My Email To The RNC/Mel Martinez Finally Went Through

[Backstop]

Original thread here at ARFCOM: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.htm...326&page=1&#-1

www.gop.com/News/Read.aspx?ID=6760
Friday, January 19, 2007
Republican Party General Chairman Mel Martinez Addresses RNC Members At Winter Meeting

Washington, D.C. – Republican Party General Chairman Mel Martinez addressed the RNC members today at the winter meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, DC. The following is a transcript of General Chairman Martinez’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

Thank you, Sharon, Joyce, and Luis, for your nominations and your kind words.

And thank all of you for honoring me by electing me to serve as general chairman of the Republican Party. I am humbled by your confidence and your faith in me.

I would also like to thank President Bush for recommending me to this position. Once again, he’s given me a tremendous privilege. I was honored to serve in his cabinet during his first term, and I am honored to serve him and our Party again today as General Chairman.

I want to congratulate Mike Duncan. I know for a fact that without Mike’s hard work and support in running the day-to-day operations of the RNC, it would be impossible for me to take this position as General Chairman. Mike is already a good friend, and I know that our relationship will continue to grow and be a strong one as we strive together to lead our party.

And congratulations and thanks, of course, to Ken Mehlman. Ken has done a terrific job over the past two years as chairman of our Party. I know everyone in this room wishes you well. But more importantly, I know everyone wants to give you our heartfelt thanks for a job well done.

Thank you for your dedication, for your work, and for your passion. Ken, thank you.

Finally, I’d like to introduce you to someone who’s very special in my life: my wife of 36 years, Kitty. Without Kitty’s support and dedication, it would not be possible for me to serve the people of Florida and, now, to take on this important role helping our great Party. Kitty, thank you so much.

We are all gathered here today because we share the core principles and ideals that make our Party great.

My life and my experiences are why I share those ideals with you, and why I am so proud to be able to serve this Party.

My story is like so many other American stories. A story of hope, and the promise of the American Dream. A story of trying to create a better life for the next generation, so that they might have opportunities to succeed in ways that their parents and grandparents were not able to succeed.

I was born in Cuba. As a boy, I watched as my country, my home, turned into a living hell under totalitarian communism. My childhood went from one of carefree happiness to one where I watched freedom and the rule of law erode and disappear.

I will never forget the moment that crystallized for my parents what our home had become, and what they had to do to protect their family. One day, when I was 14, I was playing a game of basketball, and while I was playing, I was wearing a symbol of my faith, a scapular.

There was a group of armed men there at the game, members of the government militias, who saw that scapular and began chanting, taunting, “kill the Catholic.”

My parents were in the stands watching that game, and they saw those men with guns, and heard the threats. And that was the moment that my parents made the decision to do something that today would seem totally unthinkable. My parents and the parents of more than 14,000 other Cuban children sent us to America while they remained behind in Cuba.

My parents thought our separation would be brief and that I would soon return to Cuba. The Cuban missile crisis of October 1962 changed the equation. They were unable to leave and my return was unthinkable. Our hope then turned to someday reuniting in freedom.

The Catholic Church, working with our government, arranged for my entry into the United States through “Operation Pedro Pan” – or Peter Pan.

They not only got so many young people out of the clutches of tyranny and into a nation of freedom, but they also sent out a call from pulpits across Florida for families who would be willing to take in children they had never met, who spoke a language they did not understand, and came from a land they had never seen.

It would have been easy for Walter and Eileen Young to sit quietly in the pew that Sunday morning -- but they raised their hands, and took me in.

Not only did they open their home, but they opened their hearts to me,
and treated me as a member of their family.

They cared for me for more than two years, and another couple, June and Jim Berkmyer, cared for me for another two years after that – until more than four years later, my parents were able to leave Cuba and our family was reunited in Orlando.

In the four years that I waited for my parents to escape Cuba, I worked after school and summer jobs, and managed to save $320 – enough to buy the family’s first car, a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Aire – big fins and all. And I lined up a job for my father, who was a veterinarian, at the local dairy farm.

He was willing to do whatever it took to begin supporting his family, to begin contributing to this great country, a country that had taken in his family and given him back the right to speak freely, to practice his faith, to participate in democracy. He and I, like so many other immigrants, came here not to change America, but to be changed by the American experience ... and we were.

From the moment I arrived I did not have to look far to see the greatness of America, and the genuine goodness of the American people. The Youngs, the Berkmyers and thousands of other families who opened their homes and their hearts in a way that is uniquely American made it clear.

They were part of what has become known as the “greatest generation,” and because of their generosity of spirit, I had the opportunity to live in freedom and pursue my American Dream.

The fact that a boy at age 15 can come here from another country, with nothing, not even speaking the language of this country – and stand before you today as a leader of our great Party, and a United States Senator – is a miracle that could only happen in America.

