Granato: Mike Lee Doesn't Understand Earmarks

From the email box:

As a small businessman for more than 40 years, I know what it means to be fiscally responsible. I’ve run a business on a budget and I’ve made all the tough calls that come with it.
I know the difference between solutions that actually work and a bunch of empty rhetoric — and I can tell you that Mike Lee is offering nothing but a bunch of hot air when it comes to federal funding for Utah.
Mike Lee insists that all earmarks are completely unacceptable, and that he will neither seek nor accept any federal funding for the state of Utah. He claims this is fiscally responsible, despite the fact that it won’t save so much as a penny of the federal budget.
I don’t think Mike Lee understands how the budget process works.
You see, an earmark doesn’t determine if the money will be spent — that decision has already been made long beforehand. Earmarks only determine where the money will be spent — and if Mike Lee refuses to accept the money in Utah, it would simply be spent in California or New York or someplace else instead.
Mike Lee may think he’s taking a noble stand with this charade, but the reality is simple — he’s hurting Utahns. The citizens of Utah pay a tremendous amount in federal income taxes, and our senators should be working to make sure as much of that money comes back to the state as possible.


Quite frankly, Mike Lee’s stand on this issue is an empty gesture that would solve nothing and cost Utah billions of dollars. We can’t afford to let him put his extreme ideological agenda ahead of Utah’s best interests.
It is true that the earmarking process needs reform, and I would demand complete transparency and accountability in that process. However, at the same time, I would not cut off funding for vital programs in Utah that rely on federal dollars — programs like public schools, TRAX and other transportation projects, funding for research and buildings at Utah’s universities, and many others. These projects create good jobs here for Utahns, and that’s something we simply cannot take for granted in these tough economic times.
Mike Lee seems to be the only one who doesn’t understand how important this issue is for Utah.
When I’m elected, I won’t play partisan games with important projects. I will fight for Utah and ensure we receive our fair share of federal funding to improve our state and create jobs here at home.
My allegiance will always be to the people of Utah, not an extreme agenda. Utah families come first.
Sincerely,

Sam Granato

CNN: Mike Lee Loves The Constitution (except Amendments 14, 17, 28, 29)

I've been saying this for a while, but now CNN is catching up to it: Mike Lee really loves the constitution. Except the parts he doesn't like.



(Amendments 28 and 29 would be the two he wants to propose. He hates them because they don't exist yet.)

Email From Granato Campaign

From the email box:

Dear Bob,
It's been 40 years since Utah last elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate — but I’m working hard to change that and I need your help!
Some people have tried to tell me that the race is over, that Utah only elects Republicans, and that the people don’t even need to vote. They tell me I should just give up and stop wasting my time, that Utahns will wander into the voting booth on Election Day and check the same box they’ve checked for the last four decades.
You know what I tell them? I tell them they’re wrong.
I don’t believe Utahns are detached or disinterested. I give us more credit than that.
I believe most Utahns want a Senator who will take common sense and mainstream Utah values back to Washington, not more ideological extremism and partisan gridlock.
I believe they want a Senator who will work across the aisle to find solutions that benefit working families, not just give fancy speeches and pound the pulpit.
Most of all, I believe the people of Utah are looking for something different this year — and that their voices will be heard loud and clear at the ballot box on November 2nd.
We can win this election -- but I need your help.
In 1970, Frank E. Moss became the last Democrat to win election to the U.S. Senate from Utah, showing that ours is not a one-party state and that Utah voters are fair-minded folks who want real representation. I believe this remains as true today in 2010 as it was in 1970. We can do this together.
That’s why I’m asking everyone to make a contribution of $19.70 to our campaign — to help us simultaneously remember our past successes even as we prepare for our future victories. Even the smallest contributions will be of great importance as we reach out to voters and spread our message around the state. With your help, we can win this election and begin a new era of leadership in our government.
This fight won’t be easy; we will be fighting against the status quo and special interest dollars the whole way. But, like Senator Moss showed, it can be done. We can do it together.
As always, I look forward to working alongside you as we make history and bring common sense back to Washington.
Sincerely,

Sam Granato
Candidate, U.S. Senate


Tell Us Your "Sam" Story!
As we’ve traveled around the state over the past year, we’ve met with countless voters in each of Utah’s 29 counties — and the stories are almost always the same. Whether we’re speaking with a registered nurse in Salt Lake City or a retired coal miner in Price, they each seem to have a story about Sam, how he has impacted their lives in the past, and why they believe in him now as a candidate.
Now we want to hear from you. We want to hear your stories and experiences with Sam, whether it be a light-hearted lunchtime conversation at one of his delis or a substantive discussion somewhere along the campaign trail. Share your “Sam” story with us by clicking here!
Thousands of Utahns support Sam and his candidacy, because they know who he is and what he stands for. They share their stories with us every day. We look forward to hearing yours!

