Reactions to Cannon appointment

Saturday, December 9, 2006

(Deseret Morning News)

"He may not be a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, but I would say he's a Pulitzer Prize-winning reader. I've been amazed. We've been on the board the whole 11 years together, and it's amazing what he comes up with. ... He is a student, he studies and he retains a lot of stuff. I think this whole overall experience base will serve very well not just for the content of the paper but its future." — Ellis Ivory, Deseret Morning News board chairman

"I think Joe was one who always wanted to be in a position where he could buy ink by the barrel and paper by the ton." — Clark Caras, former Geneva media/community relations manager

"I think it's good for Joe and good for the paper. He's one of the brightest, hard-working people. ... He has a good sense of what's right and what's wrong." — Jeff Hartley, Utah Republican Party executive director

"We're frankly shocked. You can't find a more partisan appointment for the slot. It's mind-blowing. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, but we're worried. There's a definite conflict-of-interest problem." — Jeff Bell, Utah Democratic Party communications director

"In Washington, there are true ideologues. With Joe, I always felt like I was dealing with a professor. ... I think you're going to get a deeply intellectual person who calls them like he sees them." — Tom O'Donnell, former Clinton administration official and law partner in Cannon's Washington, D.C., firm

"At Geneva, I learned a lot from Joe in dealing with the media, what it's all about and how it fits into the larger perspective of government policy and the world. He's a very media savvy person." — former Geneva Steel executive vice president Dick Clayton

"Obviously, he's moving into a position where political and partisan considerations need to be set aside. I'm sure he's aware of that. ... I think the paper's been fair all along, and I expect that to continue." — Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah

"Joe is a man of skill and integrity — qualities that are always needed in the news business. I have no doubt he will be a fair and effective editor and will carry on his family's tradition of impacting the paper and our community for good." — Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah

"The Deseret News is an institution whose proud history is deeply intertwined with Utah and the worldwide growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The entire Cannon family has a deep respect for that history, and I am truly happy for Joe as he takes on this new challenge." — Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, and Joe Cannon's brother

"The Cannons have printer's ink in their blood, and I congratulate Joe and wish him well. I look forward to communicating with him in this new relationship." — Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah

"I have tremendous respect for Joe Cannon. He's proven himself in both politics and business and has been honest and straightforward the whole time." — Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah