Martinez Watch

Senator Martinez to step down in 2010

2008-12-02T10:27:00.000-08:00

U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez won't seek re-election

Martinez would have been campaigning for a midterm reelection bid in a drastically different political landscape than the one in which he was first elected. His seat was widely seen as vulnerable, but Martinez rejected suggestions he faced difficult prospects in a state won last month by Democrat Barack Obama.

"Some might try to characterize this decision in terms of political affairs. Some will say a re-election campaign would have been too difficult. But I've faced much tougher odds in political campaigns and in life. My decision was not based on reelection prospects, but on what I want to do with the next eight years of my life."

Floridans just don't like Mel

2008-12-02T10:19:00.001-08:00

Via The Politico, "Democrats Smell Blood in Florida":

The 2010 Senate election cycle has barely started, but the Democrats’ top target has already emerged: Republican Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida.

His popularity is sagging due to his long-standing ties to President George W. Bush, his high-profile advocacy for immigration reform that alienated conservatives, and his tumultuous nine-month stint last year as chairman of the Republican National Committee, which did little to burnish his image, either within his own party or among independents and Democrats.

A November Quinnipiac poll showed a 38 percent plurality of Florida voters believe Martinez doesn’t deserve another term, while only 36 percent believe he should be reelected. Against an unnamed Democratic opponent, Martinez trails by 4 points, 40 percent to 36 percent.

2007-10-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

Martinez resigns as RNC "national chairman"

As of today:

Mel Martinez, the public face of the Republican National Committee as its general chairman, announced Friday he was stepping down from his post after serving only 10 months.

"I believe that our future as a party and nation is bright and I have every intention of continuing to fight for our president, our party and our candidates," the Florida senator said in a statement.

His resignation came months earlier than anticipated. Martinez wasn't expected to step down until a Republican presidential nominee was selected, and the earliest that could occur is February.

The RNC said Martinez' job would not be filled.

Martinez said he was relinquishing the job to spend more time focusing on his constituents and because the RNC had achieved the objective he set when he assumed the job in January.

"It was my goal as general chairman to lead the party as it established the structure and raised the resources necessary to support our presidential candidate and ensure Republican victories next November. I believe we have accomplished those goals," Martinez said.

He has shared the chairmanship with Mike Duncan, a longtime RNC official who has been responsible for the party's day-to-day operations. Republican officials say with Martinez' departure, the RNC will return to a traditional leadership structure with a single chairman.

President Bush named Martinez, a prominent Hispanic who previously served in the Cabinet, as general chairman last November.

He had been reluctant to assume the role and did so only after repeated White House overtures. When he accepted the job, he had indicated to friends that he anticipated serving only about a year in the post.

The first-term senator was brought on to be the face of the party, focusing on fundraising, outreach and travel to promote the GOP agenda.

2007-10-13T06:38:00.000-07:00

A Martinez fan weighs in: Martinez "crucified over hate"

Via FAIR Immigration Reform Movement:

[Martinez] was admittedly put in a terribly difficult position on the comprehensive immigration reform bill, and at some level he crashed and burned with the legislation.

But let us not be too hasty as to think that his failure on the legislation was all due to his own missteps. Sure, he made mistakes. But it was clear that key members of the RNC were going to use him as a punching bag on this issue to protect themselves.

Put a latino in power, and then crucify him on “his own” issue.

2007-10-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

Mel adds a 4th title

during an immigration debate at Notre Dame reaired on CSPAN last night:

Sen. Martinez, who emigrated from Cuba at age 15 and is the first Cuban-American to serve in the U.S. Senate, emphasized the fact that he is the only immigrant in the Senate and that he recognizes a crisis in confidence in the U.S. government.

"We must have national conversations to enact comprehensive legislation as a nation harkening our history as a nation of immigrants and as a nation of laws," he said. "A comprehensive approach at the federal level is what is needed."

