Mel Martinez and the Last Nail in the Republican Diversity Coffin

I'm sure it's only a matter of time now before somebody cranks out a Freakonomics-esque pop culture tome on the seemingly accelerating phenomenon of elected Republican officials getting the quitsies. Arlen Specter and Sarah Palin and Kay Bailey Hutchison.

But Florida Republican Sen. Mel Martínez's just-announced resignation isn't just a variation on the "quit and ditch" theme. It's very probably the last nail in the Republican's "diversity" coffin.

Poorly made little pine box that it was.

Cuban-American Melquíades Rafael "Mel" Martínez was the sole (or lonely) Hispanic U.S. senator in the Republican Party. As former chair of the RNC he made outreach to Hispanics and minorities a priority. This to the consternation of some Republicans who were at odds with his stand on immigration. He didn't last long in that position. Less than a year.

And now, a day after breaking with all but eight of his fellow Republicans in voting to confirm Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor, Martínez is throwing in the towel.

It's very, very hard not to see the timing as a statement. Not just against the Republican's attempted debasement of Sotomayor, and by association the Hispanic narrative in America. Martínez's move, too, can been seen as another accomplished person of color -- following Colin Powell -- flipping a metaphorical middle finger at all the Republicans have devolved into: The party of the "angry white voter," as Paul Krugman says. A return to the "white voter strategy," writes Thomas Edsall. It is a party dominated by dangerously reactionary regressives whose fallback position is open hate and active violence. Frankly, those Tea Bag Party days seem like gentle times compared to the thuggery of the Health Care Town Hall meetings.

As an aside, the next time a Conservative asks how they can trust the government with health-care reform when it can't administer "cash for clunkers," ask them how we can trust conservatives with governance when they can't talk about health care reform without it turning into a UFC match?

So, then, after the tokenism of Sarah Palin as a feminist and Michael Steele as the new black American, the Republicans are left whiter than when Ron Reagan kicked off his campaign as the Republican nominee outside Philadelphia, MS talking about States' Rights.

As a swing voter, the utter implosion of the Republican Party is actually distressing. But I have hopes that one day maybe Mr. Powell, Mr. Martínez and I might have our own beer summit and plot our entry back into what is allegedly "the party of Lincoln."

For more perspective please visit That Minority Thing.com

 

 

Comments

[henryberry]

With the different types of Republicans who are resigning from various positions, one can't really generalize what's going on with the Republican Party; though it's evident there is a good deal of agitation within it, though not much gestation of anything worthwhile. Palin is a far cry from Martinez, and Martinez is different from Specter. One thing however: The resignations you cite are not some kind of purgation of the Party, but rather an affirmation of its current-day extremism (approaching an American radicalism) and bullheadedness, and its determination to stick with these characteristics. Palin resigned--as much as one can figure--in order to better position herself in relation to the extremist, obstinate elements which make up the core of today's Republican Party. Specter switched parties and Martinez gave up his prominent position for some similar and some different motivations. The Republican die-hards adhering to fringe political and social beliefs are not looking for leaders. They are looking for sacrificial goats. Thus many Republicans qualifying for leadership are wary about what relationship they will have with the Party controlled by and reflecting such elements because they do not want to sacrifice their political life. But the Republican Party is not "imploding"--rather its core is gaining strength, though probably diminishing in influence.

[rsn7924]

The GOP will not go away for several years, but as a world a wash in all things white continues to be further discredited by the James Cones of the world, whites will turn to a party that protects them and their interests...as of now, that will likely be, more and more, the GOP. Cone demonizes whitenes the way Hitler demonized Jewishness and it is slowly working... as all are created equal and they are also equal in their hatreds, whiteness, with current population trends in the US, will be defeated in the US, question is, once whiteness is defeated, what do you do with Spanishness? Or will the true moderates prevail?

[denisew]

Martinez' election campaign was probably the dirtiest campaign I ever saw. When it looked as though

his contender was getting a foothold in the race, his managers began the most venomous campaign,

It was a dirty, disgraceful, something that I will never forget. And to watch this mealy mouthed nothing

march to republican orders made me sick. To republicans, a mealy mouthed puppet is diversity.

Diversity means nothing if a person does not own himself.

[JimReed]

Don't be distressed by the implosion of the Republican Party. The nation would be better served if they disappear and the Democratic party splits into the Democratic Empathy Party and the Democratic Business Party.

[Tugar]

I COMMEND SENATOR MARTINEZ ON HIS DECISION TO WALK AWAY.....

As a Latino and a member of the GOP for a few years now, he became increasingly aware of the The Republican Party's position of unfairness when it comes to race and color. So after casting his vote in support of Justice Sotomayor, he chose to walk away from a bad situation.

My Congratulations and Best Wishes to this decent and honorable man.... God Speed, and I wish only the best for him in the future, because he was simply too good for them !

