Foxnews.com: Hispanic Congresswoman Says Vietnamese Are Trying to Take Her Seat
Sep/100
Published September 24, 2010 | FoxNews.com
A Hispanic congresswoman is facing a fierce backlash for telling a Spanish-language TV station that “the Vietnamese” are trying to take her seat.
California Rep. Loretta Sanchez’s racially-charged statement was made during an interview with Univision and aimed at her opponent, Van Tran, the Republican state assemblyman whose family had to flee Vietnam after the fall of Saigon.
“The Vietnamese and the Republicans are, with an intensity, trying to take away this seat — this seat that we have done so much for our community – take away this seat from us and give it to this Van Tran, who is very anti-immigrant and very anti-Hispanic,” she said according to a translation on YouTube.
Tran’s campaign strongly condemned the comments.
“At a time when our state faces an unemployment rate above 12 percent, Loretta Sanchez resorts to insensitive racist attacks against her own constituents,” said Tran campaign spokesman George Andrews. “Her attack against immigrants and the Vietnamese community on national television is shocking. The 47th Congressional District belongs to the people and not an individual ethnicity.”
Sanchez’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Sanchez has a long record of supporting his district’s Vietnamese community but that might be getting overshadowed by this controversy. The latest polls show Sanchez only has a 2-percentage-point lead, and in a year when incumbents are fighting an anti-Washington wave, something like this could prove costly.
For the full article, CLICK HERE. For the video link, click below:
ICYMI: Orange County Register - Sanchez: ‘Vietnamese’ trying to take seat
Sep/100
CLICK HERE for the full article. Click below to watch the video:
ICYMI - Red County: Loretta Sanchez (D-Playboy Mansion) “Looks Forward ALL Year to Hunk Night”
Sep/101
Ever wonder what your member of Congress looks forward to all year?
A friend forwarded today’s headline in The Hill about our dear Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. The photo says it all. Loretta does not have time for debates with Assemblyman Van Tran in the district, but “hunk night” in DC is on her calendar with a permanent marker. Expect a stiletto heel to be hurled into a wall if any of her aides schedules a policy briefing during “hunk night.”
Maybe she wants to spend her last 47 days in office partying like Paris Hilton? I give up trying to figure out Sanchez’s psyche. My gut tells me that Van Tran won’t be this entraining in DC. But with a 12 percent unemployment rate in California, I would trade a chuckle for actual results.
Here is rest of the story about OUR embarrassing member of Congress from Orange County.
THE HILL:
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) was flanked by good-looking male celebrities on Tuesday night, and she said that’s just how she likes it.
Speaking at the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts’s annual Noche de Gala dinner at the Mayflower Hotel, Sanchez took the stage alongside actors Esai Morales (CBS’s “Jericho”) and Jimmy Smits (“The West Wing” and NBC’s “Outlaw”).
“I look forward to this dinner all year,” Sanchez gushed, “because I get to stand next to all these hunks!”
Sanchez looked pretty glamorous herself. Dressed in a floor-length strapless gown with flowers on it, the lawmaker would have been right at home on a Hollywood red carpet.
Or, perhaps, at a Playboy Mansion party (fully dressed, of course) — Sanchez made headlines last month when she met with Hugh Hefner at the mansion for lunch, a meeting that by all accounts was strictly business.
For the full Red County article, CLICK HERE.
Van Tran Advances to Top Level of Young Guns Program
Sep/100
For Immediate Release: September 16, 2010
Contact: Press Office - (202) 479-7070
California Republican Reaches ‘Young Gun’ Status with Clear Path to Victory
Washington- The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) announced today that Republican Van Tran (CA-47) has reached ‘Young Gun’ status, the premiere level of its three-tiered Young Guns program. By advancing to the program’s top tier, Tran has proven his ability to build a winning campaign and achieve substantial fundraising goals.
“Van Tran has proven that he’s ready to take on incumbent Loretta Sanchez, an out-of-touch Democrat who has blindly supported her party’s failed agenda of job-killing policies and reckless spending,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX). “Van’s campaign is a symbol of the growing momentum behind Republican candidates in California and across the country. As Democrats and their party bosses continue to force their big-government, big-spending policies onto the backs of hard-working families, Republicans like Van Tran will continue to present a clear alternative to a Democrat majority that unapologetically spends too much, borrows too much and taxes too much.”
