Reader comments
Some legislative candidates opt against answering News questionnaire

I don't know... | 1:29 a.m. Oct. 2, 2008

Maybe they won't answer because the D-News printed a false story about the Legislature in August.

I see | 4:38 a.m. Oct. 2, 2008

It's been confirmed why democrats have a hard time getting any traction in Utah. Their executive director dismisses an issue - abortion - that may not be getting headlines, but is still very important to a lot of Utah voters. It's this disregard for issues Utahans care about that makes dems unpalatable for many Utah voters.

Befuddled by voters | 6:07 a.m. Oct. 2, 2008

Utah has been a strong republican state. I likewise have voted that way most of the time. However, Utah's "GOP" sure seems to be a "good 'ol boy" network that favors those who are willing to play the game. Don't be fooled. They are all about political power and their legislation effects our lives too much to not seriously consider who we vote for. Many of the incumbents need to be ousted so we can make improvements in many areas of our government. Somehow, they are supposed to represent the populace, even those who don't vote for them, but it sure doesn't seem that way.

Comments continue below

Fed up | 6:59 a.m. Oct. 2, 2008

Perhaps they decline to answer because:

(a) Both the statewide newspapers are incredibly biased, so it really doesn't matter what the candidate says.

(b) Newspapers are becoming increasingly less relevant, with circulations plummeting.

(c) More people seeking information are getting it from "new media" sources instead of being a captive audience fed propaganda by "statewide newspapers."

By the way, how much space have you devoted to actual journalism investigating Obama's ties to unrepentant terrorists; his devotion to an American hating racist pastor; his lack of accomplishments in any job; or anything else critical of the Obamamessiah? Instead you choose to print lots of partisan trash (mostly supplied by AP) criticizing and making false allegations about Republicans.

So, why would Republicans waste time with your survey? Your endorsements are already preconceived, and biased against them.

If Obama wins, I will probably cancel my subscription as a waste of money, and a necessity to pay the inevitable tax increases he will impose.

Former Candidate | 7:16 a.m. Oct. 2, 2008

Sorry to burst the DesNews bubble - but as a former candidate - I found few real voters made descisions based upon or formulated in large part by a newspaper's set of questions. Instead, voters are usually guided by preconcieved ideas of "incumbant" and from sources associated with unions. The latter usually comes about as "PTA" or other information shared within the schools and largely directed by the UEA.

Case in point would be the "rumors" and dis-information being spread currently against voucher supporters, such as the "ethics" complaint.

Lynn Jensen | 7:20 a.m. Oct. 2, 2008

I just spent most of the night reading the responses to the Questionaire. Sad to say, none of the candidates in my districts, senate and house, were among those who responded. I did learn a lot from those I read. The one I liked least was the one whose main concern was property values in his district. The rich get richer. There's more to life than how much your house is worth.

Thanks for providing these responses.

Lol @ Fed Up | 8:26 a.m. Oct. 2, 2008

Believe me, if they could get the dirt on Obama they would.

It's funny to hear you rant about bias in the paper then threaten to cancel your subscription because it's not bias in the way you would like.

This looks like a standard pre-election questionaire. I'm sure more people will respond as time goes on.

Puzzled | 9:00 a.m. Oct. 2, 2008

To Fed Up: The Deseret News is biased against Republicans? Whoa! Please tell, what other newspapers do you read? Read the DN editorials my friend. But, then again, if Obama wins, and you cancel your subscription and presumably out of principal will not read the news online, we will be spared such peevish dribble (i.e., "ties to unrepentent terrorists"), and the world will be a more pleasant place.

Thanks | 9:40 a.m. Oct. 2, 2008

Thanks for asking the questions
Second you have the same people to please that educators do, they want it their way only and unwilling to participate in a meaningful way to really make a difference for good. I am sorry but I have tried for a long time to help some of your readers to become thinking readers rather than preconcieved, addlepated, biased chest thumpers but to no avail and so it is your turn keep it up Dnews

Rigged elections spawn arrogance | 9:42 a.m. Oct. 2, 2008

Why would a legislator in a gerrymandered district respond to a questionnaire when the incumbent's re-election is practically guaranteed?

Why would a candidate in a swing district risk alienating voters by answering a questionnaire?

The solution: Proportional representation elections with multi-member districts encourages more information about candidates, their parties, and their platforms.

For more information visit FairVote: The Center for Voting and Democracy.

