The battle for San Jose City mayoral seat is heating up now that the leaves are turning color for the final stretch. Both remaining candidates are vying for the Vietnamese-American votes. Afterall, it is 13% of the electorate.
Some Vietnamese-American supporters of Councilmember Matt Mahan are attacking Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez on her support of women's right to choose and Proposition 1 which amends the state constitution to include the right for reproductive freedom. They are asking the Vietnamese community not to vote for her because she is supporting abortion right.
These are the remnants of Madison Nguyen supporters (Yes, few are still clinging on the idea that she is politically viable) who claim that Mahan is against abortion and Proposition 1. A statement going viral on various email groups declares his whole family is all against abortion for it is sinful and that Matt is a good Catholic person who would follow his church teaching.
The fact of the matter is Mahan is a supporter of abortion and reproductive rights as reported in the main stream media. As a progressive candidate in a politically liberal city, this is not a surprise.
On May 9, 2022, he also co-signed along with 77 other elected officials in the Bay Area an open letter asking Governor Newsom to support and fund abortion in California.
What Mahan said to his Vietnamese supporters about his abortion stand, LSI cannot confirm.
So the misleading propaganda by his supporters is either a clever lie to create favorable impression of Mahan or Mahan himself playing both sides of the fence and telling his Vietnamese supporters whatever they want to hear and let them attack Chavez on false pretense.
In politics, slyness is the key and a narrative edge on your opponent is worthwhile to craft by any means given the opportunity.
