When political opportunity knocked, Jason Chaffetz never failed to cash in

Jason Chaffetz is the ultimate opportunist.

The departing Republican congressman from Utah recently announced he would not run for re-election. He even hinted that he might even leave the House of Representatives before his term was completed.

I doubt many who live in the District of Columbia will shed any tears or plead with him to reconsider.

He presently Chair’s the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. This Committee has jurisdiction over the District.

He has used this position to exhibit many of the traits associated with a colonial overseer.

He delights in doing everything in his power to demean and belittle the 670,000 residents of the nation’s capital.

{mosads}In 2009, Chaffetz actually testified against any voting rights for the District. Any scrap of local autonomy he has opposed and has gone so far to recommend DC join the neighboring state of Maryland.

A move which neither D.C. or Maryland seeks or desires.

During the Presidential campaign of 2016 he delighted in pursuing Hillary Clinton over anything and everything.

But when Donald Trump became president, all of a sudden his investigative zeal immediately evaporated. His most recent charge against former National Security Advisor General Flynn seems to be a late attempt to refurbish his image and give him a patina of bipartisanship.

Chaffetz’ entire political career is a textbook case of Nixonian morality.

After a brief stint as spokesman for Nu Skin International, he began his political climb.

He challenged incumbent moderate Republican Chris Cannon in Utah. Cannon was a decent guy. Cannon advocated a guest worker program for immigrants and pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

Chaffetz saw a juicy political opening. He came out for the immediate deportation of all illegal immigrants.

And that was not all. 

He wanted “tent cities” constructed with barbed wire fences. Interesting proposal coming from a “compassionate conservative.” 

Chaffetz beat Cannon in a primary and then came to Washington, D.C.

It has been said that Jesse Jackson and Chuck Schumer never met a TV camera that they didn’t like. But both had a political philosophy. 

Chaffetz’ philosophy since arriving in Washington, D.C. has appeared unabashedly self serving. He seems consumed with saying outlandish things whether or not he truly believes them. 

That is of secondary importance. The main overriding goal is to get on TV.

Chaffetz denied rumors that he was going to run against Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). He’ll bide his time and run for Governor of Utah in 2020.

What motivates Chaffetz is not ideology or principle. No, it is just being seen and getting ahead.

Look, I am not naive. I fully realize that all politicians have this in their DNA.

But with Chaffetz it is so blatantly obvious and in my eyes crass that it surpasses almost anyone I can currently think of on the political landscape. (There is one exception in politics and I’ll let you guess who that might be). 

George Washington Plunkitt, whom I’m fond of quoting, was the legendary boss of Tammany Hall. His famous quote was, “I saw my opportunities and I took ’em.”

Chaffetz followed Plunkett with an ugly vengeance, but at a tremendous cost to political dialogue and public service.

Mark Plotkin is a contributor to the BBC on American politics and a columnist for The Georgetowner. Previously, he was the political analyst for WAMU-FM, Washington’s NPR affiliate, where he co-hosted the “D.C. Politics Hour With Mark Plotkin.” He later became the political analyst for WTOP-FM, Washington’s all-news radio station, where he hosted “The Politics Hour With Mark Plotkin.” He is a winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in writing.

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