This is a hotly-contested House race in Orange County, but voters everywhere should be thoroughly disgusted by the Arafat-esque tactic (of saying one thing in English and something altogether different in another tongue) used by Congresswoman, Loretta Sanchez:

To be perfectly clear, Loretta Sanchez declared clearly and definitively that Van Tran is a bigot, saying "Van Tran is very anti-Hispanic."

How much would you like to bet that she would never, EVER, repeat those words in English?

I just spoke with Caroline Hogan in the congresswoman's press office-- to her individual credit, I was stunned she even called back, which she did within minutes-- who will be sending over the official Sanchez statement on this matter by email soon.

Will revise here with updates...

UPDATE (2:05pm EDT): I still haven't received the promised email from Sanchez's office, but Van Tran's spokesperson did just email. Here it is in full:

Chip

I noticed you are waiting for a Loretta team statement. Here is mine.

“At a time when our state faces an unemployment rate above 12%, Loretta Sanchez resorts to insensitive racist attacks against her own constituents. Her attack against immigrants and the Vietnamese community on national television is shocking. The 47^thcongressional district belongs to the people and not an individual ethnicity.  This is one of many incidents demonstrating that Loretta Sanchez is disconnected with the values of central Orange County.  In fact, she has attended more parties at the Playboy Mansion than bills passed in Congress.  Her record is abysmal and so all she has to run on is personal attacks.”

George Andrews
Campaign Manager
Van Tran for Congress (CA-47)
joinvantran.com/donate

UPDATE (3:45pm EDT): I received the response from team Sanchez. I'll reproduce here, but read below it for some last thoughts from me on this for clarification:

"During the interview, the Congresswoman was referencing those in the Vietnamese community who are supporting her opponent.

"Ultimately this election is about moving Orange County forward - not backward. And Congresswoman Sanchez is focused on continuing to fight for good-paying jobs, better schools, safe neighborhoods, quality and affordable health care, and human rights. These are critical issues for all families in California's 47th Congressional District, including those in the Vietnamese community."

Jessica Mejia
Campaign Manager

Further, I asked Sanchez's spokesperson if the congresswoman would ever repeat such a thing in front of an English-speaking audience. Heres the verbatim reply:

"Congresswoman Sanchez's message throughout her community is the same - she is focused on how we can work together to rebuild our economy and get people back to work, strengthen our schools, and  make sure everyone has access to quality, affordable health care. Though her district is diverse, her constituents share the same priorities. And she is committed to doing all she can to help them."

That's obviously a non-response, so I'll answer it myself: of course not-- she would NEVER make such a claim to an English-speaking audience.

Loretta either thought she could get away with one on Spanish-language television, or worse--she was just speaking in the race-baiting way she normally would in front of such an audience. Regardless, the reality is the same:

Her calling Van Tran "anti-Hispanic" is an abomination.

Period.

A belated hat tip to Gustavo Arellano of O.C. Weekly, who was first to report on this appearance Roger Hedgecock, who was first to report on this incident both on his radio show and via this article at Human Events.