Too stupid to breathe: Chris Buttars

Is it just me, or does Chris Buttars bear an ironic resemblance to the notoriously self-loathing (and gay) longtime FBI director J. Edgar Hoover? Just saying ...

Sure, I delight in making fun of certain backwards, anachronistic attitudes in certain places in Florida (*cough* Santa Rosa County *cough*), but then I'm reminded that it always could be worse. For example, I could live in Utah, where state Sen. D. Chris Buttars gives a whole new meaning to "batshit crazy."

Buttars, (far right) a Republican (like you had to ask) legislator from West Jordan, near Salt Lake City, has developed quite a reputation for bigotry and hate during his eight years in the Utah Senate. Last year he referred to a school funding bill as a "black [baby] ... a dark, ugly thing," but he's directed his truly offensive statements towards the GLBT community.

Over time, he's called same-sex relationships "abominations" and has compared gay activists to Muslim radicals. But the man who once called the gay rights movement "probably the greatest threat to America" outdid himself recently when he spoke to Reed Cowan, a documentary filmmaker now based in Miami:

Buttars told Cowan the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community doesn't want "equality, they want superiority."

"It's the beginning of the end," the West Jordan Republican said. "Oh, it's worse than that. Sure. Sodom and Gomorrah was localized. This is worldwide."

On Wednesday, gay-rights activist Jacob Whipple, founder of the All For One Initiative, called for Buttars' resignation from the Senate, urging supporters of the LGBT community to e-mail Buttars and Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville.

"He basically labeled my community as virtually the devil incarnate," Whipple said. "I don't think that he represents Utah any more. … Saying something so hurtful has no place on the Hill."

Rep. Christine Johnson, a Salt Lake City Democrat and a lesbian, also labeled Buttars' statements "hurtful," adding that she expects Senate leadership to address the remarks "in a responsible and timely manner."

Sadly -- but predictably -- Rep. Johnson's pleas will go unheeded. Buttars' pals in the Senate are rallying to his defense. After all, he's only saying what Republicans are thinking anyway.

But Waddoups defended Buttars, saying the anti-gay comments did not violate any Senate rules. He suggested that Cowan, a former [Salt Lake City] reporter, has a "vendetta" against Buttars.

"It's just unfortunate in my mind that someone wants to continue to [hurt] someone by virtue of a person's position on the issues," Waddoups said.

Cowan, who is openly gay, countered Waddoups' accusation.

"That is a cowardly attempt to direct attention away from what was actually said," the filmmaker and Miami TV anchor said. "I believe the world that is now hearing the words of Senator Buttars will judge it the way they will."

Elsewhere in the Rocky Mountains, another well-known (and plausibly gay) Butters could not be reached for comment.

Perhaps Sen. Buttars (you'll note I haven't made fun of his richly ironic name even once!) needs to hear from more people. Conveniently, his contact information is available right there on the Utah Senate website. I'll just copy it over here for convenience ...

9241 South Lisa Ave.
West Jordan, Utah 84088
Home (801) 561-0535
Fax (801) 561-3242
Email dcbuttars@utahsenate.org

Not sure what to send him, but I'm skeptical that bags of shit will make it through the mail. We could always email him the Donnie Davies video ... but he'd probably enjoy it too much. At any rate, every time he opens his mouth, Sen. Buttars shows the world that he really is too stupid to breathe.

(h/t reader MWG)