Orrin Hatch: “it is really starting to get to me that because of special interest control of this body, abortion is becoming a single…”

“it is really starting to get to me that because of special interest control of this body, abortion is becoming a single litmus test issue on the part of a number of Senators in this body--not all, thank goodness, on either side, but a number of Senators. It is an important issue. There are very sincere people on the pro-choice side. There are very sincere people on the pro-life side. Both sides deserve consideration and respect. When we get to where one single issue will determine whether a person can serve in a position in this country, such as a Federal judgeship, we know this country is in trouble; that is, whether it comes on this side or it comes on that side. I can remember when Reagan was the President and we had control of the committees. There was a constant berating of us because they thought we might have abortion as a single litmus test issue. The fact of the matter is, we didn't.”