Come Celebrate the Grand Opening of Our New Office!
Thanks to the help of many friends and supporters, we recently moved into a brand new office in Salt Lake City — and we want you to come help us celebrate!
We will be holding an open house event at the office (located at 1073 E 300 S) for the general public on Tuesday, July 13th from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and we want you to join us! Feel free to swing by, say hello, and mingle with supporters and campaign staff.
Mark your calendars! We hope to see you there!

Mike Lee Wants You Taxpayers To Pay For The Oil Spill

No wonder Mike Lee doesn't want to be filmed.....



(Hat Tip: Green Jello)

Mike Lee loves big oil.

-Bob

Defining Mike Lee

With 6.6% of registered voters voting for him, Mike Lee won the Republican Primary and advances to face Democrat Sam Granato in November.

Mr Lee has spent the past few months defining himself as a "constitutional expert." It's time that we Democrats stand up and define him.

*Mike Lee is a (DC Based) Lawyer who doesn't want Utah to have a say in whether or not they allow nuclear waste. (States rights my butt.)

*Mike Lee wants to declare that children born to illegal immigrants within the borders of the United States are no longer subject to the jurisdiction of the Unites States government. That would make them not citizens, so the Unites States (which, by the way, now has no jurisdiction over these people) can deport them. Let that sink in for a minute. (Please tell me someone out there has that exchange from the KUTV debate last Sunday)

*Mike Lee is in favor of underground nuclear testing. Except he is in favor of ratifying a treaty that bans testing of nuclear weapons. Unless a country decides they need to test to preserve their national security. (If a Democrat took that many positions, he'd be called a flip-flopper.)

*Mike Lee trusts the Utah Legislature more than he trusts Utah Voters. (See revoking the 17th amendment.)

*Mike Lee isn't just a lobbyist. Mike Lee is an illegal Lobbyist.

*Mike Lee wants to raise taxes on the poor and middle-class.

*Mike Lee wants to reduce government regulations. Lax government oversight caused the Gulf Oil Spill and the mine collapse in central Utah a few years ago.

*Mike Lee seems to forget that Article 3 of the Constitution gives the Supreme Court the authority to declare whether laws are constitutional or not.

*Mike Lee loves the constitution, with the exception of Article 3 and Amendments 14, 16, 17, and 10 (only when it is contrary to the desires of his clients).

Lobbyist, Not a Lobbyist

Mike Lee claims that going up to Capitol Hill to advise the legislators that a bill is constitutional does not mean he needed to be registered as a lobbyist, even though his client was directly involved with the bill.

His source in the Lt Governor's office needs to check out the Lt Governor's Web Site:

Utah Election Law places regulations on lobbyist activities. A lobbyist, under these regulations, is an individual who receives some kind of payment to lobby a public official other than reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses. Lobbying a public official is defined in Utah Code 36-11-102 as "communicating with a public official for the purpose of influencing the passage, defeat, amendment, or postponement of legislative or executive action."

Public Official:

A public official for lobbying purposes is any of the following:

· a member of the Legislature

· an individual elected to a position in the executive branch, or

· an individual appointed to or employed within the legislative or executive branch if the individual makes policy, purchasing, or contracting decisions; drafts legislation or make rules; determines rates or fees; or makes adjudicative decisions.

Mike Lee T-Shirt on Sale at KSL.....

This was funny. Thanks to several friends who posted it on Facebook and Twitter.

Mike Lee US Senate Campaign T-Shirt Adult XL. Pocket Constitution included.
Salt Lake City, UT 84121 - Jun 4, 2010
This is a T-shirt that I got at the Utah Republican State Convention. The shirt has "I Like Mike" on the back.

I'm selling this shirt because I stand for principles and I can no longer have "I Like Mike" displayed on my back. I thought I liked Mike. He loves the Constitution. I love the Constitution. He was a true conservative. I am a true conservative. It was something I was looking forward to wearing.

