Trials and Tribulations
At last weekend's Utah County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner, Congressman Chris Cannon, apparently not known for his good timing, stood up and endorsed KSL Radio host Doug Wright for the GOP nomination to challenge incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim Matheson.
Two days later, Wright announced he would not run for Matheson's seat this year. That leaves announced candidates Joe Tucker, a Utah County businessman, and Kris Lounsbury, a St. George building contractor and pastor, and expected candidate, Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, feeling snubbed by Cannon.
Just call it another pre-Valentine's Day fissure in the less than tranquil Utah Republican Party love-in.
Cannon's premature endorsement is an indication of a split between the party's hierarchy and many Republican legislators, who threatened to boycott the Lincoln Day Dinner until its organizers uninvited Wright as the fund-raiser's emcee.
The legislators felt it was unfair to highlight Wright and give him an advantage over the others, especially Christensen, their colleague in the House, if Wright was going to seek the nomination.
Cheers,
Paul Rolly
Two days later, Wright announced he would not run for Matheson's seat this year. That leaves announced candidates Joe Tucker, a Utah County businessman, and Kris Lounsbury, a St. George building contractor and pastor, and expected candidate, Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, feeling snubbed by Cannon.
Just call it another pre-Valentine's Day fissure in the less than tranquil Utah Republican Party love-in.
Cannon's premature endorsement is an indication of a split between the party's hierarchy and many Republican legislators, who threatened to boycott the Lincoln Day Dinner until its organizers uninvited Wright as the fund-raiser's emcee.
The legislators felt it was unfair to highlight Wright and give him an advantage over the others, especially Christensen, their colleague in the House, if Wright was going to seek the nomination.
Cheers,
Paul Rolly
1:40 PM
| 
2 Comments:
I don't think I felt snubbed as much as annoyed. Chris Cannon has the right to endorse whomever he wishes. The Utah County affair was not the only advantage given to Mr. Wright, only the most visible. But I understand that Rep. Cannon is concerned about the upcoming election national and wants to secure a republican majority. So he made a choice of a candidate that he thought could get elected. He was wrong because I'm obviously the only candidate who can win the 2nd district. But he didn't know me when he made his choice. It was nice that he introduced Mr. Wright (that just sounds wrong) to party leaders and others in Washington. It would have been nice if he would have taken 15 min. to talk to me when I visited Washington.(Maybe that was a snub) But I’m still open to helping Chris Cannon with his goal to get a Republican in the 2nd district. I’m the best choice, but if I’m not selected I can gladly endorse LaVar Cristensen or Kris Lounsbury. For those looking for an insult fest in the 2nd district among Republicans, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. In fact, after I win the nomination, I won’t be insulting Jim Matheson either. I’m Jim Matheson’s worst nightmare, (though he may not know it) a conservative who people see as a nice guy.(and I am) That’s why I’ll win. I don’t need to insult Jim Matheson, I have my own conservative agenda to promote. So, was I snubbed? Probably. But, that’s ok, when Chris Cannon calls, I’ll be glad to talk to him.
I think we need to consider the motivation of Mr. Cannon's comments. He has been struggling to be a leader and has found that leading is more than telling people what to do. A leader must find talent in the people he leads and motivate those people to use those talents for good. Cannon failed to recruit Doug Wright, and Failed to motivate a ground swell of support behind him. But that wasnt the offensive part of the night. Chris Cannon was asked to preform the pledge of allengence when he was done he took advantage of the microphone and made an ass out of himself. Elected officials were laughing at him and his stumblings while at the mic. In my opinion Chris is a terrible leader, poor speaker and profoundly ineffective congressman. What has Chris done for you in the last ten years?
Post a Comment
<< Home