Last month, Utah state Sen. Chris Buttars (R) was kicked out of the state senate judiciary committee after he called homosexuality a “perversion” and “the greatest threat to America going down.” Appearing this weekend on the radio show “Inside Utah Politics,” Republican state Sens. Howard Stephenson and Dennis Stowell defended Buttars, complaining that “his words were taken out of context” and that “the gay community is using him a little bit to get more publicity“:
– Stephenson: I have to tell you publicly that most of what Sen. Buttars said – I agree with…I think that his words are largely taken out of context, but I’m disappointed that he chose to speak when he had agreed not to be the spokesman. And you know, any one of us can misspeak from time to time.
– Stowell: I think the bulk of people in Utah agree with 90 percent of what he said…I’m afraid the gay community’s using him a little bit to get more publicity.
When an angry listener called in and slammed senate president Michael Waddoups (R) — who previously defended Buttars — for being “pro-homosexuality” and “pro-gay rights,” Stephenson assured the caller that “Sen. Waddoups is not either of those.” (HT: Pam’s House Blend)
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