She voted to impeach President Trump with a statement meant to leave a mark and make it as hard as possible for fellow Republicans to turn away from his misconduct. She said of Trump\u2019s behavior before and after the riot that \u201cthere has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cheney did this, not as a moderate member of the House from a suburban swing district, but as a conservative from Wyoming\u2019s at-large district.<\/p>\n She didn\u2019t do it as an obscure backbencher, but the No. 3 in the House GOP leadership.<\/p>\n She didn\u2019t do it as a long-serving member about to retire, but as a politician with considerable room to rise and presumably ambitions to do so.<\/p>\n She did it knowing that she would put a political target on her back, and indeed the backlash was instantaneous, with calls to boot her from leadership and threats of a primary challenger. Cheney\u2019s rejoinder is that hers was a vote of conscience, a word and concept that some of her critics need to reacquaint themselves with.<\/p>\n Various members of the House Freedom Caucus, including Jim Jordan (incredibly enough, now a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom) were particularly vocal in denouncing Cheney. By and large, that group has gone from asking, \u201cHow can we afford the out-of-control spending in Washington?\u201d to, when Trump tells them to jump, asking, \u201cHow high?\u201d<\/p>\n Matt Gaetz, the Florida representative who has made a name for himself as a clownish C-list Trump-world celebrity, predictably declared war on Cheney on Hannity<\/i>.<\/p>\n To his credit, House minority leader Kevin McCarthy has defended her and said he supports her staying in leadership.<\/p>\n Reasonable people can disagree on the advisability of impeachment, but there shouldn\u2019t be disagreement that the Republican Party needs more officeholders like Liz Cheney who take their responsibilities seriously and are willing to go their own way when they believe it is right. Brava.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.nationalreview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/liz-cheney-capitol-hill.jpg?fit=789%2C460&ssl=1\")
Representative Liz Cheney (R., Wyo.) speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill, May 8, 2019. (Aaron P. Bernstein\/Reuters)<\/cite><\/p>\n