This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
OREM - The Utah County Republican Party on Saturday killed a controversial resolution asserting Satan's role in illegal immigration and supporting the closure of U.S. borders.
The move was due not necessarily to lack of support, but because the convention lacked a full quorum. Seventy percent of the attending 471 delegates, or 334, had to be present in order for a vote to take place.
By the time the resolution came up for debate, many of the delegates had gone home.
The group held a 10-minute debate on the issue, which district Chairman Don Larsen, author of the resolution, described as a behind-the-scenes war being waged on America by big businesses and left-wing extremists.
"They're trying to destroy Christian America and install godless order," Larsen said. "We need to close our national borders and protect the United States from destruction by self-invasion."
Delegate Joe Ferguson agreed, saying undocumented immigrants will never assimilate into American culture.
"The devil is involved," Ferguson said. "Marxism is the devil and freedom is in Christ."
But the discussion revealed several dissenting conservative voices.
"We should make it easier for good, decent people to come work here," delegate Debbi Edmonds said. "We do need to fix our borders so criminals can't sneak across."
Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, said he usually agrees with Larsen, but that some of the language in the resolution was divisive.
"This will just give fodder to the liberal media to beat up on the Republican Party," he said.
The Utah County Republicans also approved a leadership slate Saturday, with many familiar names retaining office. Marian Monnahan remains as chairwoman, garnering 69 percent of the vote, and Susan Bramble kept the job of secretary. They will be joined by Vice Chairman Mark Cluff and Treasurer Phill Peay, who both ran uncontested.
Twenty members were voted to the state's central committee. Larsen did not make the cut, and acknowledged after results were announced that his resolution "very possibly" played a part in his defeat.