Posted on 08/17/2007 6:51:05 AM PDT by 3AngelaD
In a sign of serious Republican disarray, Sen. Mel Martinez, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, has just lambasted his party's two top presidential candidates over immigration positions which most Americans regard as reasonable. The junior senator from Florida is wrong on more than the substance. This is a case of Mr. Martinez putting his own personal views and his loyalty to President Bush above the serious responsibilities of his chairmanship... And he may have just undercut the man for whom Mr. Martinez's job requires a vigorous defense next year.
The irony here is that Mr. Martinez did this while purporting to lecture the hopefuls on "leadership..." He later mentioned Messrs. Romney and Giuliani by name as two who had mischaracterized the failed immigration plan.
The gall. Mr. Martinez knows "the answer," and he knows the "leadership" behind it: Enforcement first. He may not agree, but neither can he pretend not to hear. Enforcement first was propounded time and again by conservatives. Messrs. Giuliani and Romney are two recent (and welcome) converts. The "leadership" card may play to the audience but in this instance is pure chicanery. It is Mr. Martinez whose conduct ill suits his office. Half a year from now..How much less credibility he will have for undercutting the contenders.
...Oddest of all, the White House's enforcement announcement this week edges away from six years of open borders. At least Mr. Martinez still has Sen. Ted Kennedy and the Democrats.
The presidential contest is more than gesticulating about "leadership." It is about formulating new policy. Mr. Martinez represents the old policy. He has used his position of party influence to push that old line, and he is wrong to do so.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Being Hispanic has nothing to do with Mel Martinez’ racial bias, I’m certain! Mel, time to go.
So, basically, he thinks that a real leader will read the polls, believe that most Americans don't want our laws enforced, shrug and say "If that's what you want" and then lead the nation accordingly?
That's leadership?
So, how do we begin the effort to remove Martinez?
This is a coordinated effort by the MSM to drive a wedge in the Republican Party.
First, Martinez makes the weak claim that Giuliani and Romney did not offer alternatives to the Immigration Bill. That is not true.
He does not attack them.
Martinez will be out once a nominee is selected.
I can’t wait til this clown is removed from RNC headquarters.
That's a waste of time. The leaders of the GOP are NOT conservative.
The only hope conservatives have in 08 is for a grassroots campaign to overwhelm the party establishment.
And if that doesn't happen; hello pres. hillary.
Paging Haley Barbour. Would Mr. Barbour please pick up the white G0P courtesy phone? What happened to effective Republican leaders?
Martinez is in the WH immigration loop.
The reason he was clear to be public is because the WH enforcement effort is not about enforcement, it is about punishment. The goal is to SELECTIVLY enforce law so as to punish those who opposed amnesty. An unbalanced give them what they want with a few “weere doooomed” news stories and the George Orwell writing class yields dividends.
Martinez is arrogant.
Martinez must go.
If the WH is that worried about his token hispanic value, they can replace him without person of hispanic decent. (why even waste time playing games about that failure to “attract”.) What will attract hispanic newly minted voters is standing FOR something. NOT having a token.
If this was the case, Jessie Jackson’s shakedown machine can easily be bought. If we don’t stand for something, we stand for nothing.
“NEWT FOR RNC CHAIR”
That’s an excellent idea. Newt is a much better strategic thinker and organizer than he is a candidate. RNC Chair is just the role to best leverage his talents. I like it.
Martinez is still the head of the RNC. He should have resigned after the comprehensive immigration bill was defeated this summer. He has become the poster boy for amnesty, which began with the 2006 Hagel-Martinez comprehensive immigration reform bill, that was voted against by Senate Reps 32-23.
Bush’s appointment of him as RNC chair has hurt the party. Contributions are down [including mine] because he is still the chair. And the fact that he is interjecting himself into the campaign calling McCain courageous and attacking Romney and Giuliani for mischaracterizing the Senate bill is beyond the pale. Instead of you telling others to STFU, you should direct that comment to Martinez and demand his resignation.
It is not the MSM driving a wedge in the GOP, it is Martinez. The immigration could and should be one of the defining issues of the 2008 campaign. I can assure you that the Martinez position on immigration won’t be the one reflected in the GOP platorm for 2008.
ROVE?
Not surprising. Sad, but not surprising.
W's legacy will be putting loyalty to his friends above his responsibilty to the nation.
An excellent choice dear angel!
Haley is far less abrasive than Newt and in my view a smarter politician.
I believe that the conservative policy positions can win the day if they are effectively presented.
Nothing is more important than keeping our message consistently clear and conservative. And nobody does that better that Mr. Barbour.
Rove is for open borders as well.
Newt for RNC, that is a GREAT idea.
BTTT!
