HATCH
REGRETS TRAFFIC CAMEO
January 29, 2001
from the Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said he regrets
his cameo role in the movie ``Traffic,'' which features nudity,
sex, drug use and profane language.
Before
the film was released, Hatch defended the movie's use of violence
by saying it accurately portrayed the drug culture as degrading.
But
then Hatch saw the movie, which stars Michael Douglas.
``I
was shocked and dismayed at the gratuitous amount of violence
and profanity in `Traffic,''' Hatch said in a prepared statement.
``It was more than was necessary to reveal the devastation caused
by drugs. I do not condone it. It detracts from its anti-drug
message.''
The
senator, better known for writing religious hymns and berating
Hollywood violence than appearing on the big screen, briefly
appears as himself in the film.
``The
thing I really resented was that every other word is the F-word.
Hollywood needs to grow up ... There's no excuse for that,''
he said.
He
plays a bit part in a scene where Douglas, acting as the nation's
new drug czar, talks to senators at a Georgetown party. Hatch
tells Douglas what he thinks a drug czar ought to do.
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