Michelle Malkin » Shamnesty Republican Chris Cannon defeated in Utah primary

Shamnesty Republican Chris Cannon defeated in Utah primary

By Michelle Malkin • June 25, 2008 02:11 AM

Every time an immigration enforcement proponent loses a seat in Congress, the open-borders Wall Street Journal and their ilk use it to argue that Republicans need to support shamnesty to maintain political viability. The WSJ falsely framed the 2006 midterm election losses of GOP Reps. John Hostettler, Randy Graf, and J.D. Hayworth as electoral rejection of strict enforcement of immigration laws–conveniently ignoring the fact their opponents campaigned to their right on the issue.

Well, what will the WSJ and company say about what happened today to one of their favorite shamnesty/DREAM Act shills, GOP Rep. Chris Cannon? The six-term incumbent went down in flames in the Utah primary, defeated by Republican Jason Chaffetz–an underfunded political newcomer who made opposition to illegal immigration, rejection of amnesty, and support for tough deportation policies a top campaign issue. Cannon outspent Chaffetz 7-to-1 and had the entire GOP establishment from the White House on down backing him.

Cannon’s open-borders supporters can spin it all they want. They’ll shamelessly accuse the same voters who stuck with Cannon for six terms of incurable bigotry. But the simple fact is that voters finally got fed up with Cannon’s constant water-carrying for La Raza and MALDEF (watch him proudly boast, “We love immigrants in Utah. And we don’t oftentimes make the distinction between legal and illegal. In fact I think Utah was the first state in the country to legislate the ability to get a drivers license based on the matricula consular and of that I am proud.”) They got sick of the lies and arrogance (for my personal experience with the bloviatingly crude, rude, and clueless Cannon, see here.) They got sick of Washington business as usual.

Now, this is real hope and change from a real maverick–a Republican running unashamedly and unequivocally as a conservative:

He favors deporting illegal immigrants, abolishing the Education Department and cutting a slew of federal programs unless they can prove they’re working.

Via the Salt Lake Tribune:

Jason Chaffetz’s promise to change Washington, starting with Rep. Chris Cannon, resonated with Republican voters, who appear to have ousted the six-term incumbent in a Republican primary tonight.

“You rock, and you rocked the Republican Party,” Chaffetz told supporters gathered in Springville, shortly after polls closed. “We’ve done this all with volunteers, with no free meals and no polling. We’ve done it the right way. You can never convince me that one person can’t make a difference.”

… Chaffetz fell 10 votes shy of eliminating Cannon at the Utah Republican Convention, forcing him to a primary. Cannon out-raised Chaffetz by nearly 7-to-1, had the endorsements of President Bush and Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennet, and spent tens of thousands of dollars on polling.

Message to pro-immigration enforcement, anti-amnesty, pro-secure borders forces: Yes, we can!

***

Just in from the NRCC:

T-03 (R, Cannon)

In a Republican stronghold, Jason Chaffetz defeated incumbent Rep. Chris Cannon in Utah’s 3rd District. After a strong showing at the Republican Convention in May, Chaffetz ran a grassroots campaign that centered on changing the way Washington does business—a theme that will be equally pertinent during the general election in the fall. Jason Chaffetz proved he is a tough campaigner with an effective message. There is no doubt that he will be the next representative for Utah’s 3rd District.

Jason Chaffetz attended Brigham Young University, where he was the place-kicker for the BYU football team and earned his degree in Communications. Chaffetz later served as campaign manager and Chief of Staff for Governor Jon Huntsman.

History: The 3rd District was carried by President Bush in 2004 with 77% of the vote and in 2000 with 75% of the vote.

Geography: The 3rd Congressional District is located in the central and western parts of Utah. The district includes all or part of the following counties: Beaver, Juab, Millard, Salt Lake, San Pete, Sevier and Utah Counties.

Statewide Roundup
The following are the unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary election in Utah.
These results are UNOFFICIAL and INCOMPLETE until certified by the Utah Secretary of State:

DISTRICT/NAME RAW VOTE %__
*Indicates Incumbent

District 3:

Chris Cannon 12,269 39.84%
Jason Chaffetz 18,526 60.16% (DECLARED WINNER)

78.58% of Precincts Reporting

*The Salt Lake Tribune has declared a winner in UT-03

And more from The Hill.

