Reader comments
Buttars used 'black baby' remark again, officials say

Cynthia | 12:19 a.m. July 5, 2008

I'm confused as to why Buttars would be in a development meeting for a project in Mapleton in the first place? He's not a developer. Unless there is some other explaination I missed, I'd fully expect intimidation to be the answer.

I have avoided dealings with him but know he has a terrible reputation as a jerk- heck, you only have to look at the legislation he sponsors (the vast majority of which has nothing to do with his constituents and their interests) to know that. I wish I could vote against him but I'm at least pleased to say he's not my Senator.

Oh- and he got through the convention because they stacked the delegate deck with the few supporters he has left. And it was just enough for him to squeek by. Hopefully, he won't be getting by the voters.

Priests of the Temple of Syrinx | 12:28 a.m. July 5, 2008

Spatafore contacted the press. How hard is that to figure out?

Anonymous | 12:53 a.m. July 5, 2008

Sure we want a racist in office-NOT.

Comments continue below

A Joke | 7:29 a.m. July 5, 2008

Buttars represents all that is wrong with the old gaurd of the Utah GOP, and he too will get the boot sooner or later. The best thing for the citizens of West Valley, would be to vote for the Dem., and start over next election cycle.

Anything would be better than continuing to employ this disconnected arrogant power-hungry old man!!!

sob | 7:40 a.m. July 5, 2008

i guess he thinks he being cute now

BBKing | 8:28 a.m. July 5, 2008

Two issues here. Both dealing with the conduct of each party.

I find it highly unlikely that Buttars used his infamous statement in a new context. Very likely that he refered to it again. The reasonable test goes for Buttars on that one. He may be a jerk and everything else, I highly doubt he said it three times.

Then there is Mapleton City. I'm sure they are great people but eminent domain is a big issue. As soon as the Supreme Court ruled that government can take property if they can demonstrate a new use will bring in more tax revenue, the country went overboard to neuter Kelso.

The case stems from a city that wanted to tear down some old houses to build a commercial area. They took the homes, built the commcercial area and the Supreme Court said they could. Who's next on that hit list?

So a private property owner wants to build 60 houses and the city says they want to build a trail. He owns the land. They don't.

Eminent domain can treat one no different than having no private property rights at all.

And it would seem M.O. for Spatafore to leak.

Buttars is flaunting | 10:24 a.m. July 5, 2008

Buttars is basically putting his thumb on his nose, wagging his fingers, and saying "neener, neener" to the people of Utah. It is time for a change.

Gear S. | 10:32 a.m. July 5, 2008

Now you know why Utahn's have the lowest voter participation in the country. It is because no matter how big a putz the republican candidate is, he is still a shoe-in for the victory. Ten bucks say the good people of West Jordan elect Butters to win again.

Anonymous | 11:30 a.m. July 5, 2008

I wish certain groups of people could leave the good guys alone and that the public could actually get an accurate and true version of every story that has happened with Senator Buttar's. It makes me sick having to read these articles and know that they are absolutely false and these different groups are just picking one good legislature at a time to shoot down until they move onto the next one. Don't believe what you hear from these awful news outlets, because it is false.

utarded | 12:39 p.m. July 5, 2008

With 1.15% african americans in his district, I doubt he'll ever get voted out of office. I do have to ask what if he had said something negative about the LDS religion? Would others still say, "These different groups are just picking one good legislature at a time to shoot down until they move onto the next one!"?

Anonymous | 1:53 p.m. July 5, 2008

If only Chris Buttars would stick to propagating malicious lies about gay Americans, then the Salt Lake City NAACP would give him an award as they did for Larry Miller after he banned Brokeback Mountain from his theaters.

Cory | 3:52 p.m. July 5, 2008

I once heard a great saying... "When somebody shows you who they are, believe them."

To anonymous | 4:45 p.m. July 5, 2008

I think the jury is out whether or not Buttars is a good guy. I see that the spin machine is out in trying to make Buttars look like a saint. I'm willing to forgive and forget his first instance in saying this remark, but Buttars now knows that it was controversial and yet here is making the same remarks again. A person as racially insensitive as Buttars does not deserve to hold public office.

