Jeff Flake’s deceit exceeded only by his arrogance

The fact that Donald Trump won the GOP nomination over 16 other candidates is of no consequence to Flake

Jeff Flake, a first term U.S. Senator, who previously spent 6 terms in the U.S. House, used the banner of the Republican Party as he barely squeaked into office in 2012 by a mere 3 points. He was helped over the finish line with ample assists from the retiring Sen. Jon Kyl and the eager-to-buck GOP principles, self anointed maverick, John McCain — both of whom taught Flake the value of campaigning to the right and once elected, veering left.

These linked campaign ads show Kyl and McCain each taking their turns being tough on the border. Immediately after the ballots were counted they shepherded amnesty legislation. As a senate candidate, taking a cue from his mentors, Flake drew the wrath of the open borders newspaper, sending the editorialist spinning into apoplectic spasms. It was energy wasted. Following the election, he joined McCain crafting the infamous amnesty-gifting Gang of Eight. Arizona conservatives have had decades to get used to the duplicity, but somehow it still catches many off guard.

Now Jeff Flake is winging it on his own since the 6-year U.S. Senate terms are staggered and McCain is in a tight race against conservative Dr. Kelli Ward forcing him into uncharacteristic silence, as his vicious, out-of-state PACs do his dirty work against her.

So Flake has decided to veer into punditdom, opining Donald Trump, the GOP’s presidential nominee, “can‘t win and shouldn’t win,” the election. The only takeaway from that statement is that Flake will be supporting scandal-plagued leftist Hillary Clinton. SRAZ came to that conclusion in July with this post.

At a Tuesday event at the offices of Allstate Insurance in Tempe, Flake lobbed a barrage of spew at Trump, even disapproving of the way Trump expressed “regret” for some past comments. Flake, of course, remains the ideal in the apology department. When his son Tanner, used offensive racial, anti-Semitic and homophobic slurs on his Twitter account, papa Flake stepped in and publicly apologized for him, letting a teachable moment pass.

Flake got his foot in the political door when U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon honored his term limit pledge and stepped down after three two-year terms. Flake made the same pledge, but the seductive siren call of Washington was too bewitching for him to resist, and he announced that “it was a mistake to limit my terms,” even grinning and declaring, “I lied.” Was that an apology?  Did it meet the standard Flake holds for Trump?

In July we posted “So you think you know Jeff Flake? Think again,” Is it any wonder Flake is rated as one of the nation’s least popular senators? He shares the dishonor with his mentor John McCain.

Though Flake appears to revel in his role as chief Trump hatchet man, those of us who have actual conservative views are appalled at the arrogance Flake exhibits. He needs to be primaried by a conservative when he runs for reelection.