It's a particularly gutless girly-man move for the great fearless Governator Ahnold to call this letter a "hate crime."
"There has been no crime committed, so why is there a criminal investigation three weeks prior to a very important election?" -Tan D Nguyen…
Article comments
76 - LG
VN - You offered to tell the story but have not. So I'm asking you know tell the story of how Tan got here. But keep this in mind. When I say that President Johnson made allowances for the refugees to come here and that it was NOT a popular decision, that is 100% fact, whether you want it to be or not. What I didn't say, was that I fully agreed with Johnson that we should accept the refugees. I think we should have taken ALL of them.
I live in a predomantly Vietnamese and Filipino neighborhood. Since I have lived here I have heard many a white folk bitch about the amount of Vietnamese immigrants in my neighborhood - Still! Every baby boomer cab driver that's brought me back from the airport has had many colorful expressions about my neighborhood. I have many rich friends from college that live in Huntington Beach. I will not repeat here what they and their parents think of Little Saigon. I will say that I've never heard them speak of it without using racial epithets. That's the OC - that's Tan's country. If you think that the Vietnamese immigrants we're welcomed with open arms, think again.
My motive and point for bringing up Tan's experience is not to say that I don't believe Tan should be here but that I think Tan is a hypocrite. There are refugees south of the border trying to get in here and Tan is against all of Bush's plans to bring them here. Why was it good for him and not them - that is my point. I know many immigrants like Tan. There are some in my own family. It's this ridiculous attitude of hey I'm here so I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and look down on the other people struggling to get here.
Let me tell you this, EVERYTIME there is an influx of immigrants throughout our history as a nation, those immigrants are not welcome. That goes for Chinese, Irish, Italian, Russian and pretty much any immigrant that is not either British or German. The argument is ALWAYS the same. "They will take our jobs. They're criminals. They eat weird food. They don't speak English. They abuse social services. I don't want my kid to be like them or worse - marry them." Always the same.
You know what the real problem is? Immigrants can come here with nothing and one or two generations down the line, their children or grandchildren can achieve ridiculous amounts of success. American families that have been poor underachievers for generations - Hate that. These children challenge established families to be more competitive. Middle class families - Hate that. When I was in college the asian kids in Engineering were hated and openly sneered at. Know why? They always blew the curve. Know why? Instead of drinking at frat parties they were studying in the library - that was their frat. My white friends HATED that and still bitch about it today. Hey, some people used to bitch to me about my place at the university. I got into every school I applied to and I applied to roughly 11 universities if memory serves. My white and black friends in High School said it was my ethnic status and affirmative action. I reminded each of them that I had better grades and much better SAT scores than them. They wouldn't buy it. Sometimes you need someone to blame for your own shortcomings. People don't like accountability and a disruption of the status quo - immigrants can turn the status quo on it's ear.
Again, I call on you to tell the story of how Tan got here. Don't write me off as belittling his struggle or the struggle of the Vietnamese who came here. My motive of even bringing this up is to show his hypocracy.
77 - LG
VN - also, I don't think you want the speaker of the house translating your Spanish for you. He's in a whole lotta trouble himself and is not the most ethical guy in the party. He's trying to hold on to his own job.
78 - LG
ItsdaBunny - thanks for maligning my intelligence. However, before your next rant, I think you should read up on immigration law. I laughed out loud when I read your post - too funny.
So let me get this straight, you think if you come here in a boat that you are not an illegal immigrant? Also, you think that the most vietnamese sailed across the pacific in ramshackle boats to get here? That's funny.
I think the citizens of Florida would take argument with your statements. The influx of Cubans that do come here by raft and boat are very illegal. Being rescued does not make you legal. That's why some of these people are deported back to Cuba. The Chinese that are shipped as the slaves where in filthy cargo holds are illegal immigrants. Coming here in a boat does not make you a legal immigrant. Sorry, laughing kinda hard now.
If that was the case don't you think Mexicans would sail across the gulf?
The coast guard does not catch everyone and they do not leave them adrift when they do. "Boat People" refers to a specific group as far as I know that group is the Vietnamese refugees from the War.
