Below are the pieces by Clinton and Johnson, followed by some recent reporting in the Deseret News on Donald Trump.
Exclusive: Hillary Clinton: What I have
in common with Utah leaders
By Hillary Clinton For the Deseret News
Published: Wednesday, Aug. 10 2016 9:40 a.m. MDT
 |
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a rally at the Coliseum in St. Petersburg, Florida, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (Andrew Harnik, Associated Press)
Editor's
note: The Deseret News has asked the major presidential candidates to share
their views with our readers. Last week, we published an op-ed from Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson. Today, we're pleased to
share an exclusive op-ed from Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
I’m
running for president to make sure our country continues to live up to our
founding principles. Those timeless ideas teach us that we’re stronger together
when we work in unison to solve our problems, no matter what we look like,
where we come from or how we pray.
That
last one is important. As Americans, we hold fast to the belief that everyone
has the right to worship however he or she sees fit.
I’ve
been fighting to defend religious freedom for years. As secretary of state, I
made it a cornerstone of our foreign policy to protect the rights of religious
minorities around the world — from Coptic Christians in Egypt to Buddhists in
Tibet. And along with Jon Huntsman, our then-ambassador in Beijing, I stood in
solidarity with Chinese Christians facing persecution from their government.
We
stood up for these oppressed communities because Americans know that democracy
ceases to exist when a leader or ruling faction can impose a particular faith
on everyone else.
That
was true all the way back in 1786, when Thomas Jefferson wrote that “all men
shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters
of religion.” One year later, that idea was enshrined in our Constitution
forever. It’s one of the sacred ideals that defines us as a country. And it’s
something that Donald Trump doesn’t seem to grasp.
Every
day, Trump continues to prove he lacks the morals to be our commander-in-chief.
In just the last couple of weeks, he’s attacked the parents of an American
soldier who gave his life for this country. He’s all but proposed abandoning
our NATO allies, and we recently learned he even mused about the possible
first-use of nuclear weapons.
With a
new, outrageous headline seeming to pop up every day, it’s easy to forget that
Trump showed us his true colors early on, when he proposed banning all Muslims
from our shores.
Trump’s
Muslim ban would undo centuries of American tradition and values. To this day,
I wonder if he even understands the implications of his proposal. This policy
would literally undo what made America great in the first place.
But you
don’t have to take it from me. Listen to Mitt Romney, who said Trump “fired before
aiming” when he decided a blanket religious ban was a solution to the threat of
terrorism.
Listen
to former Sen. Larry Pressler, who said Trump’s plan reminded him of when
Missouri Gov. Lilburn Boggs singled out Mormons in his infamous extermination
order of 1838.
Or
listen to your governor, who saw Trump’s statement as a reminder of President
Rutherford B. Hayes’ attempt to limit Mormon immigration to America in 1879.
Instead
of giving into demagoguery, Gov. Gary Herbert is setting a compassionate
example and welcoming Syrian refugees fleeing religious persecution and
terrorism. Once they’ve gone through a rigorous screening process, he is
opening your state’s doors to some of the most vulnerable people in the world.
Americans
don’t have to agree on everything. We never have. But when it comes to
religion, we strive to be accepting of everyone around us. That’s because we
need each other. And we know that it so often takes a village — or a ward —
working together to build the change we hope to see.
And
let’s be honest, there’s a lot we still need to accomplish. We need to elect a
president with the experience to keep us safe. We need to create an economy
that works for everyone, not just those at the top.
That
means passing comprehensive immigration reform to bring families out of the
shadows and keep kids and parents together; ensuring equal pay for women;
finally joining every other advanced country in the world in guaranteeing paid
family leave; and providing early childhood education, so every child can reach
his or her God-given potential.
This
November, what’s at stake is nothing less than the kind of nation we want to
be.
It’s up
to us whether we’ll retreat behind Trump’s notion that there’s only one right
way to be an American, or whether we’ll recognize the fundamental wisdom of our
Constitution that teaches we all need each other for this country to flourish.
As
Sister Rosemary M. Wixom once said, “As individuals we are strong. Together,
with God, we are unstoppable.”
Sister
Wixom is right, and she’s not alone. Generations of LDS leaders, from Joseph
Smith and Brigham Young to Gordon Hinckley and Thomas Monson, have noted the
infinite blessings we have received from the Constitution of the United States.
The
next president will swear an oath to preserve, protect and defend that document
for successive generations. And if you give me the honor to serve as your
president, I will fight every day to carry out that sacred responsibility.