Willing to forgive? | 4:59 p.m. July 5, 2008

Sure, forgive him and then vote him out.

This comment, which he knows well is perceived as insulting by many, is not his first such comment. From the Dnews, "Buttars told the Deseret Morning News Monday that he explained to the several hundred churchgoers in attendance the day before that he made "a real mistake and I apologize for it and I'd like to see if you could forgive me. I didn't try to use any justification."

Sounds like he wasn't sorry at all.

Before this he said in a radio interview that "Brown vs. Board of Education" which de-segragated schools, was a bad judicial decision. Google it if you doubt it. This wasn't an incident, it is a pattern!

These news reports aren't false, he said exactly what he said.

kev | 8:37 p.m. July 5, 2008

dear Anonymous how can anybody get a good read on Mr. Buttars when he insists that ALL his meetings are private again doing the publics business in private is always wrong any one who leaks information about these meeting should be treated as a hero

Just a guy | 9:31 p.m. July 5, 2008

I'd vote for chris if I was in his district. He's a good man and a good leader. Besides....us whitey's gotta stick together!!!!

Just an Informed Guy | 10:46 a.m. July 6, 2008

Interesting comment "Just a guy". Sounds lke you're lettin your true colors out in the light. No wonder you've been a big Gibby and Buttars supporter through all the news article comments.

Utah Resident | 9:56 p.m. July 6, 2008

I think that Buttars is an embarrassment to our state and to those he represents. Those that allowed him to run for another term are also to blame for his foot in mouth antics.

A good representative of the people should be respectful and choose their words carefully... he is obviously an arrogant, ignorant, uneducated, old fool.

A new respectful wave of conservatism that does the will of the people is coming to Utah... time to retire Buttars.

mike | 10:25 p.m. July 6, 2008

What was this man talking about? Where and to whom did he make that remark? I haven't seen a story that did more than the three second soundbite.

Minority | 11:24 p.m. July 6, 2008

I am a minority and I find Senator Buttars to be the epitome of a statesman. His comment was unfortunate but it was just a metaphor used during a debate on the Senate floor.

Those who berate the Senator, especially some minority groups, are the racists. If it were a minority who made such a comment, there would have been an outcry for forgiveness and compassion.

Hmmm, it goes both ways people. I see this as reverse discrimination, a lynching by the minority community, that will be used to push other social agendas that will be costly to all tax payers.

When you look for prejudice, you WILL find it!

Denz | 3:02 p.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Senator Chris Buttars is a good man. One of the few left in our legislature. All of you angry people out there have accused him of being a dirty little sicko, but has anyone thought about what he was really trying to say? When he said,"This baby is black, it's a dark and ugly thing" he was referring to the bill, not people. He wasn't even using people as a metaphor. The "baby" he mentioned, was the bill. Like when you are talking about your new car, "This baby makes 39 mile to the gallon." That is what he meant by "baby". Now, the color black was not referring to people either, he was describing the bill as a "black...dark ugly thing". Basically, he is saying that this bill we are talking about is bad, very bad! I will agree that his word choice was bad, and that is probably why he apologized on the Senate Floor after he said it. Anyone reading this surprised that he actually apologized for his poor word choice. Notice how the newspapers don't like to talk about that.

re:Denz | 9:16 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008

Denz,

When reason is applied and facts discovered, these truths are evident:

Those who hate, hate still.

Those who are blind, think they can see.

Those who seek, find.

Those who love, love still.

Buttars is a good man who stands up to the agendas of special interest groups. He is courageous, honest, and outspoken. ANYONE with these admiral characteristics will be a targeted by the outspoken minority that frequent these forums.

Chris has endured more than you know in the way of slander, threats, and lies. Just last week a group decided to form a ghost pack to print outlandish lies about him and his family in order to sway the election away from him. The rabid among us will believe these lies and repeat them with much vigor. It is their way.

I hope that the voters of his district are wise enough to see through all the rhetoric and see WHY Chris Buttars is a target and re-elect a man that is willing to stand for moral principles in the face of adversity. Isn't that what we want from all of our representatives?

Thanks for your defense of a good man.

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