Chaffetz the 'Radical'
The Salt Lake Tribune's editorial board says you should vote for Democrat Bennion Spencer for Third District congressman over Jason Chaffetz. The endorsement is more anti-Chaffetz than pro-Spencer — the Trib board complains Jason is: . . . a radical right-wing idealogue. . . who is at odds with much of his own party.The Trib also says Chaffetz is a xenophobe:
He would incarcerate undocumented immigrants in tent cities while they await deportation.The Trib doesn't sugar coat it. But unfortunately, most people in Utah are scratching their heads, saying, "Right-wing ideologue? Isn't that a good thing?" and nostalgically recalling the boost to Millard County's economy the Topaz internment camp brought.
The blog Voice of the Desert explains political reality in the Third District:
Fortunately, the views of the Third District differ significantly from the expressed views of the Tribune. A September Dan Jones poll showed Jason Chaffetz with a 42-point lead over Bennion Spencer, although according to [Democrat leaning] Utah Amicus, a later poll . . . showed Chaffetz with only a nine-point lead, but with over 30 percent undecided. . . .I would guess the Trib's unendorsement will give Chaffetz at least an extra 5 points in Utah County.
I suspect the truth lies somewhere in between, and Jason Chaffetz will win by 15-20 points on election day.
34 Comments:
The Tribune gave Bennion Spencer a brilliant endorsement, while slapping down Jason. It pointed out his economic policy, his immigration policy, and his demeanor as reasons they support him.
True they dislike Jason very much, but LOTS of folks cannot stand Jason Chaffetz and for good reason.
Jason is indeed a radical, and it will cost him this election.
Bennion Spencer is a very good candidate and deserves our vote.
The September Dan Jones poll was a sampling of 190 voters which is statistically suspect in a district this size. It was also taken in June, the day after the Republican Primary, when Chaffetz defeated Chris Cannon, and then not disclosed until early September. A lot of substantive dialogue has come forth since that poll was actually taken.
Wrong Glen. It was not an unendorsement of Bennion. Go back and read it. They mention the 'economic, financial, immigration, and foreign policies' as reasons to vote for Bennion Spencer.
Yes they refer to Chaffetz as 'xenophobic', 'naive', and a 'self-righteous zealot'. But we already knew that about Jason, we were just pleased to see that the Tribune noticed too.
Bennion Spencer will get my vote.
Bennion Spencer's economic policy: more taxes
No wonder the Tribune endorsed him.
Prediction:
Chaffetz - 58%
Spencer - 42%
Nobody believes that 42-point poll for Jason, and I voted for the guy. Maybe Cannon over Bennion, but not Jason.
Jason lost my vote when he walked off the floor of the convention and when asked if he really wanted to put illegals into tent cities he said that he 'didn't mean it'. I heard him with my own ears. Not only does he have an embarrassing immigration policy, he's not man enough to stand behind it.
Vote Bennion. He'll do fine.
I have a hunch that
"Vote bennion spencer" and
Anonymous 2:51 and
"great endorsement"
are the same person.
oh, and add "former chaffetz supporter" to list of names for the same person.
Bennion Spencer is doing better in SL County than people think. Gone are the days that the GOP candidate can waltz into office. Jason is SO incredibly unpopular in my church. Everyone is voting for Bennion, but no one will admit it.
It was the tent city thing that is so strange. He said what he needed to say to beat Chris, now he's paying for it. I do not think Jason would make a good congressman. Bennion gets my vote in a no-brainer.
I've been reading what the freak Chaffetz supporters have been saying about Bennion on the other blog about Jason's dad's book on gay rights.
Shame on you Chaffetz supporters! Bennion's a good guy. Why should his family be attacked because Jason's dad John suppprts gay rights?
That's how Republicans do business. That Karl Rove, swift-boat crap that you do. There's no swift-boating Bennion Spencer. He's going to win and send you Chaffetz supporters home with your tails between your legs.
Chaffetz the Radical. Exactly
Can't wait to see what dirt Team Chaffetz digs up on Jim Noorlander and what kind of smears they attack his 11 children with.
Why are you so indignant at the idea of Bennion Spencer receiving personal attacks, but it's okay to do the same to Jason Chaffetz and his supporters -- calling them freaks?
Honestly, when I read the endorsement I was confused, because Technically BS is as new to politics as JC (unless you count losing twice as "experience")
I guess we run in different circles because everyone I've talked to is voting for JC or the third guy, they think BS mumbles and sweats too much under pressure
What's wrong with attacking Bennion Spencer's children? Bennion's people started it by posting the blog about Jason's dad's book on gay rights.
