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Different Stories on the Orange County Voter Intimidation Letter

By Andrew Davey
Student, University of San Diego

Probably by now, you’ve heard about GOP Congressional Candidate Tan Nguyen’s campaign releasing a letter to about 14,000 voters in the 47th Congressional District. This letter stated:

“You are advised that if your residence in this country is illegal or you are an immigrant [emphasis mine], voting in a federal election is a crime that could result in jail time, and you will be deported for voting without having a right to do so.”

And:

“At the same time, you are advised that the government of the United States is installing a new computer system to verify the names of all new registered voters that vote in the October and November elections. Anti-immigration organizations can ask for information from this new voting system.”

As you can see, Tan Nguyen was trying to mislead naturalized US citizens who were recently registered to vote in to thinking that if these new Americans actually exercised their legal right to vote, that they could still be imprisoned and/or deported. This is a clear violation of federal election law, and this has already placed Tan Nguyen’s campaign into deep legal turmoil.

In fact, I was at Tan Nguyen’s campaign office last Friday. I went to Garden Grove expecting a press conference with the candidate. Instead, Tan was nowhere to be found… I have a feeling that he did not come because someone tipped him off to the state police raid. On Friday, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer obtained a court warrant to search Tan Nguyen's campaign office. So when the previously-scheduled Tan Nguyen press conference was about to begin, Tan could not be found. Instead, California Department of Justice agents were searching the office for evidence. They searched all the computer files, and ultimately decided to take the computers with them for further investigation.

Local, national, and internet journalists were there to cover the impromptu raid. Orange County Democratic Party officials were there to denounce Nguyen's fear-mongering among the Latino community. Minutemen and other “anti-illegal immigration” activists were there to condemn "illegal immigration". Meanwhile, World Can't Wait and pro-immigrant activists were there to condemn GOP tactics of race-baiting.

This planned “press conference” had devolved into a complete fiasco, with all of us wondering what the heck happened to Tan Nguyen… How was it that the candidate was not at his office an hour before the scheduled press event, which also just happened to be the time that state agents arrived in Garden Grove? Apparently, neither could he be found at his home, where additional state agents had gone to search for evidence. Oh, and how was it that Tan’s personal criminal defense attorney, David Weichert, was conveniently at the campaign office at the time of the state police raid? Hmmm, this sounds like someone tipped off Tan. Well perhaps Tan evaded an embarrassing situation, but he nevertheless became the most ridiculed candidate in the entire county.

Well, just when it looked like Tan was going down in flames… I got a wild surprise! After being condemned by both the Democratic and Republican parties, Tan called a press conference today, and he actually showed up this time! After being called upon by OC GOP Chairman Scott Baugh to resign, Tan Nguyen just announced that he will still be running against incumbent Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove). Tan stated that "there is no crime committed", and that "all the Democrats, as well as Scott Baugh, the Chairman of the Orange County Republican Party, made a rush to judgment.” Later at this press conference, Bill Braniff, attorney for Tan Nguyen for Congress campaign, claimed that the campaign engaged in a legal activity by sending out the now-infamous "Immigrants can't vote" letter. He also claimed that Tan did not personally approve of the letter, yet he never explained how the campaign had obtained an English version of the letter. In addition, Braniff never let us know who exactly was behind the letter. All in all, this press conference of Tan’s was simply a futile attempt to spin his horrid voter intimidation scandal.

h, and I must close this report with Tan’s new spin on the “Immigrants can’t vote” letter. When reporters began to connect the dots that Tan Nguyen’s campaign sent the letter, Tan denied any involvement. Now, he’s saying that someone with the campaign obtained a copy of the letter in English, and the letter originally stated that:
“…If you are here illegally or are just a resident with a green card, you should be advised that voting in any Federal Election is a crime and may result in imprisonment, and WILL result in deportation.”

Now, Tan is saying that this certain someone involved with the campaign (never specified as a paid worker or a volunteer) mistranslated this letter into stating that if “you are an immigrant, voting in a federal election is a crime”. However he originally stated that he had no prior knowledge of this letter, and that this was all the fault of one female staffer (which was a bald-faced lie, because he never had a female staffer). Also, Tan never explained why this letter was written on California Coalition for Immigration Reform letterhead. Tan could have gotten Barbara Coe and her cohorts in deep legal trouble that they actually were not a part of this time! Yep, Tan could very well end up “telling it like it is”… from jail!

Andrew Davey is currently studying political science at the University of San Diego. However when he's not studying politics in the classroom, he is practicing it outside the classroom. He leads the Santa Ana Precinct Captain program for the Orange County Democrats, and serves on the board of directors for the San Diego Stonewall Young Democrats and the Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club (Orange County). Andrew resides in Santa Ana, California.

For pictures relating to this story and more updates on the scene in Orange County, visit his site, "Andrew's Wild and Wonderful Blog."

Posted on October 23, 2006

Comments

It's easy to see that the intent of the letter wasn't executed very well. As a candidate, I would also have an issue with people, who aren't legal residents, and attempt to vote. I see nothing wrong with the paragraph about the government instaling computers to verify identity, in fact, I would assume that something similar is needed to register and gain the ability to vote.

