This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Ripped from the headlines of The Salt Lake Tribune July 21 and 22, "Utah Republicans long for the good ol' Romney days" and "Utahans may not like Trump, but they'll vote for him."
How pathetic and unfortunately true. Utahns would long for the good ol' days of Daffy Duck if Daffy Duck were a Mormon Republican. And would Utahns not just vote for Donald Trump but also "like" him if he was indeed a Mormon? Even though the Donald is, without doubt, one of the most unqualified and ridiculous candidates to run for president of the United States, he still continues to attract a following of unthinking supporters.
In the case of Utah, Republican and Mormon influence seem to have a most unusual stranglehold. Example: If the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as "Obamacare," was created in its exact form by Republicans, would there be open resistance and efforts to repeal Obamacare? I don't think so. Isn't it about time for the brainwashed and threatened Utah Mormon Republicans to pull their heads out of the proverbial "follow the sheep" sand pile and start thinking for themselves?
You can, if you have the courage, unaffiliate from the Republican Party (thank you, Paul Mero), and vote your own feelings and beliefs. If at the end of the day, the Donald is your candidate, so be it. At least you gave free thinking a chance and voted accordingly.
Martin Burnett
Salt Lake City