Robert Gamer: Author & Activist

Liz Cheney should be admired for one simple reason: when it came time to choose between loyalty to her party and loyalty to her country, she chose her country. A staunch conservative, Cheney’s record opposes nearly every progressive cause—taxing the wealthy, gun control, labor rights, environmental protection. She has long been a reliable ally for big business and hawkish foreign policy. In short, she is a liberal’s worst nightmare. But when faced with the ultimate test of integrity, Cheney put principle above politics.

She didn’t lose her seat in Wyoming because of her conservative views. She lost it because she refused to bow to Donald Trump and the lies surrounding the 2020 election. While other Republicans stayed silent, Cheney spoke out against Trump’s role in inciting the January 6th attack on the Capitol, calling it a violation of his oath of office. For her, defending the Constitution came first, and that cost her politically.

This choice was especially significant given her deep political roots. Her father, Dick Cheney, was one of the most powerful vice presidents in U.S. history, and Liz Cheney had long been a loyal Republican, even voting for Trump in 2016 and 2020. But after witnessing Trump incite violence and attempt to overturn a lawful election, Cheney’s loyalty shifted to the Constitution—and away from party.

As vice-chair of the January 6th House Select Committee, Cheney’s words were blunt and unequivocal. In her opening remarks, she declared that Trump “summoned the mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of the attack.” This wasn’t a statement from a liberal dissenter, but from a conservative leader willing to stand up for the rule of law, no matter the personal cost.

Many Republicans have dismissed Cheney as a traitor, but what she demonstrated was integrity. In a time when political convenience often overrides principle, Cheney sacrificed her career to uphold her oath to the Constitution. Her actions highlight the value of defending democracy, even when it means standing apart from her party.

It’s true that Cheney’s broader record reflects traditional conservative positions that liberals oppose. She voted against healthcare expansion, labor protections, and LGBT rights. But when faced with a threat to democracy, she made the right call. Her defense of the Constitution in a moment of national crisis proves that integrity should transcend ideology.

In an era where democracy is fragile, Liz Cheney offers a rare example of a politician willing to lose power for the sake of principle. Cheney’s actions remind us that true patriotism means defending the values that sustain our democracy, not blind loyalty to any leader or party.

This author never thought in a million years of casting a vote for a Cheney. This author, though, despite disagreeing with 99% of her votes in Congress, would happily cast a ballot for her today. What we need out of our representatives is the showing of integrity and decency. Plaudits go out to Representative Liz Cheney for reflecting these characteristics, for embodying the spirit of America, what our country is intended to stand for! 

 Coincidentally, her father, former vice-president Dick Cheney, just announced that he will be voting for Kamala Harris, too.