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.