Mel Martinez can now choose from among the following titles, depending upon his audience: U.S. Senator, General Chairman of the Republican National Committee, only immigrant in the U.S. Senate and, last but not least, spokesman for every Hispanic in America.

2007-10-08T21:36:00.000-07:00

Martinez doesn't care what his constituents think -- USA Today

Via USA Today:

By one measure, the DREAM Act would seem the least controversial of the three: When the Senate Judiciary Committee considered it in 2003, the vote in favor was 16-3.

The opposition this year is enough to raise doubts about whether it or any piece of the immigration act can become law in the current Congress.

"I just don't think the political wherewithal is there to do it," says Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., the party's national chairman.

He supported the immigration overhaul but isn't sure he'll back relief for illegal immigrant children as a separate issue.

And though Martinez says it hasn't affected his stance, he says he received "a flood of letters and phone calls" opposing the DREAM Act when Durbin tried to add it to the defense authorization bill last month [emphasis added].

Note: the two years of higher education required by the DREAM Act to stay in America need not be in English.

2007-10-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

Conservative Belle: A Republican should be the next RNC Chairman

Conservative Belle has some good suggestions for the post-Martinez Republican National Committee:

The party needs new leadership, leadership which reflects the views of those who support the organization. Many conservatives, myself included, have declined to contribute any more money or sustain an active membership in the national party because of their inability to effectively acknowledge the lack of border enforcement and the growing illegal immigration problem in our country.

Instead I got a lot of email traffic asking for more money because of the outrageous things the Democrats are saying/doing. I'd be more inclined to contribute if they instead said they needed the money to proliferate a strong message by the RNC that border security is a priority issue. ...

We should be able to demonstrate fiscal conservatism and restraint of government growth in our actions, not just our rhetoric. And when Republicans who do demonstrate that (Senators DeMint, Coburn) idealism, we should applaud it, not shun it.

2007-10-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

New 2008 Republican Logo?

Hat tip: Andy at Residual Forces blog

2007-10-03T17:11:00.000-07:00

Orlando Sentinel: An Anti-Martinez Conspiracy?

The editorial board of the Orlando Sentinel frets that "Mel Martinez just took over as Republican National Chairman in January, and he's already planning his exit early next year. Was this his plan all along, or is he getting pushed out by GOP leaders?"

Let's see: Mel Martinez has blasted his fellow Republican Senators for their failure to support his amnesty bill; denounced his own party's frontrunners for the 2008 presidential nomination for their failure to support amnesty; and agreed to lead the fight for U.S. statehood for Spanish-only Puerto Rico in the U.S. Senate.

Plus, Republican party fundraising is way down, the GOP does not dare send out fundraising letters signed by its own "National Chairman," and the RNC is in rebellion.

Yep, sounds like a conspiracy to me.

Mel Martinez, like some other loyalists to George W. Bush, was given a job in which he proceeded not to perform well. Now his Senate seat is in danger and he still has yet to figure out if he is representing Florida, the White House or every Hispanic in the Western Hemisphere.

2007-09-29T19:29:00.000-07:00

Martinez to soon depart from his RNC post?

Bob Novak says yes in his column today:

SEN. Mel Martinez of Florida, named general chairman of the Republican Party only nine months ago, has advised associates that he will leave the post as soon as somebody clinches the party's presidential nomination.

When Martinez took the party post Jan. 19, it was expected he would stay on through the 2008 elections as the GOP's principal national spokesman. Many Republicans now grumble that Martinez has been ineffective in that role.

While it is not unusual, at least since the Goldwater nomination in 1964, for the party nominee to install his own RNC chairman, there are hints that Martinez has volunteered to leave in order to avoid being shown the door. As Stephen Dinan of the Washington Times wrote on September 11th:

Martinez was tapped less than a year ago to head the RNC, but his name rarely shows up on e-mails and mailings from the RNC, and questions are mounting among both Republicans and Democrats about his effectiveness as chairman.

