Hatch says Muslims have his empathy

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, told a national TV audience Monday that he empathizes with Muslims who are upset by the media's focus on the Islamic background of the alleged gunman in the Fort Hood mass shooting.

"We Mormons are used to that. If a Mormon makes a mistake, you can always count on his religion being mentioned," Hatch said on the "Imus in the Morning Show" on national radio and the Fox Business TV channel.

Hatch's comments came amid press scrutiny because the alleged Fort Hood shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, attended the same Virginia mosque as two 9/11 terrorists when a radical imam preached there. That imam, Anwar al-Awlaki, who is on Yemen's most wanted list, called Hasan a "hero" on his Web site on Monday.

Hatch said the shooter probably acted as an individual and not as part of any Muslim terrorist group.

"I don't think all Islamic people in this country should be tarred by the fact that one guy goes off the rails," he said.

Hatch added, "I think we ought to be fair. There are many wonderful Islamic people in this country. One of the best is my old friend Muhammad Ali. He's a great, great person. You can't put everyone in that category because one guy goes nuts."

When Hatch said Mormons who do something wrong always have their religion mentioned, talk show host Don Imus, who has landed in controversy previously for insensitive comments, joked with Hatch by saying, "Yes, but it is your fault when some Mormon does it."

Hatch laughed, and said, "Well, of course. We've been beaten up in this country since the church was established. No question about it. That's why we're such a tough group of people."

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