My cell rings, and I’m greeted by Tan Nguyen. Yes, Democrat turned Republican Congressional candidate in the 47th Tan Nguyen.
He called me to tell me that I needed to stop vandalizing his signs.
“Look, Mr. Nguyen,” I said, “I know that you are spending vast amounts of your own money on this campaign, and you’re probably pissed that people are writing all over the signs, but I’ve never touched one of your signs.”
I ended up having a 20-minute conversation with Mr. Nguyen about his efforts in the 47th, and I thought that I had convinced him that I wasn’t the one responsible for the damaged signs. I am only documenting it.
“I write a blog about local progressive politics,” I told him. “You’re a politician running for local office, and you’ve got this problem. I’m going to write about it. And since there’s an (R) next to you’re name, I’m going to poke a little fun too.”
Mr. Nguyen said that he has a lot of supporters that are “passionate” and he would “hate to see anyone get hurt.”
I laughed a little, because I knew that the next sentence out of my mouth was going to sound a lot like something from a John Grisham novel: “Are you threatening me?”
The conversation ended by Tan reminding me to stop vandalizing his signs.
“You’re barking up a fruitless tree,” I said’ not too sure if that was a real clich.
“Well Mike, people have been telling me that you’re the one responsible,” said Nguyen.
“Well Tan, a lot of people have been calling you a racist.”
Mr. Nguyen laughed and thanked me for taking his call. He was rather polite, had answers to all the questions I asked (including a couple on immigration, and his sudden Republicaness).
I’m still wondering what he meant by “I’d hate to see anyone get hurt.”
UPDATE: I wanted to add a little bit of Tan Nguyen news that I just got from someone in the know. This someone told me that Tan called up State Senate candidate Lou Correa today and asked that they duel endorse one another.
Nguyen supposedly told Lou that if he changed his endorsement from Loretta to him, he’d help deliver the Vietnamese vote.
I’m told that Lou scoffed, laughed it off and politely declined.
Tan’s response was to say that he’d now go to Lynn Daucher to seek her endorsement and deliver the Vietnamese vote to her.
Can Tan really claim to be able to deliver the Vietnamese vote?
Is Tan that naive? Or stupid?
Does he have any advisors?
Does he ignore their advice?
Both of these events – a threatening phone call to Mike and an offer to endorse Lou Correa in exchange for Lou’s endorsement – verify reports that he is a real amateur.
Why would Supervisor Correa risk support from Democrats, Latinos, Labor, and the wrath of Loretta for Tan’s promise to deliver the Vietnamese for him? Contrary to popular belief, Lou isn’t stupid.
And any candidate/elected/consultant/operative who promises to deliver a bloc of voters (ethnic or otherwise) is suspect in my book.
In two months, Tan Nguyen joins Alexandria Coronado, Jeff Chavez, Gloria Matta Tuchman, and Bob Dornan in the political graveyard of Loretta challengers. Anyone remember them? Didn’t think so.
tan is a communist!!!!!!!!!!!!! he makes threats!!!!!! he acuses people because they are white!!!! he needs to go back to vietnam!!!! he does not represent any vote except communist pigs!!!!
Anonymous 1:13am,
Last I heard Tan Nguyen was a registered Republican. Republicans, of the Bush variety, are fascists, not communists. While I realize there is some similarity, the two ideologies are different.
For the record those who support the likes of Tan are fascist appeasers. However, after learning of Mike’s conversation with Tan, I suspect his supporters may also be thugs, cut from the mold of the Vietnamese mob. His political strategy is simple really, Go with Tan or he’ll have your legs broken.
It has also been independently verified that Tan Nguyen is an opportunist without any real philosophical core values. That is evident from his inability to choose a political party and stick with it for an extended period of time.
Tan Nguyen may be a lot of things, but a communist, I don’t think so.
Mike, Tan is really a good guy…he just happens to have a “R” after his name. I am a life long Democrat who has accepted him, why can’t you do the same thing? I wish people would stop looking at the D & R and start electing people who want to make possitive changes. Hopefully you can work past the “R.”
Anon 1:13â€â€There are plenty of things to criticize with Tan’s campaign, but calling him a communist and saying that he needs to return to Vietnam is on the same level as the people that come to this blog and use hateful language to smear me, instead of using logical debate. It’s uncalled for, and it’s even hurtful to the argument.
To “We Need No Politicians In DCâ€Ââ€â€I’d wish that people with calm heads, like you, would post here with a real name. I’d love to know that you were really a Dem that supports Nguyen.
As far as your pseudonym, I’m curious why you think that Nguyn isn’t a politician. Come on…he’s jockeying for support from Lou Correa and when that won’t work he’s gonna run to Lynn. Tan is upset that the Democratic party didn’t support him in his original 46th CD race. Is that enough reason to switch parties? Tan sounds like a politician to me.
