Posted on 06/29/2007 11:27:57 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The Chairman of the Republican Party on Friday lambasted Democrats and Republicans who helped kill an immigration bill in the Senate and challenged them to come up with a solution beyond "just build a fence along the border."
"The voices of negativity now have a responsibility to come up with an answer," RNC Chairman and U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla. said.
"How will you fix the situation to make peoples' lives better? How will you continue to grow the economy? How will we bring people out of the shadows for our national security and for the sake of being a country that is just?" he demanded.
Martinez spoke during a gathering of more than 1,000 Hispanic officials from across the country at Disney World, a day after the immigration bill's Senate supporters fell short of the 60 votes needed to limit debate and clear the way for its final passage.
Martinez promised to work with members of the U.S. House of Representatives to try to revive the legislation, a measure the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials supports.
Time for such efforts is tight before the 2008 presidential campaign heats up, Martinez told reporters, but he added, "you can't live from election to election. We have to once in a while act as responsible, elected officials and resolve the nation's problems."
A group of about half a dozen U.S. representatives planned to strategize over the weekend at the conference on how to revive the proposal.
But U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., the lone Republican presidential candidate to attend the three-day conference, said such a revival was unlikely.
Hunter stood by his focus on legislation to extend a fence along the U.S.-Mexican border and said the government needs to do a better job of asking those here illegally to go home. He did not say how he would convince the nation's 12 million illegal immigrants to leave.
"Let's get the border enforced first before you get to the subsections of enforcement," he said.
Wednesday's immigration vote was 46 to 53, with three-quarters of the Senate's Republicans voting to derail the bill.
But the Republican Party was not to blame for its failure, Martinez said.
President Bush sent two cabinet members to Congress several times a week for months to work out a bipartisan compromise, he noted.
By failing to act, the Senate also tied law enforcement's hands, Martinez said.
The proposed immigration bill would have provided $4.4 billion for border security and workplace visa enforcement.
Martinez came to Florida from Cuba at 15 and spent four years separated from his parents until they were able to flee the communist island. He said he feared more families would be torn apart if the status quo remains.
He also warned local and state officials at the conference that the immigration issue will now land in their laps through local ordinances.
"We're going to have a hodgepodge of local laws. We will have cities that will declare themselves sanctuary cities. And then we will have others that will make it a felony simply to rent to illegal immigrants," he said.
But he blamed those who supported the bill for not explaining well enough to the American people the flaws of the current law and the benefits of the proposed one - and to allow opponents to define the bill as simply amnesty.
I prefer towns and states to decide what they want. This way, we have choices.
“How will you fix the situation to make peoples’ lives better? How will you continue to grow the economy? How will we bring people out of the shadows for our national security and for the sake of being a country that is just?” he demanded”
Mel, you werent sent to DC to make the lives of 25,000,000 illegal aliens better..
Our capitalist system of economics will grow itself without your 25,000,000 illegal aliens...
You’re not worried about bringing 25,000,000 illegal aliens out of the shadows because they’re all a security risk...they’re all good hard working family values poor undocumented globalists...remember?...
And amnesty for 25,000,000 illlegal aliens is not justice for the American citizen tax-payers...
And your concern about the Americans who want you to “just build a fence along the border”...just do it...
.....((( JUST BUILD A FENCE ALONG THE BORDER ))).....
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Hey Mel, one other thing.
“How will you fix the situation to make peoples’ lives better?”
Not by dragging the US down to the standards of the loser countries of the world. This country did not get to be better than the other countries you are referring to by doing what they do.
Until Mel is gone, they RNC gets NOTHING from me.
Mel-resign from the RNC.
Build the fence and deport the ILLEGALS to remove the burden on the citizens and then get the government out of the citizens way. As always the CITIZENS, NOT THE GOVERNMENT will grow the economy.
This administration has lost it’s sense of what makes America work. The governments only jobs are to make treaties, provide for the defense of the States, facilitate commerce between the States, and assist the states in upholding the constitution.
The citizens are the ones with the rights, NOT the government. The administrations fight AGAINST the citizens will throughout this contention on the amnesty bill showed it has lost touch with it’s job.
