Steele: what might have been

Michael Steele gave a smart, funny and principled presentation to the National Review "Conservative Summit" this afternoon. Afterwards, he was mobbed like a rock star by young and not so young alike.

Steele was rumored to be the next RNC chairman, a post given to Mel Martinez instead. "For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'" (John Greenleaf Whittier).

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:

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?

The Friday RNC Vote on Martinez

was proceeded by two media events meant to focus some attention on the anti-Martinez arguments.

Then came the vote, which I watched on tape delay that night and issued a report.

Highlights:

No roll-call votes took place on either (1) creating the RNC General Chairman post, or (2) electing Senator Mel Martinez to that post.

Martinez was nominated by Florida National Committeewoman Sharon Day, with seconds by Maryland's Joyce Terhes and Puerto Rico's Luis Fortuno.

On Saturday, Ralph Z. Hallow quoted Martinez as saying:

"I do not support amnesty for illegal aliens," Mr. Martinez, a naturalized citizen who fled communist Cuba as a boy, insisted in an interview with The Washington Times after his election. "I do support strong border enforcement, and absolutely I support the rule of law [when it comes to] illegal aliens here."

Is Martinez simply a latter-day Henry IV ("Paris is worth a Mass") announcing a public conversion to achieve office while maintaining far different personal views? Time will tell.

And this blog will continue to keep an eye on Mel Martinez.

What's wrong with this picture?

Today's Miami Herald runs a roundup of reactions to the Martinez victory.

Democrats condemned President Bush for his choice of Martinez:

"The underlying problem remains that part of the Republican base is xenophobic," said Joe Garcia, director of the New Democrat Network's Hispanic Strategy Center. "It has become very difficult for the president to reconcile his vision for an American future with a significant portion of his party."

Meanwhile Republican National Committee voters not exactly sold on the wisdom of the nomination were taught the meaning of the word "pressure" by the White House:

a charm offensive by Martinez, aided by a White House meeting with Bush for some delegates and what some charged was pressure to accept Martinez, dissolved the protest into a few lonely voices in a cavernous ballroom.

I wasn't in the room with President Bush but I can guess at what was said. Never mind that my nominee violates GOP rules and that the grassroots despises him. "We are at war and for me to lose on this would weaken our war effort."

Tough to argue with the nation's commander and chief when he asks you to do something.

(If you are interested in more detail on the Martinez election, click here.

AM Update

Washington Times: "RNC Readies for Martinez Fight".

Bradenton Herald: White House stands firm for Martinez."

Congressman Steve King (R-IA) joins anti-Martinez effort

Via CQ

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, considers the push to put Martinez in the spotlight “a move by our president to advance amnesty.”

“Maybe the best thing for Mel Martinez is to take an oath to refrain from a mention of the president’s immigration plan any time he makes a public statement,” King said, adding that that should include staying mum on the issue on the Senate floor.

Martinez brushed away that suggestion.

“He’s not going to get his wish,” Martinez said, “not because I intend to make this a platform for immigration, but just because I am not going to restrict my rights as a senator on any issue.”

Daily Kos weighs in on Martinez choice

by playing the "English First is racist" card. But a smart political analyst like Kos can't help but make a good point or two: "Martinez is, indeed, a terrible choice to lead the RNC" sums up matters rather well.

Trifecta's comment should give even the most stalwart Bush loyalist pause on Martinez: "Well there is one reason that is legit. We are pretty happy about him getting the job. That should tell them something."

One of Kos's major arguments is correct but for the wrong reason. Let's begin with his argument: "The immigration issue ... probably cost Republicans several more seats (including our two pickups in Arizona)."

While the immigration issue did help Team D in 2006, it did so because, thanks to all the talk about amnesty in Washington, D.C., Democrats could and did run as more effective enforcers of immigration laws.

AZ Congressman J.D. Hayworth's opponent came up with a devastating reason why voters should not return Hayworth to Congress: "Hayworth has been in office for 12 years yet there is still no fence on our Southern border." Meanwhile AZ Senator John Kyle, a staunch opponent of amnesty, won easily.

Why we worry about Martinez: his "friends"

Via the Tallahassee Democrat

''With some people, the issue of amnesty is a litmus test and anything short of a concentration camp is amnesty,'' said Paul Senft Jr., a retired insurance agent and RNC member who has one of Florida's three votes in the RNC election.

