Posted on 11/13/2006 3:17:45 PM PST by MindBender26
Please pardon the Vanity, but Mel Martinez is a friend and I thought FReepers might like some insight in him.
Mel Martinez and his wife Kitty are outstanding people. Mel was born in Cuba. At 10 and 11 years old, with Castro in power, he wouldn’t take off his Catholic scapula. Other boys would hit him during basketball games because he wouldn’t disown his religion, as Castro demanded.
Mel came to this country under Kennedy’s Pedro Pan program. Imagine arriving in Miami with nothing, absolutely nothing!
I’ll cut to the chase; 25 years later, a very successful and honest lawyer, he has the happiest day of his life when he and his beautiful wife, and their kids, welcome his mother on her escape from Cuba, into the house they bought for her.
In 2000, he was recruited to run for he House seat being vacated by Bill McCollum, but said no, because he didn't want to be away from his family 3 nights a week.
When the RNC needed someone to debate Charlie Rangel, Fidel Castro's favorite congressman, on Larry King Live on CNN, we recruited Mel with just a few hours warning. Mel was the Orange County [Orlando area] mayor at the time and Rangel made the fatal mistake of underestimating him. After 60 minutes of debate, not even Larry King's "assistance" could help Rangel score even one point against Mel. In plain English, on the issue of the Elian Gonzalez, Mel Martinez had Charlie Rangel for lunch on live TV!
The Bush family saw him on Larry King and the rest is history. The president chose Mel to be HUD Secretary in his new administration, and in what is probably one of the toughest jobs in Washington, was the most successful HUD secretary was seen in 30 years.
Mel then returned to Florida and ran an uphill battle to be our senator. He beat a reasonably strong opponent, and even more importantly than that, never once veered away from his long-held principles. He is an adamant opponent of abortion, understands that the most important thing in America today is to defeat terrorism and return a sense of personal responsibility to each and every American.
I had the pleasure of flying with Mel back to Washington the day after the election. Trust me on this one, he sharp, conservative, understands the issues better than 99% of the people in Washington... and most importantly, has seen the vicious or press the nature of communism and other leftist governments up close. If there is one man in the United States that Hugo Chavez fears more than anyone else, it's Mel Martinez.... and it would be a smart if the Islamic terrorists and their fellow travelers feared him too!
There are many more wonderful things Mel has done during his career in public life, and before but I won't go into them here.
With the Hispanic vote critically important for any success in any future national election, (and growing faster than the Black vote) , the selection of Mel Martinez as a new RNC chair is a brilliant move.
Just an idea. :)
Regards, Ivan
Yeah, right. The one issue that will destroy the future of the U.S. Sure is dumb.
Unfortunately, the other 85% don't vote GOP either. The GOP has been lucky to get 51% in recent years.
Dont worry about the Senators work load .His two gay advisers will be there to lite'n his loafers.http://www.washblade.com/2004/7-16/news/breaking/two.cfm
Hey, it worked for tha other Maryland guy, Keyes, didn't it......oh, wait...
You are right. It just goes to show how manipulated and ignorant most people are.
Look, this is the RNC Chairman position, Howard Dean's opposite number. How someone voted on the issues is secondary. The RNC Chairman doesn't vote in Congress. Offshore drilling, immigration, all that stuff doesn't matter in his new night job. That's his day job and he has it for four more years. (OK, OK, technically Chairman Mel would vote but it's not like he picks up a second vote with the second job.)
Where the heck was Mel during the '06 election? That should have been his audition for this job. If he is proposed to heal the Hispanic vote breach, WHERE WAS HE when the breach occurred? Is he going to be doing face time against Howard? We need someone who is going to be highly visible and outspoken. EVERY DAY.
Someone posted a question about how Mel could do both jobs. Both jobs? Well, he isn't doing much as a Senator that I can see. I hear regularly from my other Senator (although not what I want to hear). I'm lucky if Mel's staff responds at all, let alone within a month of my letter. He's going to organize the whole '08 campaign in an Open Presidential Race??? Stop giving me his qualifications as a Senator and tell me how he can possibly turn the party around in the face of Hillary's candidacy. That is what the party needs to be getting ready for.
Jesse (Jackson)? Al (Shapton)? Which race baiter are you?
No...Iraq takes precedence.
Or keeping the Dems from instituting socialized medicine.
Or having Hitlery for Pres.
MANY things could destroy our future. Take your pick. Better to look at the big picture.
Steele is a balanced, formidable campaigner with good executive experience. He's a talent and needs to be protected. My previous suggestion is that he is made an Ambassador to add foreign policy experience.
regards, Ivan
I'm just tired of us having to guess at everything. We're adults, why isn't anyone telling us anything?
You can't possibly do both jobs well. It's not like it's the NRSC.
where am I attacking people?
I have spent the last few days defending people...not attacking...there is a difference.
I realize you don't want to discuss facts with me-- but then you post polls to back up your stand?
I never claimed that this was the number one issue for MOST people...
it is for a lot of those who did not vote...
of all the data I have seen...Republicans were killed this election on spending and Iraq....this is where the Libertairians were able to make the most traction.
The country has been split all but 50/50 for a while...that is why turn out was such a big deal to both parties. And where the stay at homers hurt us.
but the GOP has lost a lot of support because their own misteps... not because the Dems did anything right.
I truly believe that if we are going to take the power back from the Dems... we need to unite.. not fight.
And forgive me for viewing you as a the kind of leader that would be working in that direction and help set the example......I won't make that mistake again....
just keep bashing people...
we'll see how well that works out for us in 08.....
Which part was "doable", Howlin? Continuing to ignore our laws and sovereign borders, or continuing to subject Americans to high gas prices? Seems that you and Howlin Howie won and got Mel to jump ship and help row your boat!!
Martinez rates an 'A' from GOA. That says a lot about the man. GOA does not give those things away...
He will probably be good, but Steele would have been better.
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