The Real Susana Martinez

While you’ve probably seen Susana Martinez’s TV commercials boasting about her being a tough prosecutor, it’s what she is not saying on TV that many New Mexicans will find deeply troubling.

Now that the Republicans have their nominee, the choice for New Mexicans couldn’t be clearer.

In Diane Denish, we will have a different kind of Governor – a leader who will stand up to the powerful interests and insiders on behalf of New Mexico’s families and small businesses.

And Susana Martinez – well, the saying “all sizzle, no steak” comes to mind.

Below are a few quick facts about Sarah Palin’s choice for the next Governor of New Mexico:

• In 2004, Martinez said she wouldn’t plea bargain a DWI case – in fact it was a campaign pledge – and then she broke her promise more than 800 times. She cut plea bargain deals with more than 800 felony DWI offenders since making the pledge, and more than 1,000 in total. [Las Cruces Sun-News, 9/5/04; Albuquerque Journal, 5/19/10; Administrative Office of the Courts, Annual Reports, Third District Court, FY 1999-2009, accessed 5/11/10]
• Martinez boasts about her conviction rate, but in reality, one out of every three district court criminal defendants gets off. [Administrative Office of the Courts, Annual Reports, Third District Court, FY 1999-2009, accessed 5/11/10]
• Nearly 40 percent of felony murder defendants got off and her rape conviction rate is only 57 percent. [Administrative Office of the Courts, Annual Reports, Third District Court, FY 1999-2009, accessed 5/11/10]

With a record like that, does Susana Martinez really think she deserves a promotion?

But beyond distorting her failed record, Martinez won her primary by pandering to the special interests and showing her far-right wing colors. A quick look at some of the facts:

Needless to say, Susana Martinez is as ready to be Governor as Sarah Palin was to be president.

• Susana Martinez’s campaign is largely being bankrolled by big oil interests and she just received $450,000 (the largest contribution in New Mexico history) from the Texas millionaire and his wife behind the disgraceful Swift Boat ads against John Kerry in 2004. [New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan, 5/28/10]

• Martinez is a darling of the Republican establishment in Santa Fe and the Tea Party, participating in more than a dozen rallies and forums across the state.

• Two weeks before the primary, Martinez was behind in the polls – and then Sarah Palin came to town and threw her enthusiastic support behind her favorite candidate. Palin said at the endorsement event: “Send her to Santa Fe please to do the job, and it’s not just for New Mexico, it’s for the rest of the U.S.”

Now that you know about the real Susana Martinez, we need your help to spread the word to your friends, neighbors and colleagues. We need help to stop Martinez from getting an undeserved promotion to the Roundhouse. Susana Martinez is wrong for New Mexico.

Keep New Mexico Blue!

Sincerely,

Javier M. Gonzales
DPNM Chairman