I went to the organizing convention for the Utah Republican Party on Saturday. While I was there in the nidst of hundreds of people campaigning for candidates and causes among the state delegates I made a point to talk to a variety of people sporting Bob Bennett t-shirts. With four primary challengers at present it is easy to see that the discontent with our incumbent is widespread. I believe that the reasons for supporting a challenger are not substantially different between those supporting Mark Shurtleff, James Williams, Cherilyn Eagar, or Tim Bridgewater (in the order they will have officially announced) – I understand some of those generic reasons for seeking a change. What I wanted to understand was what motivated those who were actively supporting an embattled incumbent. I tried to present the question in a way that would get them to try to sell the candidate to me rather than leaving them feeling as if they (or their candidate) were being attacked.
I have to say that I was not very surprised by the answers that I received. I talked to more than two people and I always talked to them one-on-one so that one person would not influence the answers of another but they offered only two distinct reasons between them. The first reason was the same one I heard from Senator Bennett back in February at a town hall breakfast meeting – seniority. (Some said experience but it amounts to the same argument.) The other answer I heard – and this would likely be even more disconcerting to many conservatives than seniority – was Bennett’s ability to work with Democrats. Personally I would rather support someone who would drown while trying to swim against the current than support someone who would stay afload by swimming with the current that was swiftly running away from the desired destination. Thankfully I think that we have candidates already in the race who can stay afloat while swimming upstream.
For those who are convinced that seniority is everything we can look to the freshman representative in Utah’s 3rd congressional district. Rep. Chaffetz has done quite a job of defending his positions and even getting bills passed without an ounce of seniority – and he’s earning quite a reputation for standing firm in his convictions which probably helps him to do more than if he were more prone to going along with the crowd. Some would argue that seniority is more important in the Senate than in the House – for those I would point to the example of a freshman senator from New York who was probably more influential in the Republican controlled senate of 2000 than our own two term Republican senator in that same senate. Seniority is not everything – it’s simply useful if you are headed in the right direction.
Thanks for the report. I think that Bennett actually benefits from having a broad field of challengers. They will have to battle each other for one of them to emerge as a significant Bennett opponent.
While there is some dissatisfaction with Bennett at the grass roots level, this does not seem to be reflected in the general voting population. To have any chance at all, a challenger must either win or have a very strong showing at the state convention (a la Chaffetz). For that to happen there has to be BIG TIME incumbent dissatisfaction among the base AND the challenger must work very hard at the precinct and county levels to get the support of voting delegates (pack the convention). This is harder than what Chaffetz did, because it involves the entire state instead of just a single congressional district. If the challenger can’t oust Bennett at the convention, he/she will have a tough time in the primary.
Chaffetz benefited from broad dissatisfaction with Cannon on the immigration issue among the GOP faithful. But even that wouldn’t have been enough to unseat Cannon. Regardless of reality, Cannon came across as somewhat incompetent. He had a bad habit of saying dumb things in public settings and he often appeared somewhat frumpy in public. Bennett does not suffer from any of that.
I’m sure that some of Bennett’s challengers have sized up the situation. They know they’ve got a tough road ahead of them.
You’re absolutely right – there will not be anything easy about this primary fight. Based on what I saw at the convention – many people refused to take handouts from the Bennett campaign and some openly scoffed when the handouts were offered – I am encouraged that the feat is doable.
The best thing that could happen would be for the various challengers to drop out over time and endorse the one best challenger. I’m not absolutely sure right now which of the challengers has the best chance to capture the enthusiasm of the party delegates but hopefully they don’t force the delegates to split the anti-Bennett vote four ways.
Representative Chaffetz is “earning quite a reputation for standing firm in his convictions.”
What ever happened to that no earmark pledge? Way to “stand firm” Chaffetz.
He went back on his promise of not requesting earmarks and yet still tried to come across as a politician taking the moral high road. He said he’ll post the requests on his website. He’ll make sure all his earmarks are passed by the appropriate committee. Big deal. Senator Bennett already does that.
Chaffetz didn’t last 6 months in his no-earmark pledge, yet most delegates are giving him a free pass.
I’m growing tired of the lovefest with Chaffetz. Bennett isn’t any better, but at least on the issue of earmarks he isn’t pretending to be something that he’s not.
If I were a Republican, I’d back Bennett for a couple of reasons.
Shurtleff has demolished his last vestiges of integrity in this race already, and he’s only just announced and set up a facebook page. Eager, Bridgewater, are getting too many kudos from Eagle Forum. We don’t need that in our federal delegation. Williams doesn’t even know what he’s running on exactly. If I were Granato, I’d be BEGGING for ya’ll to unseat Bennett and give me one of the others to run against.
And as for Chaffetz, I think you’re being a bit unrealistic about his success. He undoubtedly is very popular in Utah, but the legislation he’s passed has been trivial and expected from a freshman. From what I’ve heard from those working in DC, he’s a bit of a joke. People think he’s “cute” in the way that you feel when you see protesting hippies thinking they can change the world with protest signs.
Seniority is not good at all. Nevada thought we had something good because Harry Reid was the Senate Majority Leader. He is an absolute travesty for the state. He is now so beholden to the "party" that Nevada seems to have been forgotten. You've got the right idea to have some change, even if it means giving up some supposed power that comes from seniority.
Rep. Chaffetz was given the same committees that Chris Cannon had, and was given seniority on a subcommittee. I decided a while ago that I would vote for the best candidate, even if it was not the one in. Currently that is Cherilyn Eagar.