Aside from the obvious slant of your article, I would hope than any objective person would wait to see what the outcome is.

Posted by: Michael at October 23, 2006 08:12 AM

"I see nothing wrong with the paragraph about the government instaling computers to verify identity."

But that's the problem: (1) The government HAS NO SUCH SYSTEM, and (2) if they did, they wouldn't be sharing this sensitive data with anti-immigration groups. TAN LIED ABOUT THIS!

"As a candidate, I would also have an issue with people, who aren't legal residents, and attempt to vote."

Again, you're missing the point: This letter was sent to over 14,000 LEGAL REGISTERED VOTERS! These people were born in other countries, but came to the US, became citizens, and registered to vote...
This letter deceitfully implied that these NATURALIZED US CITIZENS CAN'T VOTE. This is how Tan broke the law... And this is something that both the REPUBLICAN and DEMOCRATIC parties in Orange County agree on.

Posted by: Andrew Davey at October 23, 2006 08:50 AM

Legal immigrants are prohibited from voting. Illegal aliens are criminals and are also prohibited from voting. Only citizens can vote. The only victims here are the people of the California Coalition for Immigration Reform as they appear to have no part in this fiasco.

As for Nguyen, many of us here in OC hope he knocks the crap out of that sleazy Tijuana-hooker-like Loretta Sanchez. That broad is an imbecilic bimbo and a sick joke.

Posted by: Jay Nichols at October 23, 2006 08:52 AM

As for Nguyen, many of us here in OC hope he knocks the crap out of that sleazy Tijuana-hooker-like Loretta Sanchez. That broad is an imbecilic bimbo and a sick joke.

Posted by: Jay Nichols at October 23, 2006 08:53 AM

So, who's the imbecile? Loretta Sanchez, or maybe the guy that calls her "sleazy Tijuana-hooker-like". Quite frankly, that is disgusting, and like Tan's letter, has no place in public discourse.

Posted by: SFBrianCL at October 23, 2006 10:48 AM

Mr. Nichols, did you even read my post?

This letter was sent out to NATURALIZED CITIZENS who are registered to vote in the 47th CD. In fact, Nelida Yanez, a military veteran who is running for Santa Ana City Council, received the letter... Oh, and she's been a US CITIZEN FOR OVER 27 YEARS!!!!

Mr. Nichols, this is not about illegal immigration...
This is about some 14,000 LEGAL US CITIZENS who were targeted to be disenfranchised by a rather insane GOP candidate.

Posted by: Andrew Davey at October 23, 2006 12:50 PM

Mr. Davey,

How do you know the letter was sent to "legally registered new voters". How do you know they registered "legally". Anyone can register to vote, that doesn't mean they are legal. One illegal vote knocks out my legal vote. I don't care what side of the aisle a person votes on, illgeal is just that.. against the law. You are a very biased person.

Posted by: Carolyn at October 23, 2006 02:22 PM

Mr. Davey,

Posted by: Carolyn at October 23, 2006 02:31 PM

Hey Andrew,

I see you're attending UCSD. Come by and visit the San Diego Democratic Club sometime (www.sddemoclub.org). Our October meeting is this Thursday night in Hillcrest and we have actually opened up our first campaign office ever in North Park (619.584.0499).

Craig Roberts
National Stonewall Democrats/SDDC

Posted by: Craig Roberts at October 23, 2006 03:15 PM

I'm a legal immigrant, and I've been an American citizen for the last 20 years. I, and many of those targetted by this letter, affirmatively made the choice to become citizens.

It's impressive how anti-immigrant, xenophobic, and generally nasty the folks commenting sound. Makes me glad I don't live in Orange County.

Posted by: Thalia at October 23, 2006 03:30 PM

Thalia, I'm so sorry that this is happening...
But I just have to say that NOT ALL OF US IN ORANGE COUNTY ARE XENOPHOBIC! In fact this morning, the Democratic Party held a rally at the Old Santa Ana Couthouse to denounce this horrid act, and to emergize all of us here into taking action to ensure that NO ONE IS DISENFRANCHISED NEXT MONTH! I know I'll be watching the polls and getting my neighbors out to vote, and I know that many of my friends will be making sure that the Minutemen don't scare folks away from the polls.

Posted by: Andrew Davey at October 23, 2006 04:04 PM

Andrew,
Why don't you mention that the letter also stated that if you are a citizen you are encouraged to vote???????? Why only bring up the statement about being an immigrant and not being able to vote? clearly, you just want to support your mama Loretta Sanchez by trashing this guy Tan Nguyen. Don't you understand that the letter is suppressing illegal voters only? I could care less if it was sent to registered voters. This letter is a reminder to only those that are illegally registered. Like I said before, the letter did encourage naturalized citizens to vote. Oh, and about the computer systems, I don't see anything wrong with that because it is actually a good way to get rid of those border hoppers.

Posted by: Kat Dowry at October 25, 2006 02:58 PM

Thalia, I'm glad also

Posted by: Bill B. at October 25, 2006 04:03 PM

End illegal immigration and let's get legal immigration back to pre 1965 levels.. what they were before Ted Kennedy's bill lifted them resulting in the mess we have today.

Posted by: Wasp at November 25, 2007 03:05 PM

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