Cheney supports Harris/ Cheney backs Harris/ GOP figures endorse Harris/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ Former Vice President Dick Cheney, long criticized by Democrats, has endorsed Kamala Harris for president, reflecting the divide in the Republican Party. Along with former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Cheney’s support underscores their opposition to Donald Trump’s return to power. While these endorsements may not sway all voters, they highlight the rift within the GOP and offer Harris a unique opportunity to broaden her base.
Cheney’s Endorsement of Harris: Quick Looks
- Cheney’s Backing: Former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney endorses Kamala Harris, driven by opposition to Trump.
- Party Divide: Cheney and other Bush-era Republicans, including Alberto Gonzales, reflect a fractured GOP establishment.
- Republican Shift: Their support of Harris marks a shift as prominent Republicans reject Trump and endorse a Democrat.
- Impact on Election: While controversial figures, their endorsements could encourage anti-Trump Republicans to back Harris.
Dick Cheney’s Surprising Endorsement of Harris: A Turning Point for GOP?
Deep Look
In a political twist that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago, former Vice President Dick Cheney has thrown his support behind Democrat Kamala Harris in her 2024 presidential bid. Once a steadfast figure in the Republican establishment, Cheney’s endorsement, alongside that of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, highlights the growing divide between traditional Republicans and the party’s current Trump-led faction.
Cheney, who served as vice president under George W. Bush and was known for his aggressive foreign policy stance, particularly during the Iraq War, is now aligning himself with a Democratic candidate. While his endorsement is more a rejection of Donald Trump than a full embrace of Harris’ policies, it signals the lengths to which some Republicans are willing to go to prevent Trump from returning to power.
“This is not about policy agreement but about safeguarding democracy and rejecting Trump’s dangerous behavior,” said Will Marshall, founder of the Progressive Policy Institute. Marshall argues that Cheney and Gonzales represent Republicans who feel alienated by the current direction of their party under Trump.
Cheney’s endorsement of Harris, while surprising, follows years of his public criticism of Trump, particularly regarding foreign policy and Trump’s handling of NATO and military strategy. His daughter, Liz Cheney, has also been a vocal critic of Trump, co-chairing the House investigation into the January 6 Capitol attack and losing her congressional seat in the process.
Liz Cheney’s endorsement of Harris followed her father’s, both stating their deep concern over Trump’s disregard for the rule of law. In a statement, Dick Cheney said, “Donald Trump can never be trusted with power again,” a sentiment echoed by other Bush-era Republicans who have publicly condemned Trump.
Despite Cheney’s history of being a divisive figure, his break from the GOP’s Trump-led wing is part of a larger trend among establishment Republicans. Alberto Gonzales, who served as attorney general under Bush, has also endorsed Harris, pointing to Trump’s legal troubles and his role in the Capitol riot as reasons why he cannot support the former president.
“Donald Trump represents the greatest threat to the rule of law in a generation,” Gonzales wrote in an op-ed, calling Trump unfit for office.
While these endorsements may not immediately sway Democratic voters, they offer Harris an opening to attract moderate Republicans and independents who are disillusioned by Trump’s leadership. Former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, another Republican who has endorsed Harris, suggests that these endorsements are more about convincing hesitant Republicans to vote for Harris rather than sitting out the election.
“I think we can get Republicans who wouldn’t normally vote for a Democrat to see that Trump is the bigger danger,” Duncan said.
However, it remains to be seen how much influence these endorsements will have. Figures like Cheney and Gonzales are polarizing, particularly among Democrats who opposed their policies during the Bush administration. Cheney, in particular, has long been vilified by progressives for his role in the Iraq War, his ties to defense contractors, and his involvement in controversies such as the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame.
Comedian Jon Stewart recently mocked Cheney’s endorsement on The Daily Show, questioning whether the former vice president’s backing would resonate with voters. “Who in God’s name is that endorsement gonna sway?” Stewart quipped, suggesting that Cheney’s support might not move the needle in Harris’ favor.
Despite the skepticism, Cheney’s alignment with Harris underscores the ideological schism within the GOP that began with Trump’s rise. Trump’s populist rhetoric and rejection of establishment norms alienated many Republicans who had long been central to the party’s leadership. Cheney’s consistent critique of Trump’s foreign policy, particularly his stance on NATO and troop withdrawals, marked him as one of the few high-profile Republicans willing to challenge Trump while he was in office.
The divide became even more pronounced after the January 6 Capitol riot. Cheney and his daughter were two of the few Republicans who actively condemned Trump’s role in inciting the violence. The Cheneys’ attendance at the one-year anniversary of the attack in the House chamber, as the only Republicans present, further solidified their distance from the Trump-dominated GOP.
Liz Cheney, who lost her seat after being ousted by Trump supporters in her Wyoming district, has continued to warn about the dangers of Trump’s influence on the party and the country. Her decision to back Harris follows her father’s, both focusing on the importance of preserving democracy over party loyalty.
As Cheney and other former Bush officials align themselves with Harris, their endorsements reflect a broader struggle within the Republican Party. Establishment Republicans who once held significant sway in Washington are now marginalized, grappling with the reality that their party has moved in a radically different direction under Trump.
For Harris, these endorsements provide an opportunity to attract disillusioned Republicans and independents who are wary of Trump’s potential return to power. However, the question remains whether figures like Cheney and Gonzales, once criticized by Democrats, can help broaden Harris’ appeal or if their controversial pasts will limit their influence.
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