Hillary
Clinton is the Democratic Nominee for President of the United States.
[NOTE: For Deseret News coverage of reactions to Clinton's piece, see http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659889/Hillary-Clinton-invokes-Mormon-history-leaders-and-issues-to-court-Utah-vote.html ]
__________________________________________
EXCLUSIVE: Gary Johnson: Clarifying my
views on religious freedom, Mormons
A call
for balance between religious freedom and non-discrimination
By Gary Johnson For the Deseret News
Published: Tuesday, Aug. 2 2016 2:45 p.m. MDT
FILE - In this May 18, 2016 file photo, Libertarian presidential candidate, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson speak with legislators at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. (Rick Bowmer, Associated Press)
A few
days ago, trying to maneuver through a “scrum” of reporters in Philadelphia, I
was asked about my views regarding religious freedom and non-discrimination
laws.
Given
the divisiveness and pain that have accompanied several state religious freedom
laws, I approach attempts at legislating religious exceptions to
anti-discrimination laws with great sensitivity and care.
Religious
beliefs have played a vital role in forming America’s character, as well as my
own. I was raised as a Lutheran, and I believe in God and consider my faith and
involvement with organized religion to be an important part of who I am.
Yet
there have also been times in our history when religion has been invoked to
justify serious harm. In years past, opponents of interracial marriage,
desegregation and other efforts to protect civil rights too often cited
scripture and religion in making their arguments.
To be
blunt, certain politicians have twisted religious liberty and used it as a tool
to discriminate.
Thus,
in response to a question thrown at me while walking down a street (in the
rain), I expressed my reservations rather emphatically — and cited the
experience of Mormons as a case-in-point where religious persecution resulted
in violent episodes right here in America.
My
point was that even a respected, peaceful people experienced tragic harm in the
name of religion and was, in fact, persecuted by the government itself by
politicians who opposed their beliefs and practices.
And on
a personal level, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to mind
because I had been in Utah the day before, as my campaign is actually based in
Salt Lake City. I am well aware of the painful history of government
interference with Mormons and the practice of their faith.
In part
because of this unique history, I believe Utah has found an appropriate balance
in a religious freedom law that serves as an example to the rest of the country
that non-discrimination and religious freedom are not opposing forces, but can
instead go hand in hand.
I want
to be clear. I believe we can, and must, strike a balance between our shared
American values of religious liberty and freedom from discrimination. My
concerns lie with the possible consequences of politically-driven legislation
which claims to promote religious liberty but instead rolls back the legal
protections held by LGBT Americans.
This
does not in any way diminish my respect for and commitment to the legitimate
protection of the right to believe, to practice and to express deeply-held
religious beliefs.
When it
comes to civil rights and the LGBT community, states are best served when they
take an inclusive approach of "fairness to all." Interestingly and
commendably, Utah did just that last year with the passage of the so-called
Utah Compromise.
At a
time when several states, including Indiana under Governor Mike Pence’s
leadership, took a divisive approach by introducing religious freedom bills
that were clearly aimed at LGBT individuals, Utah took a different path. The
goal was fairness for all: Fairness for people of faith seeking to live their
religion, and fairness to the rights of gays and lesbians.
This
approach was actually led by many leaders of the LDS Church. Having crossed the
plains of the United States seeking the freedom to worship as they chose,
Mormons have a keen appreciation of how minority groups can suffer under
majority rule.
Rather
than seek to pass a law with a thinly-veiled intent to discriminate against
gays — or to permit everyday businesses to discriminate against gays — this
"Utah Compromise" provides an example of how we can strike the
balance between religious freedom and civil rights.
The
Utah compromise barred discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and
transgendered individuals in employment and housing. In addition, the Utah law
requires the office of every county clerk to be available to solemnize same-sex
unions. At the same time, the law provides reasonable protections for the
freedoms of speech and association of bona fide religious organizations — and
made the religious and LGBT protections inseverable.
It is a
Utah solution that appropriately reflects the state’s diverse and strongly held
freedoms — and was supported by the LDS Church and the state’s leading LGBT
groups.
In a
March 2015 article in Time magazine, Jonathan Rauch, senior fellow at the Brookings
Institution, contrasted this approach with the discord in Indiana:
"There’s
a better path. We saw it taken in Utah just a few weeks ago. The state passed
new religious-conscience accommodations, but they were tied to new gay-rights
protections. Both sides walked away feeling more free to live according to the
lights of their consciences. Both got a win and supported the outcome.”
