President Raphael Martin

President Raphael Martin was the 45th president from Jan. 21 2004 until Jan. 21 2013. Formerly a senator from Tennessee, President Martin was a strong supporter of libertarian and pro business policy. Touted as the "spiritual successor to Ronald Reagan", Martin is best known for sweeping in a decade of solid Republican rule in the Senate and house and nominating 7 supreme court justices.

## Childhood and Early Adulthood

Born January 2nd 1965, Martin was born the 4th child out of 9 to a farmer and school teacher outside of Columbia, Tennessee. Raphael grew up with his parents and siblings (5 of which survived after childbirth) in relative comfort. Martin was a poor student and was often kicked from schools. He didn't make it through high school, eventually dropping out and moving to Nashville, TN to become a book writer in 1982.

Martin recalls how his childhood and early adulthood forged his strong political identity. Both his parents were democrats, and his father was part of a farm union, and helped Hispanic immigrants later in Martins childhood, as Columbia experienced a slight population boom. HIs mother instilled strong values of individualism, in juxtaposition to his father's very liberal, community driven ideals. After he moved to Nashville, Martin felt disillusioned with his father's community ideas and very much felt comfortable with his mother's ideas.

After two years in Nashville, Martin decided to get his GED and move back to Columbia. While at night school to get his GED Martin met Geraldine Nash, whom he would eventually marry in 1986. After finishing His GED in March 1983, Martin and his then girlfriend, Geraldine, Martin moved back into his childhood home. Short on cash, Martin decided to join his friend's radio show as a conservative consultant. According to Martin, "It was my biggest gig yet. I Had only published two books while in Nashville, and they netted me very little cash. But now I was making $500 weekly." Martin Stayed on the show until 1992, being a strong Reagan supporter, But criticizing his social policy and lobbying state officials to support Libertarian policy.

## Tragedy

After saving enough for a house, Martin Proposed to Geraldine, and sub sequentially married her on April 3rd 1986. On December 25th 1986 Geraldine gave birth to a boy named Vernon Reagan Martin. After a year of marriage on May 3rd 1987, Geraldine was murdered during a trip to Nashville. The murder was never resolved. Two days after Geraldine's death, Martin's father lost an ongoing lawsuit by a farm workers association for violating a union agreement to help undocumented farm workers. He killed himself a week later on May 13th 1987. To further twist the knife, in December of that same year, Martin's mother and young brother were killed in a bus crash, the two were moving to Alabama with family.

## Libertarian Talk

After a hard year, on Christmas day 1987, martin began a radio hosting service for smalltime political candidates in middle Tennessee. Initially a failing business, the venture picked up steam in 1992 after President Clinton's election and the subsequent rise in right wing media. The business reported an income of $67000 in 1989, and reported an income of roughly $550,000,000 in 1999. Martin took a backseat to his political commentary for a few years, with focus on raising his son and his business ventures.

## Entry to Politics

After meeting and forming a relationship with then governor Bill Sundquist, Martin became a loud voice for libertarian policies in the state again. On October 3rd 1999, Martin filled with the FEC to run for then senator Bill Frist's seat. He was mum on announcing his candidacy for a couple months but official launched his campaign on February 2nd 2000. He cited "...government corruption, socialist threat, and focus on Blacks and Hispanics in the government, before the financial and material wellbeing of Americans. Despite a hard fought primary, and even having his opponent be endorsed by the governor, Martin won the primary with 57.3% of the vote and nearly 250,000 more votes cast. He went on to win the General election with 66.3% of the total votes cast. winning all counties but three.

## Senatorial Career 2001-2005

Despite being a very prominent media figure and receiving a lot of constant media attention, Martin was one of the least important politicians in the senate Sponsoring or cosponsoring only 17 bills and 30 ammendments in his 4 year term.

### Noticeable Legislation

S.32 Liberty for Gun Owners

S.5 The Readron- Martin Tax Reform Bill

S.88 Minimum Wage Increase

S.900 Immigration Visa Reform Law

S.76 Censure President Bush.

## Bushgate

In October 2003 an intel leak of the RNC leaked emails between President George Bush, RNC chair Farah Hill, Republican Congressional Chair Han Kasich, DNC chair Harold Simms, and other prominent democrats a republicans proving a scandal of cooperation between the RNC and DNC to sabatoge then Presidential Primary Candidate Bertram Genes of the democratic party. The emails suggested the president would receive the DNC's endorsement if Genes received the nomination and Bush made a few concessions. Such concessions included choosing a moderate democrat VP to replace Dick Cheney, firing many cabinet level officials in favor of democrats, and other dubious choices.

While not illegal, the leaks were presented by the media as Bushgate, and soured the view of the president. His approval rating hit an all time low in early 2004 of 39%. Martin was the loudest critic of the president Bush, even getting 17 house republicans on board with censuring the president. Ultimately little came from the scandal except for president Bush refusing to run for re-election.

Martins loud critique of the president made him even more popular and a front runner for the Republican Presidential Primary.

## Presidential Run

On December 4th 2003 Martin launched an exploratory comitee to run for president. After extensive polling showed him winning the primary with about 51% of the vote- a notable amount more than needed in a extensive field of candidates- Martin officially announced his candidacy for the Republican Nomination for president.