But in the past few weeks, my shirt has come to mean something else. I found out that Mike failed to register as a Lobbyist when he represented his clients in front of Elected Officials. But instead of admitting he was wrong, he blames other people. It sort of reminds me of another Constitutional Lawyer who is now our President.

Then he started attacking his opponent over issues like earmarks, even though he has represented companies that receive federal funds. These attacks came after he threw a fit before the convention when Senator Bennett was attacking him. He is acting like the bully down the street that loves to dish it out, but can't take it when someone does it to him. I'm not sure who Mike Lee really is anymore. Is he truly a Constitutional expert or is he just another lawyer opportunist?

He wants a constitutional amendment for term limits, but he won't self-impose his own limits if he is elected.

He believes in state's rights under the 10th Amendment of the Constitution, but he represented EnergySolutions that wants the Federal Government to force Utah to take nuclear waste that we don't want.

This shirt needs to go to a home that believes in hypocrisy in their Senate candidates. They need to lack depth in their political discussions and then be uncompromising in their defense of Mike Lee, even with all the evidence I just presented.

I'm willing to trade for a Bridgewater or Granato XL T-shirt. Since they still have some integrity left in them.

Mike Lee's Social Security Plan "Total Horseshit"

Tribune:

Utah's Republican Senate candidates have outlined a vision for reforming Social Security that includes raising retirement ages, private accounts and, in Mike Lee's case, taking the retirement safety net away from the federal government and letting states run it.

"Somewhere down the road we need to ask: Is the federal government the right government to be administering this?" Lee asked. "You don't find a retirement system in [the Constitution]. That, with the 10th Amendment, says it's a program best administered by the states."

Lee's proposal would mark a historic shift in the 75-year-old program, which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in three cases in 1937 is a constitutional exercise of federal power.

Timothy Smeeding, a professor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison who studies Social Security, was blunt in his assessment of Lee's proposal: "That is total horseshit."

"What happens to people who move in and out of the state? It's just knee-jerk," he said. "[Social Security] is a federal program. It covers you no matter where you live and as long as you live."

With workers moving between states, a state-by-state patchwork is an idea that is impractical and should be discarded, Smeeding said.

I'm sure Mike Lee thinks that the Air Force should be state-run, too.....

Granato: GOP Candidates Want To Increase Taxes on 83% of Taxpayers

Tommy Burr, Out of Context:

Sam Granato, the Democratic nominee for Sen. Bob Bennett's seat, castigated Republican primary opponents Mike Lee and Tim Bridgewater for expressing support during a KSL debate for "so-called 'fair' or 'flat' tax plans" that, according to Granato, "economists say could result in substantial tax increases for 83 percent of American families."

"That doesn't sound fair to me at all," he said in a release Wednesday.

Granato said that non-partisan fact-checking organizations have said these plans aren’t very flat or fair, and will result in tax hikes for families earning less than $100,000 per year, while the wealthy receive sizeable tax cuts.

“Lee and Bridgewater need to stop pandering to extreme ideologues and start focusing on helping the Utah families who need it most,” Granato continued.

Republicans want to raise your taxes. Republicans want to raise your taxes. Sounds like who I want to vote for.....

Bob Bennett Blasts Tea Party

Bridgewater And Lee's Convention Speeches

I haven't had the chance to watch the whole thing (though I was in the room for Bridgewater's speech). However, more blog posts will be coming, especially on Bridgewater's comments about terrorists not getting Miranda rights showing his (and most Republican's) disregard for the Constitution, and how it will get a terrorist out of jail one day.

Stout and Granato on KVNU

I just listened to the archive of KVNU's For The People interviewing both Christopher Stout and Sam Granato last night.

If you have an extra hour, listen to it here. Stout is interviewed first, and Granato goes second.

It's "I have solutions" vs "I'm a small business owner."

I could make more editorial comment, but I'll let you have a listen and decide for yourself.

-Bob

Delegate Email From Sam Granato: Join Us at Convention, Saturday

May 5, 2010

Dear Bob:
Since kicking off my campaign in June 2009, I've talked with thousands of people throughout Utah and it's no surprise that the same issues keep coming up in conversation…

HEALTH CARE REFORM. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) signed into law by President Obama on March 23 was a start, but we still have a long way to go to bring coverage to every American, improve the quality of care, and control the rising costs of health care.

Cost-containment is the biggest issue left unresolved in the law. If we do nothing to address rising health care costs, within eight years health care will consume nearly 21% of our national economy.

