We, the signers of this letter, agree that Senator Mel Martinez may have an impressive personal story. But that story doesn't make him the best choice for General Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

In our considered judgment, Senator Martinez as RNC Chairman would further divide rather than unite the Republican Party simply because of his outspoken views on official English and immigration issues, views which a majority of Americans, let alone a majority of Republicans do not share.

Martinez is recently on record as saying, "Border security only, enforcement only, harshness only is not the message that I believe America wants to convey." Actually this is precisely the message the vast majority of the American people do want to convey. Last August, the RNC seemed to heard these people when it voted unanimously for a resolution calling for border and interior enforcement.

During Martinez's tenure as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, HUD issued regulations aggressively enforcing Clinton Executive Order 13166. (E.O. 13166 made a person's choice of language a protected civil right.) Other Bush Administration Cabinet officials did not follow the Martinez example. As a Senator, Martinez did not vote on the Inhofe amendment to repeal E.O. 13166.

Senator Martinez is also on record as favoring a reexamination of the status of the Spanish-only island of Puerto Rico. A 51st state of Puerto Rico would be a disaster for the Republican agenda, as it would send two Senators and at least seven Congressmen from an island with half the income of our nation's poorest state to Washington, D.C.

Because of Senator Martinez's views on immigration and cultural issues, if his nomination is confirmed by the RNC on January 20th, more mainstream Republicans will find themselves debating the chairman of their own party on television news programs.

Senator Martinez should not be elected as RNC chairman.

Sincerely,

(Note: Organizations listed for purposes of identification only.)

Jim Boulet, Jr., English First

Paul Weyrich, Coalitions for America

Richard Falknor, Maryland Taxpayers Association

Sandra Crosnoe, Associated Conservatives of America

Edward Nelson, U.S. Border Control

William Greene, Right March

Cathie Adams, Texas Eagle Forum

Carolee Adams, Eagle Forum of New Jersey

Collin Hanna, We Need a Fence.com

Fred Millan, Florida

David Goodson, One Stop Engineering

Gayle Bean, Illinois

David Webb, Virginia

Robert Galbreath, Jr., Citizens for a Constitutional Republic

Gary and Beth Schlinkert

Walter Roustan

Dave Dyson

Anne Lantz, Texas

Steve Hampton, Protect Our Border.net

Craig, Jessica, Caleb and Nathan Wilson

John Stanton, Massachusetts

Evert and Diane Evertsen, Illinois

Anna Gaines, Arizona

Mr. and Mrs. Lori Staffon

Joan Messner, New York

Bob Becker

Joan McAuliffe, Texas

D.A. King