Mel Martinez has been a key senator on this issue, and very energetic. He's negotiating with other Republicans and has to deal with strong disagreement from some members of his party.

He's the best salesperson for this approach to immigration, because he's such a forceful person, because he's a border state Republican who clearly understands these issues.

It really is breathtaking how over the top and how much they overreached with that legislation. Tom Tancredo and Jim Sensenbrenner really kicked over a beehive with the legislation.

It fits into his general framework of, 'I care less about the politics than in policy that makes sense'. I think that that's the image I have of him. That's the image he'd like voters to have of him.

I like that about the Republicans; the evidence does not faze them, they are not bothered at all by the facts.

Twice the Republicans in the California legislature tried to block my seating because of my trips to Hanoi.