As a Board Member of Intermountain Health Care (IHC), I've watched the health care reform debate unfold with a great deal of interest. IHC has been recognized as one of the best models in the nation for managing and delivering quality health care at a reasonable price. I am proud to be a part of an organization lauded by the experts as an effective example and am eager to bring my knowledge and experience to the debate in Washington.

CREATING NEW JOBS. We all know that government doesn't create jobs, small business does. Government can create the climate necessary for small business to thrive, but the recently enacted Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act does little to accomplish that goal.

The HIRE Act includes provisions that don't make a lot of sense to a small business owner like me. The law provides an employer tax credit for businesses that hire unemployed workers. Sounds great, but businesses don't make hiring decisions based on tax breaks. We hire new workers when our businesses are growing and we can sustain those workers at a living wage. Career politicians may think they are helping businesses in America, but this law doesn't really help business.

As a small business owner for more than twenty years, I know what it takes to create sustainable jobs. We need laws that actually support small business, not ones that just look good on paper. If more of our elected officials had jobs other than being politicians, we would have laws that actually help small business.

REGULATING WALL STREET. Greed and lack of oversight brought our economy to the brink of collapse and ushered in one of the worst recessions in our nation's history.

We need strong and reasonable regulation. Regulation needs to address Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, which were responsible for more than $2.7 trillion in bad mortgages. Regulation needs to separate commercial banking and investment activities like it was before Congress repealed the Glass-Steagall Act. We don't need regulation for the sake of regulation. We need reforms that will create a sound foundation for future economic growth.

As former Chairman of the Board of Beehive Credit Union, I understand the complexity of the financial industry and recognize the need for banks and other financial institutions to make a profit for their members or stockholders. Too often, however, bankers forget that the money they are handling belongs to the depositors, not the financial institutions. Laws should encourage banks to be good stewards of those funds and remind the CEO's that the financial institutions work for the people. Without the deposits of hard-working Americans, there would be no financial institutions.

These are important issues and I look forward to talking with you more about them at the State Convention.

Sincerely,


Sam Granato, Candidate
United States Senate

** Please bring this letter with you to the State Convention and visit us at our campaign booth for a special delegate surprise!

Delegate Email From Christopher Stout: Effective Government

Dear Friends,

Over the last several months, I have been speaking with you about the issues that concern me. I know there are far more issues that each of us are passionate about and while I've been on the campaign trail, I have been privileged to learn about and discuss your important issues in far more detail and depth.

One of the important issues I’ve addressed is the need for truly effective government. It can be briefly summed up in the following three points:

It is important to promote legislative transparency because senators and representatives have become complacent and distanced from constituents. We can change this by providing tools for voters to better express their concerns through social media and live webcasts.

We need to bring resolution to challenges through compromise and bipartisan collaboration.

We need to set congressional term limits to twelve years. Term limits will allow more citizens to serve and help bring fresh ideas to Congress.
I believe strongly in transparent, effective government. The Federal Government should be focused on serving the people, not the special interests that scour the Washington of today. Strong reforms promoting the public interest will therefore be a central pillar of my service. To read more about this specific issue and my stance on other important issues, please visit my website at http://stout2010.com.

Thank you,

Christopher Stout

Mike Lee Doesn't Want To Be Filmed

This has left me without words. From former US Senate candidate Pete Ashdown:

Seeing Mike Lee was going to do a “Meet & Greet” in Salt Lake City today, I went to see for myself what this Republican candidate for U.S. Senate was all about. I asked him several questions and got answers that I agreed and disagreed with. I would tell you more about our discussion of his endorsers, the 4th & 14th amendments, his desire for term limits but his repeated votes for Hatch and Bennett, and why our government is a “tyranny” in spite of the supremacy clause of the Constitution, but unfortunately his campaign wouldn’t allow me to record anything.

And, of course, Pete got a recording of them telling him why they don't want to be recorded. The fun begins at the 3 minute mark:



Now, anyone in that meeting can say that Mike Lee said in the meeting that he likes to eat babies. There's no proof that he did or didn't say that. Chances are, he didn't say anything about eating babies. But, that rumor gets started. And it becomes a he said/she said debate, with nobody having proof.

Now, if the person who started that rumor was allowed to film the event, then Mike Lee would have to say "I like to eat babies" for that rumor to spread. Mike Lee can say "It was edited. I said not to believe people who say that I like to eat babies." Now, if there was someone else recording the event who is a Mike Lee supporter (or staffer or intern), they can post the full video on Youtube as proof that the "I like to eat babies" quote was taken out of context.

