Why Not Hoa?

April 11, 2008 Uncategorized 30

On June 3rd voters in the First Supervisoral District will go to the polls and elect our representitive to the Orange County Board of Supervisors.  We will choose from three candidates, two Republicans and one Democrat.  All three of the candidates are Vietnamese-Americans, Janet Nguyen, Dina Nguyen and Hoa Van Tran.  The Nguyen’s are the Republicans and Tran the lone Democrat.

Democrats had been counting on former State Senator Joe Dunn to be our candidate in this election, but Dunn chose to sit this one out.  Dunn’s decision left many in the party scrambling to find a candidate.  Some hoped Santa Ana Councilman David Benevides would throw his hat in the ring, he didn’t.  Paul Lucas flirted with running, some believed he was being nudged by Dina Nguyen and Van Tran in an effort to split the vote, but in the end he too opted out.  That left us with one person to carry the party banner into battle, Hoa Van Tran.

Support for Hoa amongst Democrats has been lukewarm at best.  Sure Frank Barbaro gave him $500 and folks like Wylie Aitken appeared at a recent fundraiser and offered his support but none of our local elected Democrats have given him their endorsement.  Edgardo Reynoso, Lou Correa’s brother-in-law, is running Hoa’s campaign and yet Hoa can’t even get Lou’s official endorsement.  My question is, why not Hoa?

Republican’s have about a 25 year headstart on the Democrats in courting the Vietnamese community.  I remember back in 1984, when I was a Republican, and I worked for Dick Longshore’s State Assembly campaign, Dick worked closely with folks in the Vietnamese community.  Dick had a close relationship with Frank Jao, the visionary who essentially created Little Saigon, and there wasn’t a Democrat in sight.  All these years later the Democrats still haven’t made too many inroads into Little Saigon and the Vietnamese community.

Well it is about time that we as a party wake up and do something about.  The Vietnamese community has a tremendous voter turnout and we cannot simply turn our backs on it and cede those votes to the Republicans.  Loretta Sanchez and Lou Correa have seen some mild support in this community and have done some outreach but it pails in comparison to what “B-1 Bob” Dornan did and what Van Tran is doing.  The Republicans have a strong well oiled machine operating on all cylinders, in comparison we have the equivelent of a broken down moped.

We can begin to change that starting right now.  The best way we can do that is by supporting elected Vietnamese Democrats like Dr. Kim Oanh Nguyen-Lam from the Garden Grove School Board and a Vietnamese Democratic candidate like Hoa Van Tran.  We also need to cultivate new Vietnamese Democratic leaders and show folks in that community that it is okay to be a Democrat.

Younger members of the Vietnamese community tend not to be idealogues like so many in the older generations.  The youth tend to have the same concerns as most of us, healthcare, education, poverty and the environment.  While a large portion of the older generation is still focused on a war that ended over 30 years ago, still focused on destroying the “communists”.  They view the GOP as the party of “anti-communism”.

We need to change this.  While we must never forget the atrocities they faced, we need to get them to refocus their energy on a new war.  We need them to realize that the Democrats are their best allies in this new war, a war that will fight for better healthcare, education, housing, transportation and protection for seniors.  We need to reach out to them and inform them on the issues and the beliefs of the Democratic Party.

The best way to do this is by supporting the Vietnamese Democrats that are already out there.  The more Vietnamese Democrats that we help get elected the better chance we have at attracting Vietnamese voters to our party.  We can start by supporting Hoa Van Tran in his race for the First District. 

I too was hesitant to support him but that changed after seeing his comments on Nguoi Viet Daily News over on the Total Buzz.  “They’ve been with the community a long time,” he said. “They are not communists. They are respected in the community.” 

Hoa made this statement despite the fact that he knew it could raise the ire of activists in Little Saigon.  This demonstrates his courage and his independence.  Janet Nguyen, Dina Nguyen, Van Tran and Tri Ta, all Republicans, refused to offer any support whatsoever for Nguoi Viet, choosing instead to cower to the extremists.

There are some, mostly supporters of Janet Nguyen, that are trying to claim thet Hoa is a stealth candidate planted by Assemblyman Van Tran.  They call him a “Trannie”.  I have been assured he is not.

We as Democrats are best served by supporting Hoa Van Tran.  The First District is a Democratic seat and we must win it back.  Hoa Van Tran will help us do that and he will help open the door to Little Saigon for the Democratic Party.  I hope you’ll join me in supporting him and ask the you encourage our elected Dems to do the same.

30 Comments

  2. Gustavo,

    I believe Hoa will be able to build a much needed bridge between the Vietnamese and Latino communities. Folks like Van Tran and Janet Nguyen have tried hard to burn every bridge between them. Each side has tried to outdue the other when it comes to Latino bashing.

    Sure Janet throws some cash around, nothing compared to what she has given to folks in the Vietnamese community, but she is simply pandering for votes in an election year.

    She showed her true colors with the racist campaign mailers in the last election.

