Mike Hatch Elevates the Conversation

Who is Mike Hatch? He's the Dem running for governor in Minnesota against incumbent Tim Pawlenty. Hatch seems to have a bit of an anger problem, as evidenced by this report:

The Duluth News Tribune reported today that DFL gubernatorial candidate Mike Hatch called one of its reporters a "Republican whore" on Thursday.

Hatch said Friday morning his recollection was that he used the term "Republican hack," not whore. But other reports Thursday of angry responses to reporters prompted Republicans to intensify their line of attack on Hatch as too intemperate and hotheaded to be elected governor.

Since the reporter was a man, he may escape the outrage that would have certainly occurred had he said that to a woman, but either way, it makes you question his fitness for the job.

Hatch has denied, and then sort of not denied the comment:

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The Democratic gubernatorial candidate faced a potential setback for a second day Friday, denying a newspaper report that said he called a male reporter "a Republican whore."

Hatch at first denied using the word. In a debate Friday night, he said he might have used that language but didn't believe that he did.

In other words, he didn't say "whore" before he did say "whore". He's a perfect Dem.