What a shame.
This condescending A**hat needs to be kicked out of the helm or else we need a NEW party.”
Welcome newbie. Now why would all your posts be so strident about suggesting that Republicans march down and change to independent? Changes to a party are best effected from within.
“You would think that the GOP would get the message after Thursday’s crushing of the amnesty bill.
Evidently not. >:(
Guess it’s time to let these clueless (insert your favorite term here) know WHO THE HECK VOTES.”
The dems suffered a defeat as bad as the republicans. Maybe more so. They had put their proof of dominance of control on the out come of this bill. The could not get it done.
In fact they have really not gotten much done of substance in their first 6 months. So have you made similar suggestions about contacting those leaders to the dem supporters on DU? Why no comments about how weak they were?
Maybe you can post contact information there for the real losers in the fight for amnesty for illegals.
Mel-—RESIGN!!!!! Senators and Congressmen: Order the construction of the fence and deport the illegals!!!!!
When Bush came into the White House, the Clintonites had removed all the “w”’s from the keyboards. When conservatives take the RNC back, I think the Bushies will have removed all the U’s, S’s and A’s.
At the nominating convention new members of the RNC are elected, normally based on state GOP committees picks. The day after the convention ends the RNC meets to elect the new national chairman, who is alway’s the choice of the party’s presidential nominee.
oh please, your condescencion is as bad as that from the Beltway.
this “newbie” has his own company and has been voting (Republican) for the past 30 years. I have been on campaign committees since before half the people on this board were born, so not to be blunt, but stuff it.
I don’t post on DU, ace, sorry if my stridence ruffles your feathers. If you are happy with the status quo, then bully for you. I have seen the results of ‘going with the flow’ and it is right down the commode.
Why don’t you read all the other posts to get a clue as to how everyone feels about Mel and what he is doing to the party?
I am fed up with Martinez. IMHO our peoblem is with the so called guv of Mexico and illegals are at leat 90% Mexican.
We owe them nothing..NADA! They have broke our laws, burned our flag and are demanding rights! BS. Our jails and prisons are full of illegals..ask anyone in law enforcement.
And I am fed up with the elites calling regular folks bigots! I have family in Mexico..I personally sponsor Cuban political refugee families. Just had one family move out of my house into their own...and am expecting another family soon.
When an thread/article is posted on FR about our troops nothing but respect is show. When some of our military are sworn in as new citizens, nothing but respect is shown here.
The American people are the most generous, friendly and helpful on the earth so all those slimely elites in the media, congress and the WH....STFU! And stop blaming the USA for problem in other countries!
I don’t speak for anyone other than myself...I want the illegals dragged out...the fence built and at a minimum economic sanctions placed on all countries involved in this attempt to destroy the USA!
Rant off/
We have to right to decide who will enter our home and become a member of our family. We have no obligation to provide for those who sneak in off the street without either invitation or permission.
Not soon enough. I hope the nominee really cleans house.
And while were at it, check his green card for the La Raza membership number.
Once we get better people in office...sure we’ll do that Mel....you included.
Seriously think how much more credibility they’d have if they actually build this fence quickly. So much more than none...lol.
If we had built the fence years ago, we wouldn't have had this problem today. The fence will prevent millions more from breaking in and "living in the shadows." The fence will be a darn good start, as far as I am concerned.
Why don't you read all the other posts to get a clue as to how everyone feels about Mel and what he is doing to the party?”
I have my own company too and going with the flow only will take you down the toilet. However if you don't get in the commode you can stand beside it and flush away what you don't want and still not have to be in the mess.
I did look at the other posts and yours stood out in the ways I noted in my post to you. Your post seemed to be about turning away from the Republican party. My comment was that political parties are changed from within. The only other parties are either the dems or some also ran that will NOT get elected.
Staying inside and insisting on change will get more change than taking your marbles and leaving so no one can play any more.
Oh and since 3/4’s voted right we should concentrate on changing the rest to show that listening to the base will earn more praise and donations than ignoring the voters of the party.
Threatening to leave has little or no effect. Threatening to watch them and demanding performance you desire is the best way to train them.
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