Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) was one of several Republicans to give a response to the president’s State of the Union Address last night. In his remarks, however, he spoke directly to American families left behind and “forgotten” by big government policies. It was a sober, serious, and above all, uplifting response to the president’s “small-ball” annual lecture.
Much like it took “14 long years to get from Boston to Philadelphia,” he began -- referring to the difficult early days of our American revolution to finally, years later, forming a national government based on equality, natural rights, and the rule of law -- we too face similar challenges. “It is important to note,” he continued, “that had the founding generation stopped at just protesting against the kind of government Americans did not want, the Boston Tea Party would have been little more than a footnote in history.” Therefore, he argued, conservatives must articulate to the American people today not only what they oppose, but what they stand for: helping those dependent on government escape a life of poverty, building a stronger and more robust middle class, and ending the cycle of cronyism and political favoritism rampant in the highest echelons of our government. This is what Republicans must champion in the years ahead.
He also described Obamacare as an “inequality Godzilla,” which is not only hurting millions of American families, but favors those whom are politically powerful and connected over ordinary citizens. He emphasized Republicans must “deliver better solutions” as well, which Republicans in both chambers, he assured us citing many legislative examples, are already working on. “All of these proposals within the new conservative reform agenda, along with many more to come, mark the road to Philadelphia,” he said. And while it won’t be easy reforming an intrusive and broken federal government, he added, we can make limited government work for every American through diligence, hard work, and strength of purpose.
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