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from the Washington Examiner
Liz Cheney decries 'growing sense of isolationism' in GOP amid Russian invasion
By Juliegrace Brufke
March 2, 2022
Wyoming Republican Rep. Liz Cheney told a venerable GOP organization that the United States needs to take a strong stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
Cheney, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, called the Ukrainians defense of their country “inspiring,” adding that she believes it is the responsibility of the U.S. to aid Ukraine’s defense efforts.
“We've been inspired by the Ukrainians defending themselves, their families, and their homes. They have thwarted Vladimir Putin's plans. They have delayed what he thought he would be able to do. And ultimately, Vladimir Putin will lose. That doesn't mean that it will not be brutal and bloody, and it could take years,” she said in remarks to The Ripon Society.
“But ultimately, he will lose, and the free world has to stand against him," Cheney continued. "Anybody in the Republican Party or the Democratic Party who suggests that we don't have a position as between Ukraine and Russia is advocating views that are at odds with the interests of the United States of America. We have to be very clear about that, too.”
The Wyoming Republican argued if the U.S. doesn’t stand up for Ukraine, it could start to lose its position as the strongest country in the world, taking aim at members on both sides of the aisle who have advocated for a noninterventionist approach.
“I think one of the real challenges that we have faced in our party has been a growing sense of isolationism. We've certainly seen that for a while. Now we see it on the Democratic side, as well,” she continued.
"But those people in our party who are advocating for the United States to withdraw from the world, who are advocating that somehow the United States shouldn't lead in the world anymore, the kind of world that we will all be living in, we can see now on a daily basis on our television screens when you see what's happening in Ukraine. Because if America doesn't lead, the people who fill the void are the Russians, are the Chinese, are the Iranians, are the North Koreans.”
The Wyoming Republican, who has come under fire within her conference for her criticisms of former President Donald Trump and her participation in the Jan. 6 select committee, took aim at GOP officials and lawmakers who have praised Russia or failed to condemn Putin’s actions.
Her comments come in the wake of Trump describing Putin as “smart" and "savvy” and controversial Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia attending a white nationalist convention where attendees were chanting Putin's name ahead of her remarks. Cheney called for voters to elect “serious people.”
“As we have all of these debates and discussions at home,” she stated. "And as we're thinking about who we’re going to support and who we’re going to elect, it is so important for us to remember that the challenges we face as a country right now are really great. They're really serious. And we have to support serious people."
“Right now in our party, we have people who are antisemitic openly. We have people who are racist openly. And we have people who have attended white supremacist conferences openly," Cheney said. "In politics, we always want to have a big tent. But no tent can ever be big enough for those views. And we all have to be very clear about that.”