Can't defend this one

[Jeff Lebowski]

OK, Jeff. I generally favor the "middle road" of Church activity with awareness of the many faults of the Church. But don't you think when the Church talks about the family being "under attack" by homosexuality it is pretty much in line with Buttars? It seems that way to me.

I agree that most LDS are well-meaning, basically good people. But most orthodox LDS, including the Brethren, are also ignorant and mean-spirited in their attitude toward gays.

I have a clear and consistent track record in terms of my support for gay rights and I have been open about my thoughts on Prop 8. I have watched with anger and disgust as Buttars has done and said similar things for many years here in Utah. He is the poster boy for the nutjob right and the Eagle Forum. Yes, most orthodox LDS are ignorant and mean-spirited towards gays. But with most members I believe it is more ignorance than hate. With Buttars it is a strong dose of both, but I think the hate outweighs the ignorance.

The bottom line is that Chris Buttars is a caricature. Like all good caricatures, there is a striking resemblance to the real thing. But it amplifies and exaggerates all of the flaws, warts, and defects in the original. Chris Buttars is not an accurate portrayal of your typical LDS. At least not in my experience.

[Jeff Lebowski]

From the sound of this article, I seriously doubt anything will happen to Buttars:

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705285940,00.html

Hey AA, what is the buzz on this story among the people you are working with on the hill? Embarrassment or "Yeah, go Buttars"?

[All-American]

From the sound of this article, I seriously doubt anything will happen to Buttars:

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705285940,00.html

Hey AA, what is the buzz on this story among the people you are working with on the hill? Embarrassment or "Yeah, go Buttars"?

Very embarrased. I've not spoken with anyone, elected or no, who isn't mortified. We're getting flooded with hate mail (which, incidentally, is not as scary as the oneor two emails we've gotten SUPPORTING senator buttars.)

[Jeff Lebowski]

Very embarrased. I've not spoken with anyone, elected or no, who isn't mortified. We're getting flooded with hate mail (which, incidentally, is not as scary as the oneor two emails we've gotten SUPPORTING senator buttars.)

That's good to hear. Thanks.

[SeattleUte]

The thing that makes my blood boil about this is the ducplicitousness, the dishonesty. Voters in Los Angeles, many of them hardly literate, were told by LDS Chuch emissaries that Prop. 8 was the equivalent of armageddon, that gay marriage struck at the foundations of our civilization, that federal brownshirts would storm the hallowed pricincts of our churches forcing them to marry same sex couples. Now people are shocked, mortified, that Buttars say that gays are among the greatest threats to our nation. They're SHOCKED! MORTIFIED!

I say bullshit. Mormons who voted for Prop. 8, look at yourselves in the mirror. Buttars is your faith.

One thing I don't respect about the LDS Church is having the courage of its convictions. It's demonstrated repeatedly it doesn't have them.

[TripletDaddy]

The thing that makes my blood boil about this is the ducplicitousness, the dishonesty. Voters in Los Angeles, many of them hardly literate, were told by LDS Chuch emissaries that Prop. 8 was the equivalent of armageddon, that gay marriage struck at the foundations of our civilization, that federal brownshirts would storm the hallowed pricincts of our churches forcing them to marry same sex couples. Now people are shocked, mortified, that Buttars say that gays are among the greatest threats to our nation. They're SHOCKED! MORTIFIED!

I actually think this is a fair point. Buttars isn't really saying anything different than what was said this past summer.

However, I think that most LDS are not really shocked or mortified...they are in agreement. Silent agreement, but agreement nonetheless.

[beelzebabette]

I actually think this is a fair point. Buttars isn't really saying anything different than what was said this past summer.

However, I think that most LDS are not really shocked or mortified...they are in agreement. Silent agreement, but agreement nonetheless.

