Political figures have been expressing their delight after Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) lost big during her Republican primary race for her own seat in Congress last night.
Cheney was crushed by a roughly 30-point margin as she was ousted by President Donald Trump-endorsed challenger Harriet Hageman.
“It appears that Liz Cheney, one of the GOP’s chief warmongers, is about to lose,” former Democrat Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) said.
“This is good news for every American regardless of party.”
It appears that Liz Cheney, one of the GOP's chief warmongers, is about to lose. This is good news for every American regardless of party.
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) August 17, 2022
Republican Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) said: “Few people in Washington have been as wrong and damaging on foreign policy as Liz Cheney.
“Congratulations to @HagemanforWY on her victory tonight.
“I look forward to working with an advocate for liberty as the next Congresswoman from Wyoming. Bye Liz.”
Few people in Washington have been as wrong and damaging on foreign policy as Liz Cheney. Congratulations to @HagemanforWY on her victory tonight. I look forward to working with an advocate for liberty as the next Congresswoman from Wyoming. Bye Liz.
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) August 17, 2022
But after successfully ousting his congressional GOP nemesis, it was Trump who had the final word.
“This is a wonderful result for America,” Trump celebrated.
“Liz Cheney should be ashamed of herself, the way she acted, and her spiteful, sanctimonious words and actions towards others.
“Now she can finally disappear into the depths of political oblivion where, I am sure, she will be much happier than she is right now.”
Cheney said in her concession speech:
“A few years ago, I won this primary with 73 percent of the vote.
“I could easily have done the same again.
“The path was clear, but it would have required that I go along with President Trump’s lie about the 2020 election.
“No House seat, no office in this land is more important than the principles that we are all sworn to protect, and I well understood the potential political consequences of abiding by my duty.
“Our republic relies upon the goodwill of all candidates for office to accept honorably the outcome of elections.
“And tonight, Harriet Hageman has received the most votes in this primary. She won.
“I called her to concede the race.
“This primary election is over but now the real work begins.”
Cheney then continued by comparing herself to former President Abraham Lincoln while suggesting she may run for the White House.
“The great and original champion of our party, Abraham Lincoln, was defeated in elections for the Senate and the House before he won the most important election of all.
“Lincoln ultimately prevailed, he saved our Union and he defined our obligation as Americans for all of history.
“Speaking at Gettysburg of the great task remaining before us, Lincoln said, ‘That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. That this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom and a government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from this earth.’
“As we meet here tonight that remains our greatest and most important task.
“Most of world history is a story of violent conflict of servitude and suffering.
“Most people in most places have not lived in freedom. Our American freedom is a providential departure from history.
“We are the exception. We have been given the gift of freedom by God and our founding fathers.
“It is said that the long arc of history bends toward justice and freedom. That’s true, but only if we make it bend.
“Today, our highest duty is to bend the arc of history to preserve our nation and its blessings to ensure that freedom will not perish, to protect the very foundations of this constitutional republic.
“America has meant so much to so many because we are the best hope of freedom on earth.
“Last week in Laramie, a gentleman came up to me with tears in his eyes. ‘I’m not an American,’ he said, ‘But my children are. I grew up in Brazil. I know how fragile freedom is, and we must not lose it here.’
“A few days ago, here in Jackson, a woman told me that her grandparents had survived Auschwitz.
“They found refuge in America.
“She said she was afraid that she had nowhere to go if freedom died here.
“Ladies and gentlemen, freedom must not and will not die here.
“So, I ask you tonight to join me.
“As we leave here, let us resolve that we will stand together—Republicans, Democrats and independents—against those who would destroy our republic.
“They are angry and they are determined, but they have not seen anything like the power of Americans united in defense of our Constitution and committed to the cause of freedom.
“There is no greater power on this earth.
“And with God’s help, we will prevail,” she said.
“Thank you all. God bless you. God bless Wyoming. God bless the United States of America.”
