'Why is that so hard to say?

' CNN host slams GOP's Mike

Lee for repeatedly refusing to call America a democracy
By Matthew Chapman
Published April 19, 2022

Mike Lee speaks to NBC (screen grab)

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On CNN Tuesday, analyst John Avlon slammed Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) for his alleged
complicity in former President Donald Trump's plot to overthrow the 2020
presidential election — and connected it to his previous repeated statements
disdaining the idea that America is a democracy.

"Here's a civic riddle: how can a self-styled constitutional conservative rationalize

trying to overturn an election?" said Avlon. "Well, that's what CNN's exclusive
reporting reveals in those text messages between Republican Senator Mike Lee and
Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows. The messages show that just days after the
election, the senator from utah was trying to work with the white house to overturn
the will of the people. But you see, Lee is the son of President Reagan's solicitor
general, so he was trying to find a fig leaf of constitutional credibility to do it. In fact,
get this, Lee texted Meadows at least seven times about possible slates of alternate
electors from key states as late as January 4th. We know now that those efforts to
corral phony electors were occurring in a handful of states, but after the attack on
the Capitol, Lee didn't vote with the eight Republican senators who refused to certify
the election. But he did talk about that alternate electors scenario. Take a listen."

"In moments, Congress has to make a choice, it has to decide which of the electoral
votes will be counted and which will not," said Lee in the clip. "That did not happen
here, thank heavens. And let's hope it never does."

"Let's hope it never does, except that's what Lee was trying to do," said Avlon. "Now,
the contradictions all start to make sense when you start looking at the context of a
tweetstorm that Lee fired off in October 2020 saying that 'America is not a
democracy.' He clarified, tweeting, 'The word democracy appears nowhere in the
Constitution, perhaps because our form of government is not a democracy, it is a
constitutional republic. That should matter to anyone worried about the excessive
accumulation of power in the hands of a few.' Now, we're also a democratic republic,
right? So why is that so hard to say, Senator? It is the last line that really seems
ironic now, right, wording about the excessive accumulation of power in the hands of
a few. Because that's of course what a plot to overturn the election would do."

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"In a press release later, Lee doubled down by explaining his problem with
democracy is that, quote, 'it is often used to describe rule by majority,' which is the
dictionary definition of democracy, government of the people, especially rule of the
majority," said Avlon. "And that seems to be the real underlying issue here. A
discomfort with majoritarian democracy among the Trumpist right. It is a definitive
example of putting party over country. And by the way, props to NYU historian Ruth
Ben-Ghiat, who recognized the danger of Lee's logic, saying, 'Such talk often
precedes 'exceptional' and authoritarian government actions. Look for more of this in
the future.' We sure did. If you need a reminder of why this is a rearview mirror
exercise, remember the ex-president's lackeys are still pushing the Big Lie and trying
 , p y p g g y g
to have the election decertified."

"If you're still not convinced, listen to what retired federal judge Michael Luttig told
The New York Times: "This is the clearest and most present danger to our
democracy. Trump is now preparing to lay the groundwork to overturn the election
in 2024 were Trump, or his designee, to lose the vote for the presidency,'" said Avlon.
"Those are the stakes. And that's why we need truth and accountability for Trump's
plot. Don't forget, defending our democracy should be something that unites us
across partisan lines."

Watch below:

John Avlon on Mike Lee's disdain for democracy

John Avlon on Mike Lee's disdain for democracy

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