And, there's a flip side. Let's say Joe Public, whether he is a Mike Lee fan or not, records the event. At the event, Mike tells an inspirational story about the founding fathers. Joe public has the video, uploads it to YouTube and sends it out to his friends and family (people who won't normally attend political functions), who get to see an inspiring story, and decide that they, too are Mike Lee supporters.

It's 2010. You can find good cameras and tripods for relatively cheap these days. Even setting up the camera in the back of the room and leaving it to record is easier than trying to police whether people are recording you for evil (or good) purposes.

As it stands, 156 have seen the video that Mike Lee doesn't want to be filmed. And they have probably started telling their friends on Twitter and Facebook. And I'm sure that not everyone who hears about it will watch the video. They will just know that Mike Lee doesn't want to be filmed.

ENDORSEMENT: Stout for Senate -- Substance over Style

I like Sam Granato. I was excited to see what he had to offer when he first started running.

However, other than his friendships with "Mr Mac" Christiansen and Frank Layden, delicious food, and the ability to identify that the Government is not doing things well, I don''t really see where he has brought anything to the race.

Yet, the more that I look at Christopher Stout, the more I like him.

Not only does he identify the problems we are facing, he provides solutions, more than most candidates at this stage of a campaign.

Stout has been labeled as the more Liberal of the two Democrats running for this seat, mostly because of the company he is keeping.

However, does this sound like a typical "Liberal" candidate?

Many people have asked me, “Why do you want to run for U.S. Senate?” The answer is as complex as the many problems our nation faces today. First, and foremost, I believe that a Democrat can represent the people of Utah in the U.S. Senate. Many Democrats within Utah feel that the state isn’t willing to accept Democrats in the state’s highest offices. I disagree. We need more Democrats to step up and prove that we have the ability to identify issues and work towards resolutions that benefit the people of Utah. We have viable solutions to issues, we share common values with our Republican friends, and we can make a difference.

Second, the nation was founded on compromise, maintained by compromise, and successful because of compromise. In the Senate today, I see very little compromise. I see a Senate that is playing politics and pampers the special interests rather than meeting the needs of the People. The health care debate over the past year provided an insight to me, that many politicians and special interests groups aren’t really trying to help bring solutions to our issues. We must determine problems, offer solutions, reach compromises, and then revisit the issue again next year to see how well our compromises worked and reach more compromises until we have the best possible government that we can have. I believe that this effort is missing from our Senate representation. It is missing because we keep electing career politicians, and not representatives of the people. We must approach our solutions that are in the best interests of the people, not special interests, and not politicians.

It sounds like someone who knows what it will take to be an effective Senator for Utah.

And that's why I am endorsing Christopher Stout for US Senate.

-Bob Aagard

Read More about the candidates::
Sam Granato
Christopher Stout

Delegate Email 2-for-1: Chris Stout and Sam Granato

Two emails, two candidates, same theme.

Chris Stout:

Dear Friends,
I’d like to offer my sincere thanks to those of you I’ve had the opportunity to either meet in person or talk with on the telephone over the last several months. As I continue expressing my views of good government and my desires to work for the people of Utah in the U.S. Senate, I want to ask you to do two things:
1. Compare the candidates. Take a long look at both web sites and compare our plans and our issues. I suggest starting at www.stout2010.com. For several months, as I've worked to reach out to every delegate in person, by phone and email, I've had a plan; a clear outlining of important issues and solutions.
2. Ask me questions. As detailed and as open as this campaign has been, I know that some of you still have questions about who I am and what I believe. The simplest solution to any problem is usually the best solution – so; call me and ask.

Between now and the state convention, my phone line is open and I am standing by to take your calls. Leave a message if you don’t get through and I’ll return the call as soon as I can.
Take the time to get to know me and the reasons I’m running for the U.S. Senate. I am always happy to share with you my thoughts and feelings on any given issue. I also promise to listen to your take and engage in sincere discussion and constructive dialogue about the topics that matter most to all Utahns.

Sincerely,

Christopher Stout
801-892-9700

Granato:

Dear Bob:

Congratulations on being elected as a delegate to the Utah Democratic State Convention! I'm running for United States Senate and am asking for your support.

I value your vote and your opinion. As a delegate, you are among the most active and engaged Democratic voters in Utah and I want to hear from you. Since kicking off my campaign in June 2009, I have visited dozens of communities and talked with thousands of people about the issues that concern them most. In Roosevelt, it's immigration and energy policy. On the Wasatch Front, it's air quality, jobs, and education. In St. George, it's growth, water resources, and wilderness designation.

Of course, everywhere I've been, people are angry that healthcare reform either went too far or did not go far enough. People are anxious about the economy and disgusted by the nasty rhetoric of Washington politicians.

In the days remaining before the State Convention, I hope we have a chance to talk about these issues as well as other concerns you may have. Please contact our campaign headquarters at (801) 486-2010.

As you know, the State Convention will be held Saturday, May 8th at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City. Registration begins at 9am and I hope we can talk more then, too. Let me know if you plan to attend so I can look for you and we can spend some time together. Either reply to this email, or answer our brief survey on the top left of this page.

Thank you for your time!

- Sam

Delegate Email From Christopher Stout: Thank You

Dear Friends,

Congratulations on being elected as a delegate! It is truly a dedication and sacrifice from people like you that make the democratic process work. I'm sure you can agree that it is important to be such a central part of the democratic process, one that I know personally to be both exciting and rewarding.

My name is Christopher Stout, and I am seeking the democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. For the next few weeks, hundreds of people will participate in their county conventions all across Utah – a massive amount of work and time all culminating in the state convention on May 8. I am asking for your support at convention.
This year’s election is critical to the future of our party, state, and country. We need a candidate that knows the issues, can communicate with the majority of the electorate and posses the drive, and has the acumen and skill to run a powerful campaign against an entrenched majority.

Take the time to visit my website, www.stout2010.com, to learn more about our campaign, our key issues, and how you can participate in the coming weeks and months. Feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions you may have. It's essential to our campaign’s success, and I would be honored to have your delegate vote, and would appreciate your help and support as we work to build a better future for Utah and a brighter, stronger future for our country.

Thank you,

Christopher Stout

Channel 4's Lazy reporting

Why pay to conduct your own poll when you can just use someone's insider poll?

From KTVX:

SALT LAKE (ABC 4 News) - Utah Senator Bob Bennett may no longer be the front-runner for his own party's nomination.

According to reliable Republican sources, Bennett now trails GOP challenger Mike Lee by a significant amount among GOP delegates.

According to our sources, Mike Lee's campaign has conducted two large surveys in the last month.

Each polled between a quarter and a third of the delegates to next month's Republican state convention.

Reportedly, Mike Lee is first with 37 percent of the delegate vote.

Bennett is said to be second at 22 percent.

Tim Bridgewater, according to information given to ABC 4, is third at 20.5%

And Cherilyn Eagar, we're told, is in 4th place at 13% of those polled.

Here's the problem I have with this:

How do we know this was an unbiased poll?

After all, if you're going to be leaking a poll (especially with that much detail), to Chris Vancour, why does it have to be accurate?

For all we know, The question was "If the convention was today, which of the following candidates would you vote for? Mike "Superhero" Lee, Bob "Old Fart Who Likes Big Banks" Bennett, Tim "Nobody" Bridgewater, or Crazy Cherilyn Eagar?"

-Bob

Another Democratic Challenger to Bennett

From an email:

January 21, 2010, Salt Lake City, Utah –Seeing a genuine need for a better quality of representation from Utah’s leaders in Washington D.C., Christopher Stout (D-UT) will announce his candidacy for U.S. Senator on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at The Bad Ass Coffee Company, 3530 South State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah at 1:00 pm.
“Senator Bennett is holding a seat in the U.S. Senate that belongs to the people, not to Republicans or Democrats,” Stout says. “Utah needs a strong, independent Senator, not another beltway lifer who caters to special interests and plays party politics with important issues. My voice in Washington will speak on behalf of the people of Utah and take the responsibility as this state’s elected representative seriously.”
Stout, a lifelong Utahn, will conduct a grassroots campaign that speaks directly to Utahns and their needs in Washington D.C. With a background in accounting and a profound love for Utah and its people, Stout believes it is time for Utahns to take back their representation from leaders who have over the past decades become too complacent and self-serving. Providing solid leadership in times of uncertainty and solving key issues such as reducing the national debt and freeing America from its energy dependence on foreign oil are a few things Stout believes are important to Utahns, and causes he will take up in Washington.