Chaffetz: Americans Want a Speaker Who Knows How to Speak

Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz said Monday that he's the best choice to become Speaker of the House because his strong suit is just that: speaking.

"I'm arguing that one of my strong suits is actually going on camera and going before the media and making the case to the American people," Chaffetz, who announced his candidacy for the seat over the weekend, told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program. 

He said he does think one of the reasons Republicans have such a strong House majority is because of Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who has been considered by many as the front-runner to replace Ohio Rep. John Boehner, who announced his resignation in a surprise move last month one day after Pope Francis' historical address to a joint session of Congress.

I think everyone has plusses and minuses," Chaffetz told the program. "I'm trying to unite the party, I'm not trying to divide it."

Chaffetz said he does though, want someone like himself, "a speaker who speaks. I think that's what our conference wants."

And while last week Chaffetz slammed McCarthy for his statement that the House Select Committee on Benghazi had hurt Hillary Clinton politically, and called for an apology, on Monday, he scaled back his comments.

"It was a terrible mistake, but it was a mistake," Chaffetz said. "Kevin normally doesn't do that — that's not who he is. It was unfortunate. It was wrong. He's apologized for it. I believe him. We have to move on. I think it's an important committee doing important work."

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