The Chris Buttars Fiasco: A Total Lack of Leadership and Accountability From Utah Republicans

Things we have not heard from any Utah Republican legislators or elected officials:

• "We are embarrassed by Chris Buttars' comments. They do not reflect the views of the Utah Republican party."
• "I disagree with what Chris Buttars said. Utah deserves more respectful dialogue and constructive solutions to our problems."
• "The Utah Republican party and the state legislature understand that on a list of things threatening America, homosexuals rate somewhere around moles eating our carrots from underground."
• "Senator Buttars should resign for his insensitive comments that reflect poorly on the Republican party and the great state of Utah."
• "I realize that almost all Utahns disagree with Chris Buttars' comments and would prefer open dialogue that is civil and respectful. We can disagree without being hateful."
• "We should expect more from our state leaders. More civility, more sensitivity, more openmindedness."
  
• "We apologize for Senator Buttars comments."

Instead his fellow Republicans are saying things like:

• Chris Buttars "represents the views of many of his constituents and many of ours [in the state legislature].  We agree with many of the the things he said."
• Chris Buttars losing his chairmanships on judiciary committees "will be a freeing mechanism for Sen. Buttars to function, to more fully express his freedom of speech."
• Any that would like to see Chris Buttars apologize only dared express so anonymously.
• "I am not encouraging him [to apologize]."
• The more than 10,000 emails sent in from Human Rights organizations and those critical of Buttars are "form emails [that] don't mean anything."
• We don't want to infringe on Buttars' free speech rights.
• We don't want to have a chilling effect on free speech.
• "The debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust and wide open."
• "This isn't a company. We are elected officials. Sen. Buttars was elected by his constituency. We're not going to mandate he has some sensitivity training. He's responsible for what he says. He's been a politician in public service for a long time. He can defend himself."

Are the Utah Republican leaders that tone deaf? Do they really think it is honorable to stick up for and encourage Buttars' hateful and insensitive speech? Do all of Utah Republican elected officials agree with Buttars? Because not one has come out and disagreed. Not one has distanced him or herself from his comments. Not one is willing to stand up and defend Utah and Utahns from this embarrassing man. No, just the opposite. The Republicans are actually encouraging him! They are applauding him! They think he's a real hero!

Republicans have a stranglehold on Utah for now, but if these sorts of episodes continue, and if the Republican leadership completely fails as it has here, that domination will end sooner than they think.