Ooops!

Ahhh, you can hear it now. It was unauthorized. It was inadvertant. It was an overzealous volunteer. Gee, we're sorry. It'll never happen again. Are you sure the Democrats didn't do it? AP (10.19.06):

"State investigators have linked a Republican campaign to letters sent to thousands of Southern California Hispanics warning them they could go to jail or be deported if they vote next month, a spokesman for the attorney general said. 'We have identified where we believe the mailing list was obtained,' said Nathan Barankin, spokesman for Attorney General Bill Lockyer." AG: Voter Warning Linked to GOP Campaign

"The Los Angeles Times and The Orange County Register both reported Thursday that the investigation appeared to be focused on the campaign of Tan D. Nguyen, a Republican challenger to Democratic U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D - CA47). "The letter, written in Spanish, tells recipients: 'You are advised that if your residence in this country is illegal or you are an immigrant, voting in a federal election is a crime that could result in jail time.'" "In fact, immigrants who are naturalized U.S. citizens can vote." UPDATE: Ha!! Told ya. AP (10.19.06):

"'I did not do this. I did not approve of any letter,' Tan D. Nguyen, the GOP challenger to Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez, told The Associated Press." Candidate Denies Sending Voter Warning

UPDATE TWO: Jesus. Predictable or what? AP (10.19.06):

"A Republican congressional candidate said Thursday that he has fired a campaign staffer who may have been the source of a letter that falsely told Hispanics that immigrants can go to jail if they try to vote." Candidate Denies Sending Threat Letter