Reader comments
Shame on Harry Reid

Anonymous | 2:09 a.m. May 1, 2008

*** "the FLDS Church moved its compounds to Eldorado, Texas, because Utah's leaders, especially Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, were putting heat on the group in Utah." ***

Turned up the heat? Most of the FLDS community STILL lives in Utah/Arizona. They're still here, as are several other polygamous groups. They've been here for the 7 full years that Shurtleff, who supposedly wants to be our next governor, has been the attorney general.

Shurtleff is like some sniper taking opportunistic potshots at the FLDS community. He's been entirely unwilling to stick out his neck and take a real political risk and call out his whole brigade to fully address the problem.

And what a problem it is - massive welfare abuse (44% of FLDS on food stamps compared to 5% of Utahns; 51% on Medicaid compared to 6%); young teenage boys getting abandoned by their fathers by the truckload, because they're sexual competition; violation of child labor and minimum wage laws; and 31 of 53 teenage girls who are already mothers.

We need politicians who have the guts to take on the real problems we face. Shurtleff and Huntsman don't have any.

Bonky | 6:29 a.m. May 1, 2008

Shurtleff is more bluster than brawn. He makes big noise at any perceived slight, but he's really pretty toothless. No matter what the LDS church leaders say, there are still a large number of LDS members who have more than a little sympathy for the FLDS (all you have to do is read comments on this site). Shurtleff has never had the guts to really take them on.

The FLDS breaks the law in many ways besides their rapes of young women. Welfare fraud, serious violation of federal and state work rules, no recognition of property rights. There have long been plenty of reasons to go after them. but our A.G. doesn't bother until he gets embarrassed.

Anonymous | 6:33 a.m. May 1, 2008

You don't know what motivated Harry Reid? Power and media attention. That's what drives him.

Comments continue below

liberal larry | 7:01 a.m. May 1, 2008

Utah has always had a soft spot for their polygamist brethren and have tended to just leave them alone, and let them take care of their own affairs. The fact that Shurleff's meager efforts to impose American law on them prompted them to move to Texas, shows how unregulated they had become. Reid was right on.

jr | 7:20 a.m. May 1, 2008

Harry Reid spoke the truth so shame on him. Utah has allowed polygamy to flourish and at the expense of taxpayers. Catch a clue Utah, this state is GUILTY of supporting religions with tax payers monies. These spiritual wives are collecting welfare and the men aren't paying a dime. Don't forget the Kingstons as well 100 kids in one family and he claimed he couldn't support them so you and I are. Thanks UTAH

DeLaval Milker | 7:25 a.m. May 1, 2008

A lot of bad publicity is around now that the presence and activities of these prisoner of religion camps is becoming widely known outside the zion curtain. Politicians here have to say something and hope it goes away before they have to DO someting.

uncannygunman | 7:36 a.m. May 1, 2008

They don't live like us--let's get em!

I'm not particularly happy with Reid either on this issue. Utah's approach may not always have been perfect, but at least it did not lead to the Texas-size debacle currently happening.

Thinkin' Man | 8:24 a.m. May 1, 2008

This is probably the first time I've agreed with Harry Reid in years. Texas had the guts to do what Utah and Arizona didn't. Utah & Arizona's efforts were just a bunch of 3-piece suit lawyers on a paper chase, while Texas got "boots on the ground" to do something immediate and effective to stop abuse.

There are still questions about the legality of Texas' approach, but at least they did something that works and will lead to eradication of statutory rape in the name of religion.

Socrates | 8:42 a.m. May 1, 2008

Harry Reid has emphatically opposed drilling for oil east of Prudhoe Bay Alaska, which contains enough oil to greatly reduce the leverage OPEC has over us. He champions a Liberal Agenda that demands higher taxes to feed its socialistic hunger for more government. Our freedoms are eroding and our economy is heading toward disaster.

Harry Reid and his ilk must go and free enterprise must be restored to America or we'll all pay a heavy price for his political carcenoma, let alone the ubiquitous annoyance of his BIG MOUTH.

Ernest T. Bass | 8:48 a.m. May 1, 2008

Shame on Reid? Shame on the Deseret News Editorial Board!!
Reid is correct, the abuse: sexually and physical, not to mention emotional needs to end. Now.
Furthermore, most of the FLDS abuse the welfare system.
Shame on someone, but not Harry Reid.

Reid was right | 9:02 a.m. May 1, 2008

Polygamist Tom Green thumbed his nose at Utah. He brought polygamy out in the open. If he had been a "good polygamist" and kept it inside, the state of Utah would NEVER have gone after him.

Challenge: Name a recent person convicted for polygamy by the state of Utah, other than Tom Green.

Good luck with that.

Middle-aged White Guy | 9:53 a.m. May 1, 2008

Harry Reid has never let the facts get in the way of a good political point.

mamapapaluv | 9:58 a.m. May 1, 2008

Reid is absolutely right. Open your eyes, editorial writer. Utah has been supporting FLDS for years with taxpayers' money.

:-) | 10:22 a.m. May 1, 2008

Once the LDS Church's mouth piece attacks someone, the back bites, like ants come out in swarms. Reid represents more than LDS interests. Reid doesn't plat suck up Mitt.

