Senator Hatch: both sides "ridiculous" in squabbles (defends Obama))

[Nambe]

Source: By Susan Milligan, Boston Globe

NEW YORK -- Senator Orrin Hatch, a conservative Utah Republican, today defended Barack Obama from what Hatch called ``ridiculous'' charges that Obama had insulted GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin with the use of an age-old expression, ``lipstick on a pig.''

``I think it's ridiculous, what they've said about Sarah Palin,'' Hatch said, referring to criticisms of her fitness for the White House. But to suggest that Democratic nominee Obama was calling Palin a ``pig?'' Just as silly, Hatch said. ...

...While Hatch said he is committed to electing GOP nominee John McCain, ``Barack Obama is a nice person. He's smart; he's intelligent. He writes well. He's very charismatic.'' Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden, who has served with Hatch for decades in the US Senate, is ``a very fine human being,'' Hatch added. ...

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/09/senator_hatch_b.html