Utah Sen. Mike Lee Scolds Conservatives at CPAC 2015: Beware of ‘Unserious’ Candidates

Mike Lee is one of the few consistent conservatives in Congress, but he made a somewhat interesting choice for his subject at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). He scolded the audience against “unserious” Republican candidates.

To tepid applause, Lee warned his audience against the platitudes and talking points of candidates who are just throwing out red meat and urged them to reconsider the candidates in the light of serious policy ideas. Why is this odd? Well, for one thing that is what many of the participants come for. They want the red meat, the platitudes and catchphrases. One thing that CPACers want is to see how dynamic the speakers can be. In many ways CPAC is a beauty pageant, one where attendees are looking for the candidate that can excite them. But few participants of CPC are so empty of mind that they aren’t aware of the policy points that candidates are pushing. Sure the audience wants the red meat. But they aren’t just interested solely in the gloss of the stage.

This video is no longer available.

On the other hand, just who were Lee’s barbs aimed at? Someone as “unserious” as a Donald Trump? Who else might fit that “unserious” label? Only Mike Lee can tell us that.

Warner Todd Huston——Bio and Archives

Warner Todd Huston’s thoughtful commentary, sometimes irreverent often historically based, is featured on many websites such as Breitbart.com, among many, many others. He has also written for several history magazines, has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows.

He is also the owner and operator of Publius’ Forum.