‘His Utter Lack of Integrity That Rises From His Unquenchable Thirst for Power’ Paper Says
U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has earned the distinction of being the longest-serving Republican Senator in U.S. history, something he only had to do by winning re-election and not closing to retire. But what he has to do to win The Salt Lake Tribune’s “Utahn of the Year” award took a lot more work.
And on Christmas Day, Senator Hatch – clearly not having read the editorial – tweeted out the trophy, embarrassing himself and his legacy even further.
“These things are often misunderstood,” The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board’s editorial begins “So, lest our readers, or the honoree himself, get the wrong impression, let us repeat the idea behind The Salt Lake Tribune’s Utahn of the Year designation.”
The criteria are not set in stone. But this year, as many times in the past, The Tribune has assigned the label to the Utahn who, over the past 12 months, has done the most. Has made the most news. Has had the biggest impact. For good or for ill.
The paper goes on to explain why they chose Hatch:
It has everything to do with recognizing:
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Hatch’s part in the dramatic dismantling of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments.
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His role as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee in passing a major overhaul of the nation’s tax code.
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His utter lack of integrity that rises from his unquenchable thirst for power.
Ouch.
The editors continue, saying, “tax reform has been talked about and talked about for decades and only now has anything been done. And Hatch, as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has his fingerprints all over it.”
“But perhaps the most significant move of Hatch’s career is the one that should, if there is any justice, end it.”
“It would be good for Utah if Hatch, having finally caught the Great White Whale of tax reform, were to call it a career. If he doesn’t, the voters should end it for him.”
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