Incidentally, you can dig a hole and come across the border. They just found a pretty well used tunnel from Mexico to an office building in San Diego. I suggest you take your own advice and do a wee bit of research before you post here - NO wait - post anyway, I could use the giggles. :)
79 - LG
Incidentally before I'm flamed for something else, let me clarify that I am not bashing all white people or all citizens that have lived here for generations. America is a land of success and opportunity and the early pioneers brought us here with pluck and tenacity. I am grateful to them for their spirit.
The whiny bitchers that I'm referring to up top are different. It's not race or color indicative. When some immigrants get established here they also bash new people trying to get in (this to me is Tan). Lack of accountability and laziness know no racial or ethnic boundaries.
It has been my experience and it is my opinion that the people really against immigration offer excuses that are racist in nature but ultimately hide an underlying feeling of fear of competition. I completely agree that we need immigration reform. The laws stink, are not applied equally, are outdated, and are ineffective. I do not think that Mexican Americans are dragging down our country and will ultimately cause it's ruin. That's retarded to me.
Lastly, I know there are several generations old citizens who strive for the best and will achieve it. As far as i'm concerned this panic about illegals is largely based on the Census report that Hipanics have exponentially increased since the last census. This is a political smokescreen and has managed to get lots of people afraid in this troublesome economy.
80 - Al Barger
LG- These lengthy dissertations on the particulars of Tan Nguyen's entry into the country don't mean much. All of that picking away at him as a "hypocrite" comes from an implicit premise that anyone who is an immigrant must therefore favor totally open borders. Why would that follow? That's simply a false premise, utterly lacking any rational basis.
81 - VN
LG, on message #76 you said: " So I'm asking you know tell the story of how Tan got here."
Now that you are asking for the answer, I'm going to tell you the whole truthful story. It's a very long one, but I will try to shorten it.
The history of Vietnamese coming to the US can be devided into 4 period.
I. From 1954 (when French withdraw and America officially involved in Vietnam War) to April 30, 1975 (the end of Vietnam War when Saigon falled into the power of the communist of North Vietnam):
Most Vietnamse coming to the US at this time were abroad students. They were not able to come back to Vietnam when the war ended.
II. Right before April 30, 1975:
When the war coming the end, America started taking with them their families (Vietnamese wives, kids...), Vietnamese officials, Vietnamese people who had been working for American army or other American services. Of course those people broght along their families as well.
III. From 1975 to around 1985:
This was the most horrible chapter in the history of Vietname coming to the US. Most blood and tears were pouring at this time. The Vietnamese was NOT LEAVING, but ESCAPING the country. They wanted to escape from the fiercely oppressive communist government. They were not come to the US for economic but for political problem. And they were accepted into the US (as well as other countries) as REFUGEES, NOT AS IMMIGRANTS. The political conditions under Vietnam communist at that time was so bad that people saying "if the electrical pole could move, it would escape from the country as well."
There were basically 2 ways to escape the country at that time. One was walking across the woods, through Cambodia, to Thailand. There were many refugee camps set up in Thailand by the UN at the time. From that refugee camps, people get interview and went on to the 3rd countries, such as USA, Australia, Japan, and European countries). The second way to escape from Vietnam at that time was by boats. People had to organize the trips secretly, including buying or building boats, finding the boat captain, finding passengers who would use up their last saving money and who would leave everything including their home behind. Usually more than a 100 people would be organized to go on a boat that could normally carry 30 people. Just one leak could get everyone to long-time jail and to loose everything including their home. And that was only the beginning of the journey. What could you expect to see across the ocean with only an overloaded and way under-equipped boat? You could see the coastal police who would take all of your money and gold before taking you back to jail. You could be sunk down easily by an ocean storm (people usually chose to escape in the stormy days, in hope that the coastal police would not doing their routine). You could see a pirate boat when all the goods would be taken, all the female disregard of their age would be raped in front of everyone, all the male would be tortured or killed. You could face the troubles of the boat, broken engine, running out of gasoline, losing orientation... There were many more horrible things happened at this time I can even tell you, since they may make you vomit. And if these boat people success to get through the sea, landed to a second country (The Philipnes, Indenosia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hongkong...), they would be accepted into one of the UN refugee camps, waited there for sometimes (from several months to several years, or even more) until they got accepted to a third country such as USA, Australia, Japan, and European countries. So why do Vietnamese took all those risks to their lives to just escape from their own country. It's simple. They were hunger for the word FREEDOM.