In 2004, Van Tran won an historic election, becoming the first Vietnamese-American to serve in any state legislature. During his service in the 68th district of the California State Assembly, Tran brought common-sense solutions to some of the biggest problems facing California. He fought to save California $5 million annually by balancing the budget, restraining government spending and eliminating waste in the bureaucracy. In the State Assembly, Tran has fought tirelessly to ensure the safety of Orange County families by supporting Jessica’s Law, Megan’s Law and the Three Strikes policy. Prior to his election, he was a managing partner of his own law practice and served as the Vice-Mayor of Garden Grove. Tran and his wife Cyndi have two children, Alex and Sophie.
Originally founded in the 2007-2008 election cycle by Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Paul Ryan (R-WI) as a member-driven organization, the Young Guns program has become an official NRCC effort dedicated to electing open-seat and challenger candidates nationwide. Reps. Cantor, McCarthy and Ryan remain actively involved in Young Guns, working together to recruit and prime conservative leaders for victory.
Now that Van Tran has completed the Young Guns’ benchmarks to place him on the road to victory, he is ready to take on Democrat leadership’s loyal lapdog Loretta Sanchez in November.
For more information, click here.
Loretta Sanchez Blames Administration For Economy On Sunday Yet Holds Fundraiser With Biden Just 3 Days Later
Sep/100
For Immediate Release
September 15, 2010
Contact: George Andrews - 714-907-3442
Much like Sanchez pretends to be a Blue Dog in Orange County and then goes to Washington and votes with Nancy Pelosi 98% to spend more of our tax dollars, the Congresswoman hosts Vice President Joe Biden just days after criticizing the Administration’s economic policy which she supported.
(Garden Grove) Today, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is hosting a room full of Washington special interests to meet Vice President Joe Biden at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC.
The event comes just 3 days after Sanchez appeared on Univision’s weekly political show, Al Punto, and told host Jorge Ramos that she blamed the administration’s failed economic policy for the difficulty she is facing trying to get re-elected.
“Sanchez slams the Administration’s economic policies on Sunday and then embraces the Administration for their help raising special interest money on Thursday,“ said her opponent for Congress, Van Tran. “Much like she comes home and pretends to be a Blue Dog and then goes to DC and votes with Nancy Pelosi 98% of the time - these Washington politicians think they can say one thing and do another and the public won’t notice.”
“We notice and we are tired of her overspending. We won’t saddle our kids with this massive debt.”
Here is a translated excerpt from Loretta Sanchez’s appearance on the September 12, 2010 edition of Univision’s Al Punto:
Sanchez: “…this year is really hard for the Democrats nationwide because people are disappointed with President Obama due to the bad economy and this puts us on a hard spot. Now we democrats are ahead, but only by 2-3 points. And the Republicans are working very hard.
Jorge Ramos: Now, I might be misinterpreting but what I am noting from you is pessimism. Are you blaming President Barack Obama? You know that the unemployment rates among Hispanics compared to others groups is greater. There are 23 million people who do not have a job. Do you believe that you, yourself, are suffering for how bad it is going, because of what surveys say on the presidency of Barack Obama?
Sanchez: Well, of course he is not helping me…
Van Tran Endorsed By Tax-Fighting Radio Talk Show Hosts 640AM’s John and Ken.
Sep/100
For Immediate Release
September 10, 2010
Contact: George Andrews - 714-907-3442
LOS ANGELES, CA – During a live radio broadcast this week on The John&Ken Show, tax-fighting talk show hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou endorsed Van Tran in his effort to unseat overspending Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.
“Van Tran is running against Loretta Sanchez and we wish him well. In fact, he already has our endorsement.” said Ken Chiampou during Tuesday’s five o’clock hour of the radio show.
Known professionally as John and Ken, the talk radio duo hosts a five-hour weekday radio show, the John and Ken Show on KFI AM-640 in Southern California.
“I have great respect for John and Ken and their longstanding commitment to upholding our shared common-sense values of low taxes, being tough on crime and fighting for traffic relief,” said Tran.
In the peak hour of their daily broadcasts, John and Ken draw an estimated audience of one million listeners measured Arbitron Ratings Service and Talkers Magazine. In 2003, Kobylt and Chiampou were instrumental in the recall of California Governor Gray Davis.