DR Don | 10:23 a.m. Oct. 2, 2008

I see that Larry Wiley, my incumbent Democrat Representative, didn't respond to the questionaire nor did he respond to 2 emails I sent him prior to the last election. He obviously isn't interested in my vote. Hope you lose by one vote, Larry!

Dnews a Liberal Rag? | 10:28 a.m. Oct. 2, 2008

Only in Utah could a newspaper like the Deseret News, whose editor is the former Republican Party Chair, be accused of having a liberal bias. Thanks, Fed Up, I needed the laugh.

Jeffrey | 11:05 a.m. Oct. 2, 2008

In the vain of those above:

Maybe they won't answer because Utah legislators are immature and childish, and have a "If you won't play my way, I'm taking my ball and going home" attitude.

It is no secret that the legislators in this state hate the media coverage they receive. Of course, the reason they receive that negative coverage is because they are corrupt themselves.

The legislators know that it doesn't matter whether or not they even put on a facade of answering to the people, because they'll get re-elected no matter what anyway.

Wonder Why | 12:14 p.m. Oct. 2, 2008

Same questions possed to all candidates, how can that be biased?

I appreciate the survey as my incumbent representative will not answer my e-mails, I would have liked to see how his answers would relate to my opinions on the same issues.

His opponents have my vote, just because his responses closely match my views and the incumbent doesn't want us to know how they really feel.

I would assume other incumbents won't complete the survey because if they stated how they really feel about the issues, they wouldn't get re-elected. If they put responses in to satisfy the public to get re-elected, then when the session comes up and they vote just the opposite, they would have to explain why they changed their view.

Biased or not, I thank you for the survey, it cemented my vote.

Why would they? | 12:45 p.m. Oct. 2, 2008

As Jason Chaffetz proclaims, he will win because he is the republican candidate. Nobody wants to know what position he will take on the issues. All the voters in Utah my district want to know is - who is the republican candidate. Same goes for Buttars and Newbold, my local reps. They don't answer because they don't have to. Answer to the people? No - they only answer to the party leadership. I don't even know why Utah bothers with a vote. Why don't we save the money and just appoint our leaders? Put the money into more roads and nuclear power plants. That's the American way - and particularly the Utah way.

Why censor comments? | 1:20 p.m. Oct. 2, 2008

I received the Survey Email from Mr. Bernick and I explained why participation was low, from my perspective. But you censored my comment. Why?

My comment was short and informative. It met your criteria. It was not abusive, offensive, off-topic, or misrepresentatative. It did not contain a URL. Why not post it?

No accountability | 2:32 p.m. Oct. 2, 2008

They don't answer them because they don't have to do anything to be re-elected. Look at Curt Bramble's website. There isn't even anything on there. They are so confident that no matter what they do, they will still be in office. I believe until our elected officials actually have to get out and talk to the people to get re-elected, we will never have an accountable, ethical government. I will vote for McCain and Huntsman, but I'm not going to vote for any Republicans in the State House and Senate because they aren't working hard enough for my vote and I don't think they care about us as their constituients.

Stewart | 3:40 p.m. Oct. 2, 2008

After reading the questions on this survey, it is obvious that it was designed with the DesNews agenda in mind. For example, where was a question relating to illegal immigration in Utah. The reason this question was not asked is because the DesNews and both major political parties want to ignore it. It is the elephant in the living room that they all tip toe around.

They will tell you that it is a federal problem, and not a problem in which Utah has an interest. That is not so, we the taxpayers of Utah have to pick up the tab to subsidize the cheap labor employers that in turn lobby the legislature. The taxpayers have to pay for education, medical, welfare, and increased law enforcement costs caused by the illegal aliens. On the other hand a very large, but intentionally unknown percentage, of their wages are paid under the table and are not taxed.

The worst of the problem though is that they depress wages for our own unskilled workers, causing them to use more of our welfare, medical, and other taxpayer subsidized entitlements.

Illegal immigration will be big on the agenda again in the 2009 session.

Guranteed way to fix this | 4:41 p.m. Oct. 2, 2008

If the Deseret News wants more participation next year, they should just print the questionaires of those who did participate in the print edition with an explanation that both had an equal opportunity for the free advertising but the incumbants didn't care enough about their constituients and our democracy to particpate. I guarantee they would next year!

Where Does Jay Stand | 1:33 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

Why didn't Jay Seegmiller fill out a survey?

Doesn't he want the people to know where he stands?

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