Posted in: Amnesty, GOP

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#101

On June 25th, 2008 at 3:38 pm, Die Hippie, Die said:

On June 25th, 2008 at 11:06 am, Weary Citizen said:

Just curious, but what are you implying?

I’m not implying anything. I’m stating in a straightforward manner that I’m more concerned about al-Qaeda’s efforts to reprise 9/11–maybe this time with a dirty nuke–than I am about Pedro down at the Home Depot.

In time we can get Pedro home to his own side of the border. But I don’t know how we could un-detonate a nuke.
#102

On June 25th, 2008 at 3:41 pm, flenser said:

I’m stating in a straightforward manner that I’m more concerned about al-Qaeda’s efforts to reprise 9/11–maybe this time with a dirty nuke–than I am about Pedro down at the Home Depot.

Then your priorities are misplaced. Pedro down at Home Depot is much more of a clear and present danger to us than is a hypothetical 9/11.

We can rebuld buildings. We can’t rebuild the country.
#103

On June 25th, 2008 at 3:52 pm, Bren said:

Pedro at Home Depot AND potential terrorists are both threats to US citizens and our country!!

US citizens and our country will NOT be secure until we know who is here and why they are here.

If they have not entered our country through the legal process—-they need to be arrested and deported, NOT rewarded and accommodated.

Our borders need to be secured and closed NOW—with armed military/Border Patrol guarding every mile.

Those attempting to come in illegally, get three warning shots to stop. If they keep coming, they get stopped by shooting them in the leg.
#104

On June 25th, 2008 at 4:01 pm, CO2 Producer said:

Good Luck, Rep. Chaffetz. I’ll be looking forward to hearing news about you.

Chaffetz is going to have a rough road ahead of him. He’ll be the black sheep — or one of the few, at least — in a Congress filled with Democrats and incumbent RINOs.

I’d like to think that this is a trend, but Utah is one of the most conservative states in the union, if not the most conservative. At least the majority of the voters there did not blindly vote for the candidate whose name they recognized the most. This could start a trend of ousting incumbents and finally getting some fresh blood into Congress, but that means blue states probably will vote for younger, more, er, progressive representatives in the future. The best we can hope for is that voters in general will see that we need to protect our country and its identity as a melting pot, not as an extension of Mexico (regardless of the disclaimer, I’ll still get labeled as a racist).

Thanks for the info, Michelle. I hope this is a sign of things to come.

Regarding the issues of immigration and terrorism which we’re beginning to argue about amongst ourselves, look here (witness the monster you’ve created, Allahpundit). This gives us an idea which of the two issues is apparently taking higher precedence in America, not that this is news to anyone. McCain only gets one of them right. Sort of. Whether we consider it fortunate (i.e., to Pres. Bush’s credit) or unfortunate (i.e., to the Mad Libs’ benefit), terrorism just isn’t on people’s minds anymore.
#105

On June 25th, 2008 at 4:35 pm, CO2 Producer said:

I suppose I should add to my last comment that illegal immigration and terrorism both fall under the heading of national security. But if I were to pick one in order of importance, I’ll put it this way — what good is any way of life if we have no life to live?

So I guess terrorism is a more pressing issue to me. Not by much, though. It’s hard for me to make one issue more important than the other when both are important.

Addendum: after thinking about that phrase I just wrote about life, it got me to thinking about life in general, including the daily immediate threats we face from our own citizens. Food for thought.
#106

On June 25th, 2008 at 5:11 pm, cactusjoe said:

Ummmm. I have never cared much for Cannom, but I know a little bit about Chaffetz. He is not talented, unless one calls being a weasel a talent. I am sorry to say, but he is destined to become another beltway elitist. Not a bright bulb, just a sleazy flim-flam man.
#107

On June 25th, 2008 at 6:08 pm, Die Hippie, Die said:

On June 25th, 2008 at 3:41 pm, flenser said:

I’m stating in a straightforward manner that I’m more concerned about al-Qaeda’s efforts to reprise 9/11–maybe this time with a dirty nuke–than I am about Pedro down at the Home Depot.

Then your priorities are misplaced.