The audio of the live, on-the-air endorsement and the humorous portrayal of Loretta Sanchez is available here:
CLICK HERE if the above link does not work.
Day 30: “Debate Duck” Chases Loretta Sanchez Demanding She Stop Ducking Debates With Van Tran
Sep/100
Overspending Incumbent Has Ducked the Issues and Her Opponent For Nearly A Month.
SANTA ANA – While many of us were barbecue with our families last Monday for Labor Day, overspending Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez was being chased around the Santa Ana Zoo by “Debate Duck” with one simple question.
“Will you stop DUCKING debates with your opponent for Congress, Assemblyman Van Tran?”
“Debate Duck” stood under a scorching Labor Day weekend sun Saturday passing out flyers to 1,000 guests at a Santa Ana Zoo barbecue staged by the Orange County Labor Federation.
The flyers encouraged members of the public to challenge Sanchez to schedule a debate with Van Tran.
“It is no surprise that Ms. Sanchez, a 14 year Washington politician, would duck debates since she has done little to nothing for the people of Orange County,” said Assemblyman Van Tran. “But the people of this great state and county deserve to have an open and honest debate about the issues facing this country like jobs, spending, debt and the direction of Congress.”
Here is what people are saying about Sanchez’s refusal to defend her 14 year record of unaccomplishment in a public debate:
“Embattled Democrat Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez continues to duck debates with her GOP challenger, popular Assemblyman Van Tran. One can presume, I suppose, that the important responsibilities of an important Member of Congress like Sanchez have her too busy for such “luxuries” as debating an opponent before a competitive election. So what exactly is keeping Representative Sanchez busy? You need look no farther than the Twitter feed of none other than Playboy Magazine founder and owner Hugh Hefner.” (Flashreport.org; Rep. Loretta Sanchez visits Hef & Crystal At The Playboy Mansion; Hef Tweets!; Publisher Jon Fleischman; 9-1-2010)
“With all due respect to Hef, dodging debates with her opponent, and ignoring constituents’ concerns does not constitute ‘taking care of business.’ This is the problem with Washington politicians… In the meantime, California remains on the brink of economic and fiscal disaster.” – NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain.
“Besides ducking a debate with her opponent, Assemblyman Van Tran, Orange County’s only Congressional Democrat Loretta Sanchez is also pushing forward with a plan to slam small businesses with massive tax hikes that are certain to kill jobs, prevent businesses from hiring, and set the already-struggling economy back even more.(RedCounty.com; CD 47 Watch: Overspending Loretta Sanchez Slams Job Creators With Big Taxes for Small Business; J. Frank Parnell; August 23, 2010)
“Assemblyman Van Tran Monday sent a letter to Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez, asking the seven-term incumbent to face him in four debates as the two battle to represent the voters of the 47th Congressional District. ‘As Californians consider the future of their state and country before they cast their vote in the November election, they have before them a distinct choice between the two candidates with different solutions to our nation’s challenges,’ wrote Tran.” (OC Register; Tran Challenges Sanchez To Four Debates, August 9th, 2010, Dena Bunis, Washington Bureau Chief)
“…Tran has challenged Sanchez to a series of four debates in Santa Ana, Anaheim, Garden Grove and Fullerton – a challenge she has not yet accepted. A debate, Tran said, “is the American way. It’s the great democratic tradition of having forums like this.” (O.C. Register; Congressional Candidates Offer Different Solutions; By Doug Irvine; Sept. 5, 2010)
“Ms. Sanchez’s disregard for the voters of Orange County is disturbing. Multiple partisan and non-partisan organizations throughout Orange County have offered to host debates between the candidates but Ms.Sanchez continues to duck responding to the numerous debate requests. Van Tran wants to have this conversation, it is clear Ms. Sanchez does not.” - Tran Campaign Manager George Andrews.
Hugh Hefner, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, the NRCC, the Playboy Mansion, and Twitter
Sep/100
Peter Suderman
Reason.com
September 3, 2010
The closer Washington gets to the labor day break, the more stories like this become news: Playboy’s Hugh Hefner has a pet congresswoman, and now a tweet about a private fundraising lunch at the Playboy Mansion with California
Rep. Loretta Sanchez is catching some heat from Republicans and putting the lawmaker in an unwanted spotlight.
