Huntsman got threats over Fox

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. acknowledged Thursday he received threats over Mexican President Vicente Fox's visit to Utah this week but declined to say whether his personal safety was in jeopardy.

"I don't want to comment on that. Let me just say that we've had some messages that were, I think, a little disconcerting," the governor told reporters during the taping of his monthly news conference on KUED Channel 7.

Huntsman, who said the threats are not the subject of a criminal investigation, also described how he was called "mean and nasty names" by protesters gathered outside the Governor's Mansion during the state dinner held for Fox Tuesday.

"My wife was there. But that's fine. That's all part of the dialogue. And I'm darn proud that we have a country that allows that to take place," Huntsman said. He said he understands that, as governor, he'll hear from people who get frustrated about issues.

Huntsman himself found something to complain about during Fox's 24-visit that ended midday Wednesday — comments made by CNN anchor Lou Dobbs and others on the cable network about his motivation as well as the LDS Church's for welcoming Mexico's leader.

After watching a story he deemed "ridiculous" that was filed outside the Governor's Mansion, Huntsman said he confronted the reporter: "You're talking about the president of Mexico paying me off, in a sense, for somehow carrying an amnesty program?' "

Dobbs, according to a transcript of the "Lou Dobbs Tonight" show from Tuesday, said the governor is "an aggressive, avid supporter of Fox's amnesty agenda for illegal aliens . . . Now it is time for President Fox to return the governor's favor and reward Gov. Huntsman."

Huntsman said the reporter notified his producers, but "we never got a clear explanation." Christa Robinson, a CNN senior vice president of public relations, had no comment when contacted Thursday by the Deseret Morning News.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement Wednesday rebutting other comments by Dobbs that the church "has a vigorous enthusiasm" for attracting Mexican members to Utah "irrespective of the cost to taxpayers."

The governor said he knew church leaders "were concerned about what was said with respect to their work, which is largely humanitarian," as was the Catholic Church. "I don't know what all this was about, but I think it was without foundation," Huntsman said.

"All people are trying to do is find solutions here to a very complicated problem. Religions are doing their part, governments are doing their part," the governor said, noting immigration is an issue that will be decided in Washington, D.C.