Orrin Hatch doesn't know a dictator from a dickhead?

I just finished This Town by Mark Leibovich. His gimlet-eyed view of Washington, D.C. leaves no politician—Republican or Democrat—unscathed. The bulk of them come across as a venal lot, anxious to jump in front of cameras, and then leap into lucrative lobbying jobs after their "public service" ends.

Or rather, ALMOST no one is unscathed. Barack Obama comes across as scornful of the glad-handing DC lifers, and reluctant to do the personal politicking and backscratching that is S.O.P.

Some tidbits from the book:

—Maureen Orth referred to Arriana Huntington as the "Sir Edmund Hillary of social climbers."

—Leibovich describes Harry Reid as looking like "the harried proprietor of the pet store that has just been robbed for the third time this month." But the democratic leader is actually extraordinarily frank. When George W. Bush invited him to the White House for a friendly meeting, Reid "promptly insulted the president's dog, Barney... 'Your dog is fat," Reid told the president."

—Tom Coburn has opined that his colleagues have "reproductive organs the size of BBs." Later, Harry Reid called Coburn a "dictator" which provided Orrin Hatch the opportunity to get it all wrong: "Wait a minute, [Reid] called Tom a dickhead? That is outrageous."

—A Republican lobbyist: "We get paid to get Republicans pissed off at Democrats... It's the easiest thing in the world. It's like getting paid to love your own mother."

In light of the GOP's ongoing sabotage attempts against Obamacare, this last comment is particularly timely. As White House press secretary Jay Carney said, “It’s rather extraordinary, if you think about it, that there are efforts under way to prevent Americans from getting [health] benefits that they lawfully could enjoy and should enjoy.”

Extraordinary is one word for the Republican's lies. (But I prefer dickheads.)

Who's the ONE person in Washington, DC who's above reproach?

Democrats. Republicans. Lobbyists. Journalists. They all get slagged (and rightly so) in Mark Leibovich’s new book, This Town. It’s about the Washington, DC scene, and apparently could be subtitled "A well-written guide to the worst people in America." 

So, does ANYONE avoid coming out looking like a venal hypocrite? According to Alex Pareene of Slate, yes:

Strangely, one person who comes out fairly well in the book is Barack Obama, who is both barely present and also inescapable. Obama genuinely hates [Washington, DC]. It is a sincere and unflagging hatred. Many of his staff happily sold out, obviously, taking lobbying jobs and media gigs and massive speaking fees, but the president clearly has nothing but contempt for the entire city and its self-important longtime fixtures. He hates Politico, hates old Clinton hangers-on, hates the parties, hates it all. And he should!