Deseret News | Reader comments: Money no problem for GOP's Leavitt

Reader comments
Money no problem for GOP's Leavitt

Jerry | 7:48 a.m. Oct. 22, 2007

Ugh! Just say no to Leavitt, we need moral leadership.

Not Cannon | 8:18 a.m. Oct. 22, 2007

Anyone but Cannon, please!

Dave | 9:22 a.m. Oct. 22, 2007

I went to school with David Leavitt and he is very different than Mike.

They have different political and business backgrounds:

Mike was in politics in high school and continued working for Hatch and other politicians there on out.

David is an attorney and his only experience in politics was as student body president.

Before you judge the two as the same, are you exactly like your brothers and sisters?

I'm not, I'm gay and my family members are not.

Go David... Oh wait I'm a Democrat

Comments continue below

LDS Independent | 9:43 a.m. Oct. 22, 2007

Enough with the Leavitt "dynasty". Jason Chaffetz will make a terrific representative for the 3rd district.

stupid voters | 9:57 a.m. Oct. 22, 2007

He's got money and name recognition, that's all you need in Utah. Just throw a few yard signs out there so people see his name, and they'll vote for him merely because they saw his name plastered about. Utah voters are great!

Another Leavitt, another Lawyer? | 10:07 a.m. Oct. 22, 2007

Please! NO!!!!!

relax | 11:02 a.m. Oct. 22, 2007

How about waiting to do your mudslinging until after the convention? Until then get your facts straight and get to know the candidates. From what I know right now this Leavitt is a pretty level headed and nice guy.

Incidentally, when mudslinging starts, I usually check out on the person the mudslinger is supporting and vote for someone else.

Trout-P | 1:14 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

And we call this country a Democracy? Or better term is supposed to be Republic! Neither!
This country has become an Oligarchy plain and simple!
Money, power, wealth, Status, family name, royal blood, etc. that is what we've become. It is too late for this country to change. Prepare for bad times ahead......

One who works from the inside: | 1:58 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

Trust me on this one: From one who knows all three to a personal level...Leavitt is by far the most level headed, clear thinking individual of the bunch. He is a "can do" guy, and doesn't live his life on an emotional roller-coaster. One thing I can tell you in comparison to the others: He is exceptionally smart. Heï¿½s as sharp as a tack. Even if you put away the pedigree and the money, which are nice assets, he is the clear choice for me. Some of these negative comments Iï¿½m reading above are pretty ignorant; my guess is they don't know the candidates at all and are making gross generalizations. Good luck to all three of you who are running.

Anonymous | 2:32 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

RE: Relax & Mudslinging .... You sound like the typical Utah voter. Whoever your bishop or home teacher tells you to vote for is how you will vote, never mind the issues. He's a Leavitt is good enough for most in this state.

Why have people in this country fallen in love with monarchy style of politics. Roosevelt, Kennedy, Bush, Clinton, Romney, Leavitt, Wallace etc.. Too often and for far too many voters, it's about nothing but name recognition. It's beyond sickening.

Joe Moe | 2:36 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

@Trout-P

I do not know that you are wrong. I really hope you are. But in any case, I won't give up. All I can do myself is do the best I can and hope. Giving up is not an option.

James | 3:17 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

There are two big problems with David Leavitt.

The first, I remember during the campaigns against Cannon in 2002 and 2004 Leavitt was Cannon's chief cheer leader in Juab County. He went so far as to help Cannon look good for the delegates. All of this is documented. He went out of his way to show how effective Cannon was.

Now, just 5 years later he is singing a completely different tune. Either Cannon is effective or he is'nt. Which Leavitt answer should we believe? David 2002/04 or David now?

Which leads perfectly to the second big issue. Other posters have addressed the dynasty issue. I have met Dixie Leavitt. He did not raise his kids to ignore politics. David is as political and full of intrigue as his brother Mike. Can we remember the prosecution of Tom Greene?

David got his name splashed world wide for it. And in the end, what did he do? He made saving child brides 20 times more difficult! Mark Shurtleff has worked to get the polygamy community to report when child marriages are scheduled. Leavitt's misguided political stunt set that back years. This is documented as well.

David is nice, but another Leavitt!

Rebutting James | 4:10 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

James, I'm a lawyer. I also know Greg Hoole, who is prosecuting Warren Jeffs. It is clearly documented that Leavitt's Tom Greene case made it easier to prove a child involvement with plural marriage. The Warren Jeffs case has used part of the same strategy! The Greene case was revolutionary for the prosecution of child brides, buddy. i don't know where you're getting your information, but it sounds like it's a bunch of uneducated opinions.

