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Schwarzenegger calls immigrant-threat letter a "hate crime"
Contra Costa Times ^ | October 21, 2006 | AP

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: fakehatecrime; fakehatemail; hatecrime; schwarzenegger; tannguyen
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To: Mojave
Arnold hates Republican candidates and Republican principles.

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...

21 posted on 10/21/2006 4:35:37 PM PDT by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: editor-surveyor; calcowgirl

Schwarzen-begger is a Cut and Run republican???


22 posted on 10/21/2006 4:36:05 PM PDT by tubebender (Growing old is mandatory...Growing up is optional)
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To: Dante3
Arnold is losing credibility and respect and comes across as not too bright.

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

23 posted on 10/21/2006 4:41:33 PM PDT by Lurker (He just sat there, biting the heads off whippets...)
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To: calcowgirl

Talk about the lesser of two evils. Arnold is certainly "lesser" and getting more "lesser" all of the time.


24 posted on 10/21/2006 4:48:25 PM PDT by Rockitz (This isn't rocket science- Follow the money and you'll find the truth.)
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To: editor-surveyor

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.


25 posted on 10/21/2006 4:52:36 PM PDT by Taxman (So that the beautiful pressure does not diminish!)
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To: calcowgirl
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

This is INSANITY, what crime has been committed? So a person expressing their right to free speech to paraphrase the following law, is being investigated for crimes, tried and convected by the media and the now governor calling this a hate crime?

Need we be reminded:

In 1996, Congress enacted the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, making it a federal crime for non-citizens to vote in any federal election (or state election, unless authorized by state law). As a penalty, ineligible non-citizens who knowingly vote may be deported. (see reference)

The only mistake in this letter was using the phrase " if your residence in this country is illegal you are an immigrant" rather than or an illegal immigrant, but the first part should be self exclusive, if a person is residing illegally they are an immigrant, duh!!!!, an illegal immigrant!!!!

Its because we are not allowed to use the word "illegal" with the word immigrant, this has caused semantic insanity. If the letters were to have been sent using the word "illegal" you can bet they would investigate hate crimes for using the word illegal.....in fact by omitting the word illegal, the letter cannot be a hate crime by their own adopt standards of PC laungage...

Folks this country is in trouble!

Reference: Testimony to congress outline the illegality and penalty for deportation if an immigrant who resides illegally votes ( e.g. illegal immigrant)
http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=leg_testimony_june222006
26 posted on 10/21/2006 4:53:26 PM PDT by seastay
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To: Taxman

Agree 100%


27 posted on 10/21/2006 4:57:56 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Atheist and Fool are synonyms; Evolution is where fools hide from the sunrise)
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To: seastay

"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.


28 posted on 10/21/2006 4:58:52 PM PDT by ducdriver ("Impartiality is a pompous name for indifference, which is an elegant name for ignorance." GKC)
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To: calcowgirl


...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....


29 posted on 10/21/2006 5:01:55 PM PDT by Tzimisce (How Would Mohammed Vote? Hillary for President! www.dndorks.com)
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To: calcowgirl

A hate crime? Let the frothing hyberbole begin...


30 posted on 10/21/2006 5:06:24 PM PDT by MeanFreePath
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To: Lurker
Vote For Me Of You Want To Live! - Arnold
31 posted on 10/21/2006 5:09:30 PM PDT by Salem (FREE REPUBLIC - Fighting to win within the Arena of the War of Ideas! So get in the fight!)
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To: Salem
Arnold is Californias:

L

32 posted on 10/21/2006 5:12:56 PM PDT by Lurker (He just sat there, biting the heads off whippets...)
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To: editor-surveyor

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.


33 posted on 10/21/2006 5:28:46 PM PDT by Taxman (So that the beautiful pressure does not diminish!)
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To: calcowgirl
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, calling an intimidating letter sent to thousands of Hispanic voters "a hate crime,"

Maria Shrivers girlfriend speaketh.

She's sleeping with a girly-man named Arnold.

34 posted on 10/21/2006 6:09:49 PM PDT by lowbridge (DNC - "We support our troops! Ummm.....what do they look like again?")
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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.

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?

35 posted on 10/21/2006 6:29:48 PM PDT by heleny (NO on all bonds/taxes)
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To: calcowgirl
Thanks for posting the actual letter contents. Seems fine, except for this line:

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?

36 posted on 10/21/2006 6:53:12 PM PDT by TheDon (Angry at the Republican Party = Democrat Tool)
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To: calcowgirl
Image hosted by Photobucket.com just remember... Republicians vote on Tuesday, and democRATs vote on WEDNESDAY!!!
37 posted on 10/21/2006 7:02:49 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: calcowgirl
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

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.

38 posted on 10/21/2006 7:10:47 PM PDT by montag813
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To: stillonaroll
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.

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.

39 posted on 10/21/2006 7:13:16 PM PDT by Jorge
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To: calcowgirl
First, a nonsensical ban on perfectly legal .50 cal firearms, and now this "hate crime" pap.

arnold, like giuliani and mccain, is a political-opportunist and poll-chasing RINO.

Nothing more, nothing less.

40 posted on 10/21/2006 7:13:39 PM PDT by DocH (Gun-grabbers, you can HAVE my guns... lead first.)
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