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.
Oooppsss--- in y quick and frustrated readin, my medicated brain added an "l" to my post (and itchy trigger finger). I would just as soon have my post #539 removed.
Thanks, I thought I had seen his conservative ratings and they were quite high in general.
What is the RHC?
And one reason I refuse to donate to any political "party". I choose to give my very limited funds to specific candidates or causes. At least I know my money is going directly to who/what I intend to support.
Actually, he pushed through programs to make it easier for illegals to get home loans. This is actually indirectly related to another thread regarding the FED pressuring lenders to give home loans to illegals.
Who decides which worker it is? ;-)
Seriously, what are the details of the program you suggest, and do you support treating all illegals as invaders?
Do you have a link to that thread?
"Why don't you give me one good example as to why people from all over the world have to wait years and jump through hoops to get here while the illegal coming over our Southern border is allowed to say "the hell with you Americans, I'll come if I want to. Just try and stop me". The whole thing shows a lack of respect for America. Period."
Try to stay on subject here. I asked for examples of fines equaling amnesty. Please provide them.
The argument you bring up, is different. I asked politely about fines equaling amnesty, please respond.
"You were wrong to make an undocumented purchase from our store, Mr. Smith. Evil bigots call you a "thief" and say it's "stealing" since you broke into our store illegally, but we want to give you a path towards consumerism since you were only purchasing the items other buyers didn't want. INSTEAD of having to go to jail and return the item like everyone else, if you pay a fine of $50, learn our daily specials, and admit in writing that you're sorry, you can earn a path to ownership"
See, instead of going to jail you pay a fine. That, by definition is not amnesty. You may think a fine is inappropriate, but it is not amnesty.
Thanks, obviously, I was reading it wrong. It makes sense now.
With his conservative rating so high, and his integrity and just plain grit at the top of the heap, I'd say this is a great choice.
THANKS for the information, MindBender.
Lots of folks around here like getting mad in ignorance. Most of us prefer knowledge, and you provided some for us.
"Now, now, don't confuse them with facts!"
Now I know what I was doing wrong. LOL. Good thing you are around to straighten me out.
"Murder, a felony, punishable by life in prison or death being excused by paying a simple fine.
Grand theft or vehicular theft, a felony, punishable by years in prison being excused by paying a simple fine and the stolen vehicle, money, or items don't have to returned."
These examples are still not showing a fine equaling amnesty, the fine is a different punishment, not a lack of punishment.
You may disagree with the appropriateness of fines vs jail, and I won't dispute that at all, but amnesty is the absense of any punishment.
"Bush seems to be a sucker for a great personal story. That's not leadership, and neither is Mel Martinez...("beautiful wife" ... give me a break)"
Well said. His only accomplishments are being from a swing district in Florida, smacking down Charlie Rangel, being the cutest and bestest HUD sec'y a compassionate conservative Prezeedent ever had (/Shirley Temple voice), and a viciously pro-amnesty Senator. The Bush RNC has simply served notice that it will be continuing its lean to the left.
Sure hate those slips... I wish I could say I don't make similar mistakes, but several right here on FR would call me down on the lie!
The argument you bring up, is different. I asked politely about fines equaling amnesty, please respond.
You certainly are tenacious. You've asked many people the same questions and had many responses. I would assume you read them.
Life moves on, you should as well.
Guetzloe Sentenced To Jail, Announces He Has Cancer
Controversial political consultant Doug Guetzloe was sentenced to jail, probation, and a fine Tuesday. He pled no contest to 14 counts of sending out flyers as part of a smear campaign during the Winter Park mayoral race without identifying them as political ads.
Guetzloe's lawyer said in court Tuesday that Guetzloe has been diagnosed with cancer and that his radiation treatments start Thursday. Moments later, the judge sentenced him to 60 days in jail and three years probation.
Guetzloe was taken to a room behind Courtroom 4B and fingerprinted, Tuesday, after pleading no contest to the 14 counts.
"I've been a target in this town, I guess, since I came here," Guetzloe said Tuesday.
Before he was sentenced, Tuesday, Guetzloe made a statement, under oath, in court about his illegal campaign flyers, which directly contradicts what his long-time graphic designer had testified to under oath.
The judge said he didn't believe Guetzloe inadvertently left off a disclaimer identifying the flyers as political ads.
"I don't know anyone in the courtroom who knows more about politics than he does," said Judge Jeffery Arnold.
The judge delayed the 60-day jail sentence pending appeal, but the probation began immediately. He was also fined $7,500.
Yeah, it's almost as if Bush is deliberately giving us the finger.
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