There really must be something in the water where Senator Hatch and Senator Bennett hang out (I certainly know it's not the beer!)
Last week, Hatch said some pretty dumb things about Iraq and al-Qaida. His spinning was even dumber. I wrote about it all here.
Now, it's Bennett's turn.
On Friday morning, Sen. Bob Bennett addressed Utah Valley State College students about the evolution of ethics in the nation's capital and, at one point, accused a legendary U.S. House speaker of taking cash from lobbyists.
"Sam Rayburn, after whom the House office building is named, used to keep a jar on his desk and when lobbyists would come in to see him, they would deposit the appropriate envelope with cash," he told about 100 students and faculty.
My response comes in the form of an LTE to The Salt Lake Tribune:
Man, there must be something in the water where Senators Bennett and Hatch hang out. In about a week's time they both have come down with a severe case of "foot-in-mouth" disease.
Last week, Senator Hatch said, to an invitation only audience, " . . .(the US has) stopped a mass murderer in Saddam Hussein. Nobody denies that he was supporting al-Qaida. Well, I shouldn't say nobody. Nobody with brains." Of course, everyone with a brain knows that statement is flat out false, so Hatch, rather than apologizing, spun it miserably and basically said he meant to say he was talking about conditions in post-Saddam Iraq, where our efforts have basically allowed al-Qaida to gain a foothold. Doesn't quite have the same feel-good punch, does it?
A week later, we get Senator Bennett spewing blatant hearsay about former Representative Sam Rayburn. At least Bennett had the good sense to just admit he made a mistake and apologize (sort-of) for his clueless statement.
I think it's time for a little new blood in the Senate delegation from Utah. We missed our chance to get rid of Bennett in 2004. Now we're stuck with him for another four-plus years. Let's not make the same mistake this year.
After 30 years, it's time to send Orrin packing (or bring him home, however you want to look at it). Vote for Pete Ashdown for Senate in 2006!
Maybe there's something to the fact that Hatch and Bennett have the exact same rating in the National Journal's 2005 Congressional Vote Ratings. Tweedle-deedumb and Tweedle-dumber?
I am not affiliated with Pete Ashdown's campaign for Senate but please consider contributing to his campaign.