Liz Cheney, 56-year-old, maybe down but not out. Cheney, a three-term congresswoman, is a woman who is totally at peace with herself. Like Barbra Streisand said, “Know yourself, what you can do and stick to it.” Cheney refused to lower her standards in order to hold her seat in the recent election in Wyoming.
Liz is a great example of a woman who will not comprise her beliefs to suit others.
Temporary Setback
Her defeat to Donald Trump’s backed Harriet Hageman was a beginning, not an end. Donald Trump will be celebrating as he was determined to destroy Cheney’s career.
Her concession speech was a call to war, saying all Americans must defend their freedom. “We cannot abandon freedom and remain a nation. Freedom will not die. You cannot turn your back on what so many have died for. A nation cannot be provoked by a mob on social media.”
The Guardian said of Liz, “May we have more politicians like Liz Cheney. People who will stand by their principles even if it costs them everything”. Considering the pressure she was under, she showed more courage than any living lawmaker.
Boldly Challenged Trump
Liz Cheney was the only Republican to challenge Donald Trump, just 6 days after the attack on the Capitol on January 6. Cheney stood out as the toughest Republican critic of Donald Trump. She knows the value of a name. A value that can be lost in an instant.
In May 2021, Cheney said: “I will do everything I can to ensure that Trump never again gets anywhere near the Oval Office. We cannot let the former president drag us backward and make us complicit in his efforts to unravel our democracy.”
She said, “The president of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack. Everything that followed was his doing”. The following day she joined ten other House Republicans, voting to impeach Donald Trump. Only two of those Republicans are still in office.
Death Threats To Liz Cheney, Down But Not Out
Cheney received death threats, making her reluctant to campaign in Wyoming, which is known as ‘Trump country’. Trump’s legion of followers, loathe Chaney, so the death threats were taken seriously. Cheney has spent thousands of dollars on a private security detail.
On hearing of Cheyne’s defeat, Donald Trump said, “This is a wonderful result for America, and a complete rebuke of the Unselect Committee of political Hacks and Thugs. Liz Cheney should be ashamed of herself, the way she acted, and her spiteful, sanctimonious words and actions towards others. Now she can finally disappear into the depths of political oblivion where, I am sure, she will be much happier than she is right now. Thank you WYOMING!”
Liz Cheney Out But Not Down
Trump is counting his chickens before they are hatched. Liz Cheney is out but not down. Fighting for democracy was more important to Cheney than keeping her seat.
She is convinced Donald Trump will cause democracy in America to crumble. In her concession speech she referred to the American Civil War, inferring that the democracy is in danger. It is fragile.
Liz Cheney Unafraid To Speak Out
Liz has never been backward in speaking her mind. Some would say that speaking out against Donald Trump placed limitations on Cheney. I doubt she would agree with that statement.
Liz Cheney may be down, but she is not out. There have been other women like Justice Ruth Ginsburg who have also been unafraid to speak out. They are brilliant examples of womanomics. She held the third-highest position in the House Republican leadership.
Cheney’s actions raise the question as whether elected officials have the right to represent their own principles or must do as their voters demand. Is gaining or holding power more important than telling the public what one truly believes and speaking the truth? As George Washington said, “I cannot tell a lie.”
Liz Cheney Genuine Talent
Cheyne’s genuine talent and determination, coupled with her pedigree, gave her the ability to reach across the political aisle. In 2021, Times annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world included Liz Cheney.
She will remain playing a starring role as vice chair of the committee hearings on the January 6th attack on the Capital. Cheney has said all along: win, lose or draw, “the fight will go on.” Like many women worldwide, Liz Cheney has a unique voice in a ‘man’s world‘. You may not agree with her politics, but she has used her voice to the good.
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