12 March 2010

ummm... so what's up with Utah?

I don't usually take this space for political rants, and I don't think this will be all that mean - but I just have to ask a question.

Seriously, what is going on in Utah politics?

Let me see if I get this right - the majority leader of the Utah House of Representatives told everyone that 25 years ago he got naked in a hot tub with a 15-year-old female employee of his. He was 28 and married. But seriously, they were just naked in the hot tub as a "spur of the moment thing" and that was it. Then in 2002, when this guy was running for Congress, the girl resurfaces and he pays her $150,000 to sign a non-disclosure agreement. It's not hush money, he says, but something to "help her heal." And he says he treated it like any other event in his life. He's coming forward now because that woman is starting to call reporters.

He says all this, and then members of the Utah legislature give him a standing ovation and hug him.

This is a couple of months after the majority leader of the Utah Senate resigned after his arrest for DUI. Reportedly this guy's father was killed by a drunk driver.

And don't forget, this is the legislature where one guy insists "climate change" is actually a conspiracy to control population, and another guy thinks they should cut the 12th grade to save money. Or he did until people called him nuts, now he just wants to make it optional, maybe, or something.

I suppose we've all done some really stupid things and said some really stupid things. But seriously, have most people done or said things that stupid? And rise to the ranks of Majority Leader of a state legislature?

Is it me?

4 comments:

Motherhood Uncensored said...

Um, wow.

Unknown said...

Sounds like Utah is giving Florida a run for the status of most twisted state in the nation.

All they need is John Edwards to move there and they'd have a full house.

Pun intended.

John McKay said...

You left out the proposed (and since withdrawn) bill to jail women who have "illegal" miscarriages.

The Senate Site said...

Utah is a cool state. The documented tendency is toward well-managed government, responsible fiscal policy, happy people and great communities.

But it's also true that 2 or 3 individuals can grab the media spotlight and eclipse all the good.

Don't know what to say.