Also, another Leavitt? Is this bad? Let's think about this: The Leavitt's are successful business people...this is obvious. This is well documented. The Leavitts have run government well. Mike wouldn't be in running the nation's largest department and Dixie wouldn't have been Utah's Senate President if that wasn't true. That's well documented too. The Leavitts live their religion too. Again, well documented. And you're saying another Leavitt is bad? Buddy, I'd rather have another Leavitt running my district than to have a presumptuous Know-It-All. (Like yourself)

One last thing. I voted for Cannon in both 02 and 04...but I won't now. As time goes on, opinions change...views change. I see no problem with that, and I see no problem with David Leavitt either.

JB | 4:24 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

This country was founded by the rich, including lawyers and slaveholders. Oligarchy or not it has worked because the sound principals utilized are the engine driving its success. The only issue then is, does your canidate have the selfless, honest and moral center to make decisions effecting our future. These three More' are the Pareto issues that create trust, once that trust erodes the nation will then become impotent. We stand at the brink now, our choices, or our apathy will decide the outcome.

James | 4:30 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

Rebuttal, same strategy to get Jeffs is one thing. The number of private disclosures for child brides down substantially. Save your arrogant buddy stuff for someone else. And the AGs office can verify the reports all but stopped with the Greene prosecution.

And another Leavitt a bad thing? Mike Leavitt was a pathetic Governor. He did what no other elected official has done before or since: Unite both the right-wing and the moderate middle of the Republican Party. Sadly for your case, against Mike Leavitt.

And the fact that you are a lawyer means??? Is that typical lawyer arrogance that you are the only ones entitled to an opinion? You are the only ones entitled to read the Constitution? Law? Policy? Your arrogance sounds slightly more like ambulance chaser to me. Let others be the judge of that.

Dixie Leavitt left the Senate when he pushed one more example of Leavitt arrogance, losing 1-28. Mike Leavitt left when the get'n was good, considering an absolute nobody literally showed up at State Convention with $3,000 in pocket and took him to a primary. David Leavitt left when the voters of Juab County kicked him out of office.

Leavitt's = NO MAS!

James | 5:19 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

And my dear rebuttal buddy, you mention that David Leavitt lives his religion. Did someone attack his religion? Or is this a case of 'me thinks he doth protest to much?'

And so now that we have established David Leavitt is a moral person, are you implying that Chaffetz and Cannon are not?

Cannon is a great family man. Documented. And from what I know of Chaffetz, he is very moral as well. Documentable. So what we have are three non-Bill Clinton types, certainly not a reason to vote for or against David Leavitt.

And as for Mike Leavitt being in the Dept of HHS, there are many reasons for that. Mike always took credit for others work so don't get too excited, also documented. He took credit for a balanced budget but our State Constitution requires that. (Am I allowed to read the State Constitution? Not being an attorney and all.)

Leavitt was personal friends with Bush, and carried water quite well with EPA. Documented. That got him into HHS. Do we remember all those private jets he took while with HHS? I do. documented. Is that ANOTHER documented example of a Leavitt and their big government values?

Yep!

Mike Leavitt fan | 5:36 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

@James
I live in Davis County, so won't be voting for either David Leavitt or Chris Cannon. I don't know David Leavitt, but I have a very high opinion of Mike Leavitt. He is head and shoulders above our current governor, in organization, in casework, in stands on public issues, in execution. The only area where Huntsman outshines Leavitt is in economic development: he has a very accurate understanding of what it takes to attract business and jobs to the state of Utah, and has the moxy and followthrough to make it happen. Leavitt was clueless in that area, but nobody knew how to solve problems for individuals like Gov. Leavitt--no one was too little to get his attention, and he would assign a staffer to get their problem solved. So, in the interest of full disclosure, James, tell us which one of the Leavitts gored your ox--must of been good. Did you lose a big insurance case competing with them?

James | 6:43 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

And one last point my dear rebuttal attorney buddy, let's do a quick analysis of David's business sense.

We see he is worth tens of millions of dollars. Fine.

We hear that he is a briliant businessman. Ok?

We read his admission that he never worked for the family business. Hmm.

We know that his real job performance was that of public employment for Juan County. Anything else?

So how did David Leavitt earn his up to almost $90 million? From the family business he never worked for? Yep!

David Leavitt is a nice guy. He is also, what is known on the east coast, a "Trust Fund Baby." That is someone who is worth millions through inheritance.

I have no problem with that at all. I oppose the inheritance tax and think wealth should stay right where it was earned. In this case, within the family.

What I have a problem with is even the implication that David Leavitt is a briliant businessman becuase he inherited his families money.

Be cautious about the accolades you are going to throw David's way. Unwarranted will get him in trouble with savy Republican delegates.

