Mel Martinez is an American lobbyist and former politician who served as a United States Senator from Florida from 2005 to 2009 and as general chairman of the Republican Party from November 2006 until October 19, 2007. He is more than the nation’s first Cuban American Senator. Because he was one of only two Hispanic’s in the U.S. Senate (the other was Democratic Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado) and because he represented Florida and it’s pivotal electoral power, Martinez was perhaps the U.S’s most important Hispanic lawmaker. But when he was elected in Fall 2004 Martinez was widely regarded as little more than a lapdog for President George Bush. He upset that image in the Spring, when he suggested that the U.S close it’s controversial prison
