In the midst of all the controversy surrounding Tan Nguyen and his famous letter to Hispanics, how many people actually read the “offending” letter? My guess is darn few.
The letter in question has been translated into English and is reproduced below.
Dear ———-,
You are receiving this letter because you have recently registered to vote. If you are a U.S. Citizen, I urge you to participate in the democratic process of voting.
Be advised that if your residence in the United States is illegal or if you are an emigrant, voting in a federal election is a crime that can result in incarceration, and possible deportation for voting without the right to do so.
In the same way, be advised that the U.S. government is installing a new computerized system to verify names of all the newly registered voters who participate in the elections in October and November. Organizations against immigration will be able to request information from this new computerized system.
Not like in Mexico, here there is no benefit to voting. In the United States there is no registration card to vote. Therefore, it is useless and dangerous to vote in any election if you are not a citizen of the United States.
Do not pay attention to a politician who may try to tell you otherwise. They only care about their own interests. They just want to win elections and it doesn’t matter to them what happens to you.
Sincerely,
Sergio Ramirez
[PDF]
After reviewing the letter itself, it is clear that Nguyen’s staff is simply reminding citizens to vote and non-citizens not to vote. What is wrong with that, for heaven’s sake?
Rather than harrassing Tan Nguyen for doing the right thing, the more appropriate action would be to ask Loretta Sanchez why she has not send a letter like this to the Hispanic community herself!
John W. Lillpop
San Jose, California
Tags: Guest Blogging
October 30, 2006 at 4:12 am
What’s wrong with that? Well let me name a few things:
1. The letter was sent on forged letter head
2. The letter was signed by a fictional character
3. The letter implies that there are anti-immigrant groups (not anti illegal immigration groups) that will be working to get immigrants deported (legal and otherwise)
I have read the letter…in fact, you are linking to the translated version on my website.
The Tan Nguyen campaign has been xenophobic from the start, and this is just another mistake by a candidate that will not be taken seriously.
November 8, 2006 at 1:53 am
It’s plain and siply DISCRIMINATION. Why didn’t Tan Gone send it out to everybody instead of just LATINOS??
ha.
November 8, 2006 at 11:24 am
Wow!
Is this guy for real? Does he real think hovering over people at a polling booth on November 7, will real help his cause? I think it might have worked in back in elementary school, I guess he does what has worked for him as an adult. He real should have step aside as he was asked by the party (he must think he is bigger than the party), but instead he will continue to disgrace himself, his family, the Vietnamese community, the GOP and Orange County. This guy was always way over his head; a) He never was a serious contender, b) He sent out a letter that he did not comprehend (on letterhead that was not his by a couple who happen to be his friend and staff member), c) He first denies his campaign sent the letter, d) He accuses and fires his staff member for the letter, e) He does an about face and tries to re-hire his staff member, f) He has a tissy fit and blames the whole thing on his opponent, which brings me to his campaign theme which is “I Blame other for my shortcomings, I do not take full responsibility for my mistakes and do not show grace under pressure”. Well, yesterday “Joe Public” “Told Him It Like It Is”. How appropriate!