Susana Martinez on Immigration, Being Latina and Republican

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez gave an interesting interview to Latina magazine in which she speaks on several different topics, including the DREAM Act, immigration reform and why she became a Republican (she used to be a Democrat).

Before getting into the nitty gritty, I think it’s important to emphasize one important fact about Martinez’s new post:  She has support from the Republican machine.  Democrats have been taking the “Latino vote” for granted for decades and, as recent Republican Latino candidates have proved, the Republicans are pouncing on this miscalculation.

Republicans may not have the numbers of voters Democrats have, but they’re kicking butt when it comes to funding Latino candidates.  It’s a wake up call Democrats, I hope you’re listening instead of just saying that you’re listening.

Martinez said a variety of interesting things in the interview:

• She’s the great-granddaughter of Toribio Ortega (the general credited with firing the first shot in the Mexican Revolution).
• She wants to repeal New Mexico’s law that allows undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses because she says that’s a pull for the “criminal” element.
• “I don’t know what the comprehensive reform act would be, but the first thing we have to do is we have to secure the border.”
• She had to be reminded what the DREAM Act was, but then she said: “What I am concerned about is that we have New Mexico citizens who want to attend college and there’s only so much funding to go around. Are we excluding people that are in New Mexico who are in the military service and have served our country and are here legally and cannot receive that kind of funding to attend college because the funds are limited?”
• She used to be a Democrat but became a Republican after “two individuals” had a conversation with she and her husband and, “We talked about many issues and realized that we were more in line with Republicans.”
• In other words, when Republicans came to her to throw money at her to run for governor she decided that her views were in line with Republicans.

Cough up the money (and power) Democrats!