Many Republicans were shocked Saturday when Attorney General Mark Shurtleff seemingly dismissed Mia Love — the first black woman nominated for Congress in Utah — as a "novelty."
"You have to please pick a person with a proven record who can beat Jim Matheson this fall. Not a novelty," Shurtleff said.
 |
Join the Discussion |
 |
Post a Comment |
The reference drew boos from many in the audience and outrage from many Republicans.
Republican National Committeewoman Enid Mickelsen said she had an angry confrontation with Shurtleff over the comment.
"At first I didn’t believe it," Mickelsen said. But Shurtleff, she said, didn’t back away from the comment.
"He said, ‘Enid, what else is her appeal?’ And I lost it," Mickelsen said.
"I told him he embarrassed the state and as the attorney general of the state he should know better and he would be humiliated by this nationally," Mickelsen said. "It was a terrible thing to say."
A tearful Shurtleff said later that he apologized to Love for what he said was "a terrible choice of words."
He said he was trying to draw a contrast between the record of the newcomer Love and the more seasoned Wimmer.
"It breaks my heart," said Shurtleff, who wrote a book about the life of Dred Scott. "I think anyone who knows me knows it hurts."
-
Report blasts nation’s teacher-education programs
Published Jun 18, 2013 05:09:02PM -
Wharton: Selfish reasons to oppose Nevada water deal
Published Jun 18, 2013 04:44:46PM -
NSA director says surveillance program foiled plot against Wall Street
Published Jun 18, 2013 04:45:22PM -
In veto-proof vote, Salt Lake City Council OK’s $8M tax increase
Published Jun 18, 2013 04:44:01PM
Love declined to address the comment.
Twitter: @RobertGehrke
Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