[comicpro]

The GOP has no diversity and the environment for what they attract is not conducive to the health and welfare of hispanics, blacks, asians and everything and anything else that is not WASP'y and pure. Sort of reminds me of a party who started world war II. Yet they call Obama a communist, marxist, socialist and every other ist that is out there. It breaks my heart to see Colin Powell associated with this band of thugs. He deserves better. Now Micheal Steele on the other hand is a complete waste and has zero credibility with anybody!!!!!

[Tugar]

I TOTALLY AGREE....

THE GOP DON'T KNOW WHAT DIVERSITY IS !

[TEHelms]

The GOP continues to marginalize itself by allowing no member to be a centrist. Until and unless any remaining "moderates" speak up and denounce the yelling, the stupidity and the illogical comments of their Palins, Limbaughs, Becks, Hannitys, etc., they will continue to lose members. I would have even put Steele in their numbers but since he is black I would guess he will be gone soon enough.

These guys are making George Bush look like a compassionate conservative!

[Decipherer]

Regardless of what is going on in Florida (why is it always Florida?) or with the GOP that prompted Martinez to resign before even finishing his first term, I am having some difficulty identifying him as a "person of color" as was stated in this article.

For sure, Martinez's ancestry is not Anglo-Saxon, but nor does he appear to be of mixed race, whether black or indigenous Cubans. In fact, many Cubans of more recent Spanish ancestry seem ethnically little different from their Iberian (European) cousins.

When the term "persons of color" is used to describe people like Martinez or even Justice Sotomayor, I get confused. This doesn't mean, either, to suggest they are not minorities because as Hispanics they are in the minority today as a percentage of U.S. population, but for a person to be a "person of color," wouldn't they have to have a far stronger racial ancestry?

Again, I'm confused about this terminology which seems very inexact and perhaps misleading. Can anyone help me out?

[ladyvader]

If you are not a person with white skin, you are a person of color. No matter how light the color of the skin is. To me, it's a very generic term.

[Decipherer]

This makes no sense. Look at a picture of Mel Martinez and tell me his skin is not white. I know many Anglo-Saxons whose skin is not as light as his.

Again, the "generic" reference to a "person of color" is all about race, not necessarily ethnicity. My point is that the usage of the term to describe ethnicity is inexact and misleading.

[mbrlr]

My wife is originally from Mexico and she and most of her friends, including a dear friend whose family is originally from Puerto Rico, do not identify themselves as white and view the attempts by Americans to pin them into our traditional patterns of race with some amusement.

As for anyone in this country having to have a far stronger racial ancestry to be deemed not white, remember the one-drop rule that was in place for such a long time in many parts of the South and also in some areas outside the South.

[Decipherer]

So, by that definition, and ironically consistent with the excellent research on the racial ancestry and heritaage of Americans done by Prof. Henry Louis Gates at Harvard, EVERYONE is a person of color, thus rendering that moniker meaningless.

My point is enthicity is different and distinct from one's race -- you can be an Hispanic, for example, but not necessarily a "person of color."

I grew up with and know a great many Hispanics whose origins are from a wide range of places, but mostly Cuba. They are proud of their heritage as they should be, but I daresay they would never agree that they believe they are "persons of color," which in their view is a racial description.

[raymurt]

Martinez is a republican soldier.
He always votedwith the republicans.
He was told to step down by the party.
And that's all there is.

[Tugar]

I have no idea where you got your info from, but Mel Martinez was just sick and tired of the GOP's nonsense, and chose to walk-away !

[demigod]

Over the weekend on CSPAN I saw the Conservatives holding a panel discussion of how they should go forward. Richard Vigurie and a whole bunch of other old, shriveled, rich white men speaking to a room full of other white men, and mostly empty chairs. I watched just to hear what they had to say - of course they called Obama every name in the book, and they all blamed the media for distorting their message, they all had some cute lines - it was really nauseating but I kept thinking - hey ! You guys had ALL THE POWER, and not a single one of you takes any responsibility for driving the United States into the dirt ! They kept saying George Bush was NOT a Conservative ! They live in a complete fantasy that somehow, Conservative principles were ignored during the Bush Administration and they must be restored to save America from Socialism. It was incredible how deluded these people are. They kepet wondering if the Republican Party is still the appropriate "vehicle" for Conservatism ! Amazing !

[BlueFloyd]

i bet the empty chairs were white, too!

[nash2]

The GOP has used racism as a weapon since Nixon, but you're just discovering this?

[apduncan1]

Mel "No Mas!" Martinez.

[bwither]

One problem with the accuracy of the article. Mel Martinez announced a while ago that he would not be seeking reelection, so the timing is off a little.

Still, I'm sure he saw the writing on the wall.

[ladyvader]

When Martinez announced he was not running in 2010, he did state that he would finish his term. He's a typical GnOPer, do as I say not as I do.

[mom of three]

Great Article.

[bossone]

The Bush presidency was handed to him on a silver platter by the supreme court not the people and we want to scold Amahinijad? Hypocrites!!!

[JustJoy7]

Ditto