[Orrin] Hatch Bristles Over Daschle's Talk Radio Attack

NewsMax.com ^

[jmstein7]

Hatch Bristles Over Daschle's Talk Radio Attack

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, fired back this afternoon at former Senate plurality leader Tom Daschle after the top Democrat tried to blame conservative talk radio, and Rush Limbaugh in particular, for provoking a dramatic increase in "threats to those of us in public life."

"Isn't it amazing how radio was attacked today by our distinguished majority leader," Hatch complained to nationally syndicated radio host Sean Hannity just hours after Daschle's outburst.

Hatch pulled no punches in voicing his admiration for both Limbaugh and the medium in general.

"If it wasn't for radio," the Utah conservative told Hannity, "the people of this country would never hear what the real facts are. ... I thank my Father in Heaven every day for people like you, Rush Limbaugh and others."

The Utah Republican credited talk radio with the big GOP wins in this year's election.

"The ones that are listened to across the country are the conservative commentators," Hatch told the New York talker. "I think that's why we won this election. You guys have had a great deal to do with that."

Earlier in the day, a bitter-sounding Daschle had complained, "What happens when Rush Limbaugh attacks those of us in public life is that people aren't satisfied just to listen. They want to act because they get emotionally invested. And so, you know, the threats to those of us in public life go up dramatically, on our families and on us, in a way that's very disconcerting."

But when asked directly whether he blamed Limbaugh for the threats, the senior Democrat said, "Well, I'm not going to - I don't want to single anybody out. I'm troubled by it."

He then complained:

"It's that same shrill rhetoric. It's that same shrill power. Somebody says something and then it becomes a little more shrill the next time, and more shrill the next time and pretty soon they foment this and it becomes physical in addition to just verbal.

"Certainly in terms of threats, I think that there's no question," Daschle continued, "in my time in public life it has gone up exponentially."

Reporters failed to challenge the angry Democrat about examples where Republicans have been targeted by mainstream media, such an incident two years ago when CBS's "Late Late Show" appeared to suggest it might be a good idea to assassinate President Bush.

On Aug. 9, 2000 the CBS television network acknowledged that it broadcast an "inappropriate and regrettable" joke about a sniper attack on Bush.

Days earlier the program, hosted by Craig Kilborn, had superimposed the phrase "Snipers Wanted" over the image of the then-presidential nominee during his acceptance speech at the GOP convention in Philadelphia.

The Secret Service launched an investigation but took no action against the network or anyone associated with the Kilborn show.

CBS's "60 Minutes" reported Sunday that President Bush gets more than 200 threats a week, about 50 of which are taken seriously by the Secret Service.

Daschle did not reveal how many threats he receives weekly - or if he has reported any of them to law enforcement.

[Mr. Mulliner]

I'm glad to see Hatch is good for something. Daschle needs a bunch of people on the right side of the aisle to stand up to his idiotic and scandalous remarks.

[clintonh8r]

Oooooooooh...don't wanna piss off Orrin. He's such an animal when he's riled up! Why, he might lose control and criticize a RAT or something...

[per loin]

Daschle's remarks have not been fully reported. He also complained about the RAID commercials.

[wimpycat]

I've seen Hatch get pissed off a number of times. He's a pistol when he's riled, that's for sure.

[jackbill]

"Isn't it amazing how radio was attacked today by our distinguished majority leader," Hatch complained to nationally syndicated radio host Sean Hannity just hours after Daschle's outburst.

Get with the program, Orrin. Dasshole is not "our distinguished majority leader", he is the "soon to be Senate Minority Leader". You're not thinking straight. You are now in the majority, he is in the minority.

Learn to love it.

[JZoback]

Orrin may not be an animal, but he's one of the few congressman in the GOP that is willing to stand up and criticize as compared to the the "spineless one" Lott

I'm seem him get pretty pissed.

[Vidalia]

Why is it that Hatch rarely, if ever, got so vociferous until after the Republicans maintained the majority in the Congress with a Republican President?

All the time Leahy, Schumer and the other Liberal Socialists were crucifying Bush's court nominees, all that Hatch did was whisper his whining to Leahy during the hearings.

Why did he not speak out then as he is doing now?

His and Trent Lott's offices must be supplied by the same water company...

[Sungirl]

It's all Rush's Fault...

[syriacus]

Well, we know Daschle would never make it as a radio host. He can barely string 3 words together. When he is able to accomplish that feat, he still doesn't make sense.

It's hard for him to make sense when his thinking is flawed.

In 2001, he was trying to say that people who believe in the missile defense program just aren't very smart and that a smart man like him was 'mystified' by all the attention given to such a silly program.

His attempt backfired on him. BIG TIME!!!

His EXACT words: (Transcribed from a videotape I made.)

---

Whether or not we want to violate the ABM treaty
especially with a concept that we may not know

...or...

that we do know, now, does not work
is something that also mystifies me.

I mean...
Every aspect of the debate and the consideration
that is given this whole program
is... is troubling to me.

I... I mean... I...
there's a disconnect there.

I mean...
It just seems common sense....

I mean...
there's no brain..

This isn't rocket science here...

Yes it IS rocket science....

That's the problem..

Hadn't thought about that..

As I just think out loud ....
as I meander through here.
(laugh laugh laugh laugh laugh)
That's the problem.

[Fintan]

Daschle did not reveal how many threats he receives weekly...

Convenient.

[Paladin2]

D'as'''le admits that "... I'm troubled ..." again.

Will this guy please seek professional help soon.

[Tax Government]

Daschle is a "distinguished majority leader" all right -- distinguished for being the loosing-est, sorriest, sad-sack ever to lead a national party down a rat hole to oblivion.

[SouthernFreebird]

Daschle did not reveal how many threats he receives weekly... Or how many are signed Love, Hillary

[Col Abrahall]

Hopefully Hatch will maintain this attitude when he takes over the Senate Judiciary Committee, but I fear he will backslide into his old "bipartisan" self. One can hope I suppose.

[Texas Eagle]

And don't forget Alec Baldwin's hysterical plea to the David Letterman audience to join him in stoning Henry Hyde and the Hyde family to death.

[Texas Eagle]

And don't forget Alec Baldwin's hysterical plea to the David Letterman audience to join him in stoning Henry Hyde and the Hyde family to death.

[ApesForEvolution]

Hey, Dasshole:


BOO!

[Common Tator]

Why did he not speak out then as he is doing now?

If he had done so before the election he would have motivated the Democrats just as much as Daschle and McAuliffes attacks motivated us.

If he and Lott had really devoted himself to gettting the Democrats just as G*D D*mned mad has he could get them the Democrats would have had the needed turn out. If Lott had got off his lazy a$$ today Senator Daschle,Senator Carnahan, Senator Mondale, and Senator Bowles would not be the least bit angry at all with their 53 to 47 democratic victory.

And Governor McBride would be so greatful that that the Republicans had been so helpful to motivate the Democrats and get get them to the polls to win Florida.

WHY CAN'T THE DAMNED REPUBICANS GET THE DEMOCRATS MAD ENOUGH TO VOTE LIKE THE DEMOCRATS GET THE REPUBLICANS TO DO!!!

That is what really pi$$es Dashle off.