LaVarr Webb and UtahPolicy.com have a “deplorable” moment
Ronald Mortensen, Ph.D.
Co-Founder, CitizensForTaxFairness.org
12-30-19
LaVarr Webb, the publisher of UtahPolicy.com, had a “deplorable”
moment when he accused a broad
cross-section of Utahns of joining the “fringe groups” that are attempting
to repeal the Herbert administration’s and Utah legislature’s tax reform
package. If those collecting signatures succeed, Webb can only thank himself
for motivating the “fringes” to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.
Just to be clear, according to the Merriam-Webster
dictionary, a fringe group is a “group with marginal or extremist views.”
According to RationalWiki, “On
the right, the fringe consists of fundamentalists, fascists,
anarcho-capitalists, white supremacists, and other loons. On the left, it
consists of revolutionary socialists and communists, especially in a Maoist or
Stalinist form.”
If that wasn’t insult enough, Webb doubled down by accusing
“Utah’s gubernatorial candidates of pandering to the baser instincts
of voters.” So, according to Webb, those who want to vote on tax reform are following “a subconscious urge, behavior,
or intuition directed by primeval, animalistic, self-serving, and/or ignoble
motivations.”
But Webb doesn’t stop there. He
then attacks Republican gubernatorial candidates when he says that it is “easy for
them to demagogue the tax package.” He must know that a demagogue is defined as “a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false
claims and promises in order to gain power.” And he even accuses them of
lacking courage because they choose to stand with the people rather with those who
make up the “Utah Swamp.”
Webb then shows his contempt for
Utahns who have come together from all across the political spectrum to collect
signatures and to oppose the Utah Swamp when he writes, “I would expect liberal
Democrats and far-right people to oppose the tax package and support repeal.
They are outside the mainstream of Utah politics and love to complain about
nearly everything.”
He concludes by once again labeling
those supporting the referendum as “fringes” when he writes “But I am
disappointed that gubernatorial candidates who no doubt consider themselves
mainstream Republicans are supporting the fringes.”
The day after Webb posted his “fringe”
piece, a UtahPolicy.com poll
was released. It found that “More than 2/3 of Utahns say they oppose the
primary elements of the tax reform package passed by Utah lawmakers in a
special session earlier this month.” Does this mean that more than two-thirds
of Utahns are “fringes?”
For someone who prides himself on
being an expert in political messaging and on public policy, Mr. Webb has really
stepped into it big-time. Just as Secretary Clinton’s unfortunate use of the
term deplorable galvanized then candidate Trump’s supporters, Webb’s labeling
good, honest Utahns of all political stripes as “the fringes” will only bring
them closer together.
After all those supporting the
referendum already stood side-by-side during a press conference in a multi-partisan
show of unity. They coordinate together on the Utah 2019 Tax Referendum
Facebook group. They are working together
on signature gathering. People signing the referendum packets come from across
the political spectrum including large numbers of Webb’s so called “mainstream”
Republicans.
Webb’s article may well ensure
that those supporting the referendum are even more motivated to fight Utah’s
sneaky tax reform that benefits the Utah
oligarchs and privileged big businesses.
And it will further encourage primary election challenges to Republican
incumbents by the “fringes”—Republican Senators Fillmore and Ipson already have
challengers. In addition, Democrats will benefit substantially by standing with
the people on this issue.
As Craig Bowden wrote in response
to Webb’s article: “Yesterday, I was holding the first event in Senator
Hillyard's district at the Logan Library. We had a line out the door. You know
who showed up? Democrats, Republicans,
Libertarians, Greens, independents including every county party chair, vice
chair, and precinct captains. We had teachers, welders, mechanics, a professor,
millionaires, people in poverty, newly married couples, students, politicians,
former county commissioners, etc. All walks of life. We are not stupid and
don't assume we are.”
Another comment read: “And who are you calling Fringe? The
signers of my petition packet come from all walks of life and from multiple
political parties. We the people are POd.” This same sentiment was expressed by
a comment reading “LaVar
(sic), I think you, and the legislature, have kicked the hornets (sic) nest.”
If those collecting signatures succeed, Webb can only thank
himself for motivating them to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds by
labeling them as “fringes” and accusing them of acting on “primeval,
animalistic, self-serving, and/or ignoble motivations.”
And if his beloved “mainstream” Republicans and fellow
oligarchs who support them suffer losses at the polls and in their political
power, he will have to take some responsibility for that as well.
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