Thread: Martinez chides GOP candidates

Martinez chides GOP candidates
He wants voters to demand concrete ideas on immigration.
By ADAM C. SMITH, Times Political Editor
Published August 15, 2007


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ST. PETERSBURG - Sen. Mel Martinez, the head of the Republican National Committee, took a swipe Tuesday at the leading Republican presidential candidates for not offering solid solutions to America's immigration crisis.

The first-term Republican from Orlando, who absorbed enormous criticism mainly from within the GOP for pushing an immigration overhaul that included letting illegal immigrants become citizens, turned the tables on some who had been most critical.

"Presidential contests are about leadership. ... It's about leading on the tough issues," Martinez told the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. "It was easy to say, 'This wasn't good enough, this isn't right, I don't agree with Martinez.' ... But at the end of the day what is your answer? How would you solve this?"

In his remarks, Martinez did not directly refer to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, but he later suggested both candidates, who were critics of the controversial Senate immigration proposal, had mischaracterized the plan. He also urged audience members to pin down the Republican candidates on immigration when they come to St. Petersburg for the YouTube/CNN Republican presidential debate Nov. 28.

"What Mayor Giuliani is offering is an exactly concrete proposal to solve this immigration crisis, and it begins with securing the borders," said Elliot Bundy, a spokesman for Giuliani who in South Carolina on Tuesday fleshed out his immigration proposal.

A Romney campaign spokeswoman, Kristy Campbell, also disputed Martinez's characterization of Romney's immigration platform: "Gov. Romney has made his immigration reform priorities clear: secure the borders, implement an employee verification program with a tamper-proof biometric card and no special pathway toward citizenship for those who broke immigration laws."

Martinez's remarks underscored both the difficulty Republicans are having with the volatile issue of immigration and the delicate position Martinez holds as both a senator and general chairman of the Republican National Committee amid a heated presidential primary.

"It can be a little awkward," acknowledged Martinez, a Cuban-immigrant who is neutral in the presidential race but has called Republican presidential candidate John McCain "courageous" for being a champion of the immigration plan that was so unpopular with much of the Republican base.

In fact, McCain gave a speech in Miami in June, while the Senate was considering the ill-fated immigration plan, that was very similar in theme to the one Martinez gave Tuesday.

"I don't want to in any way intervene in the primary process," Martinez said. "But at the same time, I have an obligation as a senator to speak about the issues."

Romney, who used to use a landscaping company at his home that employed illegal immigrants from Guatemala, last week criticized Giuliani as soft on immigration as New York mayor.

Giuliani lately has been toughening his rhetoric on immigration, saying Tuesday that he intended to end illegal immigration altogether.

His plan would require a uniform identification card for foreign workers and students, and create a database to track the legal status of visitors to the country. He would deport any illegal immigrant who commits a felony, and would require all immigrants who want to become citizens to learn English.

Newsday reported this week that as a top Justice Department official in the 1980s, Giuliani supported legalizing undocumented immigrants in the country even as he called for tighter border security.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/15/World ... OP_c.shtml

WOW.........look at the comments:

by JT 08/15/07 11:47 AM
The RNC keeps calling asking for money. I keep telling them that as long as Fidel Mel is there they can forget it. I hope the Recall Mel effort succeeds. It would be awesome to apply enough pressure on him to either be recalled or resign!!!!

by Bob 08/15/07 11:30 AM
It should have been a warning to all of us when he elected to be sworn into office in spanish. I thought he was a US citizen reprosenting all of us.

by Randy 08/15/07 11:17 AM
Mel has to go..The Illegals can follow him.. Back to Cuba.. He won't listen to the Vote majority.. The guy is on the take from corperations

by Leland 08/15/07 10:34 AM
Mel will never get my vote again. He is a racist and only caters to his fellow Latinos. No more money to the Republican Party as long as he is in power.

by LadyM 08/15/07 10:18 AM
If this LaRaza favorite politician isn't voted out in the next elelction there should be an investigation. This man is not following the oath of office he took to uphold the laws of this country. Throw him out!!!!!!!!!!!

by jim 08/15/07 09:57 AM
Martiez, himself, is no leader. He's a petty little bigogt who suppots law breakers of his own racial background.

by Brant 08/15/07 09:42 AM
Mel Martinez is out of touch with the voters of Florida. Even the Cuban American community isn't very hot on the idea of legalizing 12 million illegal Mexican and Central American immigrants.

by CDS 08/15/07 09:24 AM
This is only one of several positions where Senator Martinez is out of sync with the majority of the people who helped put him in office. I'm sure he is counting on the voters not remembering any of this when he is up for election. We won't.

by Jahu 08/15/07 09:23 AM
Here's my plan, let's just co-opt the Mexican immigration laws. Good bye Mel.

by Russ 08/15/07 09:13 AM
Martinez should be fired from both jobs. Giuliani is 2-faced & can't even control his persoanl life let alone run this country.

by Fred 08/15/07 08:55 AM
http://recallmel.com

by Ronnie 08/15/07 08:42 AM
All the Feds have to do is pass a law that allows local police to pick up illegals and turn them over to INS. The message would be clear and illegals would stop coming over the border. Add a guest worker program, problem solved.

by Denny 08/15/07 07:45 AM
Martinez has his own agenda and it isn't American. He was a big mistake...Lets get him outa there!

by Dan 08/15/07 06:26 AM
Mel Baby just doesn't get it. America spoke and we said, "Enforce Existing Laws". We're not interested in NAU, WTO or CSR agendas, so they are low key.

by Tom 08/15/07 05:23 AM
When running for Senate, Martinez stated he opposed granting amnesty for illegals, but later co-wrote a bill to do just that. See more at www.recallmel.com.

by roy 08/15/07 02:58 AM
Ever candidate wants to appear tough on immigration, yet they want the hispanic vote. Just shows what sellouts they all are. Secure our borders now and enforce current law against illegal aliens.

I went to recallmel and checked it out.

Senator Mel Martinez was quite vocal in his opposition to any form of amnesty for illegal immigrants during his 2004 campaign here in Florida. It was the main reason many Republicans fought so hard to get him elected.

http://recallmel.com/

Here are the Senator's own words from the campaign: "Our immigration policy should first and foremost ensure the security of our great Nation and those individuals posing a terrorist threat should be prevented from entering our country. I strongly oppose amnesty for illegal aliens; our immigration laws should not reward lawlessness."

FLORIDA VOTERS......CHECK THIS OUT. THERE IS A PETITION TO SIGN

https://www.recallmel.com/phpPETITION/index.php

AND ONE TO PRINT OUT.

http://www.recallmel.com/Senator_Mel_Ma ... tition.pdf

Thanks for posting those NC!

Granting amnesty to millions of illegals to placate ethnic pressure groups and to quench the thirst of businesses for cheap labor is, IMO, not "leading on the tough issues." In fact, real leadership would be the exact opposite -- you know, radical things like enforcing the law and ensuring the safety of U.S. citizens.

http://www.stopmartinez.com/index.html

Here is another of several websites devoted to exposing Martinez. 2010 cannot come soon enough for us Floridians.

He's TOAST

by Bob 08/15/07 11:30 AM
It should have been a warning to all of us when he elected to be sworn into office in spanish. I thought he was a US citizen reprosenting all of us.

Is this true? How is this allowed?