James | 6:56 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

And to the Mike Leavitt fan, touche with Mike's ability to build teams. Sadly, most of his work was appreciated by the Democratic Party. When Leavitt left Utah, as documented in both this newspaper and Salt Lake Tribue, the sad comments came from the Democrats. Sen Mike Dimitrich was even quoted as saying that Mike Leavitt was the best Democratic Governor Utah has had for a generation. Some Democrats were teary eyed. Republicans on the other hand, polite but THRILLED he was now DC's problem.

I was never gored by Leavitt/Bowen, and respect the family business. Mike Leavitt was just very liberal and pandered a great deal. He left a sour taste in most Republicans mouths. Obviously not yours, fine. In all of Salt Lake County GOP I can think of about a dozen delegates that would love to have Mike Leavitt back in Utah. The rest are just happy to have him gone.

Nothing personal, just political. And many of us see David Leavitt's campaign as Mike Leavitt testing the water for his reappearance in Utah.

What troubles me is he is throwing Cannon under the bus. The Utah delegation has worked hard for HHS in DC, now this.

James | 7:03 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

Final thought for now.

David Leavitt is being pushed as a very moral man. I accept he has absolutely nothing in common with Bill Clinton. What about ethics in business?

It was reported a few years ago that the Leavitt family wealth was in tax free bank accounts, off shore in the Bahamas. Documented of course. Actually, this newspaper ran that story.

Is that ethical? Legal yes. Ethical?

David Leavitt wants to show a new way of doing business in Washington DC, and yet his personal money is off shore. His tens of millions are tax exempt. How is that any different than anything we see out of Washington DC right now?!

Chaffetz is not doing this. Cannon may have had issues with Geneva but he didn't hide his millions off shore to avoid taxes.

If David Leavitt wants to be ethical, let him pay back taxes on that money. If he refuses, that's all I need to know.

I have no doubt he is a nice guy. I would trust him as a neigbor. I respect his father for running a solid business.

I do not think David Leavitt is being upfront with us. Will he come clean?

Steve | 7:05 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

Cannon has got to got. His bizzare statements, his crudity and lack of judgment are legendary in D.C. He undermines Utah's credibility in Congress terribly.

How do I know?

I used to work in D.C. for a Utah memember. Cannon was an absolute joke. Somebody I worked with always said he made Merrill Cook look rational.

Chaffetz is interesting. Relatively young. Articulate. Good experience (Chief of Staff for Governor Huntsman).

Leavitt is also bright. Well-spoken. Driven. What I particularly like about him is that he is not from the Wasatch Front. Utah has a lot of federal issues that hit the rural areas directly --wilderness, water, Lake Powell, moving the big waste pile Moab, etc. It would be helpful to have someone from rural area to deal with those issues. I think we lost alot in that area when Jim Hansen stepped down.

The big question convention delegates are going to have is whether they out Cannon at convention or let him into the primary. It will be fascinating to watch. . .

Spanish Fork | 8:18 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

What does anyone know about Chaffetz or Leavitt other than they both have money, and they are both active in the Church as is Cannon. Other than the fact that Cannon is an ineffective representative, I see only one other reason not to vote for him and that is his personal position of support for illegal immigration. For those of you writing to this blog, what is the position of Chaffetz or Leavitt? I doubt either of them will oppose illegal immigration any more than Cannon.

Leavitt Ethics | 11:32 p.m. Oct. 22, 2007

If I could separate David from his father Dixie, I might be able to stomach casting a vote for him. Dixie cares about one thing, and that is making a dollar. He constantly walks the fine line of ethics and the law. Ask those who have worked for him how many times bonuses have been paid, versus how many times money is shuffled about to show lost revenue, thus short changing those employees who worked hard, cheating them out of the rewards promised. I've heard many first hand experiences from people who have had business dealings with Dixie, and ended up on the short end of the promises. One Leavitt accountant confided in my friend (who was accepting a job from Dixie) that he would never see the business he was being hired to run ever make a profit. He told my friend that Dixie would never allow that to happen, and thus he would never get the bonuses that he was being promised would come about from his hard work. Ask people in Wayne County what they think of the Leavitts!

TO JAMES | 12:29 a.m. Oct. 23, 2007

Put your real name in the newspaper and let's see what we can did up on you? With all the internal anger you have inside it won't take too much to find something. Certainly everyone is entitled to their opinion but quit hiding inside these editoral blogs. Come on out an play fair if you are going to attack people. Your ethics are no better than a terrorist.

Cirrus | 12:42 a.m. Oct. 23, 2007

Hopefully, Leavitt or Chaffetz are different than Cannon on the immigration issue. In my opinion, Cannon's statements on immigration are nothing short of bizzare (such as Utah's most important relationship is with.....Mexico???), yet you people in Utah keep re-electing him with solid majorities.

