This is the last straw for me. Through his campaign manager, Dave Hansen, Orrin Hatch asserted that he can't debate his opponent before the upcoming Republican primary on June 26 because, as The Tribune reported, he "simply doesn't have time for more debates because of a packed Senate schedule in the upcoming weeks."

"They've got a number of issues coming up where he will not be able to be out here as much," Hansen told The Trib.

You'd think the honorable senator would at least have the decency to stay in Washington to give some cover to his lie. But, no, last Wednesday I heard on KUER that Hatch is in town this week, making campaign promises about repealing Obamacare at the Salt Lake Chamber.

Turns out the Senate took a Memorial Day recess for the whole week! Surely, Hatch could've fit in a prime-time TV debate with his opponent in the primary, Dan Liljenquist, since he was already in town.

I wouldn't have been as upset if Hatch had just said the truth: Debating Liljenquist doesn't help him. But a baldfaced lie really irks me.

I'm not surprised lying politicians lie. I just don't like it.

Charles Rider

Salt Lake City