RNC contributions drop

The Washington Times will report on Friday:

There has been a sharp decline in contributions from RNC phone solicitations, another fired staffer said, reporting that many former donors flatly refuse to give more money to the national party if Mr. Bush and the Senate Republicans insist on supporting what these angry contributors call "amnesty" for illegal aliens.

"Great Job, Mel"

Says President Bush:

I appreciate the Republicans and Democrats in the United States Senate, starting with Saxby Chambliss and Mel Martinez, who put politics aside and put courage first to work on a comprehensive bill. It takes a lot of courage in the face of some of the criticism in the political world to do what's right, not what's comfortable.

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.

RNC Chairman to join immigration debate

In a few minutes, Senator Mel Martinez will take the Senate floor to speak on the latest amnesty bill. Any bets that he will say he is speaking only as a Senator from Florida and not the "General Chairman of the Republican National Committee"?

This moment was the main reason people said allowing Mel Martinez to wear two hats was a bad idea for the Republican Party. Most rank and file Republicans oppose amnesty, yet their annointed leader loves the idea.

Live by Identity Politics, Die by Identity Politics

Via subscription-only Congressional Quarterly this morning:

The Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform is taking out print and radio ads in Florida accusing Martinez of backing off proposals that would allow more immigrants to remain in the United States and become citizens.

“Sen. Martinez: Remember Your Roots. Don’t Turn Your Back on True Immigration Reform,” read one ad in The Miami Herald.