Utah is the reddest of red states. The lack of consistency in the red state morality is often brought forward, of course, blue states have their own flaws.
The students at Brigham Young are overwhelming republican. They are primarily Mormon, and they are disgusted with Cheney as a person and a christian.
In the two weeks since the university announced that Mr. Cheney would be the speaker at the commencement on April 26, hundreds of students have attended respectful and quiet campus demonstrations about his presence, and some 3,600 students and alumni had signed petitions by Tuesday afternoon seeking a "more appropriate" replacement speaker.
Here is the NY Times with excellent photos:
http://www.nytimes.com/...
There is a serious divide. More republicans are identifying themselves as independants.
Sitting on the sidewalk outside BYU's Joseph F. Smith Building and holding a sign reading, "Cheney is killing our troops," BYU student Mark Jessop said that the decision to invite the Vice President "Quells the notion that BYU has dialogue balance." Jessop said he disagrees with Cheney's policies but is glad he is coming because it gives him a chance to voice his opinions about those policies.
"My big thing is that he's towards torture," said protester Anne Zobell. "That's unacceptable." A senior at BYU who will be graduating later this month, Zobell said she might not attend commencement ceremonies because her father objects to Cheney's visit. If she does go, she said, she will leave before Cheney speaks.
Here is the story from which this comes:
http://www.netxnews.net/...
The students object to torture and his being a potty mouth.
But my favorite title is
"Cheney: So Scummy That Even the Mormons Hate Him!"
http://scienceblogs.com/...
The local paper armires the BYU administration for being open to protest.
http://media.www.dailyutahchronicle....
which is kind of damning with faint praise.
Even in Utah Cheney establishes anything but admiration.