Here we go again with Orin Hatch. Five years ago I published the column below. Unfortunately for us, it is still relevant today . . .
If Orrin Hatch’s words were true in 1976, then they are still true in 2017.
If you’ve felt buried by political ads now, what’s coming will be worse, but it’s also when we should seriously look at the records of those who seek to be our national voice.
I’m no puritan, but it actually does get down to who is telling the truth and who is not telling the truth. The two are not copasetic, and truth, you remember, never changes. Now Romney and his many words are beyond me, too full of ‘what I really meant to say’ and ‘you read me wrong’ but we have absolute records of what Orrin Hatch said as he sought his first Senate Seat, and what he’s saying today.
There is a difference, and if his words were true when he spoke them against his opponent, Frank E. Moss, then those same words must be true today. I go back.
Frank E. Moss, his opponent in 1976, was born Jan. 29, 1903, grew up in Holladay, the son of James E. Moss, an educator who was named ‘The father of Utah High school athletics’. Frank grew up in a home filled with words and actions of law and education.
He graduated magna cum laude (UofU, 1933), and then served FDR at the NRA (National Recovery Administration), and other national federal groups to aid in National Recovery from the Great Depression, and then during WW2, (1942 to ’45), served with the Army Air Corps in the Judge Advocates General Dept. in European Theatre of Operations.
Not a bad intro to his political life, both local and federal, and in 1958 was elected as Utah Senator against both Arthur Watkins and J. Bracken Lee, each mighty forces in Utah politics.
As Utah’s Senator in Washington, he added more National Parks within Utah; investigated and aided in eliminating control of abuses to the elderly in Nursing and Retirement homes; Physicians’ abuses of the Medicaid program; and with Senator Church of Idaho sponsored first legislation to provide Federal funds for hospice programs. That Bill did not pass Congress until 1982, but his ideas held and were included in Medicare benefits.
In his Third Term he sponsored detailed Warning Labels on cigarette packages; banned their advertisements on radio and TV; the Toy Safety Act; and was Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences.
He was a hero to people of small towns and rural areas, for, in the beginning, and at first, television station signals were available only (if you can imagine) where there were major marketing areas, namely the highly populated places, with great consumer possibilities. Moss was instrumental in getting funding to make it possible for all small towns and rural areas with ‘few’ consumers, to receive the same TV transmissions. He and his group helped found the great TV Translator system that provided television to the great rural areas of America. It was a major battle in Washington, but he won it.
It was on his run for his Fourth Term in 1976 that Orrin Hatch opposed him, and Hatch’s strong points were how much Moss had accomplished, how much we owed him, but that he now was too old. His mind no longer sharp and should be replaced, with thanks, by a younger man. Himself.
Hatch won. Now, as Orrin wishes to fill his fourth term, he does not mention age, born Mar. 22. 1934, so is 78 years of age, and 3 years older than Moss was at the same point in his career. He refuses all requests for live TV debates, and dodges photos and off-the-cuff meetings with local or national press. Rumors in the gossip magazines (they’re not always wrong) tell that Hatch, Botox, and Senility have developed a close relationship.
He should recall his own words, spoken when he fought Moss, and admit that he is 3 years older than Moss then was. An age he blatantly called too old to be a Senator. Hatch no doubt also remembers what the live TV debate did to Nixon when he faced the nation against the young John Kennedy. As they say, ‘he shot himself in his own foot’.
If Moss, dedicated and astute, but then 73 years old, was too old, then we’d better remember that Orrin is now 78, and for us to do exactly what he, Hatch, said then. What do you call a Senator who’s served in office for 18 years? You call him home.”. Yes, let’s give Orrin thanks for what he has accomplished, and then, (again his words), replace him with a man who is ‘younger, mind quicker, sharper and more in tune with this era of time”.
Orrin Hatch’s words were either true then, or true now. He can’t have it both ways. One or the other is untrue.
If any of this rings true with you, please pass this along to others you know.