UPDATE: Dear Orrin Hatch: How about a nice cup of STFU?

via Raw Story:

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) on Thursday called supporters of the Affordable Care Actsome “of the stupidest, dumbass people I’ve ever met” during a speech before the American Enterprise Institute.

“We […] finally did away with the individual mandate tax that was established under that wonderful bill called ‘Obamacare,’” Hatch said, according to Fox News 13. “Now, if you didn’t catch on, I was being very sarcastic.”

“[The Affordable Care Act] was the stupidest, dumbass bill that I’ve ever seen. Now, some of you may have loved it. If you do, you are one of the stupidest, dumbass people I’ve ever met. This was one—and there are a lot of ’em up on Capitol Hill from [that] time,” Hatch added.

Matt Whitlock, a spokesman for Hatch, defended the senators comments, telling Fox News 13, “The comments were obviously made in jest, but what’s not a joke is the harm Obamacare has caused for countless Utahns.”

As a reminder, the Affordable Care Act is based on a Republican framework and was first implemented by a Republican Governor. You might have heard of him...he's the Republican running to replace...Orrin Hatch.

Ah, here he is: Former Massachusetts Governor and the guy who signed "RomneyCare" into law, Mitt Romney, explaining why the Individual Mandate, which Senator Orrin Hatch and his colleagues just repealed, is so important:

UPDATE: Hatch has allegedly "apologized"...

"Yesterday, I made a poorly worded joke about Obamacare supporters -- a joke that was not reflective of my actual feelings towards my friends on the other side," Hatch's statement said. "Throughout my term of service, I have always recognized the importance of civility, particularly in engaging with those of different political perspectives. While I occasionally slip up, I believe that my legislative record reflects my commitment to bipartisanship and civility much more than my flippant, off-the-cuff remark."

...except that:

• 1. He never actually apologizes;

• 2. It wasn't a joke (even a poor one)...I mean that literally: There's no setup or punchline involved of any sort, just "people who like this are stupid".

• 3. It wasn't "poorly worded". In fact, Hatch specifically called the Affordable Care Act (aka "Obamacare") a "stupid, dumbass program" back in 2011:

"Every state has different demographics, every state has different problems. It's good to allow them to work out their own problems rather than a one-size-fits-all federal government stupid, dumbass program," Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said at Utah State University.

• 4. Which means it quite obviously was reflective of his actual feelings. Therefore...

• 5. Non-apology not accepted.