The public is up with pitchforks and a politician makes a call "Yay pitchforks!", I think that is the opportunistic part. Anyone can make the same call for some of the juicy free public attention for themselves - and such a remark isn't good for anything but some camera spotlight.

Most normal people would opt for an investigation from the justice system with a court and judges to make the calls - not a mob with pitchforks or a politician who wants to hang people before a trial even started.