To the editor:
I believe Sen. Orrin Hatch did a marvelous job in the Clarence Thomas hearings. He was one of the few to stand up for the accused in both the labor rights issue and the Oliver North proceedings. He stands up for people, even if they are branded scapegoats for problems belonging to all of us.Regarding his opinions expressed concerning Anita Hill, the conclusion I reach is threefold.
First, Hatch is not anti-woman. How many senators hold a yearly women's conference? Many have mistaken his protection of justice regarding Thomas to be a condemning of Hill. Hatch was boldly standing up for the accused and in doing so was standing up for justice. People should also remember how boldly he presented his day-care issue for working mothers.
Secondly, Hatch expressed deep sympathy for Hill during and after the hearing. If tables were turned and Hill were accused, you would see a commitment from Hatch to "innocent until proved guilty."
Lastly, although it may have appeared that Thomas had no viable evidence in his support, it is impossible to prove the negative. That is, he could have no evidence but his own testimony and character witnesses.
Credit Hatch for seeing that and not getting caught up in the emotions of the issue. Hatch has been wronged by false accusations against him lately, and I urge readers to consider, or reconsider, what a valuable asset he is to the people of Utah.
Daniel K. Christensen
Salt Lake City