To Anon 2:51 - I was not aware the Dan Jones poll was actually taken in June. The media story about the poll did not bring that out. This means the Utah Amicus poll is even more representative than I believe.
To Anon 2:54 - Good call. I still think Chaffetz will win by 15 points or more. Bennion Spencer is indeed a good candidate, but Jason Chaffetz is what we really need. The emotionally-frenzied reaction against Chaffetz by a handful of extremists is proof that Chaffetz is on the right track. People who stand tall for their values always draw the most hostile response. Too bad we can't all elevate the discourse.
As a member of "Team Chaffetz" as you say, none of us have ever engaged in dirty politics, no matter what you've thrown at us. If it's someone questioning BS, it's not one of us. Believe it or not, we don't control all comments about Chaffetz. There is no need for personal attacks on Jason's opponent - we are perfectly comfortable sticking with the issues. We are also perfectly comfortable endorsing such a stellar candidate. I do agree with Warchol that not only will Chaffetz win the election, but the Trib's endorsement of his opponent just gained him some more votes. We'll see on tuesday, won't we?
I heard a rumor that Mr. Spenser is gay, or more correctly has 'experimented' with homosexual acts. Is there any truth to it? It seems like a slanderous attack, but in todays environment and all I see in the news sometimes I think it might be required in order to be a democrat Washington insider.
You know, Jason's positions are correct. He is responsive to the constituents in the third district. He will win based on merit - he doesn't need "supporters" attacking his opponent. But then again, I wouldn't be surprised if his "political consultant" took his $6K and told him to start his own whisper campaign. BS is wrong on the issues - bailout? No thanks. No drilling in ANWR (or would that be "Drill anywhere, I don't care"). The no drilling stance helps solve the energy crisis how? Remove the Bush tax cuts? Gee thanks - one more way to hurt my family (and no way do we make the fantasy amount Obama talks about) If Bennion wants votes, he would need to be right on the issues.
To anonymous at 2:51: Prove the Dan Jones poll was done in June. It was not. It was done in September. Here's the quote from the pertinent news sites: 3rd District Republican nominee Jason Chaffetz leads Democrat Bennion Spencer by 60-18.
That is according to a poll of registered voters conducted Sept. 8-11 by Dan Jones & Associates for the Deseret News and KSL-TV."
Nice try, but not buying it.
The Bush tax 'cuts' are good for your family? Glad to hear it, you must be one of the lucky families to make in access of $200,000 a year.
Here in the 3rd district (WVC) we earn much less and the Bush tax plan is VERY bad for us.
We like Bennion's plan better.
Now the Chaffetz supporters are attacking Bennion for beingay gay?
Have you no shame!
Unbelievable. How desperate can you get? Shame on Team Chaffetz.
Sorry desert dawg, but the handful of Chaffetz supporters and the ones that got him past Cannon.
Jason did ok by rounding up the extreme right of the party, but getting the families to vote for him is a different monster.
He is too extreme and too arrogant to get the conservative votes he needs to win. Bennion's looking good. My family, all Republicans in Spanish Fork, are voting for him.
Anon 4:19 - go back into your little hidey hole. Civilized society wants none of your garbage!
Laura - the anonymous smears are not from real Chaffetz supporters - more likely they are just a couple of no-life, hate filled losers.
Mark - do you ever wonder why people get nasty with you? Take a look in the mirror! Chaffetz supporters have been very vocal in their condemnation of the garbage spewed by our anonymous cowards. Yet you insist on labeling Chaffetz and his supporters as hate mongers ignoring the hate spewing out of your own "mouth".
Look I will admit to being a partisan, but I don't care who you are, there is no place this kind of crap and those of you who think that it is ok to up the ante (in the attacks on Bennion Spencer) are sadly mistaken. Get off of "our" side. We want none of your so-called help.
LL
I don't live in the district, but I'm intrigued by this race. Jason was just what the GOP was looking for, some new blood in a bad year. And Bennion is a good challenger who has pulled some descent endorsements and attention.
I'd like to see this race get back to issues. Jason still has to prove he is congressional, and Bennion still has to prove he has what it takes to steal this election.
Shame on anyone who is spouting unsubstantiated rumors about a candidate. It's my position that if you have a new criticism of a candidate, you should back it up with some information about the source.
But to me, it sounds like the tactics that a few Chaffetz OPPONENTS have been using all along. You can hardly attribute an anonymous comment to "Chaffetz Supporters".
Let's all stick with the issues. Chaffetz represents the values of the majority of the 3rd district. His positions have been clear and consistent since well before the primary. There is only one side in this contest that can possibly benefit from mud-slinging. But I suspect most 3rd district supporters will see through all of that, and realize that Chaffetz is the one to represent fiscal and moral discipline.
