WASHINGTON, D.C., March 2, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah Senator Orrin Hatch has apologized after calling those who support the Affordable Care Act “dumbass people.”
Hatch made the initial comment Thursday in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute.
“(We) finally did away with the individual mandate tax that was established under that wonderful bill called ‘Obamacare,'” Hatch said on Thursday.
“Now, if you didn’t catch on, I was being very sarcastic. That was the stupidest, dumbass bill that I’ve ever seen. Now, some of you may have loved it. If you do, you are one of the stupidest, dumbass people I’ve ever met. This was one — and there are a lot of ’em up on Capitol Hill from time.”
Hatch apologized in a statement released on Friday.
“Yesterday, I made a poorly worded joke about Obamacare supporters — a joke that was not reflective of my actual feelings towards my friends on the other side,” he said.
“Throughout my term of service, I have always recognized the importance of civility, particularly in engaging with those of different political perspectives. While I occasionally slip up, I believe that my legislative record reflects my commitment to bipartisanship and civility much more than my flippant, off-the-cuff comment.”
