Orrin Hatch: “I have to say that not only do I totally disagree with everything the distinguished Senator from Vermont has said, but I…”

“I have to say that not only do I totally disagree with everything the distinguished Senator from Vermont has said, but I believe he has seriously distorted this man's record. Let me just answer these distortions with maybe a few points. No. 1, this man has the support of virtually everybody who counts in Arkansas--Democrats and Republicans. No. 2, he has the support of the leading newspapers in Arkansas, which are not necessarily known for supporting Republicans. No. 3, this man is an intellectually profound man who earned a Ph.D. from Duke University before he got his law degree. He graduated with honors with his law degree as well. No. 4, this man has the blessing of the American Bar Association, with the highest rating a person can have. No. 5, Leon Holmes is a very religious person, and virtually everybody who writes in his favor--virtually everybody I have seen, including many Democrat leaders in Arkansas--state that he is totally capable of putting aside his deeply held personal beliefs in order to act with dispassion and fairness on the bench.”