But what he said there is absolutely legally correct and proper. There have been numerous likely sounding stories of Democrat operatives actively recruiting illegal Mexican immigrants to vote. There's been big opposition by Democrats in other places besides California to any idea of simply requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls, exactly because it would discourage their minions from hussling non-eligible people into voting booths.
Further, it is suspected that exactly such voting was how Ms Sanchez skinned ol' B1 Bob Dornan out of this seat in the first place, back in 1996. Considering that this has been a tacit Democrat tactic, it's only reasonable that the Republican candidate give people a general notice that such things are illegal - because they are.
Now, there's one point of reasonable contention against the English translation of the statement: immigrants who are naturalized citizens have every right to vote. A Nguyen lawyer suggests that this is an issue of the translation of the word "emigrado," and who is or isn't covered by that word. But the point of the Nguyen operatives clearly is not to intimidate eligible voters, but the far more numerous ineligible residents. But being exquisitely sensitive, you might argue over the exact parsing of that. Perhaps a Spanish linguist could argue the finer points of that one specific word.
In any case, it's just plain demagoguery for Democrats to label stating facts as "racism" much less as something specifically illegal. I doubt Mr Nguyen cares about their ethnic background, he's just opposed to vote fraud being committed against him.
For my part, as a Libertarian I tend to at least want to favor open borders. I don't like the Minutemen group, and I don't know how much I would agree with Tan Nguyen on a lot of issues. A brother Blogcritic makes a seemingly pretty strong general argument against Nguyen as a mere political opportunist.
Particularly though, he seems to be somewhat anti-immigration. Even recognizing that there are legitimate issues about massive undocumented Mexican immigration causing some strains on the US social fabric, you have to be sympathetic to folks mostly just trying to make an honest living- whether it's nominally "legal" or not.
But voting is something else. If you're not even supposed to be here, don't compound it with voting fraud. Look, if you're not a citizen and don't even know the language, what legitimate business have you got to be voting? How would they even begin to have a clue what they were voting for? There are way too many people voting as it is.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Nancy
From what I can tell, Nguyen isn't anti-immigrant, he's anti-ILLEGAL, which is a whole 'nother kettle of fish. In which case I say, Good For Him! We should ALL be anti-illegal, if only because we support law & order. I hope he wins in spite of the odd-bedfellow coalition of pro-illegal organizations who'd like to be able to influence if not steal outright the elections, and the GOP who are intent on punishing a guy who refuses to be their puppet & patsy. Actually, it seems to me Nguyen has the REAL, genuine conservative spirit. Good for him; I hope he wins.
2 - Nancy
And it seems to me Ah-nuld has imbibed too much of the politically correct spirit from his Kennedy wife; he's turning into a girly-man himself, ethically.
3 - DK
Where is this so-called "office manager"? You would think that investigators would know who this person is by now.
Apparently, according to today's news, Mr. Nguyen was the one who bought the list of voters (specifically, voters who were Democrat, had Spanish surnames, and born outside the US). If the letter is legit, why doesn't Mr. Nguyen just admit his involvement? Let's be real, this letter came out of his campaign. There is no way that Mr. Nguyen did not know about it. Office manager? Can you seriously buy that?
So, if Mr. Nguyen knew about it, who's Sergio Ramirez? Why didn't Mr. Nguyen just put his letterhead and name on the letter?
Is this part of the letter true also? "...be advised that the US government is installing a new computer system to verify names of all the newly registered voters who participate in the elections in October and November. Organizations against emigration will be able to request information from this new computerized system".
4 - Jody
I agree with Tan Nguyen. He is just trying to right a wrong in the first place. The people trying to make it possible for illegal immigrants to vote in our election is hurting the legal citizens of the USA! It makes me wonder what these people are really up to!
5 - PJ
Voter intimidation falls is illegal in this case the company nguyen used to gather voter information has told investigators that nguyen personally asked for registered democrats with hispanic sounding surnames.
