OC GOP asks Congressional hopeful to Cut & Run

Despite claiming that he had nothing to do with the Spanish-language mailings that threatened immigrants with prison or deportation if they voted, the Orange County Republican party today asked Congressional candidate Tan Nguyen to quit running.

Nguyen explained that he did something totally out of step with the Bush administration -- he fired a rogue staff member. "Evidently, an employee took it upon herself to allow our database to be used to send out the letter," the Congressional wannabe said in a press release yesterday. "It was disseminated without my authorization or approval. The employee has been discharged."

The letter (.PDF) bears the letterhead of the California Coalition for Immigration Reform, whose founder Barbara Coe is notable for referring to Mexicans as savages and barbarians, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Nguyen has a press conference scheduled for later today where many speculate that he will take his party's advice and step down, however LAist believes that the hopefull will remain resolute and stay the course. As only good things come from that.

AP photo by Ric Francis