America
is big enough to accommodate differences of opinion and practice on religious
and social beliefs. As a nation and as a society, we must reject
discrimination, forcefully and without asterisks.
Most
importantly, as president I will zealously defend the Constitution of the
United States and all of its amendments.
Gov.
Gary Johnson is the Libertarian Party's presidential nominee. His running mate
is former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld. Learn more at johnsonweld.com.
__________________________________________
(1) http://www.deseretnews.com/article/print/865659975/Does-Donald-Trump-have-a-Utah-problem-Yes--and-he-says-that-its-tremendous.html
Does Donald Trump have a Utah problem?
Yes — and he says that it's 'tremendous'
By Herb Scribner , Deseret News
Published: Thursday, Aug. 11 2016 3:25 p.m. MDT
Donald
Trump has a Utah problem, according to Donald Trump.
A day
after his political rival, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, wrote an opinion piece for the Deseret News (and almost a week
after a third-party candidate did the same), Trump revealed his thoughts about
how he’s faring in Utah to a room of evangelical pastors in Orlando, Florida, at the
American Renewal Project.
He at
least admitted he’s having a problem in the Beehive State. Give him that.
"I'm having a tremendous problem in
Utah. But Utah's a different place."
Guess that's his Deseret News op-ed, in short
Guess that's his Deseret News op-ed, in short
"Utah is... a different place... Is
anyone here from Utah? I didn't think so." Trump, disparaging state where
he's RAPIDLY losing support.
More
than just those soundbites, Trump also placed blame for his Utah struggles on a
false narrative.
Speaking in Florida, Trump blames
"false narrative" for closeness of the race in Utah, calls it "a
different place."
Twitter
immediately mentioned the flaws with Trump’s remarks and how that really could
hurt him in Utah this November.
Trump admits he has a Utah problem. But he
didn't make a pitch to Mormons. He borderline chastised them and blamed false
narrative.
Oh My, did he really tweet this? The man is
unbelievable/https://twitter.com/Dowens8490/status/763780234411933700 …
@Charmed86
"'Utah is... a different place...Is anyone here from Utah? I didn't think so.'Trump, disparaging state where he's RAPIDLY losing"
"'Utah is... a different place...Is anyone here from Utah? I didn't think so.'Trump, disparaging state where he's RAPIDLY losing"
I think Trump needs to really devote
himself to Utah. Get a backpack and a jeep and ride around Canyonlands for a
month or two.
Donald Trump asks for help with Utah in a
room of evangelicals. Doesn't even get why that's a problem.
https://twitter.com/jbendery/status/763816038890962945 …
https://twitter.com/jbendery/status/763816038890962945 …
We’ll
see if there’s more to come from this.
Trump
currently leads in Utah polls 34 to 27 percent. And Utah Gov. Gary Herbert
announced today he planned to vote for Trump in the election, saying he's the right man to govern the country.
Trump
has also previously been skeptical of the faith, at one point even calling it an
“alien” religion, according to The New York Times.
With
BYU grad Evan McMullin announcing his independent candidacy and Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson’s recent surge, this surely increases
Utah’s potential to play a role in this election.
Herb
Scribner is a writer for Deseret Digital Media.
[NOTE: The article ("The Gospel according to Trump") describing Trump's religious views and what he thinks of various religions, including Mormonism, is found here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/18/opinion/campaign-stops/the-gospel-according-to-trump.html ]
*******
(2) http://www.deseretnews.com/article/print/865660102/Trumps-tremendous-problem-in-Utah-a-focus-of-presidential-race.html
Trump's 'tremendous problem in Utah' a
focus of presidential race
By Lisa Riley Roche , Deseret News
Published: Friday, Aug. 12 2016 7:40 p.m. MDT
SALT
LAKE CITY — Suddenly, it seems no one is talking about this year's race for the
White House without bringing up Republican nominee Donald Trump's troubles in
Utah, a state that hasn't voted for a Democrat for president for more than a
half-century.
Even
Trump himself acknowledged he has "a tremendous problem in Utah"
during a campaign speech to a group of evangelical pastors in Florida on
Thursday, telling them, "Utah is a different place."
Then
Friday, the billionaire businessman confirmed he is working on an op-ed for the
Deseret News that will run in the newspaper Aug. 21, calling Utah "an
important state" for the campaign.
"We
are a symbol. If he's struggling here, that indicates larger challenges,"
said Chris Karpowitz, co-director of BYU's Center for the Study of Elections
and Democracy. "Right now, Utah is still up for grabs."
