(Vanity) Changing my mind on Mel Martinez as RNC Chair

Spiff | 14 November 2006 | Spiff

[Spiff]

As many FReepers know, I am one of the most outspoken critics here of amnesty for illegal aliens and anyone who supports any sort of amnesty at all for them. Living right on the border and seeing the terrible crimes and damage that illegal aliens do, I will never support any sort of amnesty for them. I've posted over and over again in staunch opposition to amnesty and cited numerous reports, studies, and criminal records to demonstrate the terrible things the illegal aliens have done to our communities and the crimes that they've committed against American citizens. Check my posting history if you don't believe me.

My initial reaction to the announcement about Martinez taking the helm of the RNC was similar to many other conservatives. "UGHH!" I've made a couple of posts in opposition to Martinez as RNC Chair and now I think that I'm changing my mind on the matter as I think that many other conservatives should when they examine the situation fully.

Aside from his support for amnesty (see the Hagel-Martinez amnesty legislation and his pro-amnesty votes) Martinez is a good conservative. He receives high ratings from pro-life groups such as National Right to Life and Concerned Women for America. He has a 100% rating from the American Conservative Union and high ratings from Eagle Forum. Gun Owners of America gives him a 100% rating too.

He supports tax cuts, advocates less regulation on employers, and desires tort reform. He supports the War on Terror, supports Israel, and states that the U.S. should always maintain "the strongest military in the world." He wants to privatize Medicare and Social Security and opposes nationalized/socialized health care. He supports free exercise of religion and opposes the removal of public religious displays. He supports the Constitutional Amendment to protect traditional marriage.

Leftist organizations such as the National Organization for Women, Planned Parenthood, National Education Association, NARAL, and the ACLU give him 0 or extremely low ratings based upon his views and voting record.

He was one of the loudest voices in Washington in fighting to keep Michael Schiavo and the State of Florida from starving Terri Schiavo to death.

Yes, Martinez is absolutely WRONG on his immigration position. But, then again, so was Mehlman. Except that Mehlman was not nearly as conservative as Martinez is on every other issue. Not even close.

So, we trade a pro-amnesty "moderate" (aka. liberal) for a pro-amnesty solid conservative. That's a trade that I can live with. If Senator Jon Kyl can keep the amnesty train in check with his intent to filibuster any amnesty legislation from either side of the aisle, Martinez' pro-amnesty ideas won't have much effect.

This is a net gain for conservatives and I think that I can support Martinez as the party chair. But only on one condition. That is that Martinez takes the job full time and is not just a figurehead for the beltway party bureaucracy. We need someone who can return the GOP to its core principles not someone who will make only a handful of policy decisions, a bunch of big speeches, and head up fundraising efforts. We need a conservative leader and we won't get one if Martinez doesn't take the job full time and take command.

Are there more conservative people who could have been appointed as the RNC Chairman? Sure. A very few. Are we going to get anyone more conservative than Martinez right now? Absolutely not. And let me tell you, we could do a LOT worse given the unending number of "moderates" (ahem...liberals) who bill themselves as Republicans nowadays.

Wikipedia entry on Sen. Martinez
Project Vote Smart info on Sen. Martinez
One The Issues info on Sen. Martinez
Article by Sen. Martinez about starving Terri Schiavo to death

[fortheDeclaration]

Thank you for an excellent post.

[Spiff]

Thank you. Now it is time to look into Mike Duncan, the guy who is really going to be heading up the RNC.

[Niteranger68]

Very sincere.....thank you for the effort.

[Bahbah]

Since we are trying to think this appointment through, here is some more information.

[michigander]

I don't know how you intend to convince anyone to support your position if you're not calling them names, typing in all caps or just being consistently obnoxious.

[eureka!]

FYI

[Obadiah]

I hope you are right. I hope you/we are not simply grasping at straws hoping Martinez is "okay".

It is long past time. The knot-heads in DC need to start listening to the common sense of the base.

[Jeff Head]

I respect your position and your reasoning for it. However, for me, I now have three, single vote issues...any of which will nix a candidate in my eyes because of the moral and fundamental nature of the issues themselves. They are:

1. Abortion.
2. Gun Rights.
3. Illegal Immigration.

Simply stated:

...if a candidate will not aggressively and forthrightly defend the unalienable right to life of the unborn...they lose my vote.

... if a candidate will not aggressively and forthrightly defend our unalienable right to defend ourselves...they lose my vote.

...if a candidate will not aggressively and forthrightly defend our soveriegn borders and the legal means of immigration...they lose my vote.

[tumblindice]

"Aside from his support for amnesty (see the Hagel-Martinez amnesty legislation and his pro-amnesty votes) Martinez is a good conservative."

Aside from his choice of meats, the "cook" in the movie `Texas Chainsaw Massacre' made some damn fine barbeque.

[longhorn too]

DITTO

[bray]

Can you explain the difference between Guest Worker and Citizenship?

Pray for W and Our Troops

[Buck W.]

"That is that Martinez takes the job full time and is not just a figurehead for the beltway party bureaucracy. "

Are you suggesting that he give up his Senate seat?

[VOA]

"I've posted over and over again in staunch opposition to amnesty and
cited numerous reports, studies, and criminal records to demonstrate
the terrible things the illegal aliens have done to our communities
and the crimes that they've committed against American citizens."

Just to help out those doubters, deniers and "moral equivalency"
justifiers of criminal illegal aliens, here is the FR resource
(KEYWORD: CRIMALIENS):

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=crimaliens

[cll]

I really reject the Hispanic (or any other) label. We all shoud just be plain Americans.

Having said that, Hispanics have been deserting the Democrat plantation for a while now. Having Senator Martinez as the RNC Chair will solidify the support for the GOP from the largest "minority".

But I still would prefer Newt Gringrich in that chair.

[rwfromkansas]

Thanks for the post.

[Republican Red]

Meet the new "real" RNC leader - Mike Duncan
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1738373/posts

[Hank All-American]

"Can you explain the difference between Guest Worker and Citizenship?"

One can vote. The other can only vote when Democrats control the polling station.

And a Senator in the minority party has virtually nothing to do 90% of the time. I'm not worried about him being a part-time chairman.

[gogeo]

It's not a question of whether he's better than nothing, or if we could have done worse, or if he's not as bad as Mehlman.

It's a question of whether he's the right man for the job at this time. What talent or inclination has he shown in the past, for example, to actually sell a conservative message in the face of a hostile press?

That's the issue, IMO...and the first question I'll be asking any candidate is, "Where in the past have you sold a conservative message in the face of a hostile press?"

It's not enough to be right...candidates have to be able to sell it.

[spikeytx86]

I wanted Steele but I can live with Martinez.