Voter intimidation has nothing to do with hate crimes or PC. Arnold is the only one using these terms. Law enmforcement is using the terms Voter intimidation and Racketeering. And yes California has laws against Voter intimidation.
The reality here is that Tan Nguyen chose a select group rather than sending out the info to all registered voters republican and democrat.
that is why OC Party Chairman Scott Baugh is maintaining his callls for Tan to step down.
6 - Nancy
Sending out literature via the mails is expensive. You don't carpet an area sending unnecessary mailings and wasting postage if you can target the appropriate audience; this is SOP for any and all mass mailings these days. Since in California the persons most likely to be involved in or as illegal voters are Hispanics (to date the vast perponderance of fraudulent votes by illegals has involved Hispanics), why would he target any other audience? It's kind of like the stupidity of patting down 90-year-old ladies at the airport as potential terrorists, instead of targeting males age 16 - 50 who are most likely to be the Real Thing.
7 - Bob Vu
Good point:
"The reality here is that Tan Nguyen chose a select group rather than sending out the info to all registered voters republican and democrat."
If Mr. Tan had sent out 10,000 letters in Vietnamese language, he would be driven out of dodge, oops, "Litle Saigon" by his fellow Viet-Americans.
It's a fact that Mr. Tan has a hidden agenda.
8 - JoePro
The letter was clearly meant to be intimidating. Besides claiming that it is illegal to vote if you are an immigrant (it does not say illegal immigrant), it also falsely claims that a government database is being set up to record immigrant voters and anti-immigrant groups will be able to access this database. See it here
This type of voter intimidation is outrageous and illegal.
9 - LG
Before you rant you should get the facts straight. The letter said, "You are advised that if your residence in this country is illegal or you are an immigrant, voting in a federal election is a crime that could result in jail time." I speak and read Spanish and have seen the Spanish text. This translation is correct. Now, it's pretty apparent that he is saying if you are an immigrant that voting could result in jail time. He also stated that your name would be put in a database and sent to anti-immigration groups. That my darling is not only a threat but it is illegal. You cannot threaten voters - it is against the law. That is why there is a criminal investigation. I am amazed that you link out to everything but the letter itself. But of course how could this ridiculous rant make any sense if you had the actual facts.
I also love how you cite that Democrats haul illegals off to vote for them. That's just precious. Of course there's no link to that because it would probably only lead to O'reily(pervert), Rush(dopehead), or some other equally vile pundit.
Orange County has already been in trouble for intimidating latinos at the polls. Do you honestly think an illegal alien could vote there? Have you voted in CA, do you know the process. All this does is stir up predjudice. BTW - Tan was a "boat person" - he was an illegal immigrant. Hypocrite.
I am just disgusted that this stupid platform has resonated with so many republicans. I have never seen a group of people so ready to vote against the things that frighten them nor a group that is frightened so easily.
10 - Al Barger
JoePro- surely Nguyen's letter is meant to be "intimidating" to people not eligible to vote, in much the same way that the local convenience store is "intimidating" visitors with signs that say "shoplifters will be prosecuted." Why would that be a bad thing? Is it your position that telling non-eligible people that it would be against the law to vote is wrong?
I don't know or understand about this "database" business or the fine points of California election law, but voting records are generally considered public information. Is that not the case in Cali? If so, they would be available to anti-immigration groups- and to the ACLU, NRA, CIA or anyone else interested.
Bob Vu, what exactly is this supposed "hidden agenda" of Nguyen's? If you mean that he's really for cracking down on enforcement of immigration laws, that's already the centerpiece of his public campaign. Did you have somethng else in mind?
11 - Al Barger
LG- The fact that you're really disgusted doesn't mean that you're right, or that you've got even a half-reasonable point. It is surely NOT illegal or even midly unethical to tell people that it is illegal to do something that is in fact illegal.