Thanks for letting me know my priorities are misplaced–even though they’re my priorities and I’ve thought about them. With an attitude like yours, you have got to be someone’s first wife.

Pedro down at Home Depot is much more of a clear and present danger to us than is a hypothetical 9/11.

We can rebuld buildings. We can’t rebuild the country.

The last sentence doesn’t even make sense. But I’ll allow for that if you can explain how we re-animate the dead after a nuke.
#108

On June 25th, 2008 at 7:30 pm, starlightwoman said:

As Utah goes, so goes the nation. This is an example that the rest of the country should follow.
#109

On June 25th, 2008 at 8:09 pm, Jet Jaguar said:

Bunch of sombrero’d Muhammads come across the border w/suitcase nukes to every major U.S. city… then all detonated simultaneously. That’s my “worst-case scenario” (get it? suitcase/worst-case - hahaha)
#110

On June 25th, 2008 at 8:17 pm, Genja24 said:

On June 25th, 2008 at 7:30 pm, starlightwoman said:
As Utah goes, so goes the nation.

Then why can’t I vote for Mitt?
#111

On June 26th, 2008 at 6:51 am, mdt said:

Tancredo is behind this victory. See his take here-
teamamericapac.org and support them with your dollars.
#112

On June 26th, 2008 at 10:07 am, Weary Citizen said:

On June 25th, 2008 at 2:29 pm, rambler said:

I hear you, but beleive you are incorrect, The vast majority of illegals are hispanic. We have hundreds of thousands of hispanics cross the border illegally each year. There are certainly many visa overstays, but not near that many. Most every poll or census info I have seen all say the vast majority are hispanic. Logical, given the proximity to the US and no need to obtain a visa first.

Now, your point is valid and one resaon I am not all hot over a physical fence. Its expensive to build, maintain, and control forever. As long as we allow anchor babies and visa’s, the problem will remain, though to a lesser extent. The answer to the problem is to dry up the magnets that draw and keep them here. Stop all welfare and birthright citizneship. Make it law that an illegal can NEVER be given citizenship. Punish employers heavily. A graduated punishment system for entering illegaly (1st time seizure of assets, 2nd time barred from US forever, 3rd time mandatory jail). No education for their children, no health care except in emergency cases then the home country is billed, etc. Do this and there is no incentive to come and stay illegaly. Plus those here will go home when it is no longer to their advantage to stay. Then we have to be maniacal at enforcing the laws and prove we will no longer tolerate this invasion and breaking of immigration laws (ie prove we are serious). This is the cheapest and best long term solution. In 10 years, we will have a pittance of the current illegal population and will see new illegals entering all but halt.
#113

On June 30th, 2008 at 12:47 pm, Vntnrse said:

I left this gentleman a congratulatory email as soon as I read this news a few days ago. I told him that Duncan Hunter’s constituents were glad he’d won and we looked forward to working with him!
#114

On July 1st, 2008 at 10:21 pm, Joy said:

YYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSS!
#115

On July 11th, 2008 at 2:46 pm, Rob said:

I’ve learned not to get my hopes up…
#116

On July 11th, 2008 at 5:07 pm, diaphanous said:

flenser, this is not about pedro down at home depot. If people don’t realize that we need to get a true firm grip on who comes across our borders and sucks up our economy dollars, then they really have no idea what makes the world go round. The pedros that sneak in aren’t choir boys and girls like you wish to believe. People who say this I would like to shove you in front of the poor families who have lost loved ones to these pedros that have commmitted crimes. It didn’t bother them illegally crossing the border so committing other crimes isn’t going to bother them either.

Wake up and smell the coffee.
#117

On July 11th, 2008 at 5:08 pm, diaphanous said:

Oh, and good on you Utah for standing up against this. If more voters did this the message just may get across sooner.
#118

On July 15th, 2008 at 4:13 am, Danceswithdachshunds said:

Oh how I hope that Mr. Bloviation himself, Orrin Hatch, is the next to go.
#119

On July 15th, 2008 at 4:44 am, Danceswithdachshunds said:

How can I be expected to have respect for people outside of our country who disrespect our laws and sneak in? Their very presence is tearing the most important fabric of American Culture - Honesty.