Poll shows real differences in Utah parties' priorities

SALT LAKE CITY – You've probably heard the adage before. During a dinner party, on the golf course or at the grocery store.

"It doesn't matter which political party is in power, nothing ever changes."

The chasm that divides the parties in Utah, however, is a lot broader than one might guess, according to the results of a new survey of voters and party delegates.

Dave Hansen, GOP state director, says that anyone who says Republicans and Democrats are alike don't understand the philosophies of the parties or their candidates.

"There is a big difference in the parties," said Hansen, who has run local and national Republican campaigns.

The Dan Jones & Associates poll, conducted April 13-20 for Deseret News/KSL-TV in partnership with the Utah Foundation and the University of Utah Hinckley Institute of Politics shows that Republican and Democratic state delegates disagree on about everything, with only a few exceptions.

One area of agreement is term limits — both sides like the idea of limits for congressmen.

"We may have a few issues where we are similar," said Hansen. "But the two parties are like two circles that intersect — it only happens a few times."

Todd Taylor, longtime executive director of the Utah Democratic Party, echoed Hansen, saying there are real differences between the parties.

The Jones poll shows that when asked to list their top five political priorities, GOP and Democratic state delegates didn't pick any that are the same.

Just a few examples:

 90 percent of GOP state delegates say same-sex marriage should be illegal; 59 percent of Democratic delegates say it should be legal.

 82 percent of GOP delegates say English should be the official language; only 21 percent of Democratic delegates agree.

 19 percent of GOP delegates object to illegal immigrants being rounded up and sent home; 73 percent of Democratic delegates object to such deportations.

 74 percent of GOP delegates disagree that humans cause global warming; but only 3 percent of Democratic delegates hold the same view.

 43 percent of GOP delegates say the U.S. should get out of the United Nations; but only 1 percent of Democratic delegates say get out of the UN. Ninety-one percent of Democratic delegates say stay in; only 21 percent of GOP delegates want to stay in the U.N.