Martinez throws down the gauntlet on CNN

"Late Edition," May 20, 2007:

Let's start with the immigration debate. And I want to start with you, Senator Martinez, because of your joint role. You're not only the senator from the state of Florida. You're also the president's choice to be the chairman of the Republican National Committee. ...

Senator, talk about the politics of this. The president is taking a risk. Conservatives in your party, many of them are outraged about this.

Is this the "destroy the Republican Party act?"

SEN. MEL MARTINEZ (R), FLORIDA: No, it could be the saving of the Republican party, frankly. And to do nothing would be the wrong thing for the American people.

This is a time when we have to pull together. And every now and then, in Washington, we ought to be able to park bipartisanly for the good of the country.

That's what happened last week. I hope we can move the bill through the Senate this week. The politics of it are that, in fact, when you explain to people what it is we're trying to do, once people have an opportunity to understand what's in this bill, that it begins with border security, that nothing else happens until the border is secure, because we know there is a credibility gap about border security, and that then there's going to be an employment verification so that no one can work in this country that is working illegally.

This is a system that is going to bring immigration to legal means and not to the illegality we've had in the past.

It also forces those that are here, before they can remain, that they are in a probationary status, that they pay fines, that they learn English. That's going to be one of the requirements.

This is a comprehensive, complete bill that tries to solve a difficult problem. And I think, frankly, voters reward those who take tough issues and solve them. To those who criticize, I would ask, what is your solution?

The RNC can't say it was not warned.