Martinez Resigns RNC Post After Ten Months

Mel Martinez is a Cuban American, and the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George W. Bush. Born in Cuba, he arrived in the U.S. at age 15.

Senator Martinez meets with General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker in Iraq. Senator Martinez recently met with General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker in Iraq.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, a Republican from Florida, has announced that he is leaving the Republican National Committee general chairman post. President George Bush said in a statement that Martinez served with distinction.

Senator Mel Martinez is a Cuban American, and the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George W. Bush. Born in Cuba, he arrived in the U.S. at age 15.

Martinez earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Florida State University, and went on to practice law for 25 years. He has served in the U.S. Senate and on the Armed Services committee, the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committee, and the Energy and Natural Resources committee. He also serves on the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging.

President Bush said Martinez was a key player in making sure that the party has, "the structure and resources in place for all Republican candidates in the 2008 elections to be successful."

Bush thanked Martinez for his service and for his leadership at the Republican National Committee

"Because of his leadership, more Americans understand the Republican Party's efforts to grow our economy, support our troops, strengthen our schools and protect our country," Bush said in a statement.

It was reported in 2004 that Martinez, like others at the time, were posturing to gain voter attention by running as far as possible to the right.

He ran a statewide radio ad that encouraged the Senate to pass the Federal Marriage Amendment, and attacked one of his opponents for supporting hate crimes laws that would include protections based on sexual orientation.

But once again, the party of moral values did a switch step and Martinez found his way into a controversial and embarrassing situation. As it turned out, at least two of the top men working for this prolific opponent of gay rights, are gay.

One of them was John Dowless, the political consultant, and the other was Kirk Fordham, Martinez’s finance director. The Washington Blade reported that when confronted, Dowless said what he did with his personal life was his business.

“Martinez is an anti-gay bigot,” said John Aravosis, a D.C.-based gay political consultant and activist. He is one of the men behind the move in '04 to out staffers of politicians considered to be anti-gay. He says Martinez is a hypocrite for his dual positions as an anti-gay politician, and a person who uses gay staff members to win campaigns.

Martinez is leaving his post after only ten months. The AP reports that Martinez, up for re-election in 2010, is relinquishing the job to spend more time focusing on his constituents and because the RNC had achieved its set objectives.