Gaetz takes aim at Cheney at rally in her home state | TheHill – The Hill

Gaetz takes aim at Cheney at rally in her home state | TheHill – The Hill

Rep. Matt GaetzMatthew (Matt) GaetzTrump, allies raise pressure on Senate GOP ahead of impeachment Cheney spokesperson on Gaetz: ‘In Wyoming, the men don’t wear make-up’ Cheney tests Trump grip on GOP post-presidency MORE (R-Fla.), one of former President TrumpDonald TrumpFBI says California extremist may have targeted Newsom House Democrat touts resolution to expel Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congress Facebook to dial back political content on platform MORE’s most ardent supporters, took aim at House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz CheneyElizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyState-level Republicans wracked by division after Trump’s loss Former lawmakers call on leadership to focus on unity On The Trail: Little GOP interest in post-election introspection MORE (Wyo.) on her own turf Thursday, holding a rally calling for her ouster.

Hundreds gathered outside the Capitol in Cheyenne, where the Florida Republican railed against the No. 3 Republican in the House just one day after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin McCarthyHouse Democrat touts resolution to expel Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congress McCarthy to meet with Trump in Florida Video shows Rep. Greene calling Parkland shooting survivor a ‘coward’ MORE (R-Calif.) called on members of the conference to stop attacking each other as divisions in the party become increasingly more evident in the post-Trump era.

The decision from Gaetz — who has had a contentious relationship with Cheney — to host the rally comes as House conservatives push to remove Cheney from her leadership post after her decision to vote in favor of impeaching Trump for inciting the deadly insurrection at the Capitol on Jan.6.

“Our battle is no longer just Republican vs. Democrat, it’s not just red team versus blue team. Absolutely not — we’ve got to put America first. Those are the old battles of yesteryear. But people have always come to the great frontiers of Wyoming to win the future — that’s why I’m here,” he said in his speech.

“Liz Cheney is a lot like Congress — deeply unpopular and owned by special interests,” he added. “She’s taken more money from PACs than people. She works for them, not you.”

Gaetz repeatedly slammed her foreign policy stances, alleging she supports endless wars, calling her a globalist, and accusing her of being beholden to special interests.

“The truth is that the establishment in both political parties have teamed up to screw our fellow Americans for generations. The private insider club of Joe BidenJoe BidenHouse Democrat touts resolution to expel Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congress Science denialism in the new administration Jill Biden to offer input on helping reunite separated immigrant families: report MORE, Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHouse Democrat touts resolution to expel Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congress Bringing America back from the brink Senate GOP slow walking Biden’s pick to lead DHS MORE, Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyTrump censure faces tough odds in Senate Bringing America back from the brink Former Sanders press secretary: Further means-testing of COVID-19 aid ‘unconscionable’ MORE, Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiOn The Money: Reddit traders cause Wall Street havoc | Powell: Inflation fears should not impede more coronavirus aid | NJ lawmakers press for SALT cap repeal in next relief package Pelosi asks Democrats to ‘write their stories’ of Capitol riot Bringing America back from the brink MORE and Liz Cheney, they want to return our government to its default setting: enriching them,” he continued.

“They want to turn our government to its default setting, enriching them, making them more powerful at our expense, but we can stop and it starts right here in Wyoming,” he added. 

At one point during his speech, Donald Trump Jr., the former president’s son, called in to take aim at the Wyoming Republican, who is the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney. 

“It seems like Liz Cheney’s favorables are only slightly worse than her father’s shooting skills,” Trump Jr. said as Gaetz held his phone up to the microphone. He was apparently referring to a nonfatal incident in which Dick Cheney accidentally shot a man. 

The rally comes just days before the House is slated to reconvene, with the Republican conference slated to hold a conference meeting where conservatives’ grievances with Cheney’s rebuke of Trump are slated to be discussed.

While Cheney has come under fire since announcing her decision to impeach — even garnering a primary challenger — she has stood by her decision, with a number of leading Republicans in Congress including Sen. John BarrassoJohn Anthony BarrassoOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Biden signs series of orders to tackle climate change | Republicans press Granholm on fossil fuels during confirmation hearing Republicans press Granholm on fossil fuels during confirmation hearing Senate GOP signals it’s likely to acquit Trump for second time MORE (Wyo.), the No. 3 Republican in the Senate, coming to her defense.

“Wyoming doesn’t like it when outsiders come into our state and try to tell us what to do,” former Wyoming state Rep. Amy Edmonds said in a statement.

Cheney also easily fended off her primary challenge in 2018, winning with almost 68 percent of the vote, despite having pushed back on Trump’s foreign policy stances and at times his rhetoric. 

Published at Thu, 28 Jan 2021 23:31:01 +0000