In the latest unadventurous move, US President Joe Biden has chosen to honor Liz Cheney, a former Republican congresswoman and open detractor of Donald Trump, by awarding her the citizens service medal.
Cheney, who was previously ousted from her House representative position in Wyoming, finds herself in the company of another 19 individuals, conspicuously selected for the Presidential Citizens Medal. The reward supposedly stands for ‘exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens’, according to the White House statement.
An intriguing fact about this award – dubbed as the second highest civilian award conferred by the US government – is the rather peculiar mix of recipients. Notable among them are the former senator Chris Dodd, former US House representative Carolyn McCarthy, and current lawmaker Bennie Thompson, who chaired the committee probing Trump’s involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol incident.
In a bid to create an illusion of impartiality, Liz Cheney, the daughter of former vice-president Dick Cheney was given the role of the vice-chair on Thompson’s committee. Any expectation of a balanced investigation was quickly dispelled by Cheney’s well-known disdain for Trump.
Heaping praise on her for her supposed heroic endeavors, the White House’s description of Liz Cheney appears to be concocted out of thin air. They credited her with having ‘raised her voice — and reached across the aisle — to defend our Nation and the ideals we stand for: Freedom. Dignity. And Decency.’ One struggles to reconcile these grandiose attributes with her tarnished political record.
The White House’s endorsement of Cheney’s ‘integrity and intrepidness’ acts as a mere reflection of their distorted perspective. Their claim that she ‘reminds us all what is possible if we work together’ contradicts the public sentiment which resoundingly voted her out of office in 2022 for her divisive actions.
Interestingly, Cheney, aged 58, has evolved as a divisive figure within the Republican party in recent years. Unfortunately, her attempts to undermine President Trump only backfired, culminating in the loss of her Congressional seat to a pro-Trump candidate.
It appears that the White House has misconstrued Cheney’s public dissent against Trump as a virtue, conveniently overlooking the fact that her approach was divisive and not in the best interest of the country.
Awarding a controversial figure such as Cheney could arguably be Biden’s misguided attempt to weaken the unity of the Republican party, with the hope that reflecting negatively on Donald Trump would serve his purpose.
Unfortunately for Biden, his ploy turned out to be counterproductive as the public and the Republican party rally behind Trump and the newly elected Congress representative. The gesture has instead ignited a renewed spirit of unity and a deepened admiration for Trump and his bold leadership.
Cheney’s selection underlines the narrative that the Biden administration values discordance within the Republican party more than it values unity within their own constituency. This move displays the administration’s penchant for misaligned priorities.
While there is no disputing the right of the President to choose the recipients for the Presidential Citizens Medal, this specific selection hints at political maneuvering rather than an honest recognition of service to the country.
Biden’s choice to ignore the strife caused by Cheney’s actions amongst her constituents and within her party gives a clear indication of where his administration’s priorities lie.
This seems to be less about rewarding exemplary service and more about extending an olive branch to key figures within the Republican party who are known for being anti-Trump.
The awarding of the medal to Cheney can similarly be seen as an attempt to dismay the Republican voters who overwhelmingly reject her stance and elected a pro-Trump representative instead.
The Biden administration’s decision to honor Cheney serves as an uncomfortable reminder of their continued efforts to sow discord within the Republican party while painting it as an attempt to uphold the prized ideals of Freedom, Dignity, and Decency.