This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A troubling series of events:

1) Gov. Gary Herbert signs the law adding an "In God We Trust" license plate to Utah's selection of standard tags:

— 'In God We Trust' license plates one of three main Utah options — The Salt Lake Tribune

" ... 'This state was founded by people who came here believing that God was leading them to a place where they could have refuge from persecution and worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience,' Herbert said as he signed the bill.

" 'In God we do trust,' Herbert added, before throwing in a reference from the Bible and the LDS Church's signature scripture, the Book of Mormon. 'That is where we should put our trust, not in the arm of flesh. I think that will help us guide this state and guide this nation in the pathway we should follow.'..."

2) Herbert uses the occasion, and the opportunity of a gathered press corps, to announce his endorsement of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in today's Utah Republican caucus:

— Utah Gov. Gary Herbert endorses Ted Cruz for president — Lee Davidson | The Salt Lake Tribune

" ... 'Sen. Cruz is our best hope to have the best person in the Oval Office who can reverse what I think is a disappointing trend with our federal government,' Herbert said at a Monday news conference.

"Cruz, he added, exhibits 'the constitutional values, the conservative values that reflect Utah.'..."

3) Cruz exhibits some very questionable "constitutional values":

— Candidates issue contrasting responses to Brussels attacks — The Washington Post

" ... Cruz issued a written statement arguing that the U.S. should 'empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized,' but he did not provide specifics on how he envisioned that happening. ..."

Nor did he explain how in the name of Utah license plates a policy of adding police sweeps to Muslim neighborhoods would be less, rather than more, radicalizing.

— Experts say Ted Cruz's plan to "patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods" is counterproductive and unconstitutional — Jeff Stein | Vox

" ... Cruz's suggestion that American law enforcement specifically 'patrol and secure' Muslim communities is both immoral and counterproductive. That's according to A. Trevor Thrall, a Cato Institute scholar who is also a professor of policy, government, and international affairs at George Mason University.

"Stepped-up surveillance of some Muslim communities after 9/11 provoked a backlash. Cruz's proposal would likely lead to a similar reaction, according to Thrall.

" 'Having the FBI coming to their neighborhoods and mosques created an awful amount of resentment toward the US government,' Thrall said. 'If you're looking for a way to radicalize someone, patrolling their neighborhoods and keeping a close watch on what they're doing is a good way to do it.'..."

— Hillary Clinton: Trump's 'stream of insults' are 'absurd' — The Guardian

" ... Trump also said he agrees with Ted Cruz's controversial call to secure and patrol 'Muslim neighborhoods.' saying: 'That's a good idea. I would support that 100%. I bet you the local police know much more than what's going on than anybody would understand.

"Like Cruz, Trump compared surveillance of Muslims to targeting gangs: '[Police] know the gang members. They know everything. And local police know plenty about the Muslims, too.'..."

— Ted Cruz's Shameful Anti-Muslim Rhetoric — William Saletan |Slate