Pubdate: Sat, 27 Jan 2001
Source: Deseret News (UT)
Copyright: 2001 Deseret News Publishing Corp.
Contact:  30 East 100 South., P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, UT 84110
Website: http://www.desnews.com/
Author: Matt Brown, Deseret News assistant city editor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/traffic.htm (Traffic)

HATCH NOW REGRETTING HIS CAMEO IN 'TRAFFIC'

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, now regrets his cameo role in a film he says has 
"gratuitous amounts of violence and profanity."

Hatch, a strait-laced senator known for harping on Hollywood for making 
violent films, appears as himself in one scene of "Traffic," a popular 
movie about drug trafficking starring Michael Douglas. He initially 
encouraged adults to see the R-rated film, telling the Deseret News, "I'm 
glad I did it."

"I don't see how they could have made it without violence and still 
accurately portray the drug culture - and how degrading it is. For adults 
who really need to know what kids are getting into, it's OK," he said at 
the time. In a recent press release, however, Hatch said the violence went 
too far. "I was shocked and dismayed at the gratuitous amount of violence 
and profanity in "Traffic." It was more than was necessary to reveal the 
devastation caused by drugs. I do not condone it. It detracts from its 
antidrug message," he said.

Hatch had initial concerns, not about the violence, but about the profanity 
after he viewed an advanced screening of 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. In 
the scene, Hatch briefly talks to the nation's new drug czar, played by 
Douglas, at a Georgetown party.

Hatch said the film's producer promised him the film would be PG-13 when he 
performed in the ad-libbed scene. He agreed to the cameo because he thought 
"Traffic" would be a positive vehicle for drug education. "I have always 
believed it is important to get out the message that drug abuse destroys 
families and degrades and demeans our society," he said.
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