The Wall Street Journal editorial board is issuing a warning about the fate of two Republican lawmakers and how that will impact the Republican Party.
House Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) has faced pressure since her vote to impeach former President Donald Trump. And, another member that has made headlines. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has some members of Congress concerned with her “kooky views,” as the Journal puts it.
In an opinion piece published on Tuesday, the Journal wrote, “If the House GOP punishes Ms. Cheney while saying nothing about Ms. Greene, it will deserve a longer time in the wilderness.”
The Journal credited Cheney “for daring to stand alone despite the political risks” as “Trumpians are vowing to defeat her in a primary in 2022.”
The editorial board adds with a warning:
“If bowing before all things Trump is the litmus test for being a loyal Republican, the party should get used to continued losses in the suburbs. Mr. McCarthy should be defending his colleague’s vote as a matter of principle, even if he disagreed with it, rather than living in fear of the wrath of Mar-a-Lago.”
It concludes its piece, “The main goal of the House minority is to become the majority, and in 2022 Republicans should have an excellent chance. But they’ll squander it if they purge serious Members like Liz Cheney and let themselves be defined by conspiracy theorists and Parkland truthers.”
On Monday, Cheney seemed to take aim at Trump, tweeting, “The 2020 presidential election was not stolen. Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system.”
Her tweet followed after Trump’s statement where he wrote, “The Fraudulent Presidential Election of 2020 will be, from this day forth, known as THE BIG LIE!”
Cheney was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump on the charge of “incitement of insurrection.” She was the highest-ranking Republican in the House to do so.
Congressional aides told Axios that House Republicans are looking to oust Cheney from leadership. The conference will meet on May 12 and is expected to begin that process then.
