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Veteran Republican senator blasts the far-right challenge to his seat, saying the activist group does not help the Republican and Conservative cause
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Utah senator Orrin hatch fighting off an effort to boot him from office pushed -- -- -- the 36 years senator veteran.
Well it's not -- might think it's Dick Armey and his Tea Party group and we spoke with senator hatch earlier tonight.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I haven't -- -- a -- but I have a question that they're a little research and I know that your primary Gary -- primary but tomorrow's the big convention.
And freedom works -- the Tea Party group of Dick Armey is gunning for is spending 6151000.
Dollars against -- so I did some research to find -- Why they why they would do that and I'm a bit curious I think there's some than a little bit more going -- because.
I do know you've got all that Signore.
If but if you're bummed out office Utah loses a possible chairman of the senate finance committee of the Republican -- go -- the senate.
-- that things are sort of peculiarly important not secure but important of the Tea Party movement might be balanced budget amendment.
You have been sponsor and seventeen times going back to 1977.
-- newspapers called -- the darling of the right.
I looked at all your ratings like Club for Growth and everything you got high ratings so the only thing I -- that they don't like is that you voted to raise the debt ceiling a couple times.
And overall I can't figure out is there more to this than politics why is the club for but why is the the freedom works why they -- -- after you.
But could probably live for -- -- -- tell the truth that they they take a few dozen of my votes out of -- better than 121000 votes and -- cast.
One of the most in the history of the senate.
And they distort those votes say lie about them contract lie about a month.
And I personally believe what they do -- -- take somebody like myself to everybody -- hosts.
And then they trash it they trash Orrin hatch and then.
They raise a lot of money from you know conservatives over the country who think that what they're saying is true I have to admit there.
There -- not people that I have very much just respect for contract I don't have any respect for -- that's that's how bad they are.
What Madonna despite but I -- to fact check dot org to sort of fact check -- -- what was being sad sad and it's just they're just seems to be a little bit more be behind this that I can't figure out because.
It seems that in a -- -- -- a lot of votes in the six times you've been in the United States senate you can you can -- -- somebody might not like but overall.
I would think you would be the darling of the Tea Party movement out there and not the villain.
Well I do have a lot of Tea Party support because you know they they respect somebody who's got a 90%.
36 -- 90% American Conservative Union.
Voting record but I think what's wrong with -- -- actually freedom works fatalism.
They're doing -- to raise money they're paying themselves a lot of money they have plush offices right down below Capitol Hill.
You know I think they're -- it for the money more than anything else and they act like they're really doing some things for -- conservatives not keep in mind that sped around 700000.
Yes -- probably more than that by today.
And got so much they spent against all the 23 Democrats have been doing that source.
Lesson 2000 dollars total yes unless they spent against pres Obama.
About 173000.
Dollars it's about 14 of what they spent against me.
And I gotta say there's something horribly wrong here because many of the votes they criticize me for.
Their own their own chairman -- president Dick Armey voted the same way I did and frankly.
Most Republicans.
And if you tech red check check check and daughter are they they said well.
Senator hatch voted four in the Department of Education no I voted against -- department -- they said.
They said I voted for it to fund Fannie and Freddie know I was one of -- -- voted against that they -- I voted to fund the bottom of films.
You know bailout no I didn't.
You can just go down -- does -- -- thought that they've just started they've lied.
I want and that's what I want I think it campaign that want to fact check dot org and other sources or maybe up to make sure and so it you know I was just there's suspicion whether you would Dick Armey had something going over the years or whether it was sloppy or what whatever was because I EI it's simply didn't make sense to me that you -- you -- the target on your back.
Well we were always friends when he was in congress I helped them a lot.
-- might -- that haven't testified before the finance committee.
But I've got to tell you I have no respect for that at this particular portola has -- -- -- by.
These people whom they're really radical libertarians not like I'm libertarian myself in a lot of ways.
But I'm not a radical the two guys -- run this or radical libertarians.
And and there are different money in my opinion and they and they're not really helping the Republican Party or the conservative -- as far as I can say -- -- -- They'd be gone against this president he would be joining us -- 23 Democrats are up and -- quit.
Put this stuff from both trying to protect people like myself who have.
36 shares of conservative vote and nobody else can -- me.
Well I mean it's so there's always everytime you look at it and -- come we may get them make the decision do wanna lose that seniority mean that is a consideration and frankly you -- an awful lot of seniority and I assume that that you know what have some you know bearing down.
-- I'm a voter voter one way or the other are not masses tomorrow you have to achieve at this convention what sixty about 60%.
In or they don't have a depth primary challengers that the way it works.
Well the way it works is that -- very you have to get at least 40%.
A little over for a 40% plus one.
Two months ago and they were predicting that I couldn't get 40%.
And today we've got a shot -- During much better than they have in fact we're cautiously optimistic.
I'm not saying we're gonna -- 60% which would mean we would avoid a primary.
You know we've been planning where we've been planning -- there's there's it's a primary that's fine.
But there's a possibility that we could then.
We've run a good campaign I think people are waking up they realize that they traded march April -- distorting my record and lying about my record and they're putting out some pretty slick brochures that just are full of lies.
And downs and it's kind of backfired on freedom works as far as I'm concerned but I've been in every corner of the state -- -- met with people all over the state in the cities and towns and various meetings that delegates.
I've met with -- many have -- as I possibly can go on -- most of accounting conventions.
It's been a very very -- Wonderful time for me because you know I that was -- but I -- with an awful lot of my fellow constituents and tell you times.
And I think given a lot of them are starting to realize do we really want -- -- Orrin hatch has the most senior Republican on the United States senate.
Who is likely to become a chairman of the finance committee -- most powerful committee in the senate.
And who -- -- tough guy who has been chairman of both they help committee health education labor and pensions.
And stopped the country from going.
You know of from losing the right door plus in this country and then also chairman of the Judiciary Committee where I've worked my just sought to make sure we have.
Honest decent conservative judges on the bench and the district circuit and ventures and also the Supreme Court of the United States.
Well tomorrow's a bit at tomorrow's big today and that we -- what had woods senator -- Bennett two years ago and you talk to give an unusual system.
We'll be watching that nice to have you join us thank you sir.
Well nice to join your reading your -- and -- -- -- -- watching it every night.
Thank you update that -- thank you -- has not kept into effect.
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