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.
Well, this candidate actually ran as a Dem two years ago and doesn't sound very Republican.
One R trait would be his tough talk on enforcing illegal immigration... oh, wait a minute...
Schwarzen-begger is a Cut and Run republican???
As far as I am concerned it's impossible for Arnold to lose any more of the first two and he's already proved the third.
L
Talk about the lesser of two evils. Arnold is certainly "lesser" and getting more "lesser" all of the time.
The Republicans hated "B-1" Bob Dornan is why.
They hated him because he would not sign up to and agree to vote the Party Line -- he voted the Constitution, as does Ron Paul (who also is not liked by the Republican leadership).
I'd be very content with a Congress full of B-1 Bobs and Ron Pauls!
He had ample and very credible evidence that there was massive voter FRaud in the election wherein Loretta "Sanchez" (her maiden name -- her married name is Smith or somesuch) unseated him. It was her second try -- she lost big-time two years earlier when she ran as Loretta "Smith."
Dead Democrats voting, illegal immigrants voting, multiple voting, etc. etc. -- the ususal Democrat election tricks -- did him in.
It was a very close race, and the Pubbies would not help him in his bid to have the election results thrown out. Ms. "Sanchez" was seated, by unanimous consent, as I recall, and B-1 retired and became a talk show host.
It was America's loss. Say what you will about B-1 Bob, he was a hellofa Congressman, IMHO.
Agree 100%
"Folks this country is in trouble!"
Yes, you are right - can a civil war be more than a few years away? Our government better get this under control in a hurry.
...so now enforcing the law is akin to a horrible crime against humanity?
....wonder if they'll take this approach when they crack down on tax evaders....
A hate crime? Let the frothing hyberbole begin...
L
Glad to hear that. I like both of them, and we all know that DC needs more folks like them and much smaller numbers of the other kind!
Don't get me wrong, there are some good folks in the Congress, but most leave much (a lot?) to be desired.
Maria Shrivers girlfriend speaketh.
She's sleeping with a girly-man named Arnold.
I hope the Sec. of State sends a simple letter that reminds these newly-registered voters that a voter must be an adult citizen and cannot vote twice, and that any voter has the freedom to choose not to vote. He should also clearly state that the law provides penalties (such as deportation or jail time) for illegal voting.
Wait a minute, isn't that pretty much what the original letter said? What a waste of our tax dollars for his office to send an unnecessary letter to these thousands of people. Why not simply encourage Loretta Sanchez to send a campaign letter citing the same laws?
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.
It is certainly not illegal for immigrants to vote. I didn't read anything else disagreeable in the letter. If this is an accurate translation, the guy definitely mislead the receivers of the letter.
I wonder how long the candidate was a Rat before he ran as a Pubbie?
just remember... Republicians vote on Tuesday, and democRATs vote on WEDNESDAY!!!
THIS is the problem. Not sure if this is an accurate translation of Spanish. But if so, the letter was indeed a violating of the VRA, and a disgrace. Immigrant citizens are welcome to vote. Take that clause out and I am in full support of the letter.
How petty.
The Gov does one thing you don't like and that's it.
I really don't believe you would have voted for him in the first place.
arnold, like giuliani and mccain, is a political-opportunist and poll-chasing RINO.
Nothing more, nothing less.
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