It all started when Hefner on Tuesday announced his donor luncheon. And because we are living in year 2010, a Twitter kerfuffle ensues.
CLICK HERE for the full article.
In Case You Missed It: Loretta Sanchez Shamelessly Raises Money At The Home Of Pornographer, Playboy’s Hugh Hefner
Sep/100
Washington Whispers: Playboy’s Hefner Spars With GOP Over Rep. Sanchez Lunch at Mansion
By Paul Bedard
September 2, 2010
Playboy’s Hugh Hefner has a pet congresswoman, and now a tweet about a private fundraising lunch at the Playboy Mansion with California Rep. Loretta Sanchez is catching some heat from Republicans and putting the lawmaker in an unwanted spotlight.
It all started when Hefner on Tuesday announced his donor luncheon. “Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is having lunch at the Mansion. I’m a long time supporter,” he said on his Twitter account that he normally uses to tell followers what he and his girlfriends are doing. For example, a half hour after he tweeted his Sanchez lunch, he updated with another tweet: “I’ll be playing games tonight with Crystal, Anna and Playmates from the Bunny House.”
Well it didn’t take long for Joanna Burgos, a regional spokeswoman at the National Republican Congressional Committee, to notice. Her area includes California and the NRCC has been focused on the race against Sanchez, who they say has ducked debates with Republican candidate and state assemblyman Van Tran.
On Wednesday, she retweeted Hefner with her own comment: “She can’t meet w/ constituents or accept a debate challenge but..RT @hughhefner Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is having lunch at the Mansion.”
Not missing a chance to stir it up, NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain retweeted Burgos. Here’s where it gets interesting.
Somehow Hefner found out and fired back at Spain, tweeting that Sanchez was at the Playboy Mansion “taking care of business.” Wrote Hef: “@KSpainNRCC Yesterday’s luncheon for Congresswoman Sanchez was a fund raiser. She’s taking care of business.” Since 2006, Hefner has donated $13,600 to Sanchez.
With Hefner taking the bait, Spain then offered two more tweets to reel him in. In the first he sneered, “That’s what you call it?” and then later tweeted, “With all due respect 2 @hughhefner ‘taking care of business’ isn’t dodging voters & debates. Rep-Lo just doesn’t want 2 talk jobs & spending.”
A Sanchez spokeswoman was unaware that her boss had been dragged into the Playboy-NRCC fight.
But when it was over, Spain today said, “With all due respect to Hef, dodging debates with her opponent, and ignoring constituents’ concerns does not constitute ‘taking care of business.’ This is the problem with Washington politicians, they think that being a member of Congress entitles them to star in their own personal version of Entourage at the expense of the voters. In the meantime, California remains on the brink of economic and fiscal disaster.”
This isn’t the first Playboy Mansion visit to give Sanchez headaches. In 2000, she lost her speaking role at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles because she refused to put a stop to a Playboy fundraiser she had organized at the mansion. Under pressure, she eventually moved it to a less controversial location.
Here’s the Twitter chain:
Hugh Hefner, Playboy: Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is having lunch at the Mansion. I’m a long time supporter. 2:47 PM Aug 31st via Twitterrific
Joanna Burgos, NRCC regional spokeswoman: She can’t meet w/ constituents or accept a debate challenge but..RT @hughhefner Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is having lunch at the Mansion 9:20 AM Sep 1st via web
Ken Spain, NRCC Communications Director: RT @joannarburgos She can’t meet w/ voters or accept a debate challenge but..RT @hughhefner Rep. Lo. Sanchez is having lunch at the Mansion 9:26 AM Sep 1st via web
Hefner: @KSpainNRCC Yesterday’s luncheon for Congresswoman Sanchez was a fund raiser. She’s taking care of business. about 17 hours ago via Twitterrific in reply to KSpainNRCC
Spain: That’s what you call it? RT @hughhefner @KSpainNRCC Yesterday’s luncheon for Rep. Sanchez was a fundraiser. She’s taking care of business. about 17 hours ago via web
Spain: With all due respect 2 @hughhefner “taking care of business” isn’t dodging voters & debates. Rep-Lo just doesn’t want 2 talk jobs & spending about 17 hours ago via web
CLICK HERE for the full article.