Little Known American Governors

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez

Did you know that New Mexico made history by electing a governor that is this nation’s first Latina governor?

Probably not.

It’s not getting much attention.

Why is that do you suppose? I mean, it’s a history making event, is it not?
This seems to be a nation of big celebration when a certain race is a first in anything, why not some fanfare for this governor?

Fox News is suggesting they know the reason. She’s not a democrat. She is a Latina Republican.

The Associated Press made note of Martinez’s historic inauguration in a news wire Jan. 1, acknowledging her as the first female governor of the state, while omitting her Hispanic heritage. That story was picked up by several media outlets including the Washington Post and Chicago Tribune websites.

The AP later updated its Jan.1 inauguration day wire mentioning her as the first Latina governor. A search of the New York Times website yielded no stories on Martinez’s historic inauguration, and CNN mentioned her status as the nation’s “first Hispanic female governor” in a broadcast on Jan. 2.
Some media analysts note that coverage of Martinez’s victory pales in comparison to other history-making Hispanics, like Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor, whose confirmation to the high court dominated the headlines for months.

“I think it’s quite obvious that first Latino Democrats are celebrated but first Latino Republicans are the objects of scorn,” said Tim Graham, director of media analysis for the conservative Media Research Center. “The media wants the public to think of the Republican Party as an old white guy party and they’ll downplay anything that contradicts with that image.”

She certainly has credentials.

Martinez’s story is an impressive one. The 51-year-old former district attorney, from middle class roots in El Paso, graduated near the top of her high school class before attending the University of Texas at El Paso and the University of Oklahoma College of Law. In 1996, Martinez was elected district attorney of the state’s 3rd Judicial District, which covers heavily-Democratic Doña Ana County. Touting herself as a no-nonsense prosecutor during the 2010 gubernatorial election, Martinez defeated the state’s Democratic lieutenant governor, Diane Denish.

Oh well, and I am guessing few know about our East Indian American Governors as well, Bobby Jindal and Nikki Haley.