Hatch seems to be aiding wrong party

The Deseret News ^ | 3/10/2004 | Lee Davidson

[Utah Girl]

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch is in the odd position of drawing praise from his foes — and flak from his friends — over how he handled the "memogate" scandal of two of his aides raiding Democrats' computer files.

So was Hatch a man who showed integrity as he waded through scandal, as Democrats say? Or was he duped by Democrats into overlooking their more serious sins as he flogged his own people instead, as upset conservative groups contend?

Signs are that both may be right.

It all began last fall when 14 Democratic files were leaked to the press. The memos showed such misdeeds as liberal groups working with Democrats to block appeals court nominee Miguel Estrada specifically because he is Hispanic, and they did not want Republicans to win political points with Hispanics.

Others showed, for example, that liberal groups asked Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., to block two 6th Circuit nominees until after that appeals court heard a key affirmative action case. They did not want new judges upsetting a perceived favorable balance.

Democrats never denied such behavior. Instead, they howled that the only way such memos could have been leaked was for them to have been stolen.

At the time, Hatch told the Deseret Morning News, "That's typical. Whenever they get their hands caught in the cookie jar, then they start to attack the process."

Most politicians would have ignored the Democratic cries of theft — and focused on their sins. After all, memos are leaked in Washington every day without probes resulting.

But Hatch's committee was already deeply split in partisan rancor over ongoing, first-in-history Democratic filibusters blocking many appeals court nominees of President Bush. So Hatch tried to be a nice guy. In a gesture to try to bring folks together, he launched a mini-investigation of his own into theft allegations.

He soon announced he was "shocked and mortified" to find that a GOP clerk, Jason Lundell, admitted accessing Democratic files — but not leaking them.

So Hatch asked Senate Sergeant at Arms William Pickle to conduct a thorough investigation. That took three months, and the final report was issued last week. Meanwhile, Democrats howled and blocked all nominees before Hatch's committee, they said to prod along the probe and ensure its completion and fairness.

As the probe proceeded, Lundell quit and went to graduate school. Another former aide, Manuel Miranda, was pressured into quitting.

The report finally said publicly that those two aides for 18 months regularly accessed and copied Democratic files — and also even Hatch's own files. Lundell stumbled into finding that if he clicked "My Network Places" he could access most files on the committee computer system shared by Democrats and Republicans.

They took at least 4,600 files. Miranda has contended that broke no laws and said it was akin to Democrats leaving files on his desk.

Hatch denounced such actions, saying, "Regardless of whether any criminal law was broken, the improper activity was wrong and unjustifiable."

Hatch is right about that. And he showed integrity with a fair probe. But he was also likely snookered by Democrats, who have offered nothing in return for his good will.

In fact, they are not only calling for criminal charges against the aides, but want to widen probes into finding what data from their memos may have gone to the White House or Justice Department. Democrats did help vote 12 non-controversial nominees out of committee last week, but they should have passed easily long ago. Democrats continue to filibuster all controversial nominees.

If they had followed Hatch's example, they would have at least denounced unethical behavior revealed in the memos. But when Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., was asked about that, he replied flippantly, "What you want us to do is debate stolen property, is that it?" Hatch helped Leahy by adding, "I don't think we have had a right to read those memoranda."

So with Hatch's leadership, Democrats appear to be receiving a pass on their own misdeeds; prosecuting GOP aides appears imminent; probes may widen to the White House; and controversial judicial nominees continue to be blocked.

No wonder Democrats pat Hatch on the back, while conservatives fume.

[Utah Girl]

I've called Hatch's office twice about the memos. Their attitude is that the Senate aides did a horrible wrong and they are appalled. The text of the Dems memos aren't even in the picture because they are private. I am appalled.

[Pukin Dog]

Save your breath. Hatch is being blackmailed and is actively working for the other side now.

[oceanview]

i was thinking the exact same thing. the stuff in his FBI file must be a doosey!

[Cicero]

The clintons have had his FBI files for some time, and he has always knuckled under in the clinch.

His motives are obviously corruption and fear, not "niceness." It's not the first time.

[Pukin Dog]

If you are looking for him, you might find him sometime under his DEMOCRAT chief of staff's skirt.

[MamaLucci]

Hatch denounced such actions, saying, "Regardless of whether any criminal law was broken, the improper activity was wrong and unjustifiable."

Ted Kennedy's "good friend" never fails to fail.
With friends like this, the GOP sure doesn't need any democrats enemies.

[oceanview]

our side should "out" him, get him out of there, Utah will elect another republican to replace him.

[dinok]

The republican senate is neither conservative or controlled by the republicans. Its controlled by the few moderates like McCain and Snow who side with the democrats more often than not.

The notion that my contributions to the party may help Manchurian John get reelected makes me sick. As for Olympia Snow, she is another Greek I am ashamed off. First Oriana Huffington now Olympia Snow. There is just so much I can take.

[nmh]

Hatch often gets it wrong.

[Theodore R.]

I too am beginning to believe that Orrin G. Hatch is being blackmailed by his "opposition." I hope to goodness that UT Republicans find a primary challenger to this total failure in 2006. Yet, I expect him to coast to renomination, and probably reelection too. People in UT are like those in LA -- they don't think they can live without Hatch (as with Breaux in LA, yet LA must begin to learn to live without Breaux).

[raloxk]

That guy is such a disgrace.

Wont someone run against him in the primary. if I lived in UT i would.

[Theodore R.]

Somebody once said: "Don't count your Orrin until he hatches."

[Pukin Dog]

Hatch has too many friends and donors in Utah. He will have that seat until he dies, unless his skeletons come out of the closet. Mormons don't take kindly to the kinds of things that I've heard. Hatch needs to be confronted directly, but in case you haven't noticed, he ALL OF A SUDDEN does not appear on the talk shows anymore.

[blam]

Hatch is a dupe.

[ontos-on]

Utah Girl:

When does Hatch's current term end? I would love to see a primary opponent defeat him. I am a lawyer and it is a catastrophe what this imbecile has done over the last several decades on the Judiciary Committee. Please tell me we can get rid of him---as well as Specter--who faces a primary in PA at the end of April. Don't Utahans see him for what he is.

[B4Ranch]

ping

[Theodore R.]

I have about quit watching talk shows -- Republicans promise so much and rarely deliver. And I had forgotten that Hatch does not appear on such shows much any more. Why have the invitations stopped, do you suppose?

[GeronL]

Why does a conservative state like Utah send this man to the Senate??

[sport]

During the impeachment hearings when the hillary cattle futures, White Water and the other "things" concerning the clintons were being thrashed out, Senator Orrin Hatch made his famous comment, quote,"We can't indict a sitting First Lady."

I suppose that there is something in Scottish Law that prevented it, but he was wrong on at least two counts.
1. hillary is, was, and never by the wildest stretch of the imagineation, been a lady.
2. There was never a first with hillary, she was a skank from the womd.

[cynicom]

Booby Hatch???