From Deseret News archives:
Huntsman declines Dobbs invitation
Producers for the CNN business and financial news show called Huntsman's spokesman Mike Mower early Friday, requesting Utah's governor to come on the show to discuss immigration and church policy. However, Huntsman, a Mormon, did not see a valid reason to appear on the show, Mower said.
In addition, Huntsman already had a prior speaking engagement, addressing graduates of Neumont University.
"There is no value in engaging in debate with someone who uttered such an unfair diatribe against the Catholic and Mormon churches," Mower said. "The governor's opinion was Mr. Dobbs said what he said and the governor was not anxious to prolong or give time to his disparaging remarks to the Catholic or LDS churches in the interest of ratings."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had issued a statement Wednesday saying Dobbs' remarks were "without foundation" and that the church does not encourage its Mexican members to move to Utah.
". . .and we have apparently in our reporting offended the governor of Utah, Governor Huntsman," Dobbs said. "We've invited him to be here to discuss immigration, church policy or whatever he wants to talk about, but he has declined our offer."
Although the show's producers asked for a statement from Mower to include as reason Huntsman would not come on the show, those comments were not included in the broadcast.
During Tuesday's show, Dobbs responded to President Fox's visit to Utah, where he said: "Mormons have converted a million Mexicans to their faith, and many welcome them to Utah with no regard for legal status." He later went on to say: "I was just struck by the idea that The Church of Latter-day Saints, the Mormon Church, seems to be looking south just as avidly and aggressively as the Catholic Church to add to a few folks to those pews."
Mower said Huntsman was disappointed in Dobbs comments and said they were "religious slurs masquerading as public dialogue."
"Our goal is not to keep this controversy alive but our goal is to keep the record straight in defending the Catholic and Mormon churches in regards to this issue."
E-mail: astowell@desnews.com
Comments
- AIDS leading cause of death for women 10:31 p.m.
- 9 men executed over ethnic riots 10:31 p.m.
- Iran accuses U.S. tourists of spying 10:30 p.m.
- Soccer all-state honorable mention 10:29 p.m.
- Strollers recalled after amputations 10:28 p.m.
- Lawmaker seeks E. coli inquiry 10:27 p.m.
- Palestinian says time's running out 10:27 p.m.
- Netanyahu calls for renewed talks 10:27 p.m.
- 2nd team all-state soccer 10:23 p.m.
- Salvadoran town buries dead 10:17 p.m.
- TCU showdown has big implications
- Seniors helped BYU regroup
- Lambert surprisingly tops news
- Hope for single moms
- Bystanders framed for child porn
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated
- Prep girls soccer MVPs named
- Utah Jazz Extra: Whose hot/not
- GOP blasts Matheson after vote
- Newhouse Hotel, an explosive end
- House passes health care bill
227 - TCU showdown has big implications
182 - Lobo suspended
182 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
154 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
116 - Thousands protest health bill
112 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
96 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former presidential candidate John...
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
Way you go Ak. NOw focus on basketball. Good game 2nite. Bring it on celts.
Isn't it amazing that those who use our constitution as an baseline dislike...
I believe the above poster was not saying that Republicans, per se, were the...
So many words... so little to say.
Im glad that Sharp is back in. That will make it a better game. Also when we...
being from Nevada and Utah and now in WI I think I can see some extreme...
What's up with rookie PGs lighing up DWILL, and Millsap is proving he is way...
Let me see, invest $10,000 and get $10,900 back. It would be cheaper to keep...
finishing ranked in the Top 25 SIXTEEN times in the last 32 years (that's 50%...
im pretty sick everyone complaining.. yea they're struggling. yea theyre...


You can be the first to comment on this story.