He’ll change his stance on issues just to get a couple of dollars. And even that isn’t working out to well for him.
I heard Adolph Nguyen (his birth name) wants to be elected so that he can single handly take over this country. Mike give me a break!!! Tan is a good guy who happens to have a R after his name. You need to get over that he used to be a Democrat and had to leave the party for one that backed him. He is a good guy who wants to make positive changes in DC.
mr. mike lawson, you are too nice and have too much class to wallow in name calling, i am not nice and i have no class but i know one thing, tan is a communist!!!!! he needs to go back to vietnam!! he needs to stop making threats to people because they are white!!! he is a “rasista”!! spelled wrong it means the same thing.
You poor thing!
How could he be so callous… AND SO STUPID??!!
This just proves that Nguyen is nothing more than a cold opportunist who thinks that his slick signs and trashy mailers will convince people to dump Loretta and hire him.
Well, he’s flat wrong.
I heard Mike Lawson dad’s Adolph Hitler hates Tan as well. This is great that there are idiots in the OC who actually believe this crap. By the way idiots, there is NO Santa Claus!!!!
From my experience with this candidate, he is an opportunist and a thug. I had to deal with this guy and his “manager” 2years ago.
This guy won’t represent anyone but himself.
demmother, please tell us about it?
Hey, anonymous people talking about Adolf and (R) vs. (D):
Could you please address the actual points being discussed: namely, Van Tran alledging that Mike vandalized his signs, and the whole Correa-Daucher switcheroo business.
As is, you’re the only one raising the issue you ask us to move past.
Demmother,
I got held up by Tan a gunpoint! Give me a f%$^&*g break. Stop lying about Tan and try doing something positive in life. I’m someone who is tired of fingers being pointed. GET A LIFE!!!!
Hey, all you anonymous Tan thugs:
Please stop your psychobabble!!
This post is about Tan Nguyen’s awkward phone call to Mike Lawson.
If you don’t think we’re treating Tan fairly on this blog, then that’s your belief. At least present your case in a reasonable manner, like “we need no politicians in d.c.” did. At least by doing that, other people will still have some sort of respect for you (and your leader, Tan).
However by personally attacking the bloggers on this page, you’re only helping us prove our case: Tan Nguyen and his “friends” are nothing more than opportunistic thugs. If you want to prove us wrong, then offer us some substantive evidence. Right now, your trolling isn’t helping.
Mike — Please capture the phone record on your cell phone and contact your local law enforcement officials and the Capitol police about Tan’s threat. I would “hate to see anyone get hurt” too, but recognize this for what it is — a threat of physical violence, do so in a classic passive/aggressive way. This should be taken seriously and is a representative example on why this man is unfit for office.
i think the police should be contacted for sure. also, can somebody make up some anti tan bumper stickers? i’ll buy one.
Two things:
1. Having an “R” next to your name this time around is reason enough not to vote for that individual. For too long the WingNuts have abused the power given to them. They are interested in keeping power at all costs and personal enrichment (Cunningham, Frist and DeLay), while ignoring the needs and will of the majority.
So, simple numbers tell us that in order to get our country back, we need people with “D’s” next to their names elected, both locally and nationally.
2. Tan’s apparent tactic is right from the WingNut handbook of how to run an election. Bully, lie, shout down the opposition and hope just some of it sticks. Fear is what WingNuts benefit from. I am not afraid. I suspect Mike is not intimidated either.
I am new to Orange County. When my wife was transferred here I balked due to the conservative bent here. Then I realized, hey, I have an opportunity to meet the beast head on, to work for change. To voice and support my beliefs and be an example of the best that liberals have to offer.
That is so funny that Tan offered Correa the “Vietnamese” vote when he cannot even win it for himself!! Just because your last name is Nguyen does NOT guarantee you the automatic vote. GO home to your commie friends/financial supporters Tan!!!
If Tan Sergio Nguyen really wants to cut down on illegal immigrants he should raid every nail salon in Orange County.
Ladies, you know what I’m talking about…
[Here is what to expect in an O.C. nail salon]
1) “Mankew o padkew”
Translation: Would you like a manicure or a pedicure today miss?
2) “Yoo ge’ padkew loo’goo'”
Translation: Are you sure I can’t interest you in a pedicure? It sure would look good with that manicure, besides I didn’t pay a smuggler to get me out of Vietnam for this chump change.
3) “Fwen ti o’ kolo”
Translation: Would you like a natural french tip manicure or would you prefer nail polish instead?
4) “Twel olla'”
Translation: Pay up sucker you owe me twelve bucks.
…and let’s not forget about the massage parlors scattered throughout central O.C which are essentially linked to the Asian mafia in and around Garden Grove. About 90% of the girls caught doing something other than massage, are usually—wait for it––Asian immigrants.
Here’s a clue Chi Linh
(AKA: Monica),learn how to speak English or go back to Vietnam!