You all need to need to look past the "royal family, name recogintion" factor in voting and perform a critical review of what the candidate's positions are. Do not give your political "leaders" anymore trust or support than they deserve.

Dude...James | 9:46 a.m. Oct. 23, 2007

I'm not even involved with this election...I'm not even in Cannon's district. But, ah...James, you're kind of weirding me out with your comments. You're more obsessed with the Leavitts than the Leavitts are. You're like the guy who has Voodoo dolls of David, Mike and Dixie Leavitt on your mantle and watches them with your telescope, scheming how to bring the family down. What's your issue dude? Thank goodness you're not running for anything.

To Leavitt Ethics | 12:31 p.m. Oct. 23, 2007

To the coward who won't publish his name and slammed Dixie Leavitt: I work for Dixie Leavitt. I've had dealings with him alot over a long period of time. I have never met anyone more inherently honest in my life. Is he a hard driver? Yes. Does he speak bluntly and honestly. Yes. Those who don't like Dixie Leavitt are those who cannot handle the characteristics that made him most successful: his integrity and his drive. Now, if the poster would come out from under the comforting cloak of anonymity and make his wildly off base allegations in the light of day, I'd happily calmly rebut his ridiculous claims. I'm not holding my breath. As to how Wayne County views Dixie Leavitt: You will find many who love Dixie Leavitt in Wayne County. You will, unfortunately, find many who don't. That is due to something you see alot in small communities: They can't stand to see someone be successful without either trying to bring them down or assume (and therefore outwardly imply) that they are crooked. I will defend Dixie Leavitt to my dying day. He has raised a great family and should be honored, not villified.

randy | 4:31 p.m. Oct. 23, 2007

the issue isnt so much who to replace anybody in the senate or congress .. just get somebody else in the place of hatch, cannon, bennett, matheson, bishop ... why ... really has any of these brought or done something of most worth to this state ?? i use robert byrd from wv as my example ... he moved the fbi fingerprint lab from the dc area to clarksburg wv, he wrote a floor of federal employees of at least 250 at the morgantown tech center ... hatch cant say that, neither can bennett or the others
additionally, did you know that these five individuals have their own specialized retirement program (not social security like you and i) that is funded by the american citizens ? ...
what utah needs to do is spread this specialized retirement program around at each election, to get the current guy out and get a new guy in .. each election .. that way more utahans get this specialized retirement and therefore gets utah some federal money back ...

If my memory serves me correctly | 4:34 p.m. Oct. 23, 2007

Wasn't it just a couple of years ago that the Leavitts were being investigated in Cedar City for donating money (tax deductible) to SUU for student housing grants, with the agreement that the money would be spent back into Leavitt owned apartments, with inflated rental rates to recoup revenues? Deemed not illegal, but certainly raised a few eyebrows in regards to ethics. Certainly a shrewd business move, which can be a positive or negative depending on your point of view.

James | 5:05 p.m. Oct. 23, 2007

Dear Dude, kind of weird huh? haha Well, the Leavitts are something else.

If you have even bothered to follow the Mike Leavitt years you will see real highs and real lows. There are literally hundreds of families devestated by his politics. Think of all the people fired at the Division of Wildlife Resources, or the Utah Highway Patrol.

The Leavitts play hard ball like no one else in the state of Utah. And to hear people sing the praises of David Leavitt is more than scarey.

So I politely point out some obvious, documented facts on the Leavitt clan and one of the first things that is done is an open wish to smear me. When you can't refute the message, destroy the messenger.

At this point I won't even have to say much. Leavitt got a pass in 1992 because everyone thought the rough politics was only with his Dad. They now know different.

If you aren't aware of these things, you aren't paying attention. And you should be. What ever my flaws may be, rough waters ahead without a doubt!

Amazing family | 11:43 p.m. Oct. 24, 2007

I recently moved back to Utah, so I know little of Mike Leavitt as Governor. However my brother married a Leavitt and I am truly amazed at the sincere kindness, integrity, humility, and friendship shown to every person they meet. They have a way of remembering you and making you feel listened too and very important. I sat by David at my brother's wedding breakfast, and he impressed me with these qualities as well. He would make a great Utah representative.

H-MO | 3:48 p.m. March 4, 2008

What is wrong with people having money? This witch-hunt society we live in, where we are just searching for any comment or mishap to give us a reason to crucify our leaders, has got to end. He has money and influence because he is smart and hard-working. Those are the kinds of things I want in a leader! Bring on the wealthy! I don't care what's in their bank account, I want someone with a record of success and hard work, period.

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