New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez electrifies crowd at GOP convention

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
8/31/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Speaking of her humble beginnings, Martinez says her story illustrates the 'promise of America'

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez offered a message of hope and opportunity at the GOP convention in Tampa, Florida. She told a rapt audience how she arose from humble beginnings to use the tools that were available to her in order to become the nation's first female Hispanic governor.

Elected governor of New Mexico in 2010, Susana Martinez became the first woman elected as governor of New Mexico as well as the nation's first Latina governor.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Speaking just moments before Paul Ryan accepted the vice presidential nomination, Martinez declaimed that her life story was a shining example of the "promise of America." She also emphasized the importance of the presidential election in preserving those opportunities for future generations.

Elected governor of New Mexico in 2010, Martinez became the first woman elected as governor of New Mexico as well as the nation's first Latina governor.

"Growing up, I never imagined a little girl from a border town could one day become a governor," Martinez said. "But this is America. My parents taught me to never give up and to always believe that my future could be whatever I dreamt it to be."

The youngest of three children in El Paso, Texas, Martinez grew up only a few miles from the border with Mexico. Her great-grandfather had been a revolutionary general in Mexico 100 years previously.

Her father, an ex-Marine and boxer, served more than a decade as a deputy sheriff and later started a private security business while her mother worked in office jobs. While in high school, she helped out by working as a security guard in the family business and became came certified to carry a firearm.

Martinez switched her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican before running for the district attorney's job, defeating the Democratic incumbent in 1996. She easily won re-election in the solidly Democratic county.

"Given the significant under-representation of Hispanics and other populations of color in the Republican Party, I think that Gov. Martinez's appearance as well as Condoleezza Rice's are important additions to the lineup ... to send the message that the Republican Party seeks to be more inclusive," Christine Sierra, a political science professor at the University of New Mexico says. "But mere speeches alone will not accomplish that."

"My parents also taught me about having the courage to stand for something," Martinez said in her speech. "I fear some of our leaders today have lost the courage to stand up. What we have now are politicians. They won't offer real plans. And only stand up when they want to blame someone else...

"This election should not be about political parties. Too many Americans are out of work. And our debt is out of control," she added. "It is the responsibility of both parties to offer up real solutions and have an honest debate."

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
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Keywords: Susana Martinez, Governor, GOP convention, Hispanic, New Mexico

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1 - 6 of 6 Comments

John Lopes
8 months ago
Jael, Kathleen,
In my comments i never promoted hatred. GOP paraded minority's in there agenda for a reason. It was pretty crystal clear. The policy's of the GOP should of put people like Rush Limbauh, Jan Brewer, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmen. It would of showed us the true base of the republican platform. Mitt Romney is not prochoice, he is multiple choice. Whichever way the wind is blowing he is pro-something. Mitt is also pro-war, what about the two wars the GOP has put this country through that President Obama is ending? Do we really want to start another one with Iran? I am a proud catholic and I believe in Democracy and I am a Democrat. God bless you.
robert matzinger
8 months ago
Ms Martinez is just one of many exteremly articulate intelligent Republican women in elective office. She's never made a big deal of being Hispanic, just that she was the right person for the job at hand. And yes, there's nothing more the "liberals" despise than a so called "minority" being successful in life - and at the same time being a republican.
Mary
8 months ago
Regarding the Republican Party including minorities, I just want to point out that it was extraordinarily difficult to hear these speakers on TV. The Liberal news crew kept talking over nearly all of their speeches! My first thought is that they must know that these people cannot be heard or many people will be influenced by them. My second thought as I saw newspaper articles complaining about the few minorities on the delegate floor was that the Liberals really just want minorities to be SEEN and not HEARD. The speakers whose transcripts I could find, like Gov Haley and Artur were wonderful. It is terrible that these reporters silenced them in this way. Thank you for helping their message be heard.
Kathleen
8 months ago
First and foremost, this woman impressed me big time! I have to admit I wasn't familar with her. She gave one of the best speeches and in my opinion was not given the credit she deserved by the media.I made a point to make a long distance call, (Virginia-New Mexico) .
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To Mr. Lopes, you and many like you have a inadequate ability to not do your cause any justice. How exactly do you expect to reach people as to your point of view if you come off as looking like a hate mongrel? The sad thing is, it's all over the internet. If people don't agree with your way of thinking they "need a wakeup call". Well here's a wake up call I am a proud Catholic,proud republican and name calling, doesn't affect this woman.
Jael
8 months ago
I am not voting for president based on demographics at some political convention. Demographics you "know" based on media's biased coverage. Besides, look at who is showing up at the DNC: 2-hour Islamic prayer when Dolan is barely (re)invited to say a closing prayer, and tons of pro-abortion speakers, (from NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and Sandra Fluke) plus the LGBT community pushing gay marriage. Is that representative of America?
We are not supposed to vote on which party looks cool and hipster to the media but on the one that most reflects our Catholic values no matter what demographics supposedly are.
Well, what about "social justice"?
First things first. How good is social justice to millions of aborted dead babies?
John Lopes
8 months ago
She needs to electrify her Neighbor in Arizona (Jan Brewer) of all the unjust they allow in their State toward minorities. I guess not all men and women are created equally. GOP platform needs a wakeup call. If you looked at the demographics of the people in attendance during the convention, it doesn’t represent the demographics of America.

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