Just last month Martinez attacked the two top Republican presidential candidates, Rudolph W. Giuliani and Mitt Romney, for opposing and mischaracterizing the Senate bill. But even on that, he stands at odds with his own party. Just two weeks earlier, the RNC had voted to embrace an enforcement-first strategy toward handling illegal immigration -- a policy much closer to Giuliani and Romney than it is to the president.

And if some e-mailers are to be beleived, Martinez is hurting the RNC right in the pocketbook:

I received a call from the RNC the other evening asking for a contribution. I told the woman that I will give no money to the RNC until Mel Martinez is gone. I am a Conservative Republican from Florida and, unfortunately, voted for Mel last time, but never again! We will work to defeat him in Florida!!! With a friend like him, who needs enemies?

2007-09-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

GOP Fundraising Still Down

Via (subscription-only) Congressional Quarterly:

Using data for Aug. 31 in the election cycle’s off-year as a snapshot, the figures show that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) reported $20.5 million more in cash on hand than the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), which reported only $1.59 million in the bank. ...

On the Senate side, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) had $4 million more on hand than the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). The DSCC had raised $36 million, while the NRSC took in $20.5 million.

A look back shows how sharply the Republican fortunes have declined. On the identical date in 2005, the NRCC had $624,000 more on hand than the DCCC, while on the Senate side Republicans had a $950,000 advantage.

2007-08-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

Our Anti-Martinez Effort Gains an Ally

"A Certian Slant of Light".

2007-08-18T11:24:00.001-07:00

More Grassroots Resentment of Martinez's Abuse of His Office

Via The Conservative Beacon, Joshua Price weighs in:

As I feared, the national chairman of the Republican Party Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Florida) is trying to make the failed Senate immigration bill the cornerstone of the Republican Party’s position on immigration. ...

I am tired of the condescension coming from the elites of the Republican Party. I expect this sort of behavior from the Democrats, but the increasing trend of this type of rhetoric from high-level Republican officials, especially on immigration issues, is indeed disturbing.

2007-08-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

"To be a leader, you have to have followers."

National Review weighs in on the latest Martinez tirade. Their August 17th editorial, "Rethinking Immigration," begins:

It is bad enough that Sen. Mel Martinez, the national chairman of the Republican party, is out of step with a large majority of the party’s voters and volunteers on immigration. What’s worse is that he is now attacking the party’s presidential candidates for being in step with them. Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani have turned against the “comprehensive” reform that Martinez has tried to push through the Senate, so Martinez is accusing them of not “leading on the tough issues.” Neither is Martinez: To be a leader, you have to have followers; and the country does not want to follow him down the path to amnesty. Romney and Giuliani are right to seek another route.

2007-08-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

"It is Mr. Martinez whose conduct ill suits his office."

says the Washington Times in an editorial.

2007-08-18T10:38:00.000-07:00

The smell of pants burning

Mel Martinez's pre-election promise to the RNC.

2007-08-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

Pesos for the RNC?

"Frank Templeton," a former Republican activist, explains why he sent the Republican National Committee 50 Mexican pesos. (Hat tip: A Certain Slant of Light).

2007-08-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

Amnesty not helping Martinez's popularity in Florida

One recently released Florida poll reported that his disapproval rating of 38 percent was two percentage points higher than his approval rating (Source: Florida Today, July 30, 2007).

2007-08-02T16:01:00.001-07:00

RNC Resolutions Committee backs border security

Ever wonder if Washington listens? They do (at least if the people are plenty loud).

Breaking news:

[T]he RNC's Resolutions Committee also pleased conservatives by endorsing a resolution calling on the federal government to devote all means necessary to securing the nation's borders against an influx of illegal aliens.

The Republican national committee has taken the first step toward telling Congress the highest priority is to secure our borders now," said Mr. Pullen. "If you don't do anything else, we don't need to have a guest workers program, we don't need comprehensive immigration reform — we need to secure the borders now."