I think the Republican leaders forgot the part that leaders rule at the pleasure of the lead.
Mel Martinez is reason number one why RNC fundraising is more dried up than shrillaries humanity.
Senator Martinez = NO MONEY.
HE doesn't GET IT......but we, the people, do.
THE FACTS ARE THESE: This individual---supposedly an American---is colluding with Third World governments to assist them in hoisting themselves out of their respective hellholes on the backs of American citizens.
No way, Jose.
I’ve been trying to promote the idea of Leadership change within the Republican Party for more than a few postings. The latest response I have received stated to the effect “Don’t Hold Your Breath”.
I’m not, but change is needed and Mr. Martinez just might be promoting that change himself. Time will tell.
It is actually worse than that.
He is giving away for FREE U.S. citizenship, work visas while asking nothing in return.
This is not barganing this is surrender.
By securing the border AND the flow of illegals, we have far more barganing power to direct their hell holes away from their pits and inot a prosperity.
(as rush says “liberty works”)
Don’t let them get you down.
They said the same naysayers BS with immigration reform. (the fix is in, don’t hold your breath etc.)
I can see him switching parties, too.
My senator Mel should just shut up and go back to cuba.
He’s a serious jackass.
You can’t, he’s President Bushs lap dog.
Only reason I was forced to vote for his sorry ass is he was running against Betty Castor a shill of Sami Arien.
During the amnesty deal I wrote Mel voicing my dislike for the amnesty bill and telling him I would not vote for him and would work against any election he chooses to run in the future.
In reply I got a request for a donation to the R.N.C.
The R.N.C. and my senator Mel Martinez can kiss my backside.
Never bother anyone busy hanging them selves.
No he does not. And people wonder why the natives are restless. Our highest ranking party member, the President, has deserted us on a lot of issues and has poked the base in the eye on several occasions. Many members of his administration such as Skeletor do the same. The two biggest Republican candidates are northeastern RINO’s and the head of the RNC is way out of touch.
Obviously, Uncle Mel is way off the charts on this one. However, let’s pause before pushing him over the rail. With the exception of Jeb Bush, there are few Pubbies popular enough to get elected as his replacement. Losing our one Florida seat, in a state with a heavy Hispanic voting base, would make recapture of the Senate a virtual impossibility. At least, Martinez goes with the party on Judgeships. As an issue, immigration comes and goes, but judicial appointments are a continuing and equally vital issue.
The Republican Party is not a sinking ship yet but if the likes of Martinez, Limply Grahamnesty and others keep on wildly shooting holes then it will soon become a submarine.
How in the world can Mel Martinez give any kind of speech about leadership when by all accounts more than 87% of the country would not follow him into a bank vault for free money?
There are only a handful of hispanics in the GOP. All Cubans, no Mexicans.
As the GOP continues to call the Cubans Turd-Worlders, they will leave.
If and when Florida flips blue, electing a GOP prez is virtually impossible.
ping
MSM has nothing to do with it. From big-government spending, fighting a half-assed WOT, and now illegal immigration, the GOP created their own rift.
Mel Martinez should resign from his leadership position in the Republican party immediately and the good people of Florida should resign him from the senate at the first opportunity.
Just where does he think they could have fled to if America was turned into the third world copy of Mexico?
Why did we end up with this turd-bird in the Senate when the Cuban-American community produces so many patriots?
All true, but the administration has no real choice but to ride it out til January of 09 with Gonzales.
Unless you want Harry Reid picking the new AG.
I cannot believe that Washington hasn’t got the message on immigration YET. They have their collective heads in the sand.
Quote: “ Mel,kiss my griiiits!” Flo...
Martinez has to be removed. Considering the damage he does to the GOP, it makes one wonder if he is actually working for the Democrats.
Mel is angry, frustrated and embarrassed because he has been exposed. People now realize his dream is to stand at our southern border with a whistle and check board, waving illegals in by the thousands. Mel was among W’s worst mistakes. He should have picked Mike Steele to lead the party.
Michael Steele would have been so much better on so many levels. For starters, he has a grasp of the rule of law, and of capitalism. The people of Maryland were nuts not to elect him.
Posted yesterday by TommyDale
Senior Martinez, El Stupido.
Ditto.
Mel Martinez passes the duck test for idiot Repubs.
But if he really is a closet Dem, he is brilliant.
First inflitrate and then subvert.
Nicely done. Repub Party takeover almost complete.
Or Mel Martinez is a secret weapon of the Dems to destroy the Repub Party?
Or at least a Pod Person?
Or have mind control techniques evolved so far?
Or does Hillery have his FBI file?
All these are whackadooble ideas. The problem is, is that though whackadooble, they could all qualify as logical explainations.
What are his Martinez's chances of re-election?
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