Hatch Bristles Over Daschle Talk Radio Attack

NewsMax ^ | 11/20/02 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, fired back Wednesday afternoon at soon-to-be ex-Senate Majority 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 explained, "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 senior senator told Hannity.

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 NewYork-based radio host. "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 threat's, 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 the assassination of George 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.

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

[MHGinTN]

Don't forget one of the leftcoast actors who called for people to go into Kenneth Starr's house and drag his family out into the street and ... the leftist bilge is floating now!

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

The Leftist routine is to manufacture guilt, allow the media to feast, subject general population to lies, and once proven wrong, the taste still lingers on.

[GOPJ]

Won't forget, won't ever forget any of the democrat hate:

Don't forget one of the leftcoast actors who called for people to go into Kenneth Starr's house and drag his family out into the street and ... the leftist bilge is floating now!

[F16Fighter]

"He [Hatch] was THE SINGLE BIGGEST DEFENDER of Thomas, and of Bork, both in and out of the hearings.."

Although, Hatch may have been a "big" defender of both Thomas and Bork, should we expect otherwise in a SC nominee venue where it's Democrats vs. GOP? And BTW, it was Senator John Danforth who was Thomas' "biggest" supporter.

" You unappeaseables will always criticize a Republican before a Democrat. I don't know what the hell is wrong with you people. "

Unappeasables"?? LOL -- why thank you Sinky. I will admit to rejecting the philosophy and "fight" of the political adherents of one Neville Chamberlain -- You see, fighting by Queensberry Rules does not work with either the Nazis or the RATS which arguably is one and the same at this point.

I would submit that it people like you which encourage "moderate" GOPers (or even RINOS) to continue to play a little too much patty-cake with the Teddy-the-drunken-Senator-from-Mass wing of the RAT party.

[GOPJ]

You understand democrats.

The Leftist routine is to manufacture guilt, allow the media to feast, subject general population to lies, and once proven wrong, the taste still lingers on.

[mumbo]

Hatch also really stood up for Thurmond's nominee (Judge Shedd) before the election when Leahy and Harry reid reneged on their promise to Thurmond to let his (Shedd's) nomination go to the floor.

I may not always think Hatch is as tough as I want him to be, but right now, all Republicans and conservatives need to be on their best behavior, not acting like Randy Moss and Allen Iverson when they make a nice play.

[ampat]

How about it; one....more.....time....: the dems accuse the Republicans of the things the dems actually do.

[patriot_wes]

"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."

ya then they figure us out and go and vote "wwwwaaaaahhhh - I just can't stand it when that happens"

[CaliforniaOkie]

I must say, if I were to have a hero, Orin Hatch would be in the top 5. He is a champion of conservative values, protection of family rights in the public schools, and he is directly responsible, through his "Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, Section 439 of the GEPA" (a/k/a "The Hatch Amendment") for saving my daughter, and countless children, from being subjected to child abuse in the classroom. He is a good man and I thank God, for these past 12 years, that he is a Senator of the U.S.A.!

I'm with you. What do they (the complainers) expect him to do, punch Leahe out on the senate floor? He is always the first to speak up and votes the right way.

[Stand Watch Listen]

"I am NOT a weiner dog!"

Oooohhh...come on...we've seen you in other venues.... ;-)

[nicmarlo]

What do they (the complainers) expect him to do, punch Leahe out on the senate floor? He is always the first to speak up and votes the right way.

I don't know; you can only do so much as a senator, especially when you have to "work with" someone like Leahy. Hatch is always a gentleman, slow to anger, but when he's angry, and it's always worthy of his anger, IMO. He doesn't pretend, except when necessary as far as being civil with Leahy (which I personal think he has no respect for Leahy, how could he?). He speaks out, ALWAYS. He as conviction about what's right and what's wrong, that's why he always votes RIGHT. He is truly a man worthy of respect.

[GOPJ]

bump