When Integrity And Honor Are The Exception
And "loyalty to party" comes long before "loyalty to country"
Every now and then, I like to entertain/delude myself with the belief that the Republican party (once upon a time) believed in putting the interests of the country before the interests of the GOP. I don’t know when that might’ve been, but I have to think that at some point in American history, Republicans put country before party.
Perhaps it was Lincoln. Or Eisenhower. Or perhaps even John McCain…but you can bet that McCain was a pronounced minority in his time.
Liz Cheney? The progeny of Dick Cheney Darth Vader, the former Senator from Wyoming and Vice-President who possesses all the heart and charm of an Abrams tank? I’ve long despised virtually everything she stands for politically. She’s always been just slightly to the left of Torquemada and about as flexible. Yet, in the wake of the January 6th insurrection, Cheney, the #2 Republican in the House of Representatives, emerged as one of a very few Republicans willing to put country over party.
Who would’ve thought that Liz Cheney would’ve emerged as a beacon of honor and integrity among Republicans? Her commitment to doing the right thing is going to mean losing her House seat, but she- more than just about any other Republican- understands that honor and integrity are more than hollow words.
She’s currently serving as vice-chair of the House’s committee investigating the January 6th insurrection, which caused House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to replace her as his #3. Cheney has been widely reviled and accused of being a Republican in name only (RINO). She hasn’t left the GOP; the Republican Party has left her.
Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory.
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Donald Trump was so enraged by Cheney’s refusal to capitulate to his demands to stand down that he recruited a Republican in Wyoming to primary Cheney. At this point, it seems clear that sticking to her principles will cost Cheney her seat in Congress, a prospect that appears not to faze her.
Liz Cheney is that rarest of birds, a Republican with principles, convictions, AND the willingness to stand up for them no matter what it may cost her. It’s caused me to do a complete 180-degree reversal in my opinion of her. I still don’t agree with her politics, but my admiration for her courage and willingness to do what she believes is right while knowing what it will cost her is impressive.
Cheney hasn’t wavered during the January 6th committee’s investigation, despite the name-calling and revulsion from her fellow Republicans. To her credit, she’s given it right back, albeit in a restrained and classy manner.
There is a reason why people serving in our Government take an oath to the Constitution. As our founding fathers recognized, democracy is fragile. People in positions of public trust are duty-bound to defend it – to step forward when action is requireIn our country, we don’t swear an oath to an individual, or a political party. We take our oath to defend the United States Constitution. And that oath must mean something.
Tonight, I say this to my Republican colleagues who are defending the indefensible – there will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain.
Virtually all Republicans in Congress have caved to Donald Trump’s “authority,” and either have worked or are working to discredit the hearings as a partisan hack job. They’re neglecting to mention that they had an opportunity to participate in the hearings- an opportunity they refused to take seriously.
In the end, only Liz Cheney and Illinois’ Adam Kinzinger chose to participate on the committee. Republicans ridicule it as hyper-partisan, with seven Democrats and only two Republicans, but their propaganda is as cheap as it is transparent.
Both Cheney and Kinzinger understand that it’s called “public service” for a reason. It’s a position of public trust, which is why public servants take an oath to serve the Constitution, not individual leaders.
Unfortunately, Donald Trump chose not to accept that. Once in office, he believed that loyalty was due to him first and foremost. Anyone not displaying sufficient fealty was disloyal and not destined to remain near the center of power for long. Being in Trump’s orbit corrupted many Republicans, some beyond reclamation, which accounts for why we are where we are now.
Do what is right, not what is easy nor what is popular.
Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
Liz Cheney could have fallen in line with the vast majority of Republicans terrified of being primaried by a Trump-endorsed opponent. She could’ve put party before country like most of the GOP has for so long and probably been guaranteed a long run in Congress just off her last name.
That she did the right, and not the easy or popular thing, is a testament to her courage, character, and belief that public service still means something. So many politicians come to Washington and, after a few terms, are infinitesimally wealthier than when they arrived. How can that be when a Congressional salary is hardly a get-rich-quick scheme?
It would be easy and overly simplistic to call it corruption, but that’s what it comes down to. With access to power often comes access to money. If you think power corrupts, you should see what money’s capable of doing. Not that anyone serving in Congress should leave poorer than when they arrived, of course, but Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) didn’t win the lottery when he was elected.
Or perhaps he did?
Yes. Yes it does.
Call Liz Cheney a throwback. Or call her one of the last honest Republicans. I still don’t agree with her politics, but I greatly respect her integrity and honesty. She has more honor in her thumbnail than Kevin McCarthy will EVER possess, and while he has the power to punish her, he lacks the power and ability to dishonor her.
Because Cheney’s right, and at some level, every Republican knows it, even if they won’t admit it:
[T]here will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain.
And what Republicans don’t realize is that history books will be around for much longer than they will.
And so will their shame and dishonor.
Because Liz Cheney understands one simple thing- there’s no wrong way to do the right thing.
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