This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
With a little creative nudging of Utah Republicans' rhetorical gyrations as of late, here is a summary I have compiled of the positions taken by our esteemed politicians in the Beehive State as a way to show how bizarre the presidential race has become.
I have put my version of their statements in quotes to show that they are a rough estimate of what these politicians have said but, to be clear, the actual words are mine.
Rep. Chris Stewart • "I'm supporting Mussolini."
Sen. Orrin Hatch • "You all should give Donald Trump a break. Sure he's a racist, a misogynist, a bigot and a narcissist, but, hey, he's a rookie in politics. He hasn't figured out how to meticulously spin a sentence to obfuscate the facts like I have. Besides, we need a Republican in the White House who will nominate great Supreme Court justices like Clarence Thomas."
Rep. Rob Bishop • "Trump is a Republican, so of course I'm going to support him no matter what he says. Besides, anybody who supports the Antiquities Act should die."
Rep. Jason Chaffetz • "His statements trashing the parents of a Muslim military officer killed in Iraq are ill advised. It's not the first time I disagree with him and won't be the last. Meanwhile, I want to hold congressional hearings to determine if Hillary Clinton has used her emails to telepathically hypnotize Mr. Trump to make him say stupid things."
Sen. Mike Lee • "My fellow delegates, we in Utah have decided to change the rules of the convention because we don't like the rules we have. We have determined to take the lead on rules changes because we're Utahns and we know better. You will thank us later. Meanwhile, once we've changed the rules to make my best friend the Republican nominee, I will personally give you lessons about the Constitution. Remember, Utah is the one true state."
Sutherland Institute President Boyd Matheson • "We in Utah have also decided to replace the Republican Party platform with our own platform. The rest of you just do not have the understanding of what a platform should be that we enlightened Utahns have.
State Republican Chairman James Evans • "Hey, look at me, look at me. Put the cameras on me. See how diverse we are in the Utah delegation?"
Rep. Mia Love •"I just love America. And I'm a Mormon."
Gov. Gary Herbert • "Sure Donald Trump is a bigot, a narcissist and a nut. But he's our bigoted, narcissistic nut. So, of course, I'm supporting him for president. My advisers tell me that's the safest political position to take at this time."
Mitt Romney • "There is no way I'm going to vote for Donald Trump. He called me a loser. And pay no attention to the fact I sought his endorsement when I ran for president four years ago. Besides, Donald Trump is endorsed by Mike Tyson, who bit my friend Evander Holyfield's ear off."
Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes • "I was probably the first public official in Utah to endorse Donald Trump, even when most of my colleagues were endorsing Ted Cruz. As a result, I got to sit in Trump's suite during the convention and be a really important guy."
State Sen. Howard Stephenson • A close political ally of Greg Hughes, who co-founded the Red Meat Radio program with him: "If you vote for Donald Trump, you are stupid."