The Washington Times, never a big fan of Sen. Mel Martinez's ascension to national Republican party chair, is scolding the Florida senator for criticizing the immigration stance of the GOP's leading presidential candidates.
Echoing comments he made after the collapse of an immigration package, Martinez at an appearance this week in St. Petersburg suggested the candidates were only offering criticism, not solutions.
"The junior senator from Florida is wrong on more than the substance," the newspaper's editorial board opines. "This is a case of Mr. Martinez putting his own personal views and his loyalty to President Bush above the serious responsibilities of his chairmanship. He has just driven a wedge between himself and the two men most likely at this point to contend for the Republican presidential nomination. To what end? He is at odds with his party. He sounds bitter. He isn't going to change minds. And he may have just undercut the man for whom Mr. Martinez's job requires a vigorous defense next year."
It's actually a case of Martinez doing the right thing and fighting against racism, which is wrong, even if the majority of the members of a particular party favor it.
