Hatch’s disrespect for compromise is shameful

John Dombek, Santa Clara, Utah

Thursday, March 3, 2011 | 2:02 a.m.

Sen. Orrin Hatch’s closed-minded interview on PBS’ “NewsHour” Monday saddened me. His stubborn resolve to do nothing to help the American people regarding the health care law was clearly perceptible. He vehemently rejected President Barack Obama’s invitation, made Monday to all governors opposed to the law, to come and discuss a bipartisan plan of their own making.

The ugly disrespect for government officials — that became apparent in last summer’s steaming Tea Party blathering that blocked his fellow Utah senator, Bob Bennett, from being renominated by Republicans — was mirrored by more than one of Hatch’s responses on “NewsHour.”

He was asked if the president’s new health care proposal was simply a way to let states come up with their own plans. Hatch, chuckling as he replied, said: “As long as they continue to do all that Obamacare requires them to do.” He continued by saying that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius “doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

Can you believe that? A U.S. senator chuckling over a serious bipartisan attempt to establish health care for all Americans and calling into question the honor and intelligence of the health and human services secretary?

Last week, the Utah Statesman newspaper reported that Hatch called the health care law a “dumb-ass program. It really is an awful piece of crap.” Opposing the law is his right. But for a U.S. senator to use language like that is truly ugly.

Why is he acting like this now? It has to be nightmares of Bennett’s politically fatal brush with the Tea Party. It sure isn’t his concern for all Americans.