I am disappointed in the recent response by Sen. Orrin Hatch to the handful of protesters outside his office, telling the media he'd like to kick them in the teeth ("Hatch threatens Moveon.org with a 'kick in the teeth,'" Tribune , Oct. 17). Hatch has been in Washington for 33 years as a member of one of the world's greatest "deliberative" bodies, and yet this is his response. We deserve better.

Perhaps he could have taken the opportunity to explain to them and us how the fact that he has accrued more than $900,000 in campaign funding over the years from businesses within the health care industry has nothing to do with his position on health care reform. But no. Instead he offers a remark that is at best glib and childish and at worst potentially threatening and dangerous. Disappointing, indeed.

Roger Anderson

Salt Lake City