Three prominent Republican Party figures were cheered at a Democratic rally in Wisconsin for Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday night and one even gave a speech.
The rally in Ripon, part of Harris’ Midwest campaign tour, was expected to focus on the Vice President’s policies on economic recovery, health care, and climate change, but praise for former Republican vice presidents Mike Pence and Dick Cheney, as well as Liz Cheney, who spoke to the crowd, brought a “unite against Trump” vibe to the event.
Liz Cheney delivered a passionate defense of democratic institutions and called on the country to stand against threats to the rule of law.
Cheney has often distanced herself from some of the more extreme elements of her party, including election deniers, particularly after her break with former president Donald Trump and the MAGA faction following the events of January 6th, 2021, and her role as vice-chair of the January 6th Committee, which investigated the Capitol insurrection.
Speaking of the events of January 6, Cheney said, referring to Trump: “Any person who would do these things can never be trusted with power again. We must defeat Donald Trump on November 5th.”
The declaration, alongside many other statements by Cheney was met with loud cheers and applause from the audience and chants of “thank you, Liz.”
Newsweek has contacted Trump’s press office via email for comment.
When Vice President Harris took the stage to deliver her keynote address, following Cheney’s speech, Harris acknowledged the rare political moment unfolding. “Can we hear it for Liz Cheney,” said Harris, met by more chants of “thank you, Liz.’
“Thank you for your support and your leadership and your courage,” Harris added, to tumultuous applause, citing Liz Cheney as “an extraordinary national leader who “has served with great honor” and someone who has put “Country above party … a true patriot.” This was met with whistles and cheers.
Some attendees, wearing Democratic gear, also held signs at the rally reading “Country Over Party,” echoing the night’s growing theme of unity against extremism.
“This is what leadership looks like,” Harris added, referencing Liz Cheney.
Harris then thanked Liz Cheney’s father, Dick Cheney, for his support as the crowd’s applause grew louder.
The crescendo reached its peak during the rally when former Vice President Mike Pence was acknowledged for his role in certifying the 2020 election results, despite immense pressure from then-President Trump.
Jim Vondruska/Getty Images
The rally showed the current divide within the GOP and the sense that preserving democratic institutions seemingly transcends partisan lines, even issues that sharply divide the parties, such as Liz Cheney’s long held views over abortion rights, which are diametrically opposed to those of Democrats.
Throughout her political career, Cheney has positioned herself as “pro-life,” opposing abortion in most cases, including her opposition to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that federally protected the right to abortion. She has argued that abortion laws should be determined by individual states rather than by the federal government.
This is in contrast to traditional Democratic views of the “pro choice” movement.
While Cheney identifies as pro-life, she supports exceptions for abortion. However, during her time in Congress, Cheney consistently voted in favor of legislation that restricted abortion access, including supporting bans on late-term abortions and voting to defund Planned Parenthood.
Reacting to Liz Cheney’s speech, President Joe Biden called it one of the most consequential speeches he’d ever heard and referenced what he saw as Liz Cheney’s character and courage and how much he admired her father.
“She has character. I know her dad. We argue like hell but I always admired his courage and honesty. What she did—physical courage. I’ve never been so proud,” said Biden.
Mark Leibovich, staff writer for The Atlantic, was with Liz Cheney when she came out and endorsed Harris, as stated on MSNBC‘s Alex Wagner Tonight show. When asked if Cheney’s endorsement matters, Leibovich replied: “One hundred percent it matters.”
He continued: “The key words here are permission structure. There are tons of Republicans out there and former Republicans out there and Independents out there who have voted for Donald Trump in the past, who have voted for many Republicans on presidential ballots over the years who need that extra push.
“You get some credit, I guess, if you say ‘No, I’m not going to vote for Donald Trump’, but you get full credit if you say you are going to vote for the one person who could beat him,” acknowledging that Cheney had gone “the full nine yards.”
On the same show, Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party referenced voters who he said are “high information, highly engaged, highly principled conservative Republicans, whose first and core fealty is to the flag and the constitution of the United States of America, and for them Liz Cheney shows that you can be yourself with your conservative commitments but put country over party over anything else … and that’s why this event in Ripon was such a game changer.”
Newsweek reached out to the Harris campaign, Liz Cheney, and Mike Pence for comment via email on Friday outside of normal working hours.