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.