MotherJones Blog: Latino Head of RNC Resigns in Frustration

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Latino Head of RNC Resigns in Frustration

Hispanics were supposed to be a key part of Karl Rove's permanent Republican majority. The comprehensive immigration reform plan pushed by President Bush was both the product of the president's immigrant-friendly views and Karl Rove's belief that allowing Hispanic immigrants a path to citizenship would lead thousands of those immigrants (and their kids) into the arms of the GOP. Instead, the issue of immigration has been so bungled by the GOP (and so captured by the rabid anti-immigrant portion of the party's base) that Mel Martinez, the Cuban-born senator from Florida, is resigning his post as head of the RNC.

The Republican Party's highest-ranking Latino official abruptly resigned Friday, marking the latest casualty in the GOP's bitter internal fight over immigration and dealing another setback to President Bush's years-long effort to court Latino voters.

The announcement by Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida that he was quitting as general chairman of the Republican National Committee came after he had expressed frustration over the tenor of the immigration debate within his party. Martinez will remain in his Senate post.

"Mel Martinez was a symbol of the party's outreach to Latinos, and that seems to be disappearing," said Lionel Sosa, a longtime Republican strategist and advisor to GOP presidents since Ronald Reagan. "It is not a good day for Latino Republicans, that's for sure."

The White House had engineered the ascent of the Cuban-born Martinez over the objections of many conservatives as part of an effort to repair the GOP's image among Latinos. That image suffered when Republican congressional leaders and conservative activists stymied administration-backed measures that would have created a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants.

Comments

It is good that this racist is leaving. The party was being racist to target racial groups and the base did not support the Bush-Rove racist policies. There are internationalists. The base has abandoned them and their neocon-Jew allies. They will stay home in the next election. You get respect when you cause pain. Having the GOP lose the next election, then the party can be reconstructed. You have to break a few eggs to make an omlet. Tear down to rebuild. It will be good for the GOP to have a real lefty like Senator Clinton as Prez. and Congress also controlled by the Dems. Then the GOP can rebuild itself and get back to Goldwater principles. No CFR,Bilderbergers and Trilateral Rockerfellers.

Posted by: Bob on 10/20/07 at 7:59 AM Respond

I worked for China Intelligence and defected to Australia. Bill and Hillary are receiving millions American dollars from China. They believe in a one world government. China has promised them a very high position. Bill Clinton makes millions for his speeches which are bribes paid by China and Saudi for laws and favors he enacted. The missile technology he gave China is already in Iran and N. Korea hands.
America wake up and realize China is full of murders and thieves who kill anyone in opposition. Your Media has been compromised by hostile foreign forces. They will one day kill me like many others but the truth will live on. My prayer is America wake up

Posted by: Chung Wu on 10/20/07 at 12:04 PM Respond

You are right Chung Wu.

Posted by: Carol T. on 10/20/07 at 12:57 PM Respond

What, the North American Union thing going sour? LOL

Posted by: Bert on 10/20/07 at 9:29 PM Respond

Martinez's departure hilites the conundrum the Republican Party faces as independents and moderate Republicans break away: how to placate their racists "base" while appealing to ethnic minorities. It's a bridge too far. Opportunists like Martinez are finally reading the tea leaves splattered against the wall and voting with their feet. Either that are we have another "wide stance" situation a-simmerin'.

Posted by: Sam Thornton on 10/22/07 at 1:33 PM Respond

Martinez was a racist, that is why he left in disgrace.

Posted by: George on 10/22/07 at 3:35 PM Respond

We must adopt Mexico's immigration laws. Then enforce them. It is only fair.

Posted by: P Reilly on 10/23/07 at 3:41 AM Respond

I often wonder if it is only the nuts in the world that post blogs. My gosh, what does that say about myself?

Posted by: Mike on 10/23/07 at 5:10 AM Respond

Mike is a troll.

Posted by: JB on 10/23/07 at 7:16 AM Respond

Maybe he finally had his awakening.

Posted by: Bill on 10/23/07 at 7:19 AM Respond

You have captured well both the good and bad of the comment section. I enjoy the commenting aspect of blogging simply because I love to have an intelligent dialog with people. Being able to get my thoughts down in words is great but there is something about that feedback aspect that makes it even better. I am big on leaving comments. I think this is a great article and thank you for the post!

Posted by: Alex in San Diego on 03/30/08 at 2:22 AM Respond