The three-year sulk
The Salt Lake City Weekly is calling out Congressman Jim Matheson for refusing to talk to the alternative paper for the last three years. According to the weekly, Matheson's silence began after the paper annoyed his brother Scott during his ill-fated run for governor against Jon Huntsman. According to the SLWeekly:Jim’s big brother, Scott Matheson Jr., had declined several requests to take part in the CW election issue. This exercise involved his completing a simple e-mail questionnaire on standard campaign issues. A reporter contacted Scott numerous times. He chose not to reply. His Republican opponent, Jon Huntsman Jr., had no such reservations. He even met former Editor Ben Fulton [now at the Tribune] at Burt’s Tiki Lounge for an interview. The election issue ran with a box of white space where Matheson’s comments and picture would have appeared.Since then, Matheson's mouthpiece Alyson Heyrend has denied numerous requests for interviews. Says SLWeekly editor (former Trib staffer) Holly Mullen:
I’ve never seen a politician exhibit this kind of behavior toward a newspaper at which I’ve worked. Not from a Republican, Democrat or independent. Three years of silence is a helluva sulk.The oddest thing about Matheson's tiff with the SLWeekly is that it seems so unnecessary. As the highest ranking Utah Democrat, Matheson should be able to find some common ground with a "progressive" newspaper in the heart of blue Salt Lake City. Then again, maybe that's the problem.
11 Comments:
I don't get what's in Matheson's head, Glen. Thanks for the plug.
When Jim decided to opt out of last summer's Democratic National Convention, he lost my support. I won't vote for a Republican opponent in the general election, but I'll support a different Democrat at the convention next time around.
Matheson has a constituency of exactly one: himself. He's in it for himself and screw the rest of us, progressive, liberal, whatever. He lost my vote a long time ago; I refuse to vote for a republican but when it comes to Matheson, I always vote for the Green/Socialist/UFO/Libertarian whatever instead of him. Next time I'd support Jenny Wilson for 2nd district.
Matheson is a short-timer. When Utah gets its fourth seat (either in 2010 with the DC bill or in 2012 with reapportionment), Matheson will be screwed by the Utah Legislature.
In a four-district situation, Matheson's seat will be very liberal and will include SLC, Park City and the east side of Salt Lake County. The other three seats will be solid Republican.
The Republicans in the Utah Legislature have given up on getting 100% of Utah's congressional seats so they figure they ought to create one mega-liberal seat for a crackpot like Rocky Anderson who will crush Matheson in the Democratic convention.
With Anderson spouting off on an hourly basis, Anderson will be the new spokesman for the Utah Democratic Party. Utah Democrats can write off any legislative seats in the rest of the state except for Carbon County.
Carbon County voted for George W. Bush in 2004 and John McCain in 2008. It is no longer the Democratic stronghold that it was for most of the 20th century. It's quickly becoming just like every other backward corner of rural Utah, and I say that as a proud Dino.
But still, I think former State Rep Brad King (Democrat from Price) would do well against Jim Matheson at the convention.
Don't worry. Matheson won't even return calls to elected officials in Utah. He'll have a low-level staffer call, but he won't himself (despite repeated requests). He's the only member of the Congressional delegation who operates that way.
Matheson is about Matheson. His claims of putting Utah first is one big joke.
Matheson is the hardest working man I know. When the rest of the world occasionally gets a weekend off, Matheson is out visiting with his constituents. This guy is dedicated. And, just maybe, Allyson has her head up her ass, but that's not Jim Fault.
Holly, Blow ME!
Now, where's my bailout money?
Hey Anonymous, If Matheson won't return phone calls to elected officials, than you must be that elected official. What a wimp to not stand by your statement with your name.
I think some of these comments were left by Jimmy "I'm black, and offended, when it's convenient" Evans.
First of all, my name is James, not Jimmy.
Second of all I'm black and it's always convenient.
Let's be a little more PC. Holly Mullen is Warchol's former wife.
Who goes to bat for whom needs to be out front.
Thanks, Glen, for the plug.
The Republicans in the Utah Legislature have given up on getting 100% of Utah's congressional seats so they figure they ought to create one mega-liberal seat for a crackpot like Rocky Anderson who will crush Matheson in the Democratic convention.
Rocky couldn't beat Cody Judy. He's done and he's only a Democrat when Republicans want to make Utah Democrats look bad.
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