Thread: Pro Amnesty Republican RESIGNS!

GOP Sen. Martinez tells supporters he's resigning

By MIKE SCHNEIDER, Associated Press Writer Mike Schneider, Associated Press Writer – 1 min ago

ORLANDO, Fla. – Republican Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida said Friday he will resign from the Senate as soon as a replacement can be appointed, leaving the seat more than a year before his term ends.

Martinez, the only Hispanic Republican in the Senate, revealed his plans in a statement to supporters and was expected to publicly announce the decision Friday afternoon in Florida.

The first-term senator already had announced in December that he would not seek re-election in 2010, but had fended off rumors that he would give up the seat early.

His decision puts Republican Gov. Charlie Crist — who is running to replace him — in charge of filling the seat in the interim. Crist said Friday as he boarded a plane to Tampa that he would not appoint himself, but declined to discuss the issue further.

In a letter to friends and supporters obtained by The Associated Press, Martinez says he's stepping down early for personal reasons.

"My priorities have always been my faith, my family and my country, and at this stage in my life, and after nearly 12 years of public service in Florida and Washington, it's time I return to Florida and my family," Martinez wrote.

The note says his resignation will be "effective on a successor taking office to fill out the remainder of my term."

Officials predicted that Crist, who faces a Republican primary challenge and several Democratic contenders, would select a "placeholder" for the temporary assignment. Crist will almost surely appoint a Republican, which won't change the balance of power in the Senate, where Democrats control 60 seats needed to overcome Republican filibusters.

With Republicans struggling for relevance in the Democratic-controlled Congress, Martinez is the second GOP senator in recent days to announce his resignation. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said in late July she would resign this fall to challenge fellow Republican Rick Perry for governor.

Martinez's statement also had echoes of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's announcement to resign her position last month. Palin said she did not want to finish out her term as a lame duck who couldn't get anything done.

In his statement, Martinez said he has always promised constituents that he "wouldn't simply warm a seat."

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., said she hoped Crist would appoint a Hispanic to follow in Martinez's footsteps, "possibly new blood, maybe not somebody who's been in office but maybe someone who is from the private sector."

Martinez's resignation leaves just one Hispanic in the Senate, Democrat Robert Menendez of New Jersey.

Ros-Lehtinen also said she hopes Crist will select someone who is as committed to comprehensive immigration reform and to health care as Martinez, as well as someone who shares his bipartisan spirit.

Martinez, 62, was elected in 2004 after serving as the U.S. secretary for housing and urban development under President George W. Bush. He served as general chairman of the Republican National Committee for 10 months, resigning in October 2007.

He was born in Cuba. At 15, he fled to America as part of a Catholic humanitarian effort called Operation Pedro Pan. Catholic charitable groups provided Martinez, who was alone and spoke virtually no English, a temporary home at two youth facilities. He then lived with two foster families, with whom he remains close. He was reunited with his family in Orlando in 1966.

Martinez has denied that he was forgoing a second term because of concerns about difficult re-election prospects in a state won by President Barack Obama. But he has struggled to boost public support because of his close ties to former President George W. Bush and his efforts pushing an immigration bill that was unpopular with many Republicans.

___

Associated Press Writers Ben Evans and Julie Davis in Washington, Laura Wides-Munoz and Tamara Lush in Miami, and Brent Kallestad, Bill Kaczor and Dave Heller in Tallahassee contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090807/ap_ ... _resigns;_

The headline should be

PRO AMNESTY REPUBLICAN RESIGNS

(So W changed it. See below)

But he has struggled to boost public support because of his close ties to former President George W. Bush and his efforts pushing an immigration bill that was unpopular with many Republicans.

How kind of him to stay long enough to cast a Republican vote for Sotomayor.

Psalm 91

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeach

How kind of him to stay long enough to cast a Republican vote for Sotomayor.

Nice of him to leave before he could vote for Amnesty.

This is great news! Martinez was an AMNESTY front man for Bush!

http://grades.betterimmigration.com/tes ... VIPID=1156

W

Ros-Lehtinen also said she hopes Crist will select someone who is as committed to comprehensive immigration reform and to health care as Martinez, as well as someone who shares his bipartisan spirit

Screw that!

Your wish is our command. Added to the ALIPAC hompeage with new title and note

Hurray! Pro Amnesty Republican RESIGNS!
http://www.alipac.us/article4437.html

ALIPAC NOTE: We are celebrating the announced resignation of sellout senator Mel Martinez due to his prior support for Amnesty for illegal aliens!

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Your wish is our command. Added to the ALIPAC hompeage with new title and note

Hurray! Pro Amnesty Republican RESIGNS!
http://www.alipac.us/article4437.html

ALIPAC NOTE: We are celebrating the announced resignation of sellout senator Mel Martinez due to his prior support for Amnesty for illegal aliens!

Do I get 3 wishes or just the one ???

After yesterday's severe disappointment regarding the nomination of the head La Raza racist, the news from Florida--my adopted state--has me tingling all over! Furthermore, let's hope that the repub gov gets the message from his constituency--a good deal of senior citizens--and comports himself accordingly. Furthermore, let us make the assumption that the seniors in Florida & all around this still great nation will not be fooled again by someone either like BO or McCain. And, moreover, in the abscence of a new independent, moderate, Center right/Center left political party, the repubs will have the good sense not to back somebody as tired & pro-amnestic as McSame! The repubs--and America--need a dynamic, anti-illegal, stick-to-his/her guns type of person. (And this person surely can be found both in the North & in the South!)

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Your wish is our command. Added to the ALIPAC hompeage with new title and note

Hurray! Pro Amnesty Republican RESIGNS!
http://www.alipac.us/article4437.html

ALIPAC NOTE: We are celebrating the announced resignation of sellout senator Mel Martinez due to his prior support for Amnesty for illegal aliens!

Do I get 3 wishes or just the one ???

HA! Time for an Alipac party!