My journey was not made possible because of some giant government program or handout – but rather, because of strong, loving American families who were eager to do what was right to help someone who needed help.

And also because of a strong personal desire on my part to become a contributing member of my new community, to get an education, to pull myself up by my bootstraps and succeed as an American.

My story is like so many of your families’ stories—maybe not this generation, maybe not in this century. But we all came to this country to work hard to better our lives and those of our children and grandchildren.

It’s a profoundly American story. And it shaped my life and my own philosophy.

It’s the story of the American Dream. The dream that regardless of your personal circumstances, your financial situation, the lineage of your family or the color of your skin – the dream that in America, if you work hard, have faith in your God and play by the rules, all things are possible.

The American Dream, that belief in endless opportunities, in the power of freedom and individual achievement, is what our Party is all about. I’m a Republican because I have lived the American Dream. And I am excited to take this position as General Chairman because I believe our Party needs to be in the business of making the American Dream come true for everyone.

The American Dream might take different forms for different people.
To the young families who are the roots of our society, it might mean owning their very first home.

To the single mom who needs medicine for herself and her child, it might mean health care you own and can take with you when you switch jobs.
To the small family business owner who dreams of growing his business, it might mean lower taxes and less regulation.

To our seniors, including members of that Greatest Generation, it might mean knowing that they can control their own retirement.

But to all of them, it means opportunity, and a limitless future. And that is what our Party is all about.

We’re the party of lower taxes and less spending because we know that government doesn’t create jobs and economic growth. The American people, the most industrious, innovative, driven people in the world do that. Today, across this great country, millions of men and women are hard at work.

Some of them are on factory floors and construction sites. Some of them are on family farms. They’re in office buildings and restaurants, cabs and semis. They are working for their families and their futures.

We’re the party that believes in the power of faith, and the power of individuals and communities to do good in a way that government can’t.

I am here today because of good people who volunteered in a church on a Sunday morning, saying; “I care enough to help.” Ronald Reagan once said that “All great change in America begins at the dinner table.”

Every day, in churches, synagogues, and mosques … soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and community centers … men and women are proving him right. They are showing that individuals and families, churches and communities can accomplish what bureaucracies cannot.

We’re the party that is passionate about freedom for all people, and understands the stakes in the War On Terror. I’ve been to Iraq, and I’ve talked to our men and women in uniform. I’ve never been prouder or more awed by the sacrifice of the people in our armed forces. Our job is to stand behind those brave Americans in their mission, a mission that I believe is vital to our safety and security here at home.

The President’s new plan will give them the support they need, and simultaneously require the Iraqi government to step up fully to its responsibilities. We have a long way to go in Iraq, but the President and this Party understand that the consequences of defeat would be disastrous.

Those are our principles. We believe in the power of the American people more than the power of the government. We believe in the power of good in the world over the power of evil. We believe in the power of faith and the power of freedom. We are the party of big ideas, and a vision for a bright future.

To be the Party of the future means that we also have to be a party that opens the door wide-open so that all Americans feel welcome. There are too many Americans who do not understand that the principles of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan speak to their hopes, their dreams, and their aspirations. I will take the message of our Party to all Americans.

As a member of the Cuban-American community, it was easy for me to understand that the Republican Party, the party of Ronald Reagan, was a party for us.

I want to make sure that we take that message to the broader Hispanic community, to the African-American community, and to all communities that may never have believed that Republican ideals spoke to them. So they, too, understand that if they care about education for their children, accountability in their schools, if they care about entrepreneurship, about beginning a small business and growing it into a large business, if they care about a Party that stands for less government, but more individual freedom … then we are the party for them and their American Dream.

Those principles are why I am a proud Republican, and why I am so honored to take this position as General Chairman of the Republican Party.

It would be tempting today for me to talk to you about our strategies and tactics as we plan to retake the Congress and elect a Republican president in 2008.

But not today. What I am going to do over the next two years is assist our Party in a renewal of the principles that have made us great: lower taxes, limited government, individual responsibility, freedom here and abroad, and the power of faith. I am going to carry those principles to the American people, explaining why the Republican way of doing things is the best way to solve America’s problems.

And if I do my job right, if we all are successful in communicating our message, if we stand for our principles, we will be rewarded with success … and the high responsibility of governing.

I am going to concentrate on talking about a Republican Party that is the party of optimism, the party of the future, the party that stands for solutions to the American people’s problems. I want to describe my passion for a Party that speaks to America’s hopes, aspirations, and dreams. I want to lead the Party of a bright future.

Just a few weeks ago, we lost a great Republican and a great American: President Gerald Ford. President Bush said it best: “In President Ford, the world saw the best of America -- and America found a man whose character and leadership would bring calm and healing to one of the most divisive moments in our nation's history.”