Now, you can argue over the parsing of the point about naturalized citizens being allowed to vote. Perhaps the letter was slightly sloppy on that point, giving the opposition a marginal legitimate point of grievance. Again though, the point of what they're trying to do was clearly NOT to stop legitimate voters, but to scare off those who are not in fact supposed to be voting.
But really, if they had clearly and specifically stated that naturalized citizens do have a right to vote, would you have been ok with the rest of it? I thought not.
I'm not a Republican, and I'm generally much more sympathetic to open border arguments than to anti-immigration efforts. Still, that's nothing to do with the point in question, ie this letter. Also, anti-immigrant sentiments are not particularly a Republican thing. They seem to resonate nearly as well among independent and Democrat voters.
You may not like Tan Nguyen, the Republican party, or his positions on immigration policy. I wouldn't defend any of those things. None of that, however, makes it illegitimate for his campaign to tell people that voting fraud is a criminal offense.
12 - PJ
"Since in California the persons most likely to be involved in or as illegal voters are Hispanics"
That fails to adress why onl;y democrats received these emails.
and sorry the Email is too expensive excuse just won't cut it in court
13 - PJ
Once again the recipients were Resgistered Democrats only!! these letters were not sent to Republicans with spanish sounding surnames, Only to democrats.
14 - Al Barger
PJ, I don't know why Nguyen would need any "excuse" about who he was targeting for this mailing. Why would it be a scandal that he sent such a letter only to known Democrats- if that was in fact even the case? Would you feel better about this letter if they had sent it to every household in the district?
15 - Mohjho
This letter was sent to democrats from a republican to try to confuse and intimidate registered voters into not voting. It is illegal and a lie and the republican machine knows this. That is why the republicans called for Nguyen to withdrawal from the race. Wake up Al.
The hate crime thing is just Arnold being Arnold.
Not much we can do about him.
16 - Al Barger
Mohjho, you carefully take the wording of the Nguyen letter in the worst way, and then carefully make the worst possible assumption (that Nguyen is trying to intimidate legal voters)- despite the fact that the obvious point of the letter would be to scare off ILlegals. There's just no evidence of intent to deceive, and the obvious likely point (preventing vote fraud) is perfectly legitimate. You're simply determined to make it sinister, even despite any actual facts.
17 - steve
Tan was only calling for a fair election...i.e. no illegal immigrants trying to vote for a democratic immigrant sympathizer with mexican ancestry. He could have addressed the issue in a more politically correct sense...but if you look at Tan...here is a guy from Vietnam. He came here legitimately and built his own american dream. I dont blame him for disliking illegal immigrants illigitimately in this country.
18 - LG
Al, it's amazing to me how you take this threatening letter in the most positive way imaginable. You give Nguyen every allowance that he is merely a wronged man doing his civic duty to inform on voting law. This is simply false. It is not illegal to put a sign threatening shoplifters. It is illegal to threaten voters. I know that it's no big deal to you that he did not specify that the letter did not apply to immigrants that were naturalized citizens but that's a pretty big deal. Here's another take on this. What if I wrote a letter to those same voters saying that it is illegal to drive an unregistered vehicle in California and that you should be advised that if you drive to the polls in an unregistered vehicle that your car will be impounded. This is even less threatening than Nguyen's letter and it also states a fact. I'm not talking about jail time or putting your name in a hate database. But imagine that you are a legal registered voter with expired tags. Would it be reasonable to assume that you might refrain from voting? How about if I sent this letter to the wealthy of OC. Please be advised that there have been several violent crimes over the past few weeks near your polling station. Please use caution when going to vote. Again, less threatening than Nguyen's letter but could I deter voters? Probably so. This is not a direct threat but a threat is implied and it is illegal to threaten voters, period.
19 - VN
Have anyone got a chance to read the very first part of the letter?
"You are being sent this letter because you were recently register to vote. If you are a citizen of the United States, we ask that you participate in the democratic process of voting."
