"Hatch and Franken shared tears after singing together"

[Clio the Leo]

Hatch and Franken shared tears after singing together
By Michael O'Brien - 01/08/10 12:45 PM ET

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) had his new Democratic colleague, Sen. Al Franken (Minn.), in tears with his singing.

Franken told HometownSource.com that, earlier this year, a song written by Hatch about their late colleague, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), was so beautiful that it made Franken cry.

Franken said that during his first week in the Senate he'd invited Hatch, a longtime singer and lyricist, over to hear some of his senior colleague's tunes.

“And the first one was just a beautiful song sung by an old blues guy — Orrin doesn’t sing,” Franken said. “And it was like a demo. Done very simply. But it was a song about Teddy."

The song, which incorporated a sailing metaphor, sparked an emotional moment.

“I got a little bit — a little misty there,” Franken told the website. “And I just started to cry."

Hatch, who was a close friend of Kennedy's in what was an unusual political odd couple, delivered a eulogy for Kennedy during a memorial service after the veteran senator died in August.

The moment led Hatch to help Franken write a bridge for the song, which soon brought the pair of him and Franken to laughter, the Minnesota senator said.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/74959-hatch-and-franken-shared-tears-after-singing-together

[gateley]

1. Hatch is behaving like an adult, unlike most of his fellow Republicans. This is a nice story. nt

[Egnever]

3. LOL Orin Hatch?

We talking bout the same guy here?

[gateley]

5. Yeah. He was a good friend of Kennedy's, and he's "dancing with the enemy" in

meeting with Franken. He's able to leave the partisanship behind in this instance. Many would be unable to do that. So I stand by my statement.

[inna]

2. lame, unrec, nt

[bbinacan]

4. Not lame and rec. n/t

[Peacetrain]

6. That was touching Clio.. k&r

[msallied]

7. Seems the partisan rancor is as stinky on both sides.

I appreciated this story, Clio. And I rec'd it. :)

[BeyondGeography]

8. There are R's who can be adults socially, none politically

Too bad.

[tritsofme]

9. As they say, politics makes for strange bedfellows

[Cha]

10. I think it would really be a tribute to his "friend"

if he had voted for a Health Reform Bill that would help make Senator Kennedy's dream come true.

[Clio the Leo]

11. Then we'd ALL cry.......

.... tears of joy.

[Jackpine Radical]

12. A rec from me.

[stevenleser]

13. Sad fact is that many of these Republican politicians & pundits are nice people outside of politics

... that includes everyone I have debated so far on Fox, and many I havent been on screen with who I met in the Green room (the waiting room at Fox).

I'm really afraid to meet Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh (or Hannity, Beck or O'Reilly) in the green room, because I couldnt handle the idea that they are so vile in what they say re: politics but are nice otherwise (if that happens to be the case, and I am not saying that it is). I think that conundrum would cause me to spontaneously combust.

That being said, Orin Hatch has a LOT for which to answer and I would have no problem saying that to his face. I'll never forget his comments on and opposition to the Gore Commission's recommendations on airport/airline security in 1996/1997. Check it out someday, or wait for my book. I talk about it there.

[mascarax]

14. Somehow I don't think Ann or Rush will be "nice"

They may not be spewing at the time, but... ;-)

I understand what you're saying, but how can it be totally "outside of politics" because it seems like they'd be similar to so many...in the middle of a seemingly nice discussion about whatever, their true colors come out. But, ya know, other than *that*...

How surprised you the most? (You do a great job, by the way!)