SEO.com caught up with Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, backstage before he was scheduled to meet with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg Friday morning.
The senator offered some insight into the social-networking mogul’s psyche.
“He’s very shy,” Hatch said. “But when he starts talking about the Internet and social networking he comes alive.”
The stage was set for an intimate conversation between Zuckerberg and Hatch as crowds trickled into the Marriott Center at Brigham Young University.
Hatch said he befriended Zuckerberg in his role as a member of the Senatorial High Tech Task Force.
“He’s probably the No. 1 attraction in the whole high tech world,” Hatch said.
Zuckerberg’s speech in Utah is a rare public appearance for the Internet entrepreneur.
“He’s never done it before,” Hatch told SEO.com. “I think he’s been in some big meetings, but he has never done anything like this.”
Hatch will soon face a tough re-election fight. The conservative said he has not sought a political endorsement from Zuckerberg.
“He’s a friend,” Hatch said. “That’s good enough for me.”
When asked if Zuckerberg is a Republican: “Probably not,” Hatch replied.
According to the senator, Zuckerberg traveled to Utah with a staff of roughly 10 people, three of which are BYU graduates.
“He’s very well aware of where to get top-notch people,” Hatch said.
When asked if Facebook may open an office in Utah, Hatch said “I haven’t hit on that real hard yet.”
Hundreds of questions were submitted to Zuckerberg via Facebook.
“We asked the kids to send in questions,” Hatch said.
View our full recap of the event: Zuckerberg, conservative senator: an unlikely duo
Pat, awesome job getting in front of Hatch before it all went down. Cool hearing Hatch’s take on things from backstage.
Thanks for the write-up. Anyone know what exactly Hatch does on the Senatorial High Tech Task Force?
Good bit. “We asked the kids to send in questions,” Hatch said.
What about all the Q’s from peeps like my friend’s mom who is 85 and is on farmville for like 9 hrs a day????
Interesting meeting. I guess one could say ‘arguably’, not ‘probably’, the no. 1 attraction in the high tech world. There are probably two or three other people who I would choose to listen to (or meet!) before Mr Facebook.
I saw the story on the news about this. Wish I would have been able to attend. The way he has changed social networking is amazing.
Mr. Zuckerberg is have super techonogi. Wunderfool