James,
I agree that Chaffetz’ new stance on earmarks is a reversal of policy, but so far it does not seem to have dented his reputation. That could change, or maybe the voters in the Third district will only turn their backs on him if he were to reverse his stance on immigration.
The point in bringing him up was that he has done more in these few months than I would have expected a freshman representative to do.
Jason,
It’s possible that my expectations of a freshman representative were too low but the Bennett camp would have us believe that replacing Bennett would be devastating because someone new would have no seniority – it’s hard to make that argument and also argue that Chaffetz is being effective.
I admit that there is an element of a carnival sideshow to some of the coverage, but it appears to me that Chaffetz is getting quite a bit more coverage nationally than I would have anticipated for a freshman both for things like his leg-wrestling and his cot as well as for his legislation.
I’d like to hear more about your take on his challengers. I agree that Williams seems to be in over his head (I would fully expect him to be the first one to drop out or the lowest vote-getter at the convention). On Shurtleff – have I missed something? It doesn’t look like he’s done anything except announce, set up a facebook page, and send out a lot of tweets with quotes from Reagan and various founding fathers – where did he demolish his last vestiges of integrity?
I know the Eagar and Bridgewater both have ties to the eagle forum, but I must not know where to get my Eagle Forum News because I have not heard anything from the eagle forum on either of them so far.
Fred, I agree that voting for the best candidate is what we need, and it's not the one that's in now – I just hope that the number of challengers does not end up benefiting Bennett come convention time next year.
The analogy is The Emperor's New Clothes. It was the little boy in the crowd that made the difference. He didn't care about "going along to get along" as the others in leadership positions and who had all the seniority among those who surrounded the Emperor. It was the "rookie" who had the audacity to simply stand up, speak the truth and tell it like it is. That's my take on the situation and that"'s what I intend to do if elected.
The challenge will be convincing enough delegates of the fallacy in the argument that standing for the truth and for your principles is ineffective in Washington.
First Bennett’s time has past…….
What has Granato ever really done besides live off of his fathers over priced sandwhich operation??
The only way there will be REAL representation in Utah is to have a real Conservative elected.
Not another term for Bennett or Granato who would be another Obama lap dog marching rank and file with Reid and Pelosi.
Shurtleff is the only REAL choice.
Kyle,
You’ve made your position clear with regard to Bennett and Granato but what advantages do you see Shurtleff having over Bridgewater, Eagar, or Williams (besides name recognition)? I’m not saying I can’t see any, but I want to know why you do not address any of Bennett’s other challengers.
Shurtleff offers a good alternative to Bennett because he will be conservative enough to represent Utah values while still getting the job done well. That is what he has done as the Attorney General. As for the concerns about how long it took him to set up a facebook account, I have to say that doesn’t concern me too much. Washington, Lincoln, Reagan, the founding Fathers all seemed to do alright without them.
I’m not sure that it’s fair to compare Shurtleff to Washington, Lincoln, or Reagan with regard to facebook, but thanks for sharing your reasons for choosing your candidate rather than merely discounting his competitors.
David,
Because I don’t think the other candidates are as strong as Shurtleff. I do not know one thing about them other then Eagar saying she is Chaffetz in a skirt. I am sure she is a great woman with some great idea’s but I don’t have to go and search to see where Shurtleff stands on the issues I care about!!
I already know where Shurtleff stands on a balanced budget and earmarks! I know that he has done a great job as AG. A lot of things that I might not have cared about before changed when I became a father so things like going after internet predators tougher laws to protect chidlren are issues I care about and I know what Shurtleff has done to promote those issues.
Frankly everything I see with Shurtleff is a lot of common sense, which I don’t see from Bennett or Granato.
I should not have to go dig around to see where the other candidates stand when Shurtleff is making himself clear.
Thanks for sharing Kyle. I never try to argue with someone over why they back a candidate, but I always like to know what drives people to make their choices (that holds true whether I agree with them or not).
David
I really like the fact that Shurtleff is clear on a lot of the issues I care about.
I strongly feel that I should be able to know where a candidate stands with out spending all day digging around.
To me it is a sign of a strong leader to say this is where I stand and what I believe.
I have nothing against the other candidates, with the exception of Bennett who I feel is out of touch. I am not going to knock the things Bennett has done for Utah over the years, but I do feel that his time has past and that he is not able to represent Utah effectively any more.
For instance I love Mark Shurtleffs stance on Earmarks, I think most Americans feel the same way (at least the ones I talk too).
I like your attitude on Bennett. I don’t think we do any good by trying to bash him too much but it’s time to let his term expire. I’ll give him a vote of thanks, but not another term.
one comment re: Chaffetz and Earmarks
Rep. Jason Chaffetz has and is doing exactly what he said:
“Therefore, I, Jason Chaffetz, in my capacity as Congressman, do hereby pledge that I will personally support spending reform in Congress by refusing to seek, support, or enact earmarks during the appropriations process for fiscal year 2009.”
“Earmark reform is a critical component to reforming Washington and fixing the mismanaged appropriations process. If I am fortunate enough to win, I will join other fiscal conservatives in the fight to fix this broken system,” said Jason Chaffetz.
from his 2008 campaign website.
He did the fiscal 2009 and he is trying to fix the current system.
Arc,
It’s always good to go back to the source rather than relying on the media soundbite – thanks for doing that here.