  3. Gustavo,

    I did not know that. But the fact is there are many reasons to believe that he is affiliated with the Trannies. And we know what THEY think about Latinos.

    Janet has by the way been a friend to Latinos as our Supervisor. You cannot say that about the Trannies. They have gone out of their way to fly to the Mexican border to verbally attack immigrants.

    We need to look further into the connections between Hoa and the Trannies. Also, I am told that he NEVER has anything bad to say about Van Tran and his Trannies. Is that true? Have you asked him how he feels about the Trannies?

  4. “But the fact is there are many reasons to believe that he is affiliated with the Trannies.”

    And what would those reasons be?

    “I am told that he NEVER has anything bad to say about Van Tran and his Trannies.”

    Perhaps that is because he is focused on running a positive campaign focusing on what he wants to do rather than obsessing over Van Tran or Miguel Pulido.

  5. Considering that it was Lou Correa that left the Democrats high and dry in the supervisor’s race to begin with, I find his lack of support for Tran appalling. I think Correa is a luke warm Democrat and a smokin’ hot opportunist.

  7. Where do Sal Tinajero and Claudia Alvarez stand on Hoa?
    Have they endorsed him? Will they? How about Pulido?

  8. Gustavo, I was drunk too so I could be wrong but didn’t Hoa say something about moving the BOS & Other county offices to Irvine so that we can turn the Civic Center into a Regional Park?

    Oh wait? I remember now. Hoa said we need a Regional Park in central OC. I think he suggested using the PG&E right-of-way or the Santa Ana River bed.

    I am glad I was there to tell him about the $1.2 million in funds that the Board members dole out to pet projects in their districts. Maybe he can spend some of that money to pay for parks? Or to fill the holes in the county budget.

    At any rate, at least his park idea is a reason to vote for him other than the (D) after his name.

  9. “At any rate, at least his park idea is a reason to vote for him other than the (D) after his name.”

    So is the fact that he is opposed by Janet and Dina.

  10. Sean,
    Does Sal Tinajero endorse Hoa Van Tran?
    Since he supports parks and opposes Janet,
    it should be an easy call.

  12. Lou Correa is playing game here. He is putting personal interest ahead of the greater interest of the Democratic Party. He should endorse Hoa Van Tran right now, and not after the June election.

  14. Art — your little blog-infatuation with Janet is annoying. All she has done is deliver pork laden projects to pander for votes and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to redecorate her office. Rather than fund a study of gang related violence, perhaps she needs to find some funds to put more cops on the streets, develop better after school programs for kids and perhaps better day care options for parents working two or three jobs. She’s just another conservative Republican out to hold onto her seat.

  15. Why not Hoa? Okay, but why is he alienating his base?

    He was the Democrats presumed worst case scenario, then he turned into the “worst of all evils” candidate, now he is the second coming of NatiHoa Lopez.

    Blanket amnesty is a unpopular position and has the potential to alienate many Vietnamese and democratic voters who would otherwise support him.

    Considering the partisan advantage he holds, the impressive story he lived, the candidates he faces, from my vantage point, this was not a smart political move.

    But, let me first comment on the race issue.

    Many Vietnamese have low regard for “Mexicans” and to an extent, Hispanic also despise the advances, motives, or posturing of “chinos”. As Sean says, there are some unhatched but hemorrhaging race-relations issues between Asians and Mexicans.

    However, candidates or elected officials, like Van Tran or Janet Nguyen, are not the cause of these strained race issues, they only can be faulted for perpetuated this inherently humanistic event.

    People have always had a tribe mentality and have always differentiated themselves in groups for their benefit while pointing out the differences in others as a way to deny them an opportunity. That’s why Democrats believe they are right, but so do Republicans.

    Back to Hoa! His campaign obviously is attempting to capture the Hispanic voters but they blew it by taking this such a ultra-pro LA RAZA stance so early in the game. Hispanics are extremely loyal to Democrats and given the candidates in this election, Hoa already had them at hello.

    That’s a hint for the Hoa Van campaign, you need to focus on your base.

    In this race, as the sole democrat, your base is the Democrats.

    Dina and Janet will fight for the Reps and that’s okay but as long as you alienate the moderates voters you threaten your base.

    Also, why don’t your signs in Santa Ana point out your the sole Democrat.

    I expect the other elected democratic Hispanic officials to get on the Hoa band wagon in the closing days of the election. I think it would be foolish for them to feel at ease with having a potential Vietnamese Republican official in a position to challenge their future political aspirations.

    And yes, the central county need more park space.
    Hoa should campaign on the idea of purchasing Willowick golf course from cash strapped Garden Grove. The least you could do is transform it into a 9 hole golf course, with the front 9 transformed into county park.

  17. What desperation Art. Posting a link to you blog to drive traffic from the blog kicking your ass, rather than commenting on the post at hand.

    The least you could do is post a few highlights from the story you link to so that our readers might have a hint as to whether it is worth traveling over to read your drivel.

