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Washington • Don't get Sen. Orrin Hatch started on how much he loves bacon.

The Utah Republican trolled the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals this week after the animal-rights group posited a challenge to the Twittersphere: "Present your best argument for eating bacon."

PETA may have underestimated the internet's love for crispy, sizzling slices of pork.

"I think the worst argument for eating bacon is still better than the best argument not to eat bacon," wrote one user, to which PETA responded with a GIF of comedian Louis C.K. Saying, "nope."

Another Twitter user posted a series of GIFs of Ron Swanson, the meat-loving character on NBC's Parks And Recreation, showing all the places he's hidden bacon in his office.

But Hatch's office, which has been trying to amp up its social media standing with humor, dug in, posting a picture of Hatch eating a bacon-topped hamburger and superimposing bacon emojis as he peered into an ice-cream cooler at the supermarket and picking up a pastrami-and-bacon topped Crown Burger sandwich.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican from the top hog-producing state of Iowa, offered his thanks to his Utah colleague for having their bacon-loving back.

"I [heard] Sen Hatch was defending bacon on twitter Thx 4 supporting pork Iowa's # 1 meat industry + more pigs than any other state," Grassley tweeted in his own unique style.

"Anything for you, Chuck," Hatch's office responded. "And for those delicious pigs."

Iowa's pork-production tops $4 billion annually, according to Agweb, a publication of Farm Journal media.

Although PETA had reacted to the bacon-ingesting community with some jokes, it didn't have any for Hatch.

The "World Health [Organization] confirmed eating bacon causes cancer. Our many Republican members want you to live long & healthy!" the group said of the 83-year-old Hatch.

As of Friday, there were more than 102,000 Google hits for the words, "Orrin Hatch bacon."

tburr@sltrib.com

Twitter: @thomaswburr