Mel to GOP: move right
[just like the Dems - when you lose, move right!]
New RNC chair: Return to core beliefs By STEPHEN MAJORS, Associated Press Writer Sat Nov 18, 5:59 PM ET
ORLANDO, Fla. - The newly tapped Republican National Committee
general chairman said Saturday that the GOP must return to core
beliefs of smaller government, less spending, and fewer taxes to
regain national leadership.
The address, Sen. Mel Martinez’s first since his new post was
announced, came as Republicans are reeling nationally from the loss
of both houses of Congress.
“There’s nothing wrong with our philosophy. There’s nothing wrong
with our principles,” Martinez, R-Fla., told members of the Florida
Republican Party at its quarterly meeting. “We need to go back to
restoring the faith of the people.”
Martinez said continued Republican success in Florida was a sign that
state Republicans needed to lead a return to “the party of ideas.”
Florida Republicans held onto the governor’s office and two out of
three cabinet seats. He attributed GOP losses nationally to the
party’s failure to speak “in a unified voice.”
This is likely to be Martinez’ biggest challenge in his role as
general chairman. The first-term senator takes control of the party
in January, as President Bush enters the latter half of his second
term with deep division in the party on issues such as immigration.
Many Republicans also are concerned about the policy toward the war
in Iraq, and have criticized the tremendous growth in federal
spending since Bush took office.
“I think the lesson we learned was that too often we were not
speaking with a unified voice, that we allowed others to shape the
agenda for us,” Martinez said.
Martinez said Republicans would gain strength in preparation for the
2008 elections. He also took multiple shots at Democrats.
“I gotta tell you, the greatest thing in the world is watching the
Democrats trip over each other in the first few days,” said Martinez,
referring to the party’s difficulty in setting a leadership team.
Florida Democratic Party spokesman Mark Bubriski dismissed the
comment as “silly.”
“It’s disappointing that while Sen. Martinez admits his own party’s
failures, he continues to make silly partisan attacks for political
gain,” Bubriski said.