Mel Martinez
Mel Martinez
Melquíades Rafael Martínez Ruiz, usually known as Mel Martínez, is an American lobbyist and former politician who served as United States Senator from Florida and served as chairman of the Republican Party from November 2006 until October 19, 2007, the first Latino to serve as chairman of a major party. Previously, Martínez served as the 12th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George W. Bush. Martínez is a Cuban-American and Roman Catholic. He announced he was resigning as...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth23 October 1946
CountryUnited States of America
There will have to be some hard decisions made about what programs can be cut or scaled back and how we keep a leash on other government spending while we deal with this recovery,
We had a little situation here earlier in the year that wasn't pleasant and wasn't right,
We need a new Latin American policy that is bold - different. We need to focus on building civil society, focus on the lack of infrastructure. We need look at ways to foster economic opportunity. There needs to be a more comprehensive economic vision in the region.
Getting WRDA to the Senate floor for a vote is a high priority, ... This bill is bipartisan, it's widely supported and it's an urgent need that we have to satisfy.
From time to time, the irresponsible acts of the Cuban government remind us that this is far more than about the freedom of one country, but it really is about the stability and security of the region and the national security interests of the United States.
Senator Martinez is not driven by polls; he is driven by the needs of the state of Florida and its 17 million constituents.
I look forward to your tenure as chairman, ... When you are confirmed, as I'm sure you will be, it's critically important that you be independent. I think you realize that.
I have lived the American dream, and I am determined to ensure the possibility of that dream for others, ... I am here to ask you to re-elect President George W. Bush ... I believe in George Bush's idea of 'compassionate conservatism.' From the time I first heard him talk about it, I said, 'compassionate conservatism is the story of my life.'
I felt like the Lone Ranger, ... I was getting beat up pretty badly.
The next couple of days are not going to be easy, not that the last couple of days have been easy. There is no way of making what occurred go away overnight.
Not having been born in this country, but then moving on to citizenship, I understand the plight of immigrants. I understand what this has been about. I also understand about the rule of law, and I respect that.
It's shortsighted not to view the education of a future generation of Americans as a priority for all Americans.
It's a terrible thing to suggest this was a lark, ... It was a great thing to do, and it was done at modest prices.
It's a mix of experiences that I think keeps me in touch with the common man. I'm not someone who's forgotten where he comes from.