The Utah Democratic Party has denounced the Utah Republican Party for issuing a press release that matches much of a prior Democratic statement word for word. The political dispute followed Governor Gary Herbert's announcement that he intended to vote for Donald Trump in the November election.
Governor's Voting Decision
The controversy began during a monthly press conference on KUED, when Governor Gary Herbert was asked which presidential candidate he planned to vote for in November. Herbert stated his intention to vote for Donald Trump, citing the candidate's stance on states' rights and the ability to select future Supreme Court nominees.
Democratic Denunciation
Following the governor's confirmation, Utah Democratic Party Chair Peter Corroon issued a statement the same day. Corroon described Herbert's support of Trump as "Unbelievable. Shameful. Appalling."
In his statement, Corroon asserted that Governor Herbert has once again demonstrated that he prioritizes politics and his own party over the best interests of Utahns. Corroon criticized the governor for supporting a man who has disrespected various groups, including calling for a ban on Muslim migration. Corroon further characterized Trump as a man who would be a disaster for the Utah economy, potentially costing the state up to 95,000 jobs, and noted that the candidate has joked about gun violence against his opponent. Corroon concluded that Trump is unfit and unqualified for the presidency.
Republican Response
A few hours after Corroon's statement, Utah GOP Chair James Evans released a response that mirrored the language used by the Democrats. Evans' statement, which he claimed was "inspired by Peter Corroon (sic)," utilized nearly identical phrasing to address the Democratic candidate for Governor, Mike Wienholtz.
In the Republican response, Evans suggested that Wienholtz's planned vote for Hillary Clinton also showed a prioritization of politics and party over the interests of Utahns. The GOP statement claimed Wienholtz supports a woman who has disrespected and lied to various groups, including the American people, the U.S. Congress, and the families of slain servicemen. The statement also referenced Wienholtz's support for a candidate who has accepted money from countries that deny women basic human rights and labeled the candidate unfit and unqualified for the presidency.
Plagiarism Accusations
Yandary Zavala, the Utah Democratic Party's communications director, criticized the Republican response, labeling it a "Melania move." This phrasing was a reference to accusations made against Melania Trump regarding the alleged plagiarism of a portion of her speech at the Republican National Convention.
Zavala stated it was shocking that Chairman Evans would resort to plagiarizing the statement of Democratic Party Chair Peter Corroon to make light of the seriousness of the 2016 presidential election. Zavala suggested that while the move may have been intended to poke fun, the "Melania move" by Evans highlights how out of touch the Utah GOP and its chairman are with the political climate in Utah and the interests of Utah families.
Social Media Confrontation
The Utah Democratic Party expressed its frustration with the Republican Party's tactics on social media. The party posted the two press releases side-by-side to highlight the similarities in the wording used by both organizations.
Election Tension
The exchange between the two parties underscores the intense political tensions surrounding the 2016 general election in Utah. The incident involved high-ranking officials from both the Democratic and Republican parties, focusing on the fitness of presidential candidates and the motivations of state leaders.
