Reader comments
Candidate aims to boost faith

The last opinion I care about is anybody working for the ACLU. All they want to do is take God out of anything public.

I consider myself religious, but I prefer the position Chaffetz has taken. Let the pastors and religious leaders do the preaching. Besides, if we need more religion in this country, sending another Leavitt to Washington isn't going to change that.

While I agree the majority should not have to bow to the minority I also feel Government should just stick to the task of governing. If they wish to pray about the decisions they are making great, more power to them. I would hope everyone in government carefully evaluates each decision they make and think deeply about the consequences of each decision. However, my belief in God does not have it's origin in Government or the founding fathers. Government has never made me reconsider, strengthen, nor has it lessened my faith in anything other than government itself. Please Mr. Leavitt, leave the sermon on faith to those who are moved to speak about HIM in quiet tones of reverence without fanfare or election afterward.

Faith? Isn't that what holds seventy two virgins in waiting for the one who crashes a plane into a skyscraper? If the world needs more faith, as Leavitt would have it, I will even vote for Chris Cannon. Campaigning like this appeals to the basest side of human nature. Is it too much to ask for intellect over emotions?

Finally someone willing to stand up and fight for what we as a society beleive. I would rather have a Congressman who beleives in God and stands up for that belief then one who hides behind the ACLU.

Voters are looking for a congressman who will represent the values of the third district. I have never seen Cannon shy away from the religious debate and I am glad to see Leavitt won't either.

I find Chaffetz comments to be shallow and typical of politicians who are only willing to take the safe route. It shows a real lack of commitment to his beliefs and a willingness to be blown about by political winds.

Chaffetz could take a serious lesson in Leadership from Leavitt. I think its poor judgement on Chaffetz part to side with the ACLU on the issue of God and government.

I know it is hard for people to believe, but non religious, people are often times out standing in their chosen professions. The same is true with politics, cut the pontificating and get things done. Just remember, the two worst post war presidents are Carter and Bush, and they are also the most overtly religious.

Wow, I would have never thought that someone would actually make me want to support Chris Cannon's run for re-election.

Good job, Leavitt! You've done it. While I would prefer Chaffetz over either, I can only pray that this psycho-religious 'babble' that Mike's little brother is spouting can be conquered by even-handed thought rather than pointless religious zealotry.

Oh wait, is the editor of this newspaper Cannon's little brother? Oh wait he is... Gee this "analysis" (just like you put "promise" in quotations) couldn't be bias could it be? No, that could never happen.

Voters are sick of your big brother. He doesn't represent our values. He increases the size of government while furthering the slave labor of millions of Hispanic immigrants. What has happened in Washington since Cannon has been office? That's right, decreased civil liberties, the eroded constitution, debt beyond belief, the slave labor of immigrants, devaluation of the dollar... Need I go on?

No thanks Cannon, we the people of Utah are sick of what you have done for us.

Stand for Something! Chaffetz lacks the maturity and commitment we need in congress. He could learn something from the following quotes.

�History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.�
-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
-- Edmund Burke

god belongs in church and in individuals hearts. No where else. Are we not fighting religious extremists at this very moment? Do we want are own form of taliban on our very soil? Everyone has the right of religous freedom, what about freedom from religion?

Government doesn�t answer to a Supreme Being; it answers to the people, who in turn answer to God. We do hold a duty to maintain a belief in a Supreme Being, but that duty is to God and it is not the job of government to enforce that duty. To say we hold a duty to maintain �public� belief in a Supreme Being is a little trickier. The nation will prosper most if the citizens have faith and their public actions reflect and spring from that faith. However public profession of faith per se does not correlate with good behavior, some of the most vocal advocates of their own religiousness turn out in fact to be the least moral in their actions. The Savior warns against ostentatious public expressions of faith. In other word we should walk the walk but exercise caution in talking the talk. Morale behavior and standards should flow from the people up to government, not the other way. If Leavitt wants to see the people be more faithful he might follow the example of Alma and pursue that goal thru ecclesiastic channels and not government office.

Only in Utah could the challenge to a candidate as shallow and right-wing as Cannon com from further to the right. What an amazing place!

I love it when the people quote the founders to make a religious point. Leavitt should understand what the founders understood: Religion is best preserved when the government leaves it alone. Yes, keep the church and the state separate and religion will prosper!

I think this is a bold move by Leavitt and it's the right one. The fact that the article quotes so much material from Leavitt shows that he's not hiding this issue in a corner of his platform, he's laid it out for all to see. I want a candidate who is willing to stand for something and holds himself to a higher standard (if only Eliot Spitzer would have done the same...). We need more people like Leavitt in Washington who show leadership and accountability, not bowing, like Chaffetz, to the views of the ACLU (or any other special interest group).

If I'm part of the 92% of the population, I shouldn't have to tip-toe around the 8%. However, both sides should be respectful and accommodating. Leavitt seems to have that attitude.

And I find "Clements" comments to be shallow and typical of posturing "people of faith" who thrive on fables and fluff.

We have a U.S. Constitution that Utah seems to denie
This constitution protects people from TYRANT Governments like the Utah Legisature
The Utah Legislature is making Laws that are not in the interest of truth or common sense
Behind closed doors is not a place to do the Peoples Business
Yet for years, That is what has happped in Utah
Chris Buttars maybe would have thought twice about the Black Baby Speech
We have Tyrant Judges setting on the Bench
A good look for yourself would make my point
Where is Supreme Court Chief Justice Cristine Durham?
She needs to visit the Brigham City Courts

I'm voting for Chaffetz. These Leavitts have DEEP pockets and will spend all their money, and yours if possible, to get political gain. Cannon is just horrible for Utah. He doesn't care about this state at all... just his own pockets and power. Get him out!

This guy sounds like an Evangelical. Way to play the faith card. Why not focus on war, health insurance, poverty, national debt, inflation, and the weak dollar. Let me worry about my own faith.

Those are perfect quotes! Thank you for sharing them!!

"And one is to renew the religious faith of Utahns as it applies to government operations." Playing the LDS card in LDS Utah is great when you lack anything else to stand on.