IV. From 1985 to present: People who came to the US from the first 3 periods keep sponsoring their families to come over. Depends on the relationship, the waiting time can be shorter or longer. Husband and wife can be quicker (1-2 years) but brothers and sisters could be very long 7-10 years.
Now that you know how Vietnamese got here. You may wonder how I know all that. I didn't just know that through research, I know by my own painful experience. I went on a boat, got to the sea for several days, got arrested by coastal police, put in jail for several months. Later, I got sponsored by my brothers who escaped successfully earlier. I came to the US on a plane, but after 10 years of waiting for the paperwork.
How did Tan got here? It's on his campaign materials and on his radio interviews. He should be belong to the 3rd period of the oversea Vietnamese history. At 8 years old, he escaped from Vietnam along with his parents. His first job here was picking chilly on the field when he's still a kid. You can see more info on his public website at http://www.tanforcongress.com. Now that you know. You tell me if he was an illegal immigrant in the first place.
Now about the immigrant vs. illegal immigrant issue. For some reason, from the very beginning of this discussion, you just keep saying/implying that Tan is against immigrants. For example on message #79 you said: "It has been my experience and it is my opinion that the people really against immigration offer excuses that are racist in nature but ultimately hide an underlying feeling of fear of competition." The fact is that TAN IS NOT AGAINST IMMIGRANTS, HE'S JUST AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMGRANTS. Please don't tell me there is no difference between legal and illegal immigrants. You know that TAN IS NOT AGAINST LEGAL IMMIGRANTS from the beginning, and you just keep ignoring that fact in your arguments. That shows you are not an honest person.
To see what Tan's position is in the illegal immigrants issue, you can check out this link at: http://65.45.193.26:8026/cms/acct/tan4congress/mailers/index.html. This following text is cited from one of his campaign flyer:
============
"TAN IS NOT AGAINST IMMIGRATION.
TAN IS AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION!"
Tan believes all people who want to come to the USA should have an equal chance. Our current immigration policy is both dangerous and unfair. Dangerous, because terrorists could easily cross unattended borders. Unfair, because it is not fair to those who have been waiting in line patiently for their turn to come here LEGALLY to experience the American Dream, only to have others push in front of them.
Tan knows what it is to start at the bottom. At the age of eight, he was picking chilies in the fields of Gilroy, California, along side his mother and father.
Tan believes it is necessary to secure our borders so that we can protect our way of life.
Tan is not afraid to tell it like it is." (end quoted)
=============
LG, you also keep saying he is racist and hypocrisy. Both was deadly wrong, if I'm not saying it's the opposite of what he is. If Tan is a white, a black, or a Hispanic candidate, would his office and his home got raid hurriedly like that? Would the Republican politicians rush to condemn him like that? He's obviously a VICTIM OF RACISM, not a racist himself. About hypocrisy, from the very beginning, the basic of his campaign is "Not afraid to tell it like it is." That is a very honest approach. He considers himself not a politician. He does not depend deeply on any party. He works for the people, not for a party. The word hypocrisy should not apply to him, but to those politicians who obviously see the problem of illegal immigrants but still either do nothing or do the opposite, just to get their votes from a particular section of voters.
Beside, you also need to see the differences on other issues between the two candidates: Loretta Sanchez and Tan Nguyen. Keep your eyes open, and keep your mind open, LG.
82 - Clavos
LG says, in #78:
The influx of Cubans that do come here by raft and boat are very illegal.
Incorrect.
Those who make it to shore are accepted and given asylum as LEGAL immigrants under the government's controversial "wet foot -- dry foot" policy.
Those that are intercepted at sea with out reaching US land are returned to Cuba.
83 - Gucci
Thank you, “comrade” VN for writing a long response to educate some idiots on this forum. And Al Barger too, I like your “In Defense Of Tan Nguyen,” a lone defense among tons of liberal accusation articles on Tan Nguyen ‘s “hate crime.” Let me make an analogy about this circus of hypocrisy.
