This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I think some people have been coming down too hard on Sen. Mike Lee lately.
We have to understand his motivation for threatening to defund health care reform by shutting down the government. Mike has to continually walk that fine line between doing real damage and just being bombastic and outlandish. Plus he has to pull one of these stunts every six months or so burnish his image with the Eagle Forum and their tea party acolytes who were instrumental in putting him where he is today.
How would it look to his base if he compromised (gasp!) with his colleagues to get the nation's business done? So a little more empathy, please. Think of how you would feel if people jumped all over you for just doing your job.
Lynn Maland
Salt Lake City