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Issues/News>
3rd District Debate - Deseret News Article
May 4, 2008
PROVO — With a week left in their bid to unseat six-term
Utah Congressman Chris Cannon, Jason Chaffetz, David
Leavitt and Joe Ferguson threw some haymakers at the
incumbent during a debate Saturday in Provo.
Chaffetz even threw a couple of roundhouse rights at Sen.
Orrin Hatch and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., to the delight of
most in the audience of more than 100 delegates to next
weekend's state Republican convention.
Chaffetz, Leavitt and Ferguson said Utah and the state's
3rd Congressional District do get some benefit from
Cannon's seniority in Congress, but all three said he'd
made enough missteps that he should be replaced.
"Seniority does not necessarily equal influence," said
Chaffetz, who then criticized Hatch for being unable to
move Congress toward passing an immigration reform bill
this year. Chaffetz said he was "terribly frustrated" when
Hatch told the state Legislature in February that reform
would have to wait another year. Hatch is in his 32nd year
in the U.S. Senate.
"Why are we sending you back for Year 34 if you can't get
this issue moving?" Chaffetz said.
Chaffetz also chided Huntsman, his old boss, for embracing
global warming. Chaffetz was Huntsman's campaign manager
and first chief of staff.
"Note to Jon Huntsman," Chaffetz said. "Global warming?
It's a farce."
Both lines drew loud applause from a roomful of
conservative delegates who pushed the candidates to expand
the debate from 90 minutes to 135 despite the stuffy
atmosphere and dim lights in the Provo Council Chambers.
The lights on the candidates were dimmed at the start of
the debate when Cannon pointed out they were hot and no TV
cameras were present.
Cannon's opponents tried to shine some light on their cases
for why they should replace him. After at least 16 months
of campaigning, the first ballots in the race will be cast
at Saturday's state Republican convention.
If one of the candidates manages to get 60 percent of the
delegates' votes, he will automatically win the Republican
nomination. If not, the top two will advance to the
Republican primary in June.
"I think you've seen there's not seven hairs' difference
between any of us," Leavitt said, emphasizing that his
style and leadership would be an improvement over Cannon's.
Cannon, Chaffetz and Ferguson all felt bigger differences
exist, though all four claim to be fiscal conservatives who
believe in core conservative principles. They all want to
drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for
instance, and decried the fact that the federal government
owns more than half of Utah's land.
"Utah should own Utah's land," Leavitt said.
The three challengers attacked Cannon's record on
immigration and said Republicans should have done more in
Washington when the party controlled the White House and
the U.S. House and Senate.
Cannon has proudly supported President Bush and got help
from the president and first lady in his last race, but
Cannon defended his own immigration record Saturday to the
point of criticizing Bush's presidency.
"The Bush Administration refused to enforce the border,"
Cannon said. "I have voted consistently to enforce the
border," including votes to use military and increase the
number of police on the border.
"I have a 100 percent record on enforcement. Illegal
immigration is like a cancer."
Chaffetz shared the most specifics about his immigration
policy. He endorsed making English the official language of
the United States and the idea of revoking the birthright
to citizenship.
Chaffetz pounded Cannon for being in office while the
federal budget expanded from $1.5 trillion per year to $2.9
trillion. The national deficit has grown to $9.3 trillion,
with $429 billion spent last year on interest alone.
The Utah state budget is $14 billion.
"We don't have a revenue problem in this country," Chaffetz
said, "we have a spending problem," adding later, "there's
nothing conservative about taking a budget and just about
doubling it in 10 years. A congressman needs to be a
watchdog of the president, not a lapdog for the president."
Cannon fired back at Chaffetz for living a few miles
outside Utah's 3rd District, in the 2nd District, which has
sent a Democrat in Congress.
"I think if Mr. Chaffetz really believed in conservative
values," Cannon said, "he'd be running against his
congressman, Jim Matheson."
Chaffetz responded, "I'd actually really like to get rid of
both of you."
Chaffetz called fiscal discipline his signature issue and
pledged not to use earmarks.
Leavitt joined in, saying with $9 trillion in debt and $53
trillion in unfunded liabilities for Medicare and Social
Security, America is mortgaged to 95 percent of its value.
"We have serious problems in our economy and they're coming
down on us hard and quickly," Leavitt said, blaming
shortsightedness. "We have a Congress that does what it has
to to get re-elected and a people that wants to live as
rich as we can with as much debt as we can and when we're
in trouble, we want the federal government to bail us out."
Ferguson had a practical answer.
"I recommend that everybody take $500 to the store and go
buy food," he said. "It's a good investment and good
protection."
A minute later, referring to jobs going overseas, Ferguson,
who bills himself as not politically correct, said, "Have
you dialed in to tech support lately and had Mujibar answer
the phone?"
Delegates were grateful for the debate.
"It was very helpful to see them side by side," West Valley
City's Joshua Jones said. "They're all conservative, so I'm
looking for concrete plans, specific ideas. Seeing them
interact was helpful. It speaks volumes about hwo they'll
interact in D.C."
Orem's Matt Owens said the debate made the race closer in
his mind.
"I've got a lot of work to do in the next seven days," he
said.
(This article was written by Tad Walch and appeared in the
Deseret News on 5/4/08.)
(Tip of the day: Jason's last name is pronounced "Chay-fits")
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