Orrin Hatch: Health Care Law A 'Dumb-Ass Program'

For many discontent Republicans, the health care law passed by Democrats last year is known as "ObamaCare." For Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), however, it has reportedly been called a "dumb-ass program" and an "awful piece of crap."

According to Utah State University's Utah Statesman, Hatch was asked Friday if the nation's health care system had ever been in need of an overhaul, and if the president's plan was the best way to go about reforming the system.

"Every state has different demographics, every state has different problems," Hatch responded to a gathering of college Republicans at the university. "It's good to allow them to work out their own problems rather than a one-size-fits-all federal government dumb-ass program. It really is an awful piece of crap."

The Statesman reports that he then "apologized for swearing and said he does not swear often." Hatch later promised to "repent" for using the words.

As The Hill points out, Hatch's opposition to the health care law is not a recent development. Recent stirrings by his state's Tea Party activists have, however, left him particularly vulnerable to a primary challenge and attempting to court the conservative activists in an effort to gain their support in his upcoming reelection campaign.

Freshman Sen. Mike Lee, Hatch's Utah Republican colleague and a member of the Tea Party Caucus, epitomized the difficult situation earlier this month when he opted not to endorse Hatch in a forthcoming primary.

Comments

[dbrett480]

01:48 PM on 04/17/2011

I'm not a fan of Hatch, but he does make a legitimate argument that a state-by-state approach would be better. It works pretty well in Massachusetts.

[buckbanter44]

12:25 PM on 03/02/2011

I wonder if Hatch is up for reelection in 2012...oh yea baby, he's not going away without a fight.

[BDErice]

08:09 PM on 03/01/2011

Spoken like a true wealthy, powerful Republican.

[Dez3]

08:06 PM on 03/01/2011

Please post my comment. The only words I used were those that Sen. Hatch used to describe the health care bill passed into law. Unfair moderation?

[Golemaximus]

09:18 PM on 03/01/2011

Dez3 - HP at it again I see!

[Albert Westpy]

12:37 AM on 03/03/2011

I don't understand how HP can refuse to print words that were used in a story that they themself ptinted but HP did it to me as well........HP is very stupit.

[pinlin]

07:59 PM on 03/01/2011

election strategy:trash talk to the low-brow.

[caseyblab]

07:50 PM on 03/01/2011

Doesn't he qualify? Worry not, Hatch!

[aonemandog]

06:01 PM on 03/01/2011

How old is Hatch? Can he really be that desparate to get re-elected that heis courting the tea party vote? Does he need the money? Did he get short changed when the bribes were being passed out?

[Golemaximus]

07:59 PM on 03/01/2011

aonemandog - He must have missed out on the bribes. I think most of the big bribes went to the Louisiana and Nebraska Senators others just got infratstructure projects and photo ops with Harry or Nancy. A lot of them aren't in the congress anymore! That's Obamacare!

[williamg]

05:27 PM on 03/01/2011

Health Equity and Access Reform Today Act of 1993


Subtitle F: Universal Coverage - Requires each citizen or lawful permanent resident to be covered under a qualified health plan or equivalent health care program by January 1, 2005. Provides an exception for any individual who is opposed for religious reasons to health plan coverage, including those who rely on healing using spiritual means through prayer alone.

COSPONSORS(20), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Sen Bennett, Robert F. [UT] - 11/22/1993
Sen Bond, Christopher S. [MO] - 11/22/1993
Sen Boren, David L. [OK] - 5/17/1994
Sen Cohen, William S. [ME] - 11/22/1993
Sen Danforth, John C. [MO] - 11/22/1993
Sen Dole, Robert J. [KS] - 11/22/1993
Sen Domenici, Pete V. [NM] - 11/22/1993
Sen Durenberger, Dave [MN] - 11/22/1993
Sen Faircloth, Lauch [NC] - 11/22/1993
Sen Gorton, Slade [WA] - 11/22/1993
Sen Grassley, Chuck [IA] - 11/22/1993

(((((((((((Sen Hatch, Orrin G. [UT] - 11/22/1993))))))))))

Sen Hatfield, Mark O. [OR] - 11/22/1993
Sen Kassebaum, Nancy Landon [KS] - 11/22/1993
Sen Kerrey, J. Robert [NE] - 5/17/1994
Sen Lugar, Richard G. [IN] - 11/22/1993
Sen Simpson, Alan K. [WY] - 11/22/1993
Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] - 11/22/1993
Sen Stevens, Ted [AK] - 11/22/1993
Sen Warner, John [VA] - 11/22/1993
Sen Brown, Hank [CO] - 11/22/1993

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d103:SN01770:@@@L&summ2=m�0;tatus

[Oska Wright]

05:41 PM on 03/01/2011

good homework W. fanned

[inkhosi]

05:15 PM on 03/01/2011

Such vulgarity. I wonder what sorts of things he says about our President when the cameras are off.

[Golemaximus]

09:19 PM on 03/01/2011

inkhosi - Why would you even try to tie that together with this guy?

[imfedup]

05:07 PM on 03/01/2011

Classssssy!

[CATNIP1]

05:01 PM on 03/01/2011

And this guy represents the Republican Party ? What a dumb *** !

[krummlaw]

04:43 PM on 03/01/2011

70 years ago, Costa Rica created out of whole cloth, universal health care. 70 years later, it is still in place, Costa Rica's quality of health care service is ranked higher than that in the United States, Costa Ricans' average life span now exceeds that of America, and the cost of health care is a third to a half as expensive.

Indeed, many---perhaps most---of the world's countries ranked more highly than the U.S. for health care quality have some sort of universal care.

Sen. Hatch doesn't know what he's talking about.

[Golemaximus]

09:23 PM on 03/01/2011

Krummiaw - I spent some time living in San Jose Costa Rica and did not observe nor was I aware of any massive health care system that looked after the population. I must have missed that one!

[Helzapoppin]

04:21 PM on 03/01/2011

That's funny, Orrin. . . considering you were all for it in the 90's when it was first proposed by Republicans.

[Golemaximus]

09:24 PM on 03/01/2011

Helza - You think maybe there was a difference in the proposal back then? Hmm!

[huff-fan]

03:24 PM on 03/01/2011

A little off topic: I don't think people will like to paying higher taxes(single payer) any more than they like being mandated to buy insurance(Affordable Care Act. Neither plan will reduce cost unless everyone agrees to play.

On February 28, President Obama reiterated his belief that States should have the power and flexibility to innovate and find the health care solutions that work best for them and announced his support for accelerating State Innovation Waivers and allowing states to apply for them starting in 2014.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/02/28/fact-sheet-affordable-care-act-supporting-innovation-empowering-states

[YeahDonkey]

03:07 PM on 03/01/2011

DANCE OLD MAN DANCE!!!!!!!