At Saturday's Salt Lake County Republican convention, "tough-talking" Sen. Orrin Hatch roused the rabble: "We've simply got to change ... this incredibly poor I don't usually use these words but dumb-ass Obamacare" ("Big day for women at Salt Lake Democratic convention; GOP rejects 2 incumbents," Tribune, April 13).
Hatch's former Senate colleague, Bob Bennett, proposed an alternative to Obama's plan to provide affordable health care to millions who were excluded because of cost or pre-existing conditions, but I don't recall Hatch proposing and definitely not championing and I don't usually use this word but poop.
Hatch should heed to this truism: better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
A century ago, when America was debating about entering World War I, President Woodrow Wilson said: "One cool judgment is worth a thousand hasty counsels. The thing to do is to supply light and not heat." For years, Hatch at shrill voice has added much more heat than light.
At long last, dear senior senator from the great state of Utah, be a bridge builder, not a chasm creator. Lead, please. You know how.
Elbert Peck
Salt Lake City