The word "citizen" here applies for both native citizen and naturalized citizen, doesn't it? If so, I think the letter makes it very clear that if you are a US citizen, you should vote, and if you are not, you should NOT vote. Simple and clear. Then why someone purposely started the whole confusion? Probably they were concerned of Tan Nguyen's chances in the race. Who knows, his chances are getting even higher now after all of these publicity going on.
20 - VN
LG,
Your sample scenariors are not comparable to what in the letter. The ultimate different between them is that your samples are to discourage LEGAL voters, whereas the letter tries to discourage only ILLEGAL voters. It is LEGAL to discourage ILLEGAL voters from going to vote.
21 - RJ Elliott
"Once again the recipients were Resgistered Democrats only!! these letters were not sent to Republicans with spanish sounding surnames, Only to democrats."
I'm guessing you don't understand politics very well...
22 - RJ Elliott
Look, if you are a legal citizen of this country, and you've gone to all your citizenship classes, and you've taken the time to register to vote, you are not gonna be swayed away from voting by some poorly-worded letter with ambiguous wording. This mailing was clearly meant to prevent illegal immigrants (likely supporters of Democrat Ms. Sanchez) from voting. And that's a good thing.
23 - PJ
LOL I guess Republicans want Illegal immigrants to vote if they register Republican. What hypocrisy!!
24 - LG
First of all RJ - If you are going to reprint someone else's opinion, give them credit. I'm sure Gordon Dillow would appreciate it. Second VN, my comparisons do have merit because I can equally argue that my letters had no intention of discouraging people to vote. I am simply reporting facts. Now, in terms of the law, it doesn't matter if you personally feel this letter is clear. What matters is that could a naturalized citizen, an immigrant, be lead to believe the letter refers to them. This letter does not mention naturalized citizens, it doesn't. You can dress this up however you want but it does NOT specifically mention naturalized citizens anywhere in the text. Now Mr. Dillow brings up a good point. However, I register new citizens to vote. So I know first hand that there is tons of confusion about the process the first time. Some people are eager and willing to vote. They are uber informed and chomping at the bit to cast a ballot. But I have been asked by others, "Don't I have to wait a year to vote?" "Am I allowed to vote in this election?" You have to remember that some of these immigrants come from countries where voting is not available to all citizens. Even though the naturalization process is a lengthy one, everyone does not come out with a firm understanding of their rights. Some US born citizens are confused about their voting rights. Also, let's remember before we give Mr. Nguyen a merit badge for sticking it to illegals that he did not print this letter on his letterhead but used letterhead that mimicked an anti-immigration groups letterhead. He also listed support from a wealth of organizations in the left margin that supported this letter and that's a lying load a crap. San Diego Voters are listed - I did not approve or give money for this so that's crap. The letter also says that the government has a new system that verifies the names of all new registered voters that vote in the elections. Anti-Immigration groups will have access to the database. The letter doesn't say Immigration Reform, it's Anti-Immigration groups will get your name. That is a threat. Why would I want an anti-immigration having my name if I am an immigrant. Why would I go vote so these people can get my name? Nguyen puts this out, and hey it's total BS because there is no such system in place. So there's another lie. This letter has false information, threatening information and it's printed on false letterhead. Remember he tried to deny he had anything to do with it at first. Why would he do that if he did nothing wrong? This is criminal and wrong not to mention completely unethical. I am shocked at his hubris for the letter and his support and defense of said letter. He has no respect for our political system or the rights of voters. He is a desperate man trying to win at all costs and you know what? He probably wasn't going to win in the first place and now he has just embarrassed his party and supporters.
25 - LG
Let me add that the database paragraph is the real threat. If you go vote you will be put in a database that Anti-Immgration groups have access too. So if I am a NATURALIZED CITIZEN and I go vote - stay with me - Anti Immigration groups will get my name. That is a threat. So If I am a naturalized citizen and I've come this far in the letter, I am now being led to think that when I go vote legally, my info will be collected and my name will go to an Anti-Immgration group. That is a threat. You can paint it up, spin it out, and hang it up to dry but it is still a threat and threating voters is ILLEGAL.