Hold the phone! The MSM has finally figured out the difference between "illegal immigrant" and "immigrant."

After years of directing the Media Standards Project, visiting the Columbia School of Journalism and the Society of Professional Journalist, and badgering thick-skulled reporters to use the correct U.S. Code Title 8 designation "illegal aliens," instead of the politically correct and intentionally misleading "immigrants," I can reap the fruits of my labor.

That's the good news.

The bad news: the MSM's awakening has come at the expense of California Republican Congressional Candidate Tan Nguyen, who is trying to unseat Democratic incumbent and reconquista Loretta Sanchez.

Indifferent for years to the distinction between legal and illegal immigrants—simply calling them all "immigrants"—the MSM has taken Nguyen to the woodshed for the following sentences, originally written in Spanish, in a campaign letter mailed by his office:

"You are being sent this letter because you were recently registered to vote. If you are a citizen of the United States, we ask that you participate in the democratic process of voting.

"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, and you will be deported for voting without having a right to do so."

You can parse this several different ways. But the first paragraph is crystal clear…if you are a citizen registered to vote, please do so.

The message in the second paragraph may be debatable. But the conclusion most rational people would arrive at is that illegal aliens ("immigrants") do not have voting privileges.

And, in fact, legal immigrants who are non-citizens, whether on immigrant or non-immigrant visas, do not have voting rights.

Most Californians following the incredible Nguyen saga know the immediate up-shot:

• California law enforcement officials raided Nguyen's home and campaign office as well as the home of a Nguyen staffer.

• Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his opponent Phil Angelides called Nguyen's letter a "hate crime."

• The Orange County California Republican Party GOP chairman Scott Baugh insisted Nguyen quit.

• Two busybodies from New England, Democratic Senators Patrick Leahy and Edward Kennedy wrote to the U.S. attorney general demanding a federal investigation.

Even Nguyen's fellow Vietnamese jumped ship. In his column for New America Media, Andrew Lam—proving he's learned nothing since VDARE.COM outed him in 2003—quoted Tom Vu, editor of Sacramento's BN Magazine:

"…An unfortunate event that harkens back to the Jim Crow laws that kept black Americans from voting through intimidation. That said, I don't think this will cast a negative light on Vietnamese American elected officials, or those aspiring to elected office. All groups involved are viewing this as a candidate losing in the polls and trying a tactic to boost his chances." [ Vietnamese Media Gauge Fall Out From Campaign Scare Letter, Andrew Lam, New America Media, October 20, 2006]

On October 22, Nguyen—resurfacing after being briefly out of sight—finally held a press conference in an effort to clear the air.

Too bad it was so tame.

Said Nguyen:

"No way in hell am I gonna withdraw from this race. I'm gonna win this race."

As a Quixotic candidate for California governor in 2003, I'm disappointed that Nguyen isn't making more of his wonderful opportunity to parlay his publicity, adverse though it may appear at first glance, into votes come November.

When the Washington Post covers a local California Congressional race, you've got to make hay. [ California Campaign in Turmoil Over Letters, Sonya Geis, Washington Post, October 20, 2006]

To help Nguyen to maximize his position, I advise him to hold another press conference labeled "Kiss My Ass."  

During the KMA speech Nguyen, with nothing to lose, should go for the jugular. No apologies, no retreating and no lame "something was lost in the translation" excuses.

Nguyen should be brimming with confidence knowing, as he does, that the two major voting blocs in his district— legal Mexicans and Vietnamese—are anti-illegal immigration.

Simply because somebody is Mexican doesn't mean they support Mexican criminals.

Mexico, which tightly patrols its southern border, hands out stiff prison terms to those who do get though…unlike its sissy neighbor to the north.

And Vietnamese have even less patience with illegal immigrants. (See the new billboard campaign launched by our friends, Vietnamese for Fair Immigration.)

Here, if I were Nguyen, is would be my broad opening statement:

"We're here today to talk about what really matters to you…and it is not my letter or whether I am a racist."

Nguyen's talking points:

• The Open-Borders lobby wants illegal aliens to vote. In fact, that's the biggest reason that Sanchez is in Congress. Sanchez and her supporters blatantly sanction voter fraud. Anything that might possibly deter an illegal alien from voting—Democratic, of course—will draw the ire of illegal immigration supporters.

• Neither Governor Schwarzenegger nor Angelides is qualified to opine about "hate crimes"…a term invented and promoted by the media. In fact, Schwarzenegger and Angelides are the two of the most depressing politicians in California. Schwarzenegger is the ultimate immigration waffler; Angelides is a Gray Davis clone.

• The GOP talks a good game when the topic gets around to holding the House of Representatives in November. But it sells its own down the river at crunch time. Think about it, President Bush, Baugh and Karl Rove prefer the hardcore reconquista Sanchez to a Republican.

• As for Senators Leahy and Kennedy—butt out. When Massachusetts and Vermont are overrun with illegal aliens like California is, their opinion might have merit.

The Vietnamese are legally in the U.S. They have not crossed borders and they have certainly not participated in massive street demonstrations demanding what is not rightfully theirs.

Twenty years ago I taught an English as a Second Language class to Southeast Asian war refugees, Vietnamese among them.

The Vietnamese were consistently the best and hardest working students in the class. Over the years, I have been a guest in their homes, been to their children's graduations and most recently to their grandchildren's baptisms.

If Tan Nguyen has something to say about who should and who should not vote in an election that might send him to Congress, he's earned the right.

Is there anyone who dares to debate that?

Joe Guzzardi [e-mail him] is the Editor of VDARE.COM Letters to the Editor. In addition, he is an English teacher at the Lodi Adult School and has been writing a weekly newspaper column since 1988. This column is exclusive to VDARE.COM.