Homer | 10:25 a.m. May 1, 2008

Shame on the Deseret News for perpetuating the same old "hands off" policy towards lawbreakers in our society. Reid was right on with his comments even if they upset the local political applecart. Shurtleff thinks we're fools. Of course there are political risks for enforcing the law with polygamist--jsut see David Leavittand the political price he paid.

Welfare fraud, gross abuse of personal liberties and parental authority, complete lack of respect for property rights, and horrific abuse of the family. (Taking a man's children and reassigning them to another man--give me a break). On top of the distorted religious practices, even their politicians, judges and police are in on it. I couldn't believe the state's hand wringing over Hildale law enforcement who expressed their loyalty first to Warren Jeffs and their complete disregard for the Utah Constitution which they swore to uphold. Fire their polygy butts--it's that simple!!

In a state with a semi-religious partisan fervor around liberty, the Constitution, and law and order, our local respone to the FLDS is shameful and hypocritical.

Utah, get over the past. Shurtleff, do your job!

Reid is Blind | 11:00 a.m. May 1, 2008

Reid may be right that Utah and Arizona should be doing more to mess with polygamists, but to assume that he or Nevada have clean hands is blind or nieve.

Think about it...
- When Warren Jeffs was one of America's 10 most wanted men and the FBI was looking for him, where did they eventually find him? In Nevada!

- Where was the marriage performed that Utah used to put Warren Jeffs in prison? In Nevada!

For Reid to get all self-rieghtous on us while turning a blind eye to what goes on in his state was wrong.

He's going to have a hard time selling this "Navada and I are on the moral high ground" story. Reid is saying we should be questioning what goes on in peoples bed-rooms in Utah and Arizona, yet his motto is... "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"? Sounds to me like you can do anything you want when you visit Vegas and it's OK. But you get out of line in Utah or Arizona there should be a government crackdown.

Sounds two-faced to me, but that's not new with Harry Reid politics.

Homer | 11:00 a.m. May 1, 2008

At this point this is not a complex political liberties issue. The law is well-established on this.

This situation with the FLDS conspiracy is clearly a disregard for the laws and political authority of our society. Our state's continued tolerance for the FLDS fraud against the good nature of our social services, abuse of cherished personal liberties and way of life and their disregard for our laws is dangerous for us all.

Does the law only apply to the "normal" people? Everyone else gets to do what they believe, because they're weird?

Homer | 11:03 a.m. May 1, 2008

Waht kind of law enforcemnet officer does Shurtleff think he is? Utah tried to enforce this through the courts instead of putting some cops on the beat in Hildale and actually bringing the law to the streets.

What are they afraid of?

Instereo | 11:04 a.m. May 1, 2008

If Reid offended the Deseret News, it must be because he's right. How dare a prominate leader in the senate both be a Mormon and have an opinion and then express it. I say go Reid, tell it like it is and let everyone else try to explain their way out of the truth.

Anonymous | 11:17 a.m. May 1, 2008

Why is anyone sympathetic to the polygamists? I don't get it. And maybe the children would be better off in foster homes so they can grow up and end the cycle of creepiness.

RE: Socrates | 11:27 a.m. May 1, 2008

Could you stay on subject please.

UncleDon | 11:38 a.m. May 1, 2008

I am not FLDS, and I don't care about Harry Reid or Mark Shurtleff or any of their diversionary political posturing. I think the FLDS/Texas mess is far more than meets the eye. What you have there is government using perhaps false witnesses and religious paranoia to destroy family ties and parental rights. We need to look beyond this immediate problem to the long term PRECEDENT being set. Ruby Ridge, Waco, and now this. There should be a national outcry against what government is doing. No, there's not much sympathy for the FLDS. But wait 'till so-called child protective services comes and takes away your children...

porky | 12:21 p.m. May 1, 2008

it's a Reid working to divert any attention from his misdeeds and shady deals.

Anonymous | 3:05 p.m. May 1, 2008

Reid for president!

Anonymous | 4:30 p.m. May 1, 2008

Reid may be the last of the cool Mormons.

Indiana | 10:38 p.m. May 1, 2008

As far as Socrates staying on subject, I believe his comment was quite focussed. It pointed to how misdirected Reid is in nearly everything he does. He is a mess. Since Reid was the subject of conversation, he was quite appropriate. Reid has hung up alot of the progress of America and he ought to be ashamed of himself...

Anonymous @4:30, you are a mess too.

Bill Geertsen | 9:11 a.m. May 2, 2008

I would say that while I have a testimony that plural marriage is a higher law revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith and will be re-estabished again in the millenium (Read in Isaiah), I don't agree with the method of polygamy practiced by the FLDS when the practice is used as a cloak for welfare fraud, child abuse, authoritarian control over women, etc. The laws of the land are currently against it for now. However for Harry Reid to take pot shots at Utah and Arizona, I would say that representing a state that legalizes brothels, he should clean up his own house first before taking a moral crusade against the modern day practice of polygamy by the FLDS.

kurt | 12:41 a.m. May 5, 2008

No LDS person, especially Romney, can ever get elected President until the FLDS thing is cleaned up. Across the Country I see message boards that think we, as Mormons, deep down respect and condone Jeffs and the FLDS teachings. We are compared to American Irish Catholics who gave cover to the IRA for many years.

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