RNC chairman abruptly resigns

October 19, 2007

The Miami Herald reported a few weeks ago that Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), elected chairman of the Republican National Committee in January, planned to step down once a GOP presidential nominee emerges. Martinez expected to make way for his successor some time in February, so the ’08 nominee can have his team in place for the election season.

Apparently, he couldn’t wait that long. Martinez abruptly resigned today, less than a year after taking the job at the president’s request.

“I believe that our future as a party and nation is bright and I have every intention of continuing to fight for our president, our party and our candidates,” the Florida senator said in a statement.

Martinez said he was relinquishing the post to spend more time focusing on his constituents and because the RNC had achieved the objective he set when he assumed the job in January.

“It was my goal as general chairman to lead the party as it established the structure and raised the resources necessary to support our presidential candidate and ensure Republican victories next November. I believe we have accomplished those goals,” Martinez said.

Yes, it’s quite a record of accomplishments. There was the… well, how about the… who can forget about the time…. OK, Martinez seems to have neither set nor met any actual goals as RNC chairman.

But I am curious about why he’s stepping down now.

The AP reported:

His departure was abrupt. Martinez wasn’t expected to step down until a Republican presidential nominee was selected. The earliest that could occur is February. […]

There was no immediate word on a replacement.

I hate to sound cynical, but isn’t this a little odd? The RNC chairman planned to step down next year, but abruptly shifts course, making a Friday-afternoon announcement, usually a time reserved for political figures who are avoiding attention.

For that matter, there was supposed to be a transition, so Martinez could hand the reins off to his successor. Instead, there simply won’t be an RNC chairman until one of the Republican presidential candidates locks up the nomination, which won’t happen for at least four months.

Seems like there might be more to this one. Hmm.

Martinez said he was relinquishing the post to spend more time focusing on his constituents and because the RNC had achieved the objective he set when he assumed the job in January.

And to spend more time with his family. Or someone else’s family. Or kittens.

  • Live female underage vegan pro-choice anti-war farm animals?

    How low can one man sink???

  • Rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic in an effort to avoid blame for the ensuing disaster.

  • How low can one man sink???

    I think we have already answered that question. Google “George W. Bush.”

  • Lets see, a mountain of debt, many top donors on the sidelines, a lack luster field and no enthusiasm among the rank and file. Sounds like Mission Accomplished to me.

  • He was in a park bathroom late at night and a “bulky black guy” came in while he and started using the toilet. Not wanting to be a statistic, Melman went into the stall with the guy and offered him $20 and a BJ…

    Oops. Wrong Republican. Um…

    He went out partying with some Young Republicans and crashed at a friend’s house. Some how, in the course of the evening, he wound up with his mouth on one the dick of one of his friend….

    Nope, sorry. That was another Republican.

    Anyway, I smell a large juicy scandal.

    [Drools]

  • I wonder if the anti-immigrant backlash had anything to do with his departure. This is from a rightwing group blog called PA Pundits. This particular post is by a blogger who goes by the name “sniper”.

    Good Riddance, don’t let the door hit you on the way out, you illegal alien coddling buffoon!

    Statement of Chairman Duncan:

    “It has been an honor serving with Senator Mel Martinez in his role as General Chairman of the Republican Party. During his tenure, the RNC has achieved tremendous fundraising and political outreach success nationwide. Our Party has effectively laid the groundwork for the 2008 Republican presidential nominee thanks in large part to Senator Martinez’s efforts, and I know that he has successfully achieved the goals that he set out to accomplish when he was elected in January. I commend Senator Martinez’s relentless commitment to his constituents in Florida, and I look forward to continuing to work together for our Party in the future.”

    Whatever… I’m just glad he’s GONE.

    The GOP may be preparing itself to go negative on this issue in a big way.

  • Well, since these guys know no shame, he probably just voted Democratic sometime in the 80s and they’re forcing him out.

  • It’s sure not like the glory days of Ken Mehlman, is it? The National committee’s financial woes are being replicated in the state committees, as well, so the rot is not isolated, but systemic.

    And is it any wonder? The party has done nothing to improve on its image in the almost-12 months since the mid-term elections, and in fact, the drip, drip, drip of scandal has continued. How many Republicans have announced that they will not be running for re-election? I guess it’s just not fun anymore.

    John Boehner has a plan, though, or so we have heard. I laughed when I heard it because it reminded me of the episode of The Simpsons I saw last night. It’s the one where Homer gets to tour the Duff Beer plant, and at one point, the tour guide announces that they have some great plans for the future. Barney asks the guide to tell them about it, over and over – tour guide finally says, “Well, we’ve got…oh, who am I kidding, we got nuthin.”

    So, everyone join me in a Friday afternoon toast to Mel Martinez, John Boehner and the GOP –Ya Got Nuthin!

    “clink”

  • “I believe that our future as a party and nation is bright and I have every intention of continuing to fight for our president, our party and our candidates,” the Florida senator said in a statement.

    How about fighting for your COUNTRY, and not just your president, party and candidates?

    Is that not right-wing patriotism?

  • Martinez said he was relinquishing the post to spend more time focusing on his constituents.

    His “constituents” probably include several attorneys and a bail bondsman.

    Definitely smells like an FBI raid or a gay sex scandal.

  • A Quinnipiac University poll in September found that 38 percent of those surveyed said they approved of the job he was doing, down from 48 percent in February.

    Wow, that’s a 25% drop, and 38% approval is getting damn close to the “backwash”. Some people might call that a problem.

    If he’s worried about getting right with the voters he knows what to do. But turning states evidence on the Bush crime family could be hazardous to his health.

  • Lloyd, there’s nothing like rearranging the deck chairs—after the blasted boat has sunk. Martinez is getting out before the mass exodus begins. Martinez knows it.

    His “Master” in the Oval Office knows it, too—anyone notice the “cringy” expression on King George’s face the past week or three?

    The wingnutter noise machine knows it. consider how vehemently shrill the O’Reilly/Coulter/Malkin machine has become.

    The fighting 101st keyboarders know it all too well, too. When they’re desparate enough to attack children, you know they’re in “the last throes.”

    But now is not the time to break out the popcorn and pop the champagne corks. It is, however, the time to redouble the offensive effort.

    Go for the throat.

    Go for the kill.

    It’s time to “count coup” on these scum….

  • I’ll side not with the explanation of looming scandal, though with these guys that seems more of an eventuality than a question, I’ll instead go with incompetence. Mel Martinez has been the Fred Thompson of party chairmen. He ran things just like Fred would — he enjoyed the title and the increased prestige but to actually have to work at anything just seemed like much too much to bear. Mel was being pressed to make things happen and god forbid he’s have to break a sweat or anything. For a party that revels in appointing loyalists over competents into positions of power, it’s good to see them suffer a taste of their own medicine.

  • The tip of the iceberg. Disaster is an orphan. He wants to be as far away as he can when the shit hits the fan. Don’t all successful politicians have the knack survivial?

    Just who will be the sacrificial lamb that takes his place?

  • Bush bats a 1000 when appointing people to jobs. They’re all incompetent cronies. If Bush wanted Martinez then he must be hopeless. Except it seems Martinez knows he’s in over his head. I suppose we’ll hear, “Good job, Mel,” fairly soon. Maybe there’s a medal in it somewhere, or just a friendly pat on the butt.

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