Susana Martinez Quotations

I went to law school. And I became a prosecutor. I took on a specialty that very few choose to pursue. I prosecuted child abuse and child homicide cases. Cases that were truly gut-wrenching. But standing up for those kids, being their voice for justice was the honor of a lifetime.

When I was a young prosecutor, I got called to testify against my boss. I could have backed down, but I didn't. I stood up to him. And he fired me for it.

The criminal justice system should have the authority to determine the immigration status of all criminals, regardless of race or ethnicity, and report illegal immigrants who commit crimes to federal authorities.

As the first Hispanic female governor in history, little girls often come up to me in the grocery store or the mall. They look and point, and when they get the courage, they ask 'Are you Susana?' and they run up and give me a hug.

Success is the American Dream. And that success is not something to be ashamed of, or to demonize.

Latinos care about education, yes, so we need reform, not just money.

I've known where my heritage is from all along.

Despite what some would have us believe, success is not built on resentment and fear.

Growing up I never imagined a little girl from a border town could one day become a governor. But this is America. In America algo es possible.

I registered Democrat because my parents did. They were, we were. There was no thinking behind it.

Republicans want to be tough and say, 'Illegals, you're gone.' But the answer is a lot more complex than that.

Too many Americans are out of work, and our debt is out of control.

We talked about many issues, like welfare, is it the way of life or hand up? Talked about size of government, how much should it tax families and small businesses? And when we left that lunch, we got in the car and I looked over at Chuck and said, 'I'll be damned. we're Republicans.'

My parents taught me to never give up and to always believe that my future could be whatever I dreamt it to be.

Success, they taught me, is built on the foundation of courage, hard-work and individual responsibility. Despite what some would have us believe, success is not built on resentment and fears.

In New Mexico, I inherited the largest structural deficit in state history, and our legislature is controlled by Democrats. We don't always agree, but we came together in a bipartisan manner and turned that deficit into a surplus. And we did it without raising taxes.

Growing up, I never imagined a girl from a border town could one day become a governor.

My dad was a golden gloves boxer in the Marine Corps, then a deputy sheriff. My mom worked as an office assistant.

New Mexico is an environment where we are open for business.

Sometimes Republicans engage in number-crunching analysis that doesn't always take the neediest into account.

My parents grew that small business from one 18-year-old guarding a bingo to more than 125 employees in three states. And sure, there was help along the way. But my parents took the risk. They stood up. And you better believe they built it.

At 18, I guarded the parking lot at the Catholic church bingos. Now my dad made sure I could take care of myself. I carried a Smith and Wesson 357 magnum.

At 18, I guarded the parking lot at the Catholic Church bingos. Now, my dad made sure I could take care of myself. I carried a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum - that gun weighed more than I did!

There is one candidate in this election who will protect that dream. One leader who will fight hard to keep the promise of America for the next generation. And that's why we must stand up and make Mitt Romney the next president of the United States.

I hope I've been able to show other young girls that as long as you work hard and you're committed to fight for your education, that anything's possible.

When I first registered to vote I registered as a Democrat.

I absolutely advocate for comprehensive immigration reform,

Self-deport? What the heck does that mean? I have no doubt Hispanics have been alienated during this campaign. But now there's an opportunity for Gov. Romney to have a sincere conversation about what we can do and why. I absolutely advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. Republicans want to be tough and say, 'Illegals, you're gone.' But the answer is a lot more complex than that.

We call on the Senate to reject any judicial nominee who does not affirm fundamental civil rights, including a woman's right [to obtain an abortion on demand]. The threat an [pro-life] judiciary poses to women's lives demands nothing less.

I don't want to be a politician. I want to be a leader.

I've always known that my father's father and grandfather and grandmother were from Mexico. I've never denied it. I've always said it.

Before I ran for district attorney, two Republicans invited my husband and me to lunch. And I know a party switch was exactly what they wanted. So, I told Chuck, we'll be polite, enjoy a free lunch and then say goodbye. But we talked about issues. They never used the words Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal. We talked about many issues, like welfare - is it a way of life or a hand up? And when we left that lunch, we got in the car, and I looked over at Chuck and said, 'I'll be damned, we're Republicans.'

I fear some of our leaders today have lost the courage to stand up. What we have now are politicians. They won't offer real plans, and only stand up when they want to blame someone else.