Comments about ‘Senate challenger Mike Lee criticizes Bennett for skipping earmark vote’

I am confused.

Wasn't Hatch just highly critical of Chaffetz stand on earmarks? Is this a flip flop?

Mike Lee isn't the only one criticizing Bennett on this. Most Utahan's are. We're sick of it.

It's not that all earmarks are 100% bad (most are though), but that at this point, with our debt, deficit, and economy, we need to make a statement and say NO MORE, until the house is in order.

This is why we need a strong conservative, like Mike Lee in the Senate, and many more like him.

Utah needs to lead the way, by electing Mike Lee.

Hilarious, under Bush the conservatives didn't care about spending. All of a sudden they care now after wasting trillions on wars.

Bennett is wisely using all of the legislative powers and tools at his disposal to advocate for Utah interests and issues. Sometimes, 'earmark" (however it's defined) is the most effective way to go, as in keeping ATK workers employed right now. So all candidates need to quit playing the populist card and take a rsopnsible postion and quit attacking Bennett for refusing to neuter himself in pursuit of Utah's interest in competition with other, bigger, and more powerful interests. we dont' need ideologues in Congress. we need people who can perform.

Aside from helping to foster the culture of balooning the federal budget in pursuit of "Utah's interests" when was the last time that Bennett "performed" for Utah?

Chaffetz hurts Utah, he thinks that by spouting platitudes that he helps Utah. He does nothing but waste taxpayer money blabbering to tabloid sites such as TMZ.

Excellent comment at 1:08 P.M. Earmarks have nothing to do with total spending. They do NOT increase the Federal budget by a single penny. Instead, earmarks are about allocation; namely, how much of the Federal pie is allocated to Utah.

Like it or not, part of a Congress member's job is to bring home the bacon. Mike Lee should not spend time on nitnoid concerns about earmarks, but instead continue to hammer away at Bob Bennett's politically-incestuous relationship with the financial industry. Lee should also be courageous enough to identify which group of people dominate the financial industry behind the scenes, and explain the impact.

Earmarks are ridiculous. The fact that current system says that the money will be spent on something is no excuse to not take care of the problem. The fact that they aren't a huge part of the budget is not an excuse either. Earmarks should be the easiest thing in the world to cut BECAUSE they are fairly small and ridiculous. Let's spend the money on shoring up social security, or something that is more important.

And whether you like the issue or not, it seems like a major part of Bennett's job is to be there contributing. I think the criticism of him is valid, and he should probably pay attention. I'm thinking maybe Mike Lee would be a better choice to send to Washington this year. Bennett has had his time (and more), time for some fresh blood who understands Utah.

How is this even news? Cmon...Lee's just grandstanding and demogogueing.

So all conservatives supported Bush spending? Does that mean that all liberals want nuclear power plants or support all of Obama's spending?

Anyway, earmarks are symbolic but what we really need is someone who will take on entitlement reform. I heard Tim Bridgewater speak the other day and said he was willing to be a one term Senator if that's the consequence of taking on entitlement reform. Pretty awesome.

Earmarks are symbolic of what is wrong with today's Washington. If current lawmakers in D.C. cannot be disciplined & control themselves with just part of the federal budget, how can they ask the American people to sacrifice? Lawmakers want to cut social security & medicare, taking actual dollars out of our grandparents & parents hands. However, the feds cannot keep their own paws out of pet projects?

The time for change is now! We need a new generation of leaders who can make disciplined fiscal choices and say no. Tim Bridgewater has made such decisions in the private sector and will do so in the public arena as well.

This false Republican must go !
His voting record is a nightmare for the conservative citizens.
We must do everything possible to oust this person.

LOL, you conservatives crack me up. EARMARKS ARE BAD, E VIL .... unless it is something we support.

Kind of like term limits for senators.
We will do it,when everyone else does.
Until then, the only way for us as a small state to survive in the national arena, is to have our reps get all the earmarks possible for our state, and for us to leave or senators in office, until they die or retire.

Bennett is only a republican by name. It is time for this joker to hit the road and get someone who vote the conservative. He is a modrate dressed in a republican coat. What about the Waste site of Bennets Paint plant at 2100 South that he manipulated a super fund from congress so that we all could pay for the clean up of his dirty plant. Amen.

Who is a real republican in this state?
Or better put, are there any conservatives in the Republican Party?
Before you answer too quickly, you might want to think through, what a conservative is.
Neither party represents most Americans anymore.
It’s choosing between two bad choices.

This stance against earmarks is not at all unique to Lee- ALL the challenger candidates in this race have said as much. Bennett is a porker. No one disputes that.

The claim Bennett makes that earmarks are the ONLY way to get things done is patently false. It's the lazy way to get them done- not the only way.

We need someone to replace Bennett who has an actual working knowledge of finance and economics. The ONLY challenger candidate who has that background and has is a PROVEN success is Tim Bridgewater.

Pointing out the negatives of earmarks is the easy part- anyone can do that and they have. Finding an alternative is a totally different and requires knowledge and abilities of a guy like Bridgewater.

I hope that a tea party candidate that is a real conservative runs as an independent if they don't beat Bennett in the primary.

Lee sounds just like Bennett did in 1992. Mike, In concrete terms, tell us what you're going to do. Are you going to abolish any departments? Cut spending by any specific amount? Increase our freedom in any measurable way?

If you can't do that, we should just stick with our existing flag waver. At least he's got experience and seniority.