    But then again, that would defeat the purpose of your comment…

    Driving visits and page views to OJ.

    Cleverly pathetic.

  18. Chris,

    Art’s post was as expected a fluff piece for Janet. He attacks Hoa and praises Janet. No surprise there.

    What is funny is that Hoa supports amnesty. Art supports amnesty. Janet does not.

    Hoa is critical of the Little Saigon protesters. Art is critical of the Little Saigon protesters. Janet is not.

    I guess Art would rip himself if he were running against Janet.

  20. My guess is Santa Ana Council won’t endorse Hoa because Janet looks pretty strong as of now. Unless the trannies inflict a lot more damage than theyv’e been able to up to now, can’t see too much changing.

    The trannies are running a pretty weak candidate so it looks like they will be happy to just go with a scorched earth approach. I’m sure reep party leaders will not be too happy in the long run, but they seem to allow tran to do whatever he wants. Looks like they fear he might turn his clan on them if they pull him back in line…

  21. C’mon Art; is that all you have? A link to a post?! The fact is Janet can do no wrong in your eyes.

  22. Chris,

    Actually, our blog is ahead of yours in the rankings this week. I posted the link because rather than retype my side of the story, I figured it would be easier to simply direct those interested in my views to my post.

  23. Dan,

    I know we do not know each other very well, but I think you are a good guy, at least from what I have seen. Please know that I don’t back politicians who sell out to special interests, or who fail to serve the public. If Janet strays, I will let her have it, just like I have begun to unload on SA Councilwoman Michele Martinez, who has given up, apparently, trying to bring change to Santa Ana.

    You have my word. If Janet pulls any dumbass stunts I will not hold back. I just have not seen such behavior from her so far. She is doing a fine job. You guys dislike her because she is a Reep. Well, not all Reeps are bad, just as not all Dems are good. Just look at the Santa Ana City Council. Most unimpressive Democrats…

  24. So, we can count on Art P’s word not to hold back IF Janet pulls any dumbass stunts.
    I guess major expenditures on office redecorating don’t count.
    And the opening of a “constituent outreach” office in her district – the only one in the county – despite it being in central OC and including the county seat. Constituents in La Habra and San Clemente need to drive to SA to interact with their county representative, but those in Little Saigon need county government to come to them.
    Let’s not forget the immigrant bashing she did to get herself elected.
    Shows us all what Art’s “word” is truly worth.

  25. Art,

    Janets positon on medical maryjane, treasurer oversight, sheriff oversight and regional service centers has been off.

    I think a viet center was smart, but wouldn’t one next to the mexican consolate also be helpful? A center in northwest OC would also make sense. And Janet has stood by while department leaders have led the Sheriff’s and Treasurer’s dept’s astray. And she should not have just “gone along” with the wasteful spending on offices just because everybody else was doing it!

    Your blog position would be much stronger if you called Janet out on these issues.

  26. Publius,

    You left out the expenditure of $37,000 in Health Care Agency funds to pay for her office staff “off the books,” while eliminating clinics and staff positions to pay for it.

    We are still waiting for her to pay that money back to the people of Orange County. But since we have Art’s “word” that he will speak up if she pulls any dumbass stunts, this one must not count either.

    At least to Art.

    Maybe he’s just waiting for a pajarito to tell him about it?

  27. Art,

    A video posted on YouTube is hardly exclusive, especially when it is recorded by Hoa Van Tran’s campaign.

    As far as the blog rankings are concerned, the BNN rankings fluctuate from week to week. But if it makes you feel better, crow about it. It has been a while since you were #1. I think the last time LiberalOC held the rank was the week ending March 30, and the week before that.

  28. “perhaps she needs to find some funds to put more cops on the streets, develop better after school programs for kids and perhaps better day care options for parents working two or three jobs. She’s just another conservative Republican out to hold onto her seat”

    I haven’t noticed any one taking the 6 Dems and 1 Rep on the Santa Ana City Council for failing to do that……..

    There are less police in Santa Ana today than there were 25 years ago, and the population has doubled.

    Santa Ana has a complete lack of parks, libraries or after school programs and what do the 6 Dem’s on SACC do ? Have study sessions at the zoo, hold retreats at a Doubletree hotel, waste council time tossing me off my commission…….but still no new cops, parks, libraries.

  29. Wasn’t there also some issue (I get confused with all of the “dumbass stunts”) about Janet taking SECRET contributions for an ILLEGAL legal defense fund? And then when found out, how long did it actually take for her to reveal the donors and refund the money?
    What about the current newspaper protest scandal, where she seems to be trying to support both sides?

  30. It is not hard for Hoa Tran to win over the Vietnamese. The Vietnamese community in general are very liberal; despite the fact that many switched to the Republican side in order to vote for Van Tran.

    Think about this, what is the one issue that you hear over and over again in recent months? (besides the war) What did Janet do or offer at the “open house” at her office in Westminster??

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