Voter intimidation

The Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register are reporting that a mailing intended to intimidate Cali Hispanics has been linked to the campaign of Republican Tan D. Nguyen. The letter, in Spanish, threatened jail time if one is an immigrant and votes, even though naturalized citizens have the right.

These sorts of tactics crop up every election season but it is rare that a campaign gets caught. Rule number one in the Dirty Tricks manual is no fingerprints. Sending out missives of highly questionable legality via a commercial mailing service is a big old thumbprint on the gun barrel. Someone very stupid is working for Mr. Nguyen. Anyway, everyone is distancing themselves from these letters and threatening prosecution if laws were broken, etc. All of which is good, except for the fact that the damage may already be done and someone needs to be held accountable for it.

Now, I am no Nostradamus, but I think this may have set back Republican outreach efforts to Hispanics. Just a guess…