The full 165-member RNC is expected to approve the resolution today, the second day of the four-day RNC annual summer meeting here.

The resolution, presented by Arizona GOP Chairman Randy Pullen, conspicuously lacks any reference to programs supported by President Bush, Arizona Sen. John McCain or Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, the RNC's general chairman, to legitimize illegal aliens already in the United States or launch a "guest workers" program.

2007-08-02T15:50:00.001-07:00

Identity Politics at the RNC

RNC General Chairman Mel Martinez offered some of his thoughts on immigration recently:

Question: How much did your background as a Cuban refugee color your views on the immigration bill, both as you shaped the legislation and then later as you pushed for its passage?

Answer: I don’t think there’s any question it was central to my involvement. When I came to the Senate, I didn’t envision immigration as an issue being something I would be deeply involved in. However, once I got here, being the only immigrant in the Senate, I felt a great sense of responsibility and a need for me to be involved and to be a participant in the debate. The deeper I got in it, the more I became convinced that the current system is completely broken. I became a passionate advocate for it and I was disappointed that it didn’t pass.

2007-08-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

RNC's Immigration Revolution?

John Gizzi of Human Event reports on the RNC's August 3rd midsummer meeting:

The Republican National Committee is poised to officially break with the President, Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), and its own national chairman by enacting a resolution coming out foursquare against any measure that provides legal residency for illegal immigrants in the U.S.

The measure, which so far has 47 co-sponsors among the 169-member RNC, is expected to be enacted on Friday when the party’s governing body holds its summer meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Should it receive the blessings of the RNC’s Resolutions Committee on Thursday and then be endorsed by the full committee the next day, the resolution would, in effect, put the national Republican Party on record against measures such the Administration-backed comprehensive immigration package that died in the Senate last month.

Understand that most RNC folks (only two per state or territory) achieve their prestigious posts only after years of toil in the GOP vineyard. This is not a group readily prone to rebellion. For 47 RNC members to sign their names to a resolution defying White House immigration policy is the GOP equivalent of the French Revolution.

2007-07-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

Martinez Video

here.

2007-07-01T21:31:00.000-07:00

Recall Mel goes online

There is another possible fix to the Martinez problem, reports Michelle Malkin: a Recall Mel web site.

2007-07-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

"I thought we'd put this behind us for the sake of party unity"

is a sentence conservative Republicans always hear after moderate Republicans win. On immigration, the shoe is on the other foot. Yet Mel Martinez is busy pouring gasoline onto an immigration debate [update: full text of his speech here].

Via the Orlando Sun-Sentinel (article no longer online as of 8/17/07):

The Chairman of the Republican Party on Friday lambasted Democrats and Republicans who helped kill an immigration bill in the Senate and challenged them to come up with a solution beyond ``just build a fence along the border.''

"The voices of negativity now have a responsibility to come up with an answer," RNC Chairman and U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, R-Fla. said.

"How will you fix the situation to make peoples' lives better? How will you continue to grow the economy? How will we bring people out of the shadows for our national security and for the sake of being a country that is just?" he demanded.

2007-06-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

One-sided immigration negotiations

Via U.S. News and World Report

After President Bush finished his appeal Tuesday to GOP senators to back the stalled immigration bill, Florida Republican Sen. Mel Martinez conceded that the measure still faced an uphill battle.

"I don't think he changed any minds," he said, adding that Bush may have had some impact with those on the fence.

But the overall assessment is worrisome news for Martinez, the Cuban-born backer of the legislation, who said earlier this month that failure to support comprehensive immigration reform could mean the "destruction of our party."

I seriously doubt every Hispanic in America believes in English-optional amnesty for 12 to 20 million illegal aliens, let alone that every single Hispanic votes solely upon immigration issues.

Who is Senator Martinez representing on immigration? Florida voters? Hispanic voters? Republicans? The White House?