President Ford brought this country together at a time when it seemed like our divisions might be too deep to overcome. He never stopped being a Republican, but he also never stopped being an American.

Neither will I. My life was changed by America. My life was changed by freedom. I know how important this moment in history is, and how important our duty to the future is. And I intend to lead this party by spending every day of the next two years fighting for that future. I owe it to our Party, I owe it to you, and most importantly, I owe it to a nation that has given me so much.

In 1964, Ronald Reagan changed the Republican Party and started down a path that changed the world when he spoke to the nation with these simple words: “You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.”

Today, we have a similar rendezvous. We have a vision for a bright future for our nation, and today we start down the path toward that future.

Thank you, and God bless you all.

Considering the above letter, I sent the following email to the RNC. As I posted on ARFCOM (see link above), this thing kept getting rejected for one reason or another:

----- Original Message -----
From: postmaster@rnchq.org
Date: Saturday, January 27, 2007 4:17 pm
Subject: Delivery Status Notification (Failure)
To: Backstop@XXXXXXX.com
> This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.
>
> Unable to deliver message to the following recipients, because the
> message was forwarded more than the maximum allowed times. This
> could indicate a mail loop.
>
> Chairman@gop.com

And I kept re-sending it.

FINALLY, they received the one I sent on 20 March 2007.

----- Original Message -----
From: Info Services Temp
Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 2:37 pm
Subject: RE: Congratulations
To: Backstop@xx.com
> Thank you for contacting the Republican National Committee. Your
> comments will be included in the daily report to the Chairman. We
> sincerely appreciate your input and interest.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Backstop@x.com [mailto:Backstop@x.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 8:49 PM
> To: Info Services Temp
> Subject: Congratulations
>
> Mr. Mel
> Martinez
>
> 27 January 2007
> General Chairman
> Republican Party
> Republican National Committee
> 310 First Street, SE
> Washington, D.C. 20003
>
> Mr. Martinez,
>
> I offer my congratulations regarding your appointment to the
> position
> of Republican Party General Chairman. The Republican Party needs
> a
> man of your strength at the helm as the Party's current course
> needs a
> major correction.
>
> In the recent elections, many Republican voters displayed their
> lack
> of confidence in the Republican Party, and voted Third Party.
> Many
> state they did this in an effort to "teach the Republican Party a
> lesson."
>
> Those Third Party voters did nothing more than empower the
> Democratic
> Party, as is evidenced by the recent results.
>
> Many Republican voters are strongly supportive of Attorney General
> Ashcroft's stance in that the 2nd Amendment clearly protects the
> rights of individuals to keep and bear firearms.
>
> Regarding your following statement from Friday, January 19, 2007:
> "What I am going to do over the next two years is assist our Party
> in
> a renewal of the principles that have made us great: lower taxes,
> limited government, individual responsibility, freedom here and
> abroad, and the power of faith. I am going to carry those
> principles
> to the American people, explaining why the Republican way of doing
> things is the best way to solve America's problems."
>
> In what manner will you propagate the resurgence of the Republican
> Party, specifically related to restoring rights as defined under
> the
> 2nd Amendment?
>
> I look forward to your response.
>
> Best Regards,
>
>
> "Backstop"
> Registered Republican
>

[Backstop]

And for the record - they never replied.

[American Patriot]

They only reply if you add a check, Backstop.

I am in several groups... "Veterans for McCain" for one. The RNC is another I belong to. Basically, as long as I'm sending money, they respond.

Stop sending money, they send you prepaid envelopes with set amounts of money to donate, you know, to make it easy for me... just check off 50, 100, 1000 dollars and so on.

[Backstop]

Truth of the matter is the RNC is in a sad state of affairs.

They need to find a real Conservative for 2012.

Mccain's campaign was weak.

[Ryan Ruck]

Palin - Jindal 2012

[Backstop]

I don't expect a response, but I needed to get this off my chest.

Either the GOP gets it together, or I'm gone.

Wish in one hand, shit in the other eh?

Date:	Sunday, May 15, 2011 1:38 PM
From:	Backstop@somewhere.com
To:	Chairman@gop.com
Subject:	GOP's Direction

> Mr. Reince Priebus,
>
> On 20 March 2007 I sent the following email to Chairman Mel Martinez:
>

> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Backstop@x.com [mailto:Backstop@x.com]
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 8:49 PM
> > To: Info Services Temp
> > Subject: Congratulations
> >
> > Mr. Mel
> > Martinez
> >
> > 27 January 2007
> > General Chairman
> > Republican Party
> > Republican National Committee
> > 310 First Street, SE
> > Washington, D.C. 20003
> >
> > Mr. Martinez,
> >
> > I offer my congratulations regarding your appointment to the
> > position of Republican Party General Chairman. The Republican Party needs
> > a man of your strength at the helm as the Party's current course
> > needs a major correction.
> >
> > In the recent elections, many Republican voters displayed their
> > lack of confidence in the Republican Party, and voted Third Party.
> > Many state they did this in an effort to "teach the Republican Party a
> > lesson."
> >
> > Those Third Party voters did nothing more than empower the
> > Democratic Party, as is evidenced by the recent results.
> >
> > Many Republican voters are strongly supportive of Attorney General
> > Ashcroft's stance in that the 2nd Amendment clearly protects the
> > rights of individuals to keep and bear firearms.
> >
> > Regarding your following statement from Friday, January 19, 2007:
> > "What I am going to do over the next two years is assist our Party
> > in a renewal of the principles that have made us great: lower taxes,
> > limited government, individual responsibility, freedom here and
> > abroad, and the power of faith. I am going to carry those
> > principles to the American people, explaining why the Republican way of doing
> > things is the best way to solve America's problems."
> >
> > In what manner will you propagate the resurgence of the Republican
> > Party, specifically related to restoring rights as defined under
> > the 2nd Amendment?
> >
> > I look forward to your response.
> >
> > Best Regards,
> >
> >
> >Backstop
> >Registered Republican

>
> I have yet to receive a response, so I'll assume one isn't coming.
>
> Mr. Martinez (and the GOP) was an abject failure in the promise of "a renewal of the principles that have made us great."
>
> The recent compromise as related to budget cuts did not resemble anything of the true GOP principals.
>
> So I ask you, Mr. Priebus - what are you going to do to return the GOP to its core principals?
>
> As it stands now, the GOP has left me behind, as with each election it swings farther and farther to the left.
>
> I'm tired of supporting a party that does not represent me.
>
> One thing I can assure you of, Mr. Priebus. If the GOP continues to compromise, and does not return to its core values, I will never vote for the party again.
>
> I look forward to your response.
>
> Respectfully,
>
>
> Backstop
> Registered Republican

[Backstop]

Their response was quick, and pretty much what I expected.

(Not sure what happened with that massive link there - but not gonna try and fix it).

Date: Sunday, May 15, 2011 1:38 PM
From: Info Services <info@rnchq.org>
To: Me
Subject: Thank you for your thoughts and comments

Thank you for contacting the Republican National Committee. Our Party's success
depends on the active participation of supporters like you, and we are glad you
took the time to write. We believe in listening to as many views as possible
from people like you, who represent the Republican Party. Receiving letters and
information from members enables us to get a wide range of opinions, which are
shared with Republican candidates, officeholders and campaigns. They all value
these comments, as do we at the RNC.

Due to the high volume of emails received on a daily basis, it is impossible to
send out individual responses. Please be assured that your comments will be
read and included in our daily report to Chairman Priebus. Please check our
website, www.gop.com>, for information on our activities. If
you have requested information that we can provide, we will respond as quickly
as possible.

Our Party needs your continued support to get our message out to every American.
We appreciate you taking the time to share with us your concerns and we hope you
will continue to keep us advised of any future concerns.

Constituent Services
Republican National Committee

[Ryan Ruck]

LOL! 4 years and a boilerplate response.

[Backstop]

No kidding, eh?

HA!

[catfish]

Truth of the matter is the RNC is in a sad state of affairs.

They need to find a real Conservative for 2012.

Mccain's campaign was weak.

I lay a lot of blame at the feet of Michael Steele, that guy was worthless, did more harm than good.

[Backstop]

I lay a lot of blame at the feet of Michael Steele, that guy was worthless, did more harm than good.

Agreed.

The whole freaking GOP needs a good house cleaning.

[Backstop]

I wonder if fear of a conservative third party that the rank-and-file would defect to might do the trick?

I don't know for certain, but I have my doubts.

This is just my opinion: I think the majority of Conservative voters held their noses for many elections, and voted for the GOP.

And they'll continue to do so.

Why?

Because they're afraid of splitting the vote, thereby guaranteeing a Dem win.

After last election I did a ton of research and discovered that even if all the people that cast a non-Dem vote AND a non-GOP vote, had voted for the GOP - it still would not have been enough to sway the election.

I started a thread on ARFcom about that.

Personally, I'm finished.

Either the GOP puts up a real Conservative candidate, or I refuse to vote GOP.

Please don't miss my post in the 2012 Election thread, where Gingrich says he supports a federal mandate requiring folks to buy health care insurance.

[American Patriot]

I've been "finished" with parties for awhile. I still think, like most of you, the GOP needs to have a house cleaning and put in people who are actually working to bring the pendulum back to the right.

GOP is like the Democrats, they just want you to donate money and say good things. I've been pretty disillusioned since Fred Thompson dropped out after accepting a $50.00 donation from me. I sent it, a few days later, he quit.

What kind of shit is that?