One-sided immigration negotiations

Via U.S. News and World Report

After President Bush finished his appeal Tuesday to GOP senators to back the stalled immigration bill, Florida Republican Sen. Mel Martinez conceded that the measure still faced an uphill battle.

"I don't think he changed any minds," he said, adding that Bush may have had some impact with those on the fence.

But the overall assessment is worrisome news for Martinez, the Cuban-born backer of the legislation, who said earlier this month that failure to support comprehensive immigration reform could mean the "destruction of our party."

I seriously doubt every Hispanic in America believes in English-optional amnesty for 12 to 20 million illegal aliens, let alone that every single Hispanic votes solely upon immigration issues.

Who is Senator Martinez representing on immigration? Florida voters? Hispanic voters? Republicans? The White House?

Martinez immigration stance followed by 25% drop in FL support

Says the Orlando Sentinel:

A new poll shows that U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez's approval ratings with voters have plunged to an all-time low, apparently reflecting his support for a controversial immigration-reform bill.

Only 37 percent of those polled by Quinnipiac University approved of the way Martinez was handling his job, while 34 percent disapproved and the rest were undecided. That's down from a high of 48 percent approval -- and 22 percent disapproval -- in February, before the latest immigration bill was announced.

RNC refuses to flee sinking amnesty ship

Via the New York Times:

The [immigration] debate has bled into the Republican presidential campaign, with Senator John McCain of Arizona, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and other candidates staking out sharply divergent positions. Caught in the middle of the broader fight, the Republican National Committee has seemed to have taken less of a supporting role than on other White House initiatives, though Senator Mel Martinez, chairman of the committee and a strong backer of the compromise, said its support was unwavering [emphasis added].