Cheney’s memoir cautions against ruling class, not Trump
Liz Cheney’s new memoir, released last month, aims to solidify her reputation as a political martyr who stood up against an American “dictator.” However, the truth is far more complex. Cheney, a former lawmaker from Wyoming, prioritized personal ambition over serving her constituents and now wants to be remembered as a hero for democracy.
Cheney is seen differently by different sides of the political spectrum. To some on the right, she is an opportunist who turned against her own party to gain favor with the media’s appetite for Republicans criticizing Republicans. To the left, she is a symbol of courage whose policy positions make her unelectable. But let’s be honest, who on Capitol Hill doesn’t have aspirations of becoming president? The allure of money and camera time is strong for any politician with a platform.
Cheney wants readers to believe that she was ousted from Congress because she dared to criticize former President Donald Trump.
“I had watched thousands of hardworking, good-hearted people across Wyoming fall prey to Donald Trump’s lies,” Cheney wrote. “Some truly believed the falsehoods he was spreading. Others knew the truth but chose to perpetuate lies.”
While it may seem that Trump played a role in Cheney’s resounding defeat in Wyoming, the reality is more nuanced. Cheney was re-elected in 2020 with a similar margin as Trump, but she lost support in her home state once she became a target of the former president. However, if Cheney’s removal was solely due to her criticism of Trump, then why is Senator John Barrasso, who has also faced Trump’s ire, still seen as a potential successor to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell?
Cheney’s downfall wasn’t just about her clash with Trump. It was about how she chose to fight that battle. She abandoned her responsibilities to her constituents and instead focused on leading the Democrats’ partisan crusade against Trump, using the Jan. 6 Capitol riot as a platform. In doing so, she disregarded legitimate concerns about election integrity and smeared those who raised them.
Cheney’s book, far from being a thrilling insider account of the nation’s capital, reads like the bitter ramblings of a disgruntled ex-congresswoman who was ousted from her position of power. She tries to appeal to identity politics, complaining about the gender makeup of those who criticized her. But her gender didn’t save her, as she was ultimately replaced by female candidates in both leadership and Congress. And let’s not forget her own poor fundraising performance, which played a role in her removal.
Cheney also fails to acknowledge that her differences with the Republican base on foreign policy may have contributed to her downfall. While she aligned with the Trump administration on most issues, her break with the president was primarily on foreign affairs, where she represented the establishment faction pushing for intervention overseas.
Instead of reflecting on these factors, Cheney spends the majority of her book fixated on portraying Trump as the most dangerous man to ever hold office. She even compares the Republican Party to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, conveniently ignoring her own participation in Soviet-style show trials during the Jan. 6 inquisition.
Ironically, Cheney calls for punishment of those who question the 2020 election, while simultaneously decrying the supposed threat to democracy posed by Trump. Yet, it is the Democrats who are currently facing numerous charges and engaging in efforts to bar Trump from running in the next election. Cheney, however, justifies these efforts in her book, warning of the need to protect the republic.
But when someone portrays their political opponent as an existential threat to freedom, it opens the door to justifying extreme measures to stop them. Taking out political opponents is a hallmark of rigged elections and oppressive regimes, not a healthy democracy.
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How did Cheney’s approach to opposing Trump, particularly her alignment with the Democrats and focus on the Capitol riot, contribute to her downfall?
Determine her downfall; it was her actions and decisions that led to her loss of support.
One of the main arguments Cheney makes in her memoir is that she stood up against Trump’s lies and falsehoods. She portrays herself as a principled politician who couldn’t ignore the damage Trump was doing to the country and chose to speak out. However, this narrative overlooks the fact that many Republicans, including those in her own state, supported Trump and his policies. Cheney’s criticism of Trump not only alienated her from her party but also isolated her from the voters who elected her.
Furthermore, Cheney’s approach to opposing Trump was flawed. Instead of engaging in thoughtful debate or offering alternative solutions, she aligned herself with the Democrats and used the Capitol riot as a platform to attack Trump and his supporters. By doing so, she ignored the concerns of many Americans who had legitimate questions about the integrity of the election process. This partisan crusade did nothing to bridge the divide in our country and only deepened political polarization.
Cheney’s book also tries to portray her as a victim, claiming that she was ousted from Congress because she dared to criticize Trump. While it is true that Trump played a role in her defeat, it is important to recognize that Cheney’s loss of support was not solely due to her criticism of Trump. Her constituents felt that she had prioritized personal ambition over serving their interests and had abandoned her responsibilities as a lawmaker.
It is also worth noting that Senator John Barrasso, who has faced Trump’s ire as well, is still seen as a potential successor to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. This suggests that it was Cheney’s actions, rather than her criticism of Trump, that led to her downfall.
In conclusion, Liz Cheney’s new memoir attempts to present her as a hero of democracy who stood up against a dictator. However, a closer examination reveals a more nuanced and complex reality. Cheney’s downfall was not solely about her clash with Trump but about how she chose to fight that battle. By prioritizing personal ambition over serving her constituents and aligning herself with the Democrats, she lost the support she needed to remain in office. Cheney’s book reads more like the bitter ramblings of a disgruntled ex-congresswoman than a thoughtful analysis of the nation’s political landscape.
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