Most Vietnamese immigrants hate and fear Communism, but they have a bad habit that has something to do with Communist: If they have a worst opponent, competitor, enemy etc…that they couldn’t defeat, the best way to kick the hell out of him is to stick a label “Communist” on his back.
Through this Tan Nguyen’s scandal I have discovered some things interesting: If the Californian Liberals hate someone who they think can cause harm to their political agenda, the most convenient way to kick him out of the political podium is to stick a huge label: “RACIST” right on his front. What an amazing converging point of “EAST meets WEST!” Hohohooo…!
But VN is right on the money of this solid point: Tan Nguyen is a victim of racism. Read VN’s line again:
“…If Tan is a white, a black, or a Hispanic candidate, would his office and his home got raid hurriedly like that? Would the Republican politicians rush to condemn him like that? He's obviously a VICTIM OF RACISM, not a racist himself…”
You don’t believe it! Ask yourself if you know any crime investigation on any most dangerous suspects that police can get warrant to raid his home, his office etc. in such a hurry fashion. So who are behind those broad-daylight attacks? If not the net work of political incumbent Powers with all the legal tools on hands.
Communism lives well by applying fear and terror on the oppressed; in a democracy society, tyrant will develop in a subtle form by abusing the laws and authority power, or by claiming in the name of Democracy itself, especially when the mass of its citizens is just a bunch of uninformed, demagoguery-hypnotized sheep.
84 - Angy
... Mr Nguyen needs to learn how to speak English first before he can even think about representing the people ...
85 - Clavos
... Mr Nguyen needs to learn how to speak English first before he can even think about representing the people ...
Well, if you want to make that a requirement for holding office, you'd have to eliminate anyone from New Yawk or the South, not to mention Massachusetts.
86 - Tracy
Tan Nguyen going to win this race....!!!
87 - Tracy
Angy, I don't see Tan Nguyen has any problem with speaking English. He came to the U.S when he was 8, attended U.S. elementary, U.S. highschool, U.S. College, U.S. Universities and completed B.S degrees. His English is not a problem. I can see it is really your racist problem thinking that any one not born in the U.S having trouble speaking English. Representing people in the U.S is representing people from different nationality as U.S. is the country of all people united from all kind of nationalities. Tan Nguyen actually has advantage over candidates who can speak only English language because Tan can speak both Vietnamese and English that can help him to serve better his people as there is a vast number of people in the area he is running the campaign are Vietnamese too.
88 - Martin Lav
Now way he's going to win.
Sanchez and her democratic cronies were wildly successfull in registering supposedly legal hispanics in her district. Tan knew this, which is why one of his acquaintances sent out that explanation letter.
In Southern Ca. the only welcome immigrant these days is a latino one and if you're anything else, you are not part of La Raza.
89 - Martin Lav
He doesn't speak Spanish, which appears to be a disadvantage from where he's running as well as what he's writing....emigrate ????
90 - Joe Public
Wow!
Is this guy for real? Does he real think hovering over people at a polling booth will real help his cause? I think it might have worked in back in elementary school, I guess he does what has worked for him as an adult. He real should have step aside as he was asked by the party (he must think he is bigger than the party), but instead he will continue to disgrace himself, his family, the Vietnamese community, the GOP and Orange County. This guy was always way over his head; a) He never was a serious contender, b) He sent out a letter that he did not comprehend (on letterhead that was not his by a couple who happen to be his friend and staff member), c) He first denies his campaign sent the letter, d) He accuses and fires his staff member for the letter, e) He does an about face and tries to re-hire his staff member, f) He has a tissy fit and blames the whole thing on his opponent, which brings me to his campaign theme which is “I Blame other for my shortcomings, I do not take full responsibility for my mistakes and do not show grace under pressure”. Well, he will learn an important lesson today that “Joe Public” not he will “Tells It Like It Is". How appropriate!
91 - PJ
Ok everyone lets rush to Tan's defense over his Campaigning in front of polling areas!!
ROFLMAO. I think This loser has finally bit the dust. Anyone feel foolish for defending Tan and is Live-in-Partner
92 - RJ Elliott
He lost.