I've known Jason for years. He's not a zealot or xenophobic.
Of most reasonable people believe that we should incarcerate dangerous criminal. We also believe that government spends too much money and tent cities for prisons would save money. It's it's good enough for our own prisoners why isn't it good enough for dangerous criminals who also happen to be illegal immigrants?
arc said...
It wasn't me. I didn't say that. I have already publicly stated we should not be taking personal shots at candidates or their families.
It is pretty sad we have those saying bad things about others, with no basis of fact, but then we have those that say that trying to make it look like someone else is saying it. That is pretty childish.
We have a KSL/Dan Jones poll that was taken. While Dan is sometimes wrong, he does better than any other local poll group.
There was a later poll taken, but some group that no one knows, can't find in the phone book, with no copies of the questions, or stats, and no one knows who paid for it. Like that really matters. I can guess better than that. Just look at the donations to the democrat campaign.
I have never said anything bad about Bennion Spencer as a person. I have never heard Jason Chaffetz or his campaign manager say anything bad about Bennion as a person.
That said, I wish I could say the same thing about Bennion or his official campaign manager saying bad things about Jason.
Bennion has publicly stated that he has been on the radio around the country saying bad things about Jason. He said he was getting donations around the country, who after listing to Bennion, think Jason is a nazi.
The problem is that Bennion has not received hardly any real donations, leaving him in the hole, as of Monday. So how is he going to win? Smear Jason and twist Jason's ideas.
Local Fox News did a great job of showing Bennion distorting Jason's views on the last report.
Add to all of this, and you start looking at Bennion's $6000 paid senior political consultant, and the likelihood of me voting for Bennion is zero, even if I wasn't impressed with Jason.
Jason Chaffetz has been endorced by Mitt Romeny, Gov. Huntsman, Senators Hatch and Bennett
and The National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business association, has endorsed Jason Chaffetz for the open seat in Utah's 3rd Congressional District.
The Utah chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police has endorsed Jason Chaffetz's candidacy for Utah's 3rd Congressional District seat.
http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_39088.html
http://www.huntsman08.com/news/show/32
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695253314,00.html
I know, Jason Chaffetz didn't get the Esquire magazine endorsement, a former Alpine Country Club President, and now the SL Trib. Since when have they expressed the views of the 3rd district.
But Mrs. Bennett, I have only heard about one person saying bad things about Jason at church. That must me you.
There are supporters of both sides that are much more restrictive than Jason Chaffetz is.
Jason is more a voice of reason compared to:
There are people that want to round up all 12 million illegals, and are mad that Jason DOESN'T want to do that. Jason only wanted facilities where the government wouldn't have to catch and release felons. There are 600,000 they have let go. We wouldn't have to build facilities for that many, as we just need a temporary facility for convicted criminals, to be held prior to deportation.
There are people that don't want anyone new moving in, where Jason wants to fix LEGAL immigration so it doesn't take so long to legally come here.
There are people that think providing any temporary worker visa is wrong, where Jason agrees it is a great way to bring people out of the shadows, get rid of the fake IDs, but this in NO WAY provides a pathway to citizenship in front of those wanting to immigrate who have followed the rules.
The poll also indicates that Republican Jason Chaffetz, who defeated 6-term Congressman Chris Cannon in the primary, will likely be headed to Washington. He is ahead of [the] Democratic challenger by a 57 percent to 22 percent margin.
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10840908
I still feel that newspapers have no business endorsing candidates. They should be reporting news in as unbiased a fashion as possible. That said, I must also say that I feel that it is sad that people post slander and find nothing wrong with it. People have done it to both candidates in the 3rd District race. Let's discuss issues and leave slander out of it.
Jason is Gay. He exposed himself to a transvestite.
Where did Spencer blog about Chaffetz dad?
Arc must stand for Ass Reamer Chaffetz.
I stated that I didn’t think Bennion was directly behind the unfounded personal attacks. I am not surprised Bennion knew about them, as I knew his official campaign manager has known.
It is the $6000 guy, I don’t know about.
“I’ve talked to Bennion and he very aware that the questions are out there and he hasn’t done anything about it,”
Perhaps Bennion hasn’t said anything about the rumors. I would expect not. He has said:
“When my financial disclosures come out you’ll see donations from Florida, New Jersey, Missouri,” Spencer said. “People have heard me on the radio, and they’re sickened by his immigration position. They go online and give me money. They go, ‘Stop the Nazi.’”
I object to calling Jason that. My father fought in Europe in WWII. He was awarded the purple heart, 4 bronze stars.
I have been to Dachau, the Hiding Place, Ann Frank’s hideout. Jason is not a racist.
I have met Jason's wife before. She is sharp.
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