This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Re "Chaffetz in the 3rd: High profile works for Utah" (Our View, Sept. 22):
I reject The Tribune's endorsement of Rep. Jason Chaffetz. A candidate should be disqualified from support when the candidate acts, advocates or threatens to act in a manner that elevates the candidate's self-interest or the interest of his political party over the best interests of the people of the United States.
Chaffetz committed that civic mortal sin when he and his tea party colleagues chose to hold hostage the country's good faith and credit during the debt ceiling negotiations in August 2011. He and his extreme right juvenile delinquents elevated political expedience over the national good.
When House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell implored Chaffetz and other representatives to act responsibly, they refused. Chaffetz voted against Boehner's compromise that avoided catastrophe.
Later, Chaffetz confirmed he was willing to plunge the country into financial default for the first time in our history, telling the Washington Post, "We weren't kidding around. … We would have taken it down." "It" refers to our country's economy.
Chaffetz' blatantly partisan actions deserve scorn, not an endorsement. I urge my fellow citizens to vote against him.
Scott Clayton
Sandy