GOP asks Candidate to Withdraw From Race Over Letter Sent to Discourage Hispanic Voters
EmailABC News’ Alex Stone Reports: Republican leaders in Orange County, California are asking GOP congressional candidate Tan Nguyen to withdraw from the race after he confirmed threatening letters sent to Hispanic voters did, in fact, come from his office. In a statement faxed to ABC News, Nguyen says “An employee took it upon herself to allow our database to be used to send out the letter. It was disseminated without my authorization or approval. The employee has been discharged.”
California’s Attorney General has been investigating the case for several days. The letters warned Latino voters that if they voted in the upcoming election they could be arrested or deported. That is untrue as long as voters are legal US citizens. The AG’s Office has not said if it will pursue felony charges against the author of the letters.
Nguyen plans to hold a news conference on Friday to talk about his candidacy. "It is important that this problem be addressed," he wrote in the statement. “However, it should be addressed without hysteria.”
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when this story broke yesterday it was stated that the letter said if you are an illegal alien you can not vote because it is against the law. today it is made to sound as though it was to hispanics regardless of their status.i don’ believe that is the case.There is a major diferrence between immigrant citizens and legal immigrants who are not citizens and illegal immigrants.the first has a right to vote. the second has right to be in this country but not to vote and the third needs to go home, because illegals are in violation of the law and our constitution and they are committing yet another crime by voting, but for some reason they and those that support their behavior try to confuse the different statuses and yes there are illegal aliens voting in this country which is an insults to those of us who respect our constitution.The media is part of the problem slating these stories.If someone sent out the letters stating that it is illegal to vote if you are not a citizen they deserves a medal. the gov’t should have done it. The gov’t protects the lawbreaker and makes a criminal of a loyal citizen. I belive this was a setup and a way of senting a message to those illegals that it is ok to vote and no one will mess with them. By who? those who stand to profit from illegal voters.
Posted by: jo | October 19, 2006, 9:27 pm 9:27 pm
According to local papers in Southern California the letter said if you are an illegal citizen OR an immigrant and it was sent only to hispanics. In fact, immigrants who are naturalized citizens can vote which makes it targeted to more than just who you are talking about jo. Here is the exact quote from the letter: “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.”
Posted by: fran | October 19, 2006, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
If they are registered to vote then they have every right as you and I. This is another Republican tactic doing what they can to keep the minority vote down. I hope they will be prosecuted for their actions. Although I highly doubt it. Durring the Presidential elections African Americans were turned away from the polls resulting in Bush winning! Did anything happen then? No, now are they are attempting it again. This is a disgrace and this make us no better than any other country!!!
Posted by: gogiyms | October 19, 2006, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm
Par-for-the-course Conservative tactics. Does this suprise anyone? As we have seen illustrated AGAIN in the last week, the GOP will do or say whatever it takes to whomever they have to do or say it to in order to keep power. They are sickening, anyone who votes for a Republican is easliy duped, apathetic or just plain anti-American.
Posted by: mcbass | October 20, 2006, 10:59 am 10:59 am
personally, i think that all republicans know exactly what they are doing, and i find it sickening that they will resort to whatever means possible to ensure their victory in the congressional elections. the whole lot of them should be ashamed of themselves, preying on the weak and vulnerable. then again, who ever said a republican had morals? oh wait…they did!
Posted by: Andy | October 20, 2006, 11:47 am 11:47 am
“I belive this was a setup and a way of senting a message to those illegals that it is ok to vote and no one will mess with them. By who? those who stand to profit from illegal voters.”
Not only are you less literate than most immigrants I know, but you’re a conspiracy minded-fool as well. “I belive this was a setup”???? WAKE UP! Tan admitted it came from his office! If you’re not capable of judging an issue on the facts, why does your opinion on this or any other issue mean anything? Perhaps *you* and people like you should stay home on election day. Do us all a favor.
Posted by: FactJack | October 20, 2006, 11:53 am 11:53 am
Let me get this straight. They pull the names out of a registered voters database and then threaten (only) hispanic voters that if their residence in this country is illegal or they are an immigrants, voting in a federal election is a crime that could result in jail time.”?
Ok so, if they are illegal I understand their point. Duh! But arent these registered voters? Also, I dont get the “if you are an immigrant” part. I know several people who are immigrants and have gained the right to vote through naturalization. They are citizens of this country. Seems like he’s was just trying to scare voters who tipically vote democratic. Lame and desperate measures me thinks. Well he aint gonna win now is he? LOL.
Posted by: Twixted | October 20, 2006, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
The letter was a clear cut attempt to discourage minority Democratic voters, part of the long and sordid history of voter suppression efforts by the GOP. For those in denial on this, the phone bank scandal that resulted in convictions and jail time for GOP operatives is another prime example… the list goes on and on.
Posted by: energyecon | October 20, 2006, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm
Obviously the poster who stated that the author of this letter deserved a medal doesn’t have his or her facts straight. The letter was also addressed to immigrants which would include my Nigerian parents who have been citizens for over 20 years and came to this country on student visas. This letter was obviously a scare tactic towards legal, franchised, hispanic voters who may or may not have family member (ie parents) who are illegal. Do you think a political staffer would waste one minute of thier time to address political correspondance to people who’s votes aren’t even going to be counted? You’ve got to be extremely gullible to believe that.
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