Senft, a former Polk County commissioner, said he received a number of mailings from Martinez critics aimed at swaying his vote this week.

At least five of those mailings came from StopMartinez.com and were discussions of Martinez's poor record as a Senate candidate and other disqualifying factors in addition to his out of the mainstream views on amnesty for illegal aliens. You can read all five reasons for yourself here.

If Martinez backers feel compelled to so demonize Martinez critics, perhaps the RNC election this week is closer than they'd prefer.

Florida conservatives urge Martinez to quit RNC race

Via the Tallahassee Sentinel:

The Martinez flap is a distraction that will probably cost Republicans over the next two years. Fundraising under ideal situations will be more challenging now that Republicans are in the minority in Congress. Add to that divisions in the party over a Martinez chairmanship and you have a recipe for disaster. For these reasons alone, we call on Sen. Martinez to step aside and help the eventual chairman build for 2008.

A Resident of Richard Nixon's home town on the Martinez nomination

Imagine my surprise when I received my RNC contribution envelope this week. It had Ken Melman's name as the head of the RNC on it.

Shortly after their loss in the last election, the Republican Party waltzed out Mel Martinez, making him the new head of the RNC. He proceeded to make sure everyone knew that there would eventually have to be an amnesty.

A direct slap in the face to the base that left the party due to their stance on illegal immigration.

If they are so busy panting after the pro-amnesty crowd, why not put Mel's name all over the donation envelopes?

Can't have it both ways.

A Texas RNC member speaks out against Mel Martinez

Here. Highlight:

Every day, Texans are confronted with new problems caused by illegal immigration. Resentment is growing over the lack of assimilation by these illegal aliens who march with Mexican flags, refuse to learn English, and expect businesses to accept pesos. Choosing an RNC Chairman who supports amnesty is tantamount to telling the conservative majority of Americans that they do not matter.

Is it any wonder that the Martinez nomination is in trouble if the reaction of President Bush's home state is "thanks but no thanks"?

Still, some folks like Mel for less than obvious reasons than, say, administrative ability: "Martinez has always been at his best when speaking from the heart, rather than talking points."

Mel Martinez Cosponsors New Amnesty Bill with Ted Kennedy

A "limited" amnesty for agricultural workers, S.237, was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate this week by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Cosponsors: Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Larry Craig (R-ID), George Voinovich(R-OH) and (drum roll) Mel Martinez (R-FL).

Ask yourself which sounds worse to the average Republican: "Florida Republican Mel Martinez joined Ted Kennedy in cosponsoring an amnesty bill for illegal aliens" or "the General Chairman of the Republican Party, Senator Mel Martinez, joined Ted Kennedy in cosponsoring an amnesty bill for illegal aliens."

Now do you understand why Martinez's adamant support of amnesty disqualifies him for the job of top spokesman for the Republican Party?

Bipartisn Opposition to Amnesty

Check out the comments section of this party agenda blog for Democrats. Samples:

I cannot believe that Amnesty is even an issue. If someone is here ILLEGALLY... They are breaking the laws. Saying they are taking Jobs Americans will not do, IS WRONG. The recent finding of Illegal's working with STOLEN Identities at a meat packing company is a great example for me. My Mother worked at a Meat Packing company for 30 YEARS, and then retired from it. She is an American and did a job for 30 years that now they say Americans won't do.

Comprehensive immigration reform is doublespeak for an amnesty.I am a naturalised American and very proud of it.Extending an Amnesty to illegal aliens is discrimination against me as a legal law abiding immigrant and now as an American Citizen.

Martinez's support for amnesty won't win the GOP these Democratic voters.

Mel "Mr. Cellophane" Martinez

So says Tim Noah:

Bush did not mention any programs that Martinez created or administered during the three years he was parked at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. That was entirely appropriate, since Martinez didn't do anything worth remembering.

Martinez, McCain agree: "Don't Fence Me In"

Mel Martinez: "Nobody believes we really need 700 miles of fence," he said. "But it felt good to do it, so it happened" (Cape Coral News Press, December 26, 2006).

John McCain: "By the way, I think the fence is least effective. But I'll build the goddamned fence if they want it" ("Prisoner of Conscience," Vanity Fair, February, 2007).