I'm actually not sure on this. I was at a family dinner on Sunday and an old neighbor came up. My dad told us that he'd met with Buttars as part of a LGBT delegation, and he said he really respected him for owning up to who he is and his convictions. I didn't expect that reaction from a pretty conservative guy (he's been a Republican state delegate, but I don't know if he still is). At all. It's a minute sample, but I'm not sure the tide isn't shifting.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I actually think this is a fair point. Buttars isn't really saying anything different than what was said this past summer.

However, I think that most LDS are not really shocked or mortified...they are in agreement. Silent agreement, but agreement nonetheless.

One thing for sure, the events of last year emboldened the bigots.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Recall that Gov. Huntsman declared support recently for civil unions and the common ground initiative to pass gay rights bills (all defeated) in this year's legislature. Many of the state legislators expressed outrage. SU would have us believe that they represent the typical Mormon. I am not so sure.

A poll was conducted a few days ago to measure the effect of the governor's stance. The results may surprise you:

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705285611,00.html

In a new Deseret News/KSL-TV poll, 67 percent of Utahns said the governor's recent announcement supporting civil unions either made no difference or gave them a more favorable opinion of him. Thirty-two percent said their opinions of the governor were negatively impacted by his announcement last week.

Overall, however, with 80 percent of Utahns still approving of the job Huntsman is doing, the governor's "political bombshell" seems to have created minimal fallout away from Capitol Hill.

[SeattleUte]

I think there is a lot of decensy in the LDS Church and Utah. Honest bigots like Buttars I'm sure are causing people to reflect, just like television footage of alsations manned by police menacing black school children mobilized a historically indifferent or silently bigoted nation to support African American civil rights. Probably bigoted LDS leaders who supported Prop. 8 are thinking they wish Buttars wouldn't be so direct about their shared beliefs.

Here's a secret: The common people, the constituents, not the General Authorities hold the power in the LDS Church. Kimball didn't have his "revelation" in a vacuum.

[Jeff Lebowski]

More developments in today's paper. Apparently there was a two-hour GOP meeting yesterday. There are some rumors that Buttars is being pressured to resign. Press conference scheduled for this morning.

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705286132,00.html

Given that verbal gaffes like this are an annual rite of passage for Senator Buttars, I would be shocked if he steps down. Note that the gay rights advocates are not bothering to seek an apology. It would be a waste of time. Nobody would believe it.

[SeattleUte]

More developments in today's paper. Apparently there was a two-hour GOP meeting yesterday. There are some rumors that Buttars is being pressured to resign. Press conference scheduled for this morning.

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705286132,00.html

Given that verbal gaffes like this are an annual rite of passage for Senator Buttars, I would be shocked if he steps down. Note that the gay rights advocates are not bothering to seek an apology. It would be a waste of time. Nobody would believe it.

They're all fucking hypocrites. I bet some pressuring him to resign were bad mouthing Huntsman about civil unions. Moreover, I bet some of those in the COB presurring those presurring Buttars to resign were behind Proposition 8. Liars and hypocrites; typical.

[Jeff Lebowski]

More developments in today's paper. Apparently there was a two-hour GOP meeting yesterday. There are some rumors that Buttars is being pressured to resign. Press conference scheduled for this morning.

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705286132,00.html

Given that verbal gaffes like this are an annual rite of passage for Senator Buttars, I would be shocked if he steps down. Note that the gay rights advocates are not bothering to seek an apology. It would be a waste of time. Nobody would believe it.

Buttars gets a slap on the wrist:

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11748528

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705286295,00.html

Lost one of his committee assignments. Whoop-de-do. Looks like Waddoups is gutless.

Buttars chaired a Judiciary Committee hearing Friday morning and appeared to be in good spirits, smiling and joking.

[All-American]

Yeah, no winners coming out of this one. Folks, this is getting ugly up here.

[KillerDog]

Why should Buttars get a slap on the wrists or anything else? If this is his thought process and belief, let the court of public opinion destroy him. His constituents are either comfortable with his positions and he is doing his job by saying crazy shit, or they aren't and he'll lose his job. Any further action is grandstanding by others to get love from their constituents. I think the legislature is made up of expensive prostitutes.