Posted on 05/26/2007 3:39:25 PM PDT by Baladas
WASHINGTON -- These days, Mel Martinez begins each morning in a room just off the Senate floor listening to 11 of his colleagues argue the intricacies of a potentially historic immigration proposal.
Sometimes, Martinez tries to lighten the intense atmosphere that builds up when polar opposites debate an emotional issue. Other times, the Senate's only immigrant sits quietly in an overstuffed crimson leather chair only to have someone ask: "Mel, certainly you have an opinion about this?"
Martinez is one of the so-called "Gang of 12" senators who are taking the lead on one of the hottest topics on Capitol Hill -- trying to preserve the fragile legislative compromise that would give 12-million illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.
But for Martinez, Florida's junior senator, that comfortable room is not always the easiest place to be.
Many Republicans accuse Martinez -- their party's chairman -- of being too lenient on illegal immigrants, repeatedly calling the bill's path to citizenship an "amnesty."
Many immigrant advocates accuse Martinez -- a Cuban-American who came to the United States legally at the age of 15 -- of not doing enough to help immigrants achieve the rights and respect they deserve.
"The center can be a very lonely place," said John Pitney, a former RNC official who teaches political science at Claremont McKenna College. "When opinions are this polarized, you are getting hit from both sides."
Martinez, 60, a former Cabinet secretary, said in an interview this week that he tries to ignore the attacks. Instead, he said, he is guided by his unwavering belief that what he is doing is right.
"I don't pay a lot of attention," he said. "It's so clear what I need to do for the nation, for the state, for my party. I don't feel torn inside about what I am doing."
The Senate proposal would expand the guest worker program, provide employers with new ways to verify the legal status of workers and increase security on the U.S.-Mexico border.
The full Senate began considering the bill this week and will resume debate in June after next week's Memorial Day recess.
Now in his third year in office, Martinez said he has never seen such a public outcry over a single issue.
Most of the calls and e-mails coming into his Senate office are from people who oppose the bill. But, he says, most of the comments he gets when he travels the state are from people who support it.
Immigrant groups, some of which have honored Martinez in the past, want at least two significant changes in the bill that would allow guest workers to apply for citizenship and immigrants to be granted legal residency based on their family ties.
One of those groups, the Florida Immigrant Coalition, has held prayer vigils outside Martinez's offices in Tampa, Orlando, Pensacola and Miami. Another, the Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, has targeted Martinez through print and radio ads.
"It's clear he is a national player," said Maria Rodriguez, director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition. "But he needs to represent the interests of Florida. He worries too much about his party and not enough about Florida."
Martinez was handpicked by President Bush for the job as party chairman to help Republicans win back Congress and keep the White House. He is being counted on to woo Hispanic voters, a fast-growing group whose support for the Republican Party faltered in the last election.
"No question that if this important bill passes, Mel Martinez is one of the Republicans that will get credit," said Joe Garcia of the New Democrat Network, which courts Hispanics. "I wish it was a better bill, but Mel Martinez is on the right side of history."
Martinez and Bush are in agreement on the Senate immigration bill, but much of their party is not -- a fact that is likely to hurt Republicans with Hispanic voters in future elections.
Clarissa Martinez, campaign manager for the Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, wants Martinez to think about those Hispanic voters and do more to make the Senate bill more friendly to immigrants.
"As chairman he should think of the longevity of the party," she said.
For months, a handful of senators -- Republicans and Democrats -- spent a few hours a couple of times a week behind closed doors hashing out a proposal with White House advisers. Later, after a bill was introduced, the group began meeting twice a day -- in the morning and evening - to strategize about keeping the bill intact under a barrage of dozens of amendments.
The group's leaders are Sen. Jon Kyl, a Republican from Arizona, and Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Democrat from Massachusetts. Martinez sees his role as trying to keep the group focused, as well as conveying his unique perspective as an immigrant.
"A lot of us don't feel like they're speaking for us, that this idea that we can't offer an amendment or it's going to blow up the deal is a bunch of nonsense," said Sen. Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican who wants to remove the citizenship part of the bill.
Last year, the Senate passed a bill that Martinez helped write though it failed in the House. But Martinez says his experience this year is far different -- sitting in a room with Republicans and Democrats trying to come up with a deal - but one that he considers more in line with what people think senators should do.
"It has been so long that people may have forgotten how a bipartisan compromise looks and smells," Martinez said. "It has strong opposition from either extreme, but a good broad center."
You wanna sweep the GOP clean? Start with this "chairman".
“I don’t pay a lot of attention,” he said. “It’s so clear what I need to do for the nation, for the state, for my party. I don’t feel torn inside about what I am doing.”
Of course not; there’s a bit of psychopath in all politicians.
Well isn't that special? A "representative" who doesn't "pay a lot of attention" to what folks are saying.
They all need to be ousted.
“But, he says, most of the comments he gets when he travels the state are from people who support it.”
yea, right...
I’ll give him credit for one thing-he’s got a lot of brass to ignore the wishes and demands of 80 percent of the American people.
“repeatedly calling the bill’s path to citizenship an “amnesty.”
No, that would be the Z Visas,
But the business lobbies are doing a good job defining the issue for the MSM, this sort of mistake is repeated often.
I have been invited out of what was once my party by Martinez, Bush and Snow. Good luck to you.
We all hated it when he was named RNC Chair. We were proven right. This battle is more important than one stupid lame duck President.
That is BS from Sen Illegal Alien. Most of the people in Florida are dead set against illegal amnesty. Maybe he needs to start talking to more Americans living in FL
-—Martinez was handpicked by President Bush for the job as party chairman to help Republicans win back Congress and keep the White House. -—
Which shows how far out of it they are.
martinez for bird cage liner
Of course, being the tool that he is for both the corporate bigwigs and gutless socialists that now run the GOP, he won't do this.
“most of the comments he gets “
Probably didn’t read mine.
Me thinks Martinez has Higher ambitions.
“I don’t pay a lot of attention.” That much at least is true.
No question about that.
He'll get a lot of the credit for not only destroying the GOP but also the country. For Democrats, that's what they live to do. It *should* be different for Republicans.
It's shocking that Martinez obviously has the same goal and is looked on with some jealosy by the Dems as he might get the credit for destroying America instead of them.
Has George Soros suddenly become the bagman behind the GOP?
“Martinez...(is) not doing enough to help immigrants achieve the rights and respect they deserve”
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Noooooooooo as an immigrant I have achieved all the rights and respect I deserve...
Thanks just the same, y’all...I dont need help from Martinez..
:)
Hmmmmmmmmmmm
Wonder if Martinez will be at the VA GOP dinner in Richmond next Saturday? FRed is speaking....
:)
“Perhaps Martinez should tell the illegals itching to wreak havoc on American lifestyle by becoming legalized that he CAME THROUGH LEGALLY AND PLAYED BY THE RULES”
His DC office wont take calls from REAL immigrants Ive tried numerous times...
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