Karpowitz,
who said Trump's difficulties with Utah voters could still be resolved before
the November election, was shocked by the candidate's admission he's not doing
well in the state.
"It's
unheard of," the political science professor said. "If the Republican
candidate is playing defense in Utah and has to expend resources in Utah, then
that's not a good sign for the health of his campaign."
Trump's
focus on such a reliably Republican state suggests the race for the White House
may be all but over, said Matthew Wilson, a political science professor at
Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
"The
fact that Trump is spending any time courting Utah voters is just a testament
to what a meltdown his campaign is in. Any Republican who has to expend effort
to lock down Utah is headed for a pretty solid defeat," Wilson said.
But Don
Peay of Utahns for Trump chalked up speculation about the state going to the
Democratic nominee for president, Hillary Clinton, "to the dog days of
summer. Everybody wants a story."
Peay
said Utah "could be a state possibly in play," although he believes
Trump will win. He said the campaign is already putting a staff in place in
Utah.
Plus,
even if Trump's "New York attitude and mannerisms doesn't play so well"
in Utah, Peay said, "at the end of the day, after all the political
theater, it's going to come down to the issues the country faces, which are
significant."
Clinton
is taking advantage of the situation. The former secretary of state made
multiple references to Mormonism, Utah's predominant faith, in an op-ed for the
Deseret News posted online Wednesday.
She
quoted Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, who oversaw The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints' Primary program, and referred to LDS leaders "from
Joseph Smith and Brigham Young to Gordon Hinckley and Thomas Monson."
Clinton
also cited a comparison of Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the United
States to "when Missouri Gov. Lilburn Boggs singled out Mormons in his
infamous extermination order of 1838."
Her
pitch to Utah voters noted Americans don't always agree, but "when it
comes to religion, we strive to be accepting of everyone around us,” because
"it so often takes a village — or a ward — working together to build the
change we hope to see.”
The
op-ed, which followed one written for the newspaper by Libertarian presidential
candidate Gary Johnson about religious liberty and Mormons, attracted national
attention.
Jason
Perry, head of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics, said
that may have forced Trump to talk about Utah.
"The
reason why Donald Trump indicated he had a problem in the state of Utah was
really because the story is out there that a historically red state is not
rising in support," Perry said.
It's a
story that's not going away anytime soon, Perry said, especially since there
are other alternatives on the Utah ballot.
"Our
voters can't be taken for granted anymore," he said.
A new
UtahPolicy.com poll released Monday showed Trump was leading Clinton in Utah,
37 percent to 25 percent, but support for Johnson had jumped to 16 percent.
Not
included in the poll was BYU graduate and former CIA counterterrorism officer
Evan McMullin, who stepped down Monday as chief policy director of the House
Republican Conference to run with the help of Stop Trump supporters.
Stuart
Reid, who served as a GOP state senator from Ogden after switching his
political affiliation from Democrat to Republican years earlier, said he's
voting for McMullin.
"I
met him the other night and thanked him for giving me a choice I can live with,
because I could not in good conscience vote for either Trump or Clinton,"
said Reid, now an economic development consultant.
He said
there's little Trump can do to win over Utahns like himself.
"It's
more than just his foolishness. He's unwilling to learn and he's unwilling to
discipline himself. In this world of ours, that just makes him dangerous,"
Reid said. "Whatever he does in a positive fashion, give him 24 hours, and
he'll undercut it."
University
of New Hampshire political science professor Dante Scala said many Utahns
likely already have made their minds up about Trump in a state that may be the
"epicenter of the resistance" to the controversial candidate.
Not
only did Trump come in third in Utah's GOP presidential preference caucus in
March, the state's adopted favorite son, 2012 Republican presidential nominee
Mitt Romney, has been one of his harshest critics.
"The
more he appears as if he's going to lose anyway, I think the more freedom Utah
Republicans might feel like they have," Scala said. "They might say,
'You know what? I'm going to vote my conscience on this one.'"
Email: lisa@deseretnews.com
Twitter: DNewsPolitics
[For other reactions, see http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-sounds-alarm-citing-tremendous-problem-deep/story?id=41309801. Trumps full speech to evangelical leaders can be found at https://www.c-span.org/video/?413877-1/donald-trump-addresses-evangelical-leaders-orlando-florida. He asks them to support him as a candidate for president and says he wants to promote their freedom to retain their tax-exempt status as religious organizations while officially endorsing political candidates.]
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