile community, opening a new front in the broader battle between the two politically powerful candidates. The reason: Radio Mambí, WAQI 710 AM, is extremely popular among older Cuban exiles, precisely the demographic Martinez and Diaz-Balart covet because they are loyal voters -- chiefly Republican.
Both candidates have fiercely loyal supporters, cross-over appeal in some sectors and recognized ''brand names.'' The two are far apart, though, on an issue that is splitting Cuban Americans, depending on their age and time in exile: U.S. travel restrictions to the communist island.
Adding to the controversy are Radio Mambí's business interests, which have included a nightly, hour-long broadcast of U.S. government-backed Radio Martí programming. That ran for six months, until February, under a $182,500 federal contract -- an effort to use the Miami station's strong signal to reach Cubans on the island.
Diaz-Balart, who is responsible for congressional funding for Radio and TV Martí, told The Miami Herald it is ''absurd'' to think Radio Mambí would shape its political stance because of the contract.
''I work to fund federal programs, but I don't make decisions for the federal agencies,'' said Diaz-Balart, adding that he didn't know until he read it in the newspaper more than a year ago that Radio Mambí had received the Martí contract.
A Univision Radio spokeswoman said the ``business relationship with Radio Martí did not influence viewpoints.''
The Mambí-Martinez flap began May 2 when a Martinez supporter heard the station's programming director, Armando Pérez-Roura, on the show blasting Martinez for opposing a bill approved by the Florida Legislature that seeks to tighten regulations on Florida-based agencies that handle Cuban-Americans' travel and shipments to Cuba.
Cuban Americans and exiles can now travel to Cuba once every three years to see close relatives, such as siblings or parents. Previously, they could travel once a year to the communist island to visit extended family.
Some callers to the show also made disparaging remarks and allegations of corruption against Martinez -- pointing to his involvement in a resort development in the Dominican Republic after he left his mayoral post. The show's hosts, Martinez said, did not ask callers to offer any evidence of impropriety but simply let the callers talk.
Upset, Martinez called Claudia Puig, who oversees the Univision's radio stations, and Pérez-Roura to complain. He said both agreed he could send a representative to offer his side on Monday's broadcast. Martinez said he offered to go himself, but Puig told him that a representative was preferred.
Puig and Pérez-Roura declined to comment, through a spokeswoman.
Alberto Milián, a prominent South Florida attorney who supports Martinez, showed up at Radio Mambí on Monday and for eight minutes delivered a defense of the candidate and denounced ''smear tactics'' that he said had been used by dictators from Adolf Hitler to Fidel Castro.
On Tuesday, Pérez-Roura and another En Caliente host -- Ninoska Pérez-Castellón -- told listeners they needed to leave the show, but didn't explain why. They left host Enrique Encinosa in charge.
Some of the callers Tuesday attacked Martinez for sending Milián to speak on his behalf instead of appearing himself.
Martinez called in at that point to demand that the record be corrected.
''It had been decided that I not go and not call,'' Martinez told Encinosa. ``Let's call Claudia Puig and Armando Pérez-Roura and let's have a conversation on the air and see who is right.''
In a telephone interview Thursday, Martinez told The Miami Herald that Mambí listeners are allowed to criticize and make allegations against him on the air without challenge or response.
''I don't think it's right [that] the airwaves, that are owned by all of us, are being used to help a candidate by smearing the other candidate,'' Martinez said.
Diaz-Balart accused Martinez of lodging repeated complaints against Radio Mambí because he wants to scare the station into changing views.
''This guy Martinez never ceases to amaze me with his chronic complaining,'' Diaz-Balart said. ``In this instance, it's clear he seeks to intimidate in order to gut free speech. Imagine if I called every radio station when callers criticize or make allegations against me.''
TIME ON AIR
Supporters of Diaz-Balart note that Martinez has been given air time on other stations operated by Univision. Martinez acknowledged that, but said that since he announced his candidacy, access to Univision radio has become sporadic, and that Radio Mambí has ''banned'' him.
Federal Election Commission records show that Puig made a $1,500 contribution to the Diaz-Balart campaign in March. Martinez did not think Puig's contribution played any role in Radio Mambí's perceived pro-Diaz-Balart bias. Martinez described Puig as a friend, but powerless to alter station policies, which he said were controlled by Pérez-Roura.
The Federal Communications Commission does not require equal time on the air for candidates criticized by radio talk show hosts or their listeners.
The FCC used to have a fairness doctrine, but eliminated it in 1987. That gave rise to partisan talk radio like that of popular and politically conservative host Rush Limbaugh.
''It's freedom of speech,'' said David Oxenford, a Washington, D.C., attorney who specializes in broadcast law and represents broadcasters before the FCC. ``The stations and their hosts are free to voice their opinions and editorial positions.''
Pérez-Roura has said in previous interviews with The Miami Herald that his show is comparable to Limbaugh's opinion program where the host constantly criticizes Democrats and liberals and allows listeners to make unchallenged on-air attacks against Democratic presidential candidates or members of Congress.
`ACCESS TO ALL'
Pressed about the controversy, Univision Radio released a statement. ''Univision Radio has provided, and will continue to provide, access to all candidates and their surrogates to Radio Mambí and WQBA,'' the statement said. ``We will also continue to abide by the Equal Access Act. In fact, both Raul Martinez and Lincoln Diaz-Balart have been on the air by phone or in person on both our stations in the last month, receiving equal time and access.
'It is important to note that our employees' personal contributions to any campaign are irrelevant and have no impact on our programming decisions, as evidenced by the access both candidates have had to our stations to date.''
On Friday, a caller to the morning show started in on Martinez. Pérez-Roura noted that it's not appropriate to make unsubstantiated allegations.
