Liz Cheney A Great American Politician

Liz Cheney A Great American Politician

Liz Cheney is an American politician and attorney who has become a national figure for her unwavering defense of democratic norms even if it means political repercussions within her own party, the Republicans. Born July 28, 1966 in Madison, WI she is the eldest child of former Vice President Dick Cheney. Her career and decisions have been big especially as they reflect the divide within the Republican Party on principles, loyalty and the rule of law.

Liz Cheney Early Life and Background

  • Liz Cheney was raised in a political family. Her father Dick Cheney was Vice President under George W. Bush and a big deal in the Republican Party for years. Liz’s early exposure to politics and government from a young age would set the stage for her own political career.
  • Cheney graduated from Colorado College with a degree in history and from the University of Chicago Law School with a Juris Doctor. Her early career was marked by big jobs in government and the private sector. She worked in the U.S. State Department where she was involved in Middle Eastern affairs and held various positions under the Bush administration.

Liz Cheney Political Career and GOP

  • In 2016 Liz was elected to represent Wyoming’s at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a conservative and initially aligned with mainstream Republican principles – strong national defense, low taxes, limited government. She quickly rose to leadership in the House GOP and became the third ranking Republican as Chair of the House Republican Conference in 2019. It was partly due to her policy chops and partly due to her family’s conservative brand.

Against Donald Trump and GOP Divisions

  • Cheney’s career took a sharp turn after the 2020 election. Unlike many in her party she was vocal in her criticism of President Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud. Cheney was one of the few Republicans to denounce Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. She was one of only ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump and said her decision was based on her oath to the Constitution not party loyalty.
  • This earned her a lot of backlash from her party. In May 2021 she was removed as Chair of the House Republican Conference for her criticism of Trump and for insisting the GOP condemn the lies about the 2020 election. She said the party’s future lay in returning to conservative principles not loyalty to any one person. Her removal showed the shift within the party and the divide between those who are loyal to Trump and those like Cheney who see him as a threat to democracy.

January 6 Committee

  • In July 2021 Cheney took on the historic and contentious role of Vice Chair of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot. Working with Bennie Thompson she presented evidence of Trump’s actions before and during the insurrection. She was unflinching in her public statements about holding accountable those responsible no matter the party. Being on the committee and being out front meant she would face intense criticism and political blowback.

Wyoming Primary and Election

  • In August 2022 Cheney lost the Wyoming Republican primary to Harriet Hageman, a Trump endorsed candidate. This was expected given the backlash she faced from Trump supporters. Despite her conservative voting record her anti-Trump stance alienated many Republicans and she couldn’t overcome the loyalty many Wyoming Republicans felt towards Trump. In her concession speech she said her fight was far from over and hinted at a future role in defending democratic values even as an outsider in her own party.

Post Congressional Career and 2024 Presidential Run

  • Since leaving Congress she has continued to speak out about election denialism and the importance of democratic institutions. Some political analysts and supporters are speculating she may run for president in 2024. While the path would be tough within the current Republican Party she has positioned herself as an option for those looking for an alternative to Trumpism. She has framed her work as a mission to save democracy so she’s committed to public service over party loyalty.

Liz Cheney Legacy and Future

  • Liz Cheney’s legacy will be her standing up to her own party and defending constitutional principles. Though isolated within the Republican Party she has earned respect across the aisle with some Democrats and independents seeing her as a rare example of integrity in American politics.
  • Cheney’s story is part of a larger struggle within the GOP between traditional conservative values and loyalty to Donald Trump. Her commitment to the rule of law and democratic values may be her defining moment in history as a principled leader who put country over party and will shape the future of the Republican Party and American democracy.

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