Iraq War Invades County
In a break from form, Salt Lake County Council members engaged the politics of war Tuesday, arguing with one another and constituents over U.S. involvement in Iraq.
Democratic Councilman Joe Hatch led the charge, saying he was distressed with the war and a radio campaign by GOP leaders urging people to flood Salt Lake City Hall with complaints about Mayor Rocky Anderson's protest.
After all, Hatch said, Utahn's have a right to disagree with the war and President Bush and not be called a traitor.
"I would hope the Republican Party wouldn't make the same mistake they made 35 years ago," Hatch said, invoking Vietnam.
A Sandy man thought otherwise, interrupting Hatch and calling his speech a "diatribe."
GOP Councilman Michael Jensen was next.
"Nobody from this council is running those ads," he said.
"Your party is," Hatch countered.
Predictably, the debate over the war - and the week's much-ballyhooed protests - splintered along party lines before Council Chairman Cort Ashton ruled virtually everyone out of order.
"It is great to be part of such a healthy process," said visiting Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, missing the irony that the debate was cut short.
By that point, it was clear which rally - the Bush protest or the counter-protest - the partisans would attend.
For good measure, Jensen said he would be on hand to support the president.
"Good luck at your rally," he sneered. "I'll be at mine."
-- Derek P. Jensen
Democratic Councilman Joe Hatch led the charge, saying he was distressed with the war and a radio campaign by GOP leaders urging people to flood Salt Lake City Hall with complaints about Mayor Rocky Anderson's protest.
After all, Hatch said, Utahn's have a right to disagree with the war and President Bush and not be called a traitor.
"I would hope the Republican Party wouldn't make the same mistake they made 35 years ago," Hatch said, invoking Vietnam.
A Sandy man thought otherwise, interrupting Hatch and calling his speech a "diatribe."
GOP Councilman Michael Jensen was next.
"Nobody from this council is running those ads," he said.
"Your party is," Hatch countered.
Predictably, the debate over the war - and the week's much-ballyhooed protests - splintered along party lines before Council Chairman Cort Ashton ruled virtually everyone out of order.
"It is great to be part of such a healthy process," said visiting Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, missing the irony that the debate was cut short.
By that point, it was clear which rally - the Bush protest or the counter-protest - the partisans would attend.
For good measure, Jensen said he would be on hand to support the president.
"Good luck at your rally," he sneered. "I'll be at mine."
-- Derek P. Jensen
9:40 AM
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2 Comments:
You wrote "Utahn's have a right...". You should have written "Utahns have a right..."
Michael Jensen of the Salt Lake County Council must feel that he can have an opinion, but no one else can. Has anyone in the press asked him how he got himself appointed as the Deputy Chief of the Salt Lake County Fire Department while a County Councilman and without any experience in a command position? Would anyone call that a confilict of interest or just politics?
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