CA: A letter-perfect political story - feast for pols from both sides (Tan Nguyen)

Los Angeles Times ^ | October 29, 2006 | Gregory Rodriguez

[calcowgirl]

I DON'T KNOW what was more disturbing, the lame attempt to suppress immigrant voter turnout in California's 47th Congressional District or the breathless reporting and hyper-indignation that followed it.

Editorialists called the incident "despicable." Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger labeled it "racist" and a "hate crime." The chairman of the Orange County Republican Party called it "grotesque and obnoxious." You'd think they were all talking about a lynching, or at least a cross-burning. But no, it was a rather pedantic letter sent to fewer than 14,000 foreign-born Democrats with Spanish surnames in Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Anaheim.

It didn't matter that the mailing targeted only a tiny stratum of the district's 417,000 Latino voters, or that it made no mention of race or ethnicity . . .

(snip)

The truth is, the letter has long legs as a national story because it fits the needs of all the parties involved, not because it's so earthshaking. It's Political Science and maybe even Journalism 101. The media are first influenced by the politicos whom they rely on for information. (Who do you think handed reporters copies of the letter in the first place?) Journalists then determine whether to cover it and from what angle, and ethnic bashing makes for hot-button headlines. Politicians on both sides then respond to the media's portrayal in a way that best serves their interests. In this case, both sides used the incident to position themselves as Latino friendly. The only loser is the rakish yet soon-to-be-forgotten Nguyen. And no one owed him anything, so who cares?

The point is that plenty of politicos on both sides of the aisle got to prove their benevolence, the media got to show off their high-minded indignation and nothing, absolutely nothing, was done to alter the political status quo. A perfect story.

[perfect stranger]

Not only did Nguyen never have a chance of beating five-term Rep. Loretta Sanchez, but the letter — which was designed to confuse and dissuade some recently registered immigrant Latino voters from going to the polls — was not approved by any institution or person other than the dishonorable candidate himself. In other words, it required no great act of political sacrifice for Republican activists and officials to bash and disown a marginal candidate running against a popular incumbent.

For that matter, the pathetic letter — which didn't even target the largest segment of the Latino electorate, those born in the United States — never got close to creating anything that would amount to ethnic disenfranchisement.

BARF.

[Amerigomag]

Thanks for the posting.

The insight expressed by Mr. Rodriguez, a thinly veiled, cultural separatist, is a constant reminder of the need to regulate immigration.

Certain of his observations provide a clue to the hidden agenda of the letter;

a rather pedantic letter .. targeting only a tiny stratum of the district ... not the largest segment of the Latino electorate,

For the rest of us that means:

A somewhat intimidating and technical letter explaining the exercise of franchise and its consequences, mailed only to newly registered voters, with Hispanic surnames, born outside the US, not US citizens.

[calcowgirl]

I'm still eager to hear more facts. After all, it has been 9-10 days since:

Schwarzenegger calls immigrant-threat letter a "hate crime"

and

Arrests pledged over Nguyen mailer [Lockyer grandstanding over letter to immigrants]

I'm sure they would both like this story to quietly disappear at this point.

[Amerigomag]

I'm sure.

Again, I'd like to see the victim, once he has a clearer case of harm, enjoin the State of California and the Orange County Republican Party in Federal District Court.

You can bet that the state will if Nugyen wins and Poochigian loses.

[calcowgirl]

The contrast of reactions to the two (Nguyen and Poochigian) is glaring.

Neither seemed like "justice" in my eyes. I too hope the day of justice is in the future.

[Amerigomag]

If nothing else, Rodriquez highlighted the naked Hispanering of the New Majority, foolishly delivered by Schwarzenegger and Bough. What Rodriguez failed to document was the consequent, damage control foisted on their Minister of Information because of the local, state and national, inter-party backlash created when the candidate didn't back down and more facts became self evident.

This was not the New Majority's finest hour. It simply emphasized the expediency of their candidate and the limited geographic concentration of their power base. Orange County looked around and found themselves standing on the corner, under a bright street light, with Democrats. The rest of the California Republicans had fled to the shadows when facts became evident.

[danmar]

California's 47th Congressional District or the breathless reporting and hyper-indignation that followed it.

Precisely my point! All they did is reminding everyone especially the Hispanic voters, that voting without being a Citizen it is against the Law. Pure and Simple!

I do not understand the collective apoplexy and hyperventilating ensued, because of the friendly political reminder!

I do hope that, that Tan fellow is winning, because he showed up more spine than any GOP'ers, that I know of.

[calcowgirl]

The NM types still haven't seen the light.
They're still throwing mud at it.
http://www.ocblog.net/ocblog/2006/10/stand_by_your_t.html

[Amerigomag]

Another historic, misquote comes to mind:

The perception of absolute, righteous, dominance in a party structure corrupts principles, absolutely.

[calcowgirl]

I agree danmar. The response was not commensurate with the actions.
IMO, it far exceeded any logical reaction, hence my continuing curiosity.

I suppose it was just hispandering, but even that is hard to accept (I expect more from our officials).
I still don't know anything about Tan, but he sure didn't get a fair shake in this whole ordeal.

[Blue Collar Republican]

Tan Nguyen will be on the Vince Daniels show this weekend! Listen live through the website: http://www.vincedaniels.com/