The Subterfuge of Bailout Bob Bennett

A subterfuge is more than a lie. Merriam-Webster defines it as "...the telling of a lie in order to...gain an end." We denounce our three-term-seeking-fourth Senator Bailout Bob Bennett Burns as using subterfuge to deceive voters into voting for him based on his promise to (1) limit his own term to twelve years and (2) fight for term limits.

The following are a sampling of articles from 18 long years ago when Bennett originally ran for office. (Note: These articles are not freely available on the web due to their age, however all can be easily examined with most Utah library cards using the Newsbank database. Please feel free to examine the articles in full if there arouses any question about the validity or context. Bold emphasis is ours.)

CAMPAIGN '92: SENATORIAL CANDIDATES ON THE ISSUES
Salt Lake Tribune, The (UT) - Thursday, October 29, 1992

Senator: If elected to the Senate, will you place a limit on the number of terms
you will seek? If so, how many?
Yes. Twelve years, two terms in the Senate and six in the House....I also support term limits...

ROLLY & WELLS ...
Salt Lake Tribune, The (UT) - Monday, April 27, 1992

BRENT WARD, in a recent joint appearance by Republican U.S. Senate candidates, promised: "I am not going to stay in the Congress for more than 12 years. Period.''
"If you're going to only serve two terms,'' said candidate Bob
Bennett, 'why don't you let me serve two terms first. You're a
young guy.''

4 UTAH SENATE CANDIDATES TRY TO STAND APART
Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT) - Monday, July 20, 1992
Author: Bob Bernick Jr., Political Editor

Bennett said he's "seen the light'' on term limitation. He'll only stay two terms, 12 years, and supports term limitation by law.

The following excerpt demonstrates that term limits was a forefront issue back in 1992 highlighted by retiring Senator Garn who had his own self-imposed term limit problems:

Garn to Depart Senate After 18-Year Tenure
Salt Lake Tribune, The (UT) - Thursday, May 30, 1991
Author: Dan Harrie, SLTribune

"When I first ran for the Senate, I intended to only be here two terms. I have stayed one term longer than I originally intended to," said Mr. Garn, who has repeatedly co-sponsored legislation to limit senators to two consecutive terms. "If you preach over and over again that there ought to be term limitations, even though I rationalized a third term, I think you ought to practice what you preach."

Senator Bennett: we agree with former Sen. Garn. We believe you ought to practice what you preach. You preached to us and promised to us 18 years ago when we were just a mere BYU student that you would serve 2 terms--12 years. You lied. You used subterfuge to get elected and thought we were so stupid we would forget about your promise. As a devout Mormon, themostsearched's religion preaches to us about the importance of keeping covenants, oaths, and promises; yet through your senatorial perpetuity you have blasphemed these very values we hold dear.

We raise a title of liberty against you, your hypocrisy, and your subterfuge. We will not vote for you again, period. No convention vote, no primary vote, no general election vote. In this you have disgraced yourself, your party, and ill-represent your religious standards. We bear this witness against you.

Now you have the audacity to come to our hometown to campaign at the Provo Marriott at 730pm tomorrow for another 6 years which would put your total at 24. We don't know if we'll be there or not, but if we're not could you answer this one question:

Why do you persist on making a mockery of your own promise to limit yourself to two terms?