Video: Newt Campaign Spokesman confronts Rep. Chaffetz on Campaign Trail

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) has endorsed Mitt Romney for president but seems to be following the Newt Gingrich campaign around, apparently for opposition research. At one such event, Newt's campaign spokesman, R.C. Hammond decided to approach Chaffetz and have an interesting exchange with the congressman from Utah.

Chaffetz came off as trying to walk a fine line between appearing cordial without conveying condescension. At several points, he attempted to distance himself from Hammond by saying he wouldn't talk to him because he wasn't with the press. That was a misplaced distinction, to be sure. As a high-profile Romney supporter who is showing up at Gingrich campaign stops, refusing to talk to the campaign's spokesman because he's not with the press is rather lame. Chaffetz should expect confrontations like this if he's essentially doing opposition research when he shows up.

Chaffetz did obfuscate when Hammond asked about lobbying or if he knew about Romney's ties to Freddie and Fannie, which is exactly what team Romney has been using against Gingrich.

It's disappointing to see this from Chaffetz. As a member of the House Oversight Committee, he has been one of the bulldogs in the Fast and Furious investigation. Frankly, with the biggest hearing to date in the near year-long investigation coming up on February 2nd, it's mildly disturbing to see Chaffetz more focused on Newt Gingrich than on his confrontation with Eric Holder.

Chaffetz came across as a little more arrogant than not, here.

Yes, Chaffetz is also a Mormon, like Romney.



h/t Freedom's Lighthouse