Pete Domenici: “I did not interrupt his comments when there was tremendous opportunity to point out inconsistencies. I made only five…”

“I did not interrupt his comments when there was tremendous opportunity to point out inconsistencies. I made only five notes and I could have stopped and asked him if something he said is really what he meant, but I chose not to. I am going to finish my few remarks. I will not be much longer. I did not say that would happen, nor that they were discriminating against him, but the implication is clearly that it is kind of strange that this bright Hispanic young man is a Republican. I believe that is in the marketplace of ideas on the Democratic side. I suggest there are some things happening in our country. In my own State, a young Hispanic came up to me the other day from a very large family--young people, middle-age people, grandmas, grandpas. They all have very beautiful Spanish names for all of those categories of people. He put his arm around me and he said: We have all been Democrats. There are probably 200 people in my family. We have all been Democrats. But you know, I am wondering if I should not join with you and become a Republican. It seems like you think like we do, and wouldn't it be something if I did and my whole family decided that I was right? I said to him: I believe there are thousands like you who feel that way in New Mexico and in our country, and we welcome you. If this young man, Miguel Estrada, when he became a citizen, became a Republican--and I do not know that, but there is an implication he is one of us or he is conservative--I welcome him.”