Reader comments
Buttars 1 of 5 candidates for Senate's Rules chair

Anonymous | 5:37 a.m. Nov. 17, 2008

Yep, we'll keep milking this story for all it's worth, won't we, for at least the next four years.

"Today, the Utah Senate approved an education appropriations bill, including Chris Buttars who made racist comments last year."

"Utah has 29 state senators, one of whom, Chris Buttars, made racist comments last year."

"The property tax bill was heard in committee today. One of the committee members, Chris Buttars, made racist comments last year.

fox | 6:40 a.m. Nov. 17, 2008

is this reminiscent of the fox guarding the chicken coop?

To Waddoups: | 6:50 a.m. Nov. 17, 2008

Yes, being a member of the Utah Legislature and having those types of words(the baby comment) come out of your mouth and the actions(the letter to the judge)that Buttars has done should be an overiding factor! In fact, if should be so overiding that Buttars is not even considered. What a slap to the other for members on that list.

Comments continue below

ethics reform? | 6:59 a.m. Nov. 17, 2008

Isn't putting Bramble in the position defeating the whole purpose of not electing him to leadership?

This decision will clearly indicate the personal agenda of the new senate leader.

Jason | 7:02 a.m. Nov. 17, 2008

Has anyone tried to contact any of these legislators? I live in Utah County and Margaret Dayton, Curtis Bramble, and Mark Madsen do not answer telephone calls or return any calls.

If you have tried to contact any of these legislators, please leave your experience in the comments.

Thanks,

What about | 7:17 a.m. Nov. 17, 2008

buttars idiot action on the judiciary committee trying to coerce a judge on committee letterhead to side with a good-ole-boy friend? Why isn't that an issue? Are the halls of the legislature to be thus polluted, or are they already so stained that nobody gives a dhootm?

Just say no | 8:29 a.m. Nov. 17, 2008

to bigotry. We have enough intolerance without leadership like Buttars. This person needs to not be a national leader. One would hope that our legacy as a nation will eventually rise up out of such quagmire.

concernedvoter | 8:31 a.m. Nov. 17, 2008

Buttars will talk to the public and he does want to do something about ethics reform. Mike Madsen is also a great guy but with less experience. Dead horse bringing up that baby comment. Buttars responds to phone calls and gets things done big time.

Broad concern | 9:47 a.m. Nov. 17, 2008

Several of the Senators on this short list concern me. Frankly, Waddoups himself concerns me. We need someone as Chair of the Rules Committee who can think broadly, who can take into account the needs of the state rather than just friendships, alliances, personal vendettas, personal beliefs, and whatever else seems to drive Waddoups and Buttars.

tex | 10:48 a.m. Nov. 17, 2008

It is scary to me that anyone one in Utah would want Buttars to "represent" them. I have never seen a representative who constistantly provides such ignorant and moronic arguments in debates. The reason not to put him in any position of leadership is that he is a bafoon, not a racist. I guess if people still feel like he represents them, they deserve what they get.

short list | 12:25 p.m. Nov. 17, 2008

I think Broad concern has an excellent point. Where did this short list come from??? There are several Senators that would be better choices than anyone on the short list!

jumipin' jack | 1:06 p.m. Nov. 17, 2008

I say let's give Sen. Buttars this leadership position. He's bound to make a fool of himself and then those who voted for him will see him as the angry man he truly is and not vote for him next time around.

Oh wait! we're in Utah, never mind.

Ugh | 1:42 p.m. Nov. 17, 2008

None of them thrill me. But Buttars is the worst of the lot. I object to his Eagle Forum ties. I believe he didn't make a racial comment or didn't intend to. However, he has been involved with some efforts that are not in the best interests of anyone, and he comes off as a stupid oaf. So please don't reward him with a powerful position.

It will be Buttars | 1:52 p.m. Nov. 17, 2008

Buttars said it himself at several 'meet the candidate' nights - if Waddops wins, Buttars is Rules Committee chairman. The backroom deal has been done.

Henry Drummond | 2:09 p.m. Nov. 17, 2008

I'm no fan of Chris Buttars, but I have to agree with the first person who posted. KSL radio was ranting on this same topic. KSL TV showed up with a similar story. Do you guys all get together on these things?

Is it really even true to say he is "one of five candidates"? (I think KSL-TV says "one of four") How does one become a candidate anyway? Sounds like somebody is just trying to manufacture some controversy. Last I heard there are others on the committee and it takes a majority to do anything.

Relax. Maybe Chris has learned his lesson and will become a statesman.

South Park | 2:12 p.m. Nov. 17, 2008

Not from Utah. Just checking to see if this guy was actually a cartoon character. Evidently so.

anonymous | 3:04 p.m. Nov. 17, 2008

wow, that list reads like a who's who of the most radical right wing legislators, Waddoups, Buttars, Dayton, Madson, Bramble. Not a single fair minded moderate. I guess the only chance a moderate has to hope for a fair rules committee is to hope for Kundson.

Fumbled Again | 3:31 p.m. Nov. 17, 2008

Holy Buttar Fingers, Batman! It looks as if the Jokers on the Hill have foiled the plans for fairness and responsibility once again. Let me guess, with these evil villains in power, we can expect to save the rainy day fund for the next generation's rainy day, cut education (and still say they held it harmless), and give back to the wealthy, so they can help the economy (ala hire a maid or order more pizza delivery). Alas, the bat signal is on, but the extreme Republican legion of doom has a stranglehold on Gotham. It's a dark, dark day!

Holy heck fire. . . | 4:32 p.m. Nov. 17, 2008

What a to-do over nothing. Buttars' comment on the floor was taken so out of context by the leftist media as to be unrecognizable. His letter to the activist judge was a reminder that the legislature makes the laws, not the courts. Those are the two things being held against him as "controversial" by the left-leaning media, but neither of them are even worth sneezing at unless you've already got a reason to hate him.

Since he is one of the strongest conservatives on the hill, he has definitely made a few enemies along the way. As they say, you can learn a lot about a man by taking a look at who his enemies are. Buttars has done a good job for Utah, overall.

Fairness should Rule | 4:39 p.m. Nov. 17, 2008

I being of sound mind believe Senator Butters didnï¿½t purposely utter a comment slandering a minority in our community. I fully believe he didnï¿½t like the issue at hand and tried to make a comment in the wee hours of the debate. I think the Political Correctness Police are having a hay day with him and this issue. So I say Grow up get a life, if he makes another bad comment you have a case. Let the man do his job in the meantime.

Same old, same old | 4:43 p.m. Nov. 17, 2008

Is this list the best the republicans can come up with? I can't see any of these five making reasonable decisions. We would have been better served with Valentine than Waddoups. The radical right wing rules the senate.

Elkman | 6:03 p.m. Nov. 17, 2008

You have got to be kidding me. This Buttars guy is the best this state can do. As a person of color it is hard to believe that the voters in South and West Jordan would re-elect this bozo. I guess there is a reason why they call Utah the Georgia of the West!!!

Lost their Minds? | 10:11 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

As a resident of West Jordan, I have put up with the high-minded actions of Chris Buttars for long enough and now to have him even considered for this position has me questioning the sanity of our political leaders once again. Everyone keeps pointing back to his racist remarks as reason he should not be chair but even leaving that out of the mix (which I don't think should be left out) he has proven with his past actions that he has the attitude of "No matter what you all want, I know what is best for you". We need someone that represents those in his state -- all of those in his state and not just the radical right. To put Buttars in this position of power will be just one more jewel for him to put in his crown of power. I BEG OF YOU AS ONE WHO HAS SEEN HIS ABUSES!! DON'T DO IT!!!

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.