Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee was roasted online after he endorsed himself with a bizarre third person op-ed in the Salt Lake City Tribune.
In it, Lee praises himself for having "earned a reputation as a principled conservative” and says he believes that "elected officials are responsible for keeping the federal government within its constitutionally limited role.”
Lee goes on to note that "“Lee serves on various [Senate] committees important to Utah,” “Senator Lee has fought for Utahns and their values,” and “Senator Lee has remained committed to advocating for limited government and fiscal responsibility throughout his career.”
\u201cThe Salt Lake Tribune asked Mike Lee and Evan McMullin to write pieces explaining why voters should support them. McMullin, like a normal person, sent in a piece written in the first person. Lee sent in his bio, meaning he refers to himself throughout the piece as "Mike Lee."\u201d— James Surowiecki (@James Surowiecki) 1665975010
It reads as follows:
"Mike Lee serves as a United States senator representing the state of Utah. Since taking office, Senator Lee has earned a reputation as a principled conservative. He believes elected officials are responsible for keeping the federal government within its constitutionally limited role."
"His respect for the Constitution was instilled early in life by watching his father, Rex E. Lee, argue before the Supreme Court as President Reagan’s Solicitor General. Attending those arguments gave him an up-close understanding of the federal government’s proper role."
"Following his father’s footsteps, Lee received his undergraduate degree in 1994 and his law degree in 1997 from Brigham Young University. Upon graduation, Lee completed two federal clerkships. He then began practicing at Sidley & Austin, specializing in appellate and Supreme Court litigation."
"He later served as an assistant U.S. attorney, general counsel to Utah Gov. Jon M. Huntsman, and as a law clerk to Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito."
"Lee serves on various committees important to Utah, including Judiciary, Energy and Natural Resources, and Commerce Committees. He is also the Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee."
"In these roles, Senator Lee has fought for Utahns and their values. He has protected privacy with the USA FREEDOM Act, families with legislation expanding the Child Tax Credit, and criminal justice reform with the First Step Act."
"Most recently, his FORMULA Act was signed into law after achieving unanimous consent in the Senate. His bill is making meaningful strides in alleviating the nationwide baby formula shortage."
"Senator Lee has remained committed to advocating for limited government and fiscal responsibility throughout his career. His work is motivated by a deep reverence for our nation and the values that make it great."
"Lee and his wife Sharon have three children (James, John, and Eliza) and live in Provo."
The absurdity of Mike Lee writing about "Mike Lee" was such that the newspaper actually dropped his byline after initially including it at the top of the op-ed, which reads more like a website bio than a thoughtful pitch to his supporters. In fact, much of it appears to have been lifted from Lee's official Senate website.
Lee has been widely mocked as a result.
\u201cWriting an op-ed about yourself is such a loser move.\u201d— Blue Wave Utah 2022 \u262e\ufe0f (@Blue Wave Utah 2022 \u262e\ufe0f) 1666051142
\u201cIt's funny how in @MikeLeeforUtah's endorsement of @SenMikeLee he forgot to mention the part about being implicated in the fake electors scheme. \n\nYou would think @MikeLeeforUtah would want to own that for the #MAGA base to get their support.\n\nGuess he's not a true believer.\u201d— Travis Bone (@Travis Bone) 1666036034
\u201cI\u2019ve never seen an endorsement written by the endorsee. Congrats, Mike Lee, Mike Lee never endorses anyone!\u201d— Michael Ochs (@Michael Ochs) 1665979765
\u201cThought for sure @tedcruz would be the first GOP senator so disliked that he'd have to write and publish an endorsement of himself. Enter @MikeLeeforUtah \n#MikeLeeforMikeLee\u201d— Lisa Senecal (@Lisa Senecal) 1666010009
\u201cMike Lee wrote this about himself.\n\nIn the third person. To endorse himself\n\nWeirdo\u201d— Pat Bagley (@Pat Bagley) 1666011094
\u201cWhen everyone hates you and knows you tried to overthrow the Constitution, you write an OpEd that sounds like someone actually thinks you're not a treasonous tool. @MikeLeeforUtah\u201d— Tim Hogan \u6d69\u52e4 (@Tim Hogan \u6d69\u52e4) 1666023150
\u201cThe insurrection-enabling, openly democracy-opposing Mike Lee has written a piece explaining why you should trust Mike Lee. Well, gosh.\u201d— Jeff Roush (@Jeff Roush) 1666024698
\u201cBeyond parody\u201d— Sigma Bill (@Sigma Bill) 1666031700
\u201cLee tried to toot his own horn in 3rd person, but he doesn\u2019t have a record worth bragging about.\n\nA \u201cprincipled\u201d conservative would have kept his oath to uphold the Constitution & protect the will of the people, instead of trying to overturn it.\n\nVote for @EvanMcMullin #Utah\u201d— Jane (@Jane) 1666009018
Lee's op-ed feels foolish and lazy in comparison to the op-ed the Tribunepublished by Evan McMullin, Lee's Democratic opponent.
McMullin wrote that "Utahns face a choice for the future of our politics and our country," adding:
"Do we continue down a path of division, partisanship and cynical self-interest that not only threatens our democracy and puts special interests ahead of Utahns, but stifles progress on issues like addressing inflation, stabilizing the economy, lowering health care costs, and protecting our air and water?"
"Or, do we recommit to the founding ideals in our Constitution that have made America strong, prosperous, and free: namely that we are all created free, that we are all created equal, and that no one is above the law? If we are committed to these ideals, we can find common ground to solve problems on even the most divisive issues."
McMullin goes on to add that he "served for 10 years in the Central Intelligence Agency, working undercover to take terrorists off the battlefield after 9/11" and that Washington is full of "too many politicians use division as a weapon, wielding it for their own power and personal benefit."
Importantly, McMullin notes that some politicians "even worked to overturn millions of Americans’ votes in our last presidential election," which can be interpreted as a jab at Lee.
Lee coordinated with former Republican President Donald Trump's administration to overturn Democrat Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election but ultimately voted to certify the election.
He later voted against creating an independent commission to investigate the January 6 insurrection, which took place after a mob of Trump's supporters attacked the nation's seat of government on the fakse premise the election was stolen.