Posted on 10/21/2006 4:06:05 PM PDT by calcowgirl
SANTA ANA, Calif. - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, calling an intimidating letter sent to thousands of Hispanic voters "a hate crime," said Saturday the Republican candidate whose campaign it was linked to should quit the race if he had anything to do with it.
"I think this is one of the worst letters that anyone could send out. And I think those kind of tactics are illegal and it is a hate crime," Schwarzenegger said.
During a re-election campaign swing through Southern California on Saturday, Schwarzenegger met with a Hispanic business group in Orange County, where the mailing has infuriated Latino activists and may have scuttled the campaign of Tan D. Nguyen, a Republican congressional candidate.
"I think that anyone that knew and if he knew has to resign immediately," Schwarzenegger said. "I think there should be no tolerance for this kind of behavior."
A call left for Nguyen was not immediately returned Saturday afternoon.
Nguyen, a Vietnamese immigrant, is trying to unseat five-term Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez in the 47th Congressional District.
Nguyen has rejected previous calls from other officials in his party to abandon the race, saying a campaign staffer sent the mailing without his knowledge and has been fired.
The letter, written in Spanish, was mailed to an estimated 14,000 Democratic voters in Orange County. It warned: "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."
Adult naturalized citizens are eligible to vote. Secretary of State Bruce McPherson said Friday that his office will send letters to homes that received the mailing to clarify voters' rights before the Nov. 7 election.
On Friday, law enforcement agents searched Nguyen's Santa Ana home, his campaign headquarters in Garden Grove and a home in Anaheim listed as belonging to a Nguyen staffer.
Meanwhile, Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., wrote to the U.S. attorney general urging that a federal investigation be completed swiftly.
"This shameful and dishonest scheme to discourage Latino citizens from voting is a blatant violation of the Voting Rights Act, and all those involved should be held accountable as soon as possible," Kennedy said.
Shortly after news of the letter broke Nguyen said he would hold a news conference Friday to explain what had happened. When Friday arrived, however, he didn't show up to meet reporters.
(snip)
Following is a translation of a letter written in Spanish by the campaign office of Tan Nguyen, a Republican congressional candidate in central Orange County, and mailed to an estimated 14,000 registered voters.
Greetings xxxxxxxxYou are being sent this letter because you were recently registered to vote. If you are a citizen of the United States, we ask that you participate in the democratic process of voting.
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 and you will be deported for voting without having a right to do so.
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 computer system.
Unlike Mexico, here, there is no incentive to vote. There is not a voter registration card in the United States. Therefore, it is useless and dangerous to vote in any election if you are not a citizen of the United States.
Do not listen to any politician that tells you the opposite. They are only looking out for their own interest. They only want to win elections without any regard to what happens to you.
Sincerely,
Sergio Ramirez
What a putz...
L
Could it be he was busy entertaining Lockyer's police force that raided his home and offices? What shabby reporting! Of course, the press was there for the feeding frenzy, along with all the other usual suspects.
"If I was in early Rome, I would have gone to see the Christians being eaten."-- Frank Barbaro, chairman of the OC Democratic Party, when asked why he joined the crowd watching Tan Nguyen's campaign office being raided by officials today.
So, Herr Schwarzenegger doesn't like having Asians run for office either?
Arnold just lost my vote. I will vote R's all the way down ticket, but for governor I will vote 3rd party or not vote for any candidate.
It's usually the DemomRats who play the race card or "hate crime" card late in the campaign, so it's very disappointing for an R to do so.
Her first campaign was financed by Newt Gingrich, and now Ahhhnold is on her side? - Vomit !!!!
So truth is a hate crime in California. Figures.
Is there some way we can use a nuke and just split those idiots off from the rest of the USA?
But it's not racism, if they are Viet, or Korean, since they are just too conservative for their own good ;o)
ahnold...shut up while you're ahead.
I hear you on this. I don't see how that letter could be intimidating to anyone unless they were illegal. If they are legal residents or naturalized then whats the big deal throw the letter in the trash bin and be on your merry way. If you are illegal, however I see how it can be very intimidating that someone knows this and knows where you live.
I would vote against Arnold too. It is too bad he will either win or lose to a Democrat and it will only make California worse. Perhaps next time around a real Republican will run.
The People's Republic of California is awful.
Right ~ and consistently so ~ even when they're Liberals. I think the Californios (the native born types, eh, like Herr Schwarzenegger) make an exception for Asians who are homosexuals though.
And to think this Lop runs around calling everyone else a "girlyman",
Arnold hates Republican candidates and Republican principles.
Do you have any evidence to back up that first allegation, or are you just trolling?
I'll admit confusion.
I recall that the RNC was displeased with B1 Bob but I don't recall the Republican Party or Gingrich's pack financed the campaign of a Democrat.
I don't either recall the Austrian endorsing Sanchez's campaign or candidacy.
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