Martinez Suddenly Aware of Election Problems

Senator Peers Out From Under His Rock

For Immediate Release: March 27, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Everybody in politics knows the national Presidential nominating process is a mess, especially in Florida, where the Republican delegates have been cut in half and all of the Democratic delegates in limbo.

This debate has gone on for months, but when U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez was asked yesterday to weigh in on U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's election overhaul proposals, he seemed as if he was just learning of the situation: "I will be thinking about it and coming up with ideas." [Associated Press, 3/27/08]

Where has Mel been? His ambivalence contrasts the continued efforts of Nelson who today addressed the Florida Senate about the need to overhaul the way America hold elections, drawing applause from Republicans and Democrats alike.

One might expect Martinez, who served almost a year as head of the Republican National Committee, to be following the latest developments - if only to offer a partisan jab. However, when the state Republican leadership vowed to move Florida's primary up, Martinez was mostly mum. Later, he failed to prevent the Republican delegation from being cut in half despite chairing the RNC.

"Martinez just seems to be treading water ever since he was severed from the GOP machine for being the odd man out in the immigration fiasco," Florida Democratic Party spokesman Alejandro Miyar said. "No one expects him to go out of his way to help Democrats, but his laissez faire attitude on this issue is indicative of the way he has served Florida - poorly and rarely."

Infamous for frustrating constituents who appeal to the Senator but get constantly stonewalled, Martinez appears to have a rapidly waning interest in his own job. His battle for reelection in 2010 won't be easy in light of the market meltdown, which calls into question his leadership at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.

Martinez turned a blind eye to the predatory lending practices he now claims to detest, and only in the past month has he tried to do much of anything about the housing crisis in his home state.

"Martinez' lack of action surely won't charm frustrated Floridians of any political affiliation," Miyar added. "The fact that Martinez was President Bush's housing czar yet he has been almost silent on Florida's housing crisis surely isn't helping his standing among Florida voters."