Hatch is ‘re-committing’ to civility in op-ed

Sen. Orin Hatch (R-Utah) says recent violent incidents fueled by heated rhetoric have encouraged him to make a personal commitment to “exercise greater civility” in his interactions with others.

“Our nation cannot continue on its current path. Either we remain passive observers to the problem, or we endeavor to act, to make the necessary changes — in ourselves, in our families and in our communities — that will lead to a more civil, prosperous society,” Hatch wrote Wednesday in an op-ed for Time Magazine.

The Utah Republican cited the recent shooting at a Republican congressional baseball team practice in Virginia, as well as the stabbing of two men on a train in Portland, Ore., last month, as reasons to believe that “something fundamental to our civic culture has been lost.”

Hatch goes on to say that civility can be regained by speaking responsibly, practicing media mindfulness and venturing “beyond the comfortable confines of our social circles.”

The Republican senator pointed to his friendship with former Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) as an example “of what our nation can accomplish if we choose respect and comity over anger and discord. “

Hatch’s op-ed comes two weeks after a gunman who had posted anti-Republican material on social media opened fire on a GOP congressional baseball practice, injuring House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and four others.