Van Tran for Congress

Day 30: “Debate Duck” Chases Loretta Sanchez Demanding She Stop Ducking Debates With Van Tran

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

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

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.

OC Register: Under Loretta Sanchez “The National Deficit Has Risen About 4 Fold” And Sanchez “Also Inferred That Deficits Are Good.”

For the full article and video go here: http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2010/08/27/rep-loretta-sanchez-gets-feisty-about-deficits/33315/

Loretta Sanchez doesn’t have time to meet with constituents or accept a debate challenge from Van Tran, but she can have lunch at the Playboy Mansion?

Rep. Sanchez eats lunch at the Playboy Mansion
Elise Viebeck
The Hill

Hugh Hefner rarely has much to tweet about when it comes to politics. Tuesday proved an exception, though, when he noted that one California Democrat had visited him at home in Los Angeles. “Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is having lunch at the Mansion,” he said. “I’m a long time supporter…”

Read the full story here: http://thehill.com/blogs/twitter-room/other-news/116747-rep-sanchez-eats-lunch-at-the-playboy-mansion

QUACK! Day 21 - Loretta Sanchez Continues To Duck Debates With Van Tran

14 Year Incumbent Fearful To Face The Public About Her Overspending In Congress.

August 30, 2010
Contact: George Andrews - (714) 794-8523
George.Andrews@joinvantran.com

(Santa Ana) – It has been 21 days since Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) was invited to participate in a series of debates with Van Tran across Orange County. Congress has been in recess since the second week in August and members should be in their district until mid September.

This year, the 47th Congressional District has been pegged as Southern California’s hottest congressional race by political experts across the spectrum.

“Ms. Sanchez’s disregard for the voters of Orange County is disturbing,” said Van Tran Campaign Manager George Andrews. “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.”

“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. 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.”

“Van Tran wants to have this conversation, it is clear Ms. Sanchez does not.”

Van Tran is a California State Assemblyman in Orange County’s 68th District. Van and his wife, Cyndi, have two children, Sophie and Alex. To learn more about Van Tran’s campaign please visit www.joinvantran.com.

ICYMI: Rep. Loretta Sanchez Spends $156,000 More Of Our Tax Dollars

For the full article, CLICK HERE.

Garden Grove Campaign Office Grand Opening

Come out to the Grand Opening of our Garden Grove Campaign Office on Monday, September 6, 2010 at 11:00AM. Our new office is located at:

12942 Harbor Blvd.

Garden Grove, CA 92840

Cross Street at Garden Grove Blvd. and Harbor Blvd.

To RSVP, Call 714-907-3442 or email us at info@JoinVanTran.com.

LA Times: California’s Few Congressional Battlegrounds Heating Up

By Jean Merl, Los Angeles Times
August 22, 2010

The battlegrounds in the fight to control the House of Representatives have become clearer as both major parties have made most key decisions about where to put their money and other efforts leading up to the Nov. 2 elections.

In California — where incumbent-friendly districts wipe out most prospects for real contests in general elections — the lists so far are short. But the contests promise to make up in intensity what they lack in numbers.

In addition to McNerney, a Pleasanton resident who ousted GOP Rep. Richard W. Pombo four years ago, congressional Republicans have decided to go after Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove), who first won the then-Republican seat in 1996…

…Republicans believe they have a shot at finally unseating Sanchez with termed-out Assemblyman Van Tran of Garden Grove.

…Washington-based political handicapper Charles Cook recently changed his assessment from “likely Democratic” to “lean Democratic,” heartening Republicans. Additionally, they believe the presence of independent Cecilia Iglesias in the race adds unpredictability…

For the full article, CLICK HERE.

Newt Gingrich Endorses Van Tran To Replace Ineffective Loretta Sanchez In Congress

For Immediate Release
August 23, 2010
Contact: George Andrews - 714-907-3442

(Santa Ana, CA) - Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich today issued an endorsement for Van Tran in his race for Congress in California’s 47th Congressional district.

“I am proud to support Van Tran for Congress,” said Speaker Gingrich. “Van Tran understands the power of free enterprise and unleashing the shackles that tie down America’s productive capacity. America’s economic woes are not due to the excesses of the free market, as Loretta Sanchez claims, but instead due to her policies of easy credit, deficit spending and stimulus. Van Tran understands that we need a new economic policy to promote a robust economic recovery and a new, long-term economic boom. This requires a sweeping replacement of the current policies supported by Loretta Sanchez.”

“I am honored to receive Speaker Gingrich’s endorsement for my race against Loretta Sanchez,” said Assemblyman Van Tran.

“So many people have joined our effort to restrain reckless spending and to eliminate waste in the Washington bureaucracy; but to have the support of a national leader with proven results balancing budgets, reforming government and cutting taxes endorse our efforts will just embolden our volunteers even more. The public is tired of Loretta Sanchez’s overspending and it needs to stop NOW.”

Van Tran has a proven record of voting against government waste and overspending. During his tenure as a State Legislator, Tran authored a bill to cut spending on wasteful boards and commissions and has twice donated his unrequested pay raises to charities in his district. He has voted against all of California’s overspending budgets and received a 100% score as a “Job Creator.”

For his commitment to creating jobs, Tran was also awarded perfect scores by the National Federation of Independent Business and the California Small Business Association.

The 47th Congressional District has a Democrat registration advantage, but for the first time since Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez has been elected, more ballots were cast (2,190) in the Republican primary than on the Democratic side in the primary election. CA-47 also voted for both George W. Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger twice, as well in favor of Proposition 8 (defining traditional marriage) by a 2 to1 margin in 2008.

Speaker Gingrich is well-known as the architect of the “Contract with America.” His experiences as the son of a career soldier convinced him at an early age to dedicate his life to his country and to the protection of freedom. Newt was first elected to Congress in 1978 where he served the Sixth District of Georgia for twenty years. In 1995, he was elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives where he served until 1999. Under his leadership, Congress passed welfare reform, passed the first balanced budget in a generation and passed the first tax cut in sixteen years.

As an author, Newt has published twenty-one books including, A Contract with the Earth, To Renew America and Saving Lives and Saving Money, where Newt describes his vision of a 21st Century System of Health and Healthcare. Gingrich serves as General Chairman of American Solutions, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and launched the Center for Health Transformation.

A strong advocate of volunteerism, Gingrich has raised millions of dollars for charity, donating both time and money to a wide array of causes, including Habitat for Humanity, United Cerebral Palsy, the American Cancer Society, and ZooAtlanta. He resides in Virginia with his wife, Callista. The Gingrich family includes two daughters, two sons-in-law and two grandchildren.