David Hill, Mel Martinez, blind men and an elephant
The famous story of blind men attempting to describe an entire elephant by feeling the nearest elephant part comes to mind when reading David Hill's January 24th column "Bloggosphere missed it on Martinez".
Hill:
Bloggers did not attack Martinez BECAUSE he was Cuban. They did complain that President Bush's hope to win the "Hispanic vote" nationwide by naming a Cuban-American RNC General Chairman was a fantasy.
Saying, "President Bush's latest effort to win the Hispanic vote will not work" is fair comment. Misguided efforts to utilize a person's ethnicity for political benefit are being criticized, not Martinez's personal ancestry.
Of course, had Mel Martinez been Melvin Martin, would he have even been considered for the top RNC job?
One of the real problems with giving someone a high profile job primarily because of their race, ethnicity or gender is that person often dismisses all criticism as racist, sexist or anti-Hispanic. Remember those who pronounced critics of the Supreme Court nomination of Harriet Miers "elitist" and "sexist"?
Hill:
A Hispanic Senator from Florida is applauded by Hispanics living in Florida. This proves exactly what about how Martinez is viewed by Mexican Americans in Arizona?
The famous story of blind men attempting to describe an entire elephant by feeling the nearest elephant part comes to mind when reading David Hill's January 24th column "Bloggosphere missed it on Martinez".
Hill:
A second, weirder attack on Martinez by bloggers focused on his ethnicity. They reasoned that because he is Cuban, Hispanics of every other ilk — Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, South Americans — will dislike him and the party he represents. The Bush White House made a terrible faux pas in tapping a Cuban to lead the RNC, bloggers warned. Do these people get their insights on Hispanic culture at Taco Bell?
Bloggers did not attack Martinez BECAUSE he was Cuban. They did complain that President Bush's hope to win the "Hispanic vote" nationwide by naming a Cuban-American RNC General Chairman was a fantasy.
Saying, "President Bush's latest effort to win the Hispanic vote will not work" is fair comment. Misguided efforts to utilize a person's ethnicity for political benefit are being criticized, not Martinez's personal ancestry.
Of course, had Mel Martinez been Melvin Martin, would he have even been considered for the top RNC job?
One of the real problems with giving someone a high profile job primarily because of their race, ethnicity or gender is that person often dismisses all criticism as racist, sexist or anti-Hispanic. Remember those who pronounced critics of the Supreme Court nomination of Harriet Miers "elitist" and "sexist"?
Hill:
Orlando’s Hispanic population is disproportionately Puerto Rican, not Cuban. But when Cubano Martinez speaks there, it’s like Elvis is back in Vegas.
A Hispanic Senator from Florida is applauded by Hispanics living in Florida. This proves exactly what about how Martinez is viewed by Mexican Americans in Arizona?
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