Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, says he’s not to blame for the deficit and other problems that stem from President George W. Bush’s tenure.
At a Utah state Republican convention Saturday Hatch and his fellow Utah Senator, Bob Bennett, received lukewarm receptions, the Salt Lake City Deseret News reports.
Hatch grew irritated during his speech when some delegates applauded as a way of blaming him and other national Republicans for the woes created during the Bush administration.
"Don't you believe that B.S.," Hatch said loudly, the News reports.
While the 1,800 delegates were polite during speeches, they took Hatch and Bennett to task in one-on-one encounters.
The News reports of one encounter Hatch had with a conservative attendee.
"You say I don't do anything. I do," Hatch said sharply.
"I didn't say that," the man said. "I said I see no evidence that you are doing anything. I'm engaged [in congressional action]. I know what is going on. We're $3 billion in debt, and I worry about my four children."
For his speech Hatch was introduced by well-known conservative Ken Blackwell, who as the keynote speaker had just received a long, standing ovation.
Blackwell said that although he doesn't agree with all of Hatch’s positions, "we are all brothers."
Conservatives may be happier with Hatch’s stance on President Obama’s nomination of Sonia Sotomayor for Supreme Court Justice.
“I'll tell you one thing, I'm not very happy about judges who will substitute their own policy preferences for what the law really is,” he tells Politico news service.
By that he means judges “who think that they can run the country from the bench when they actually have a limited role. And that role is to interpret the laws made by those who have to stand for reelection."
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