Lucky 7

Largely in agreement, GOPers attempt to differentiate themselves in debate.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012 | 1:17 p.m.

"In agreement over virtually all issues," the 7 GOP candidates "sought to set themselves apart" on from each other "by emphasizing their different backgrounds" at a debate on April 9.

Ex-state House Speaker David Clark (R) "repeatedly told the crowd packed into the North Salt Lake City Council chambers that he had more to offer than talk." Clark: "A lot of rhetoric you will hear tonight at this podium, but I come with practical solutions."

"Clark said he's proposing the 'First Notch of the Belt Act,' which would require every federal agency to immediately cut its budget" by 10%. Clark said that "a similar effort he made" in the UT Legislature saved taxpayers $400M a year.

Businessman Jeramy McElhaney (R) "emphasized his experience dealing with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, as he vowed to return federal lands to Utah."

Ret. USAF officer Chuck Williams (R): "We need to dig, drill, deregulate and develop our public lands and energy resources."

"Flatter, simpler taxes; plans to cut the deficit; opposition to the health care reform law -- all played well with both the candidates and the crowd.

Ex-USAF pilot/author Chris Stewart (R): "I will walk with Paul Ryan on his plan. It will save our nation if we have the courage to implement it."

"The candidates had similar proposals to control federal spending on Social Security." Ex-NFL playerJason Buck (R) "said current recipients must be guaranteed their benefits, but that there should be a 'phase-out' for younger earners." WebsTarget marketing VP Cherilyn Eager (R) "said she supports the Save Social Security Act," which would "let workers 50 years old and younger opt into a privatized retirement system and get up to three times the return on their investment."

Businessman Howard Wallack (R) "said that his 25-years running a family trucking business gave him the most experience as a job creator" (Brubaker, Deseret News, 4/9).

Clark "said he should be sent to Congress because of three primary worries" among UT GOPers. Clark: "Debt, deficit and distrust. They should not be the only surpluses coming out of Washington, D.C."

Eager "said talk of cuts wasn't enough." She said Dodd-Frank and Obamacare "were keeping businesses from adding jobs and harming the economy." Eager "also touched on the culture wars." Eager: "This is not a war on women. This is a war on religious liberty. It's a war on our families."

Buck "called publicly for an audit of the Federal Reserve." He also "tended to deliver punishing lines as he lifted the microphone from the podium and gripped it tightly." Buck: "We should be able to put our tax code on a postcard."

Stewart, who "plugged his adherence" to Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-WI) budget plan, "said it would be very difficult to balance the budget without serious Social Security reform" (Montero, Salt Lake Tribune, 4/9).