Have you voted yet?

I recently attended a talk by Liz Cheney, Republican Representative from Wyoming from 2017-23 and daughter of Dick Cheney, Vice President under George W. Bush from 2001-9. She spoke as part of the Speaker Series here in Boston sponsored by GBH radio and hosted by Culture Show co-host, Jared Bowen. 

I found her talk mesmerizing and was struck by several things.

First, by all measures, Cheney is considered an ideological conservative, and yet, at what always seems to be a very liberal-leaning audience, for the first time I can remember, Symphony Hall rose for a standing ovation BEFORE the speaker even started. I think everyone recognized the courage she showed in her role of Vice Chair on the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. She stood practically alone in her party to speak up for democracy and the rule of law. As a result, she had her membership in the Wyoming Republican Party revoked, was censured by the Republican National Committee, and ultimately lost her seat in the Republican primary for her state. 

Second, she is very knowledgeable about American history and constitutional law. It shouldn’t have been a surprise; she attended law school and worked at the State Department for five years. However, many of our leaders don’t appear to have a strong grasp of our history. Liz Cheney does. She related how her parents took her all over the country when she was young, to historical sites of all sorts, from Monticello and Mount Vernon to the battlegrounds of Antietam and Gettysburg. Her parents didn’t shy away from discussing the victories and the victims in our history. As young children, she and her sister often found the outings tedious. Their dad pored over every historical marker in every city and town - and every rest stop! And while she admitted to being bored, her knowledge of history definitely took root. 

Cheney talked passionately and persuasively about America, which she called “the greatest country in the history of the world.” She talked at length about a fundamental tenet of our democracy: the peaceful transfer of power. She referenced a comment attributed to King George III that George Washington was “the greatest man in the world” for willingly giving up his seat at the head of government. And she urged us to listen to Al Gore’s concession speech in the contested 2000 election (remember the hanging chads?!) Cheney reminded us that every president in our history has peacefully transferred power to the next winner. Every president. Except one. 

Former president Trump’s unwillingness to concede and relinquish power is at the heart of her own willingness to stand up, often alone, and demand accountability. The courage it took to stand against the majority of her party and be one of the lone Republican voices is why she received a standing ovation that night. Liz Cheney understands American history and appears to have a deep love for our country.

Lastly, she reminded us of our “sacred oath” to vote. She stressed that even if you don’t align with the candidate on every subject (And she made clear she does not align with VP Harris on every policy - for example, she self-described as pro-life - but is voting for Harris in this election) you have an obligation to make a choice. “There are no bystanders in a democracy,” she declared. She also added that men have been in charge for a long time and “they’ve really made a mess of it!”  adding that it’s time to give women a chance.

So, take her advice, and, whoever your choice is this year, stand up and be counted!

P.S. In case you’re wondering, Jared Bowen asked her if she was going to run for president in 2028. She paused for a little too long and then said “Stay tuned!”