Ex-GOP congressman slams former party for its 'blind loyalty to someone whose level of narcissism is extraordinary'
11 May 2021
This week, House Republicans are likely to remove arch-conservative Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming from her position as House Republican Conference chair for acknowledging that President Joe Biden legitimately defeated former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election and refusing to go along with Trump's false claims of widespread voter fraud. CNN reporter Kate Bolduan, on May 11, discussed the attacks on Cheney with former Republican Rep. Paul Mitchell — who left the GOP because of Trump's refusal to accept the democratic election results.
Mitchell told Bolduan, "I felt, in December, I had no choice but to leave the party given that other leaders in the party simply weren't standing up and telling the truth about the election and were supporting what turned out to be the Big Lie and, in my opinion, led to the insurrection in January. Liz is right. She is standing for the right principles. Unfortunately, these days in Republican Party, it's not conservatism that matters — it's loyalty to Trump. And I don't think that blind loyalty to any person is a healthy thing in our democracy. It simply is not. We ought to be loyal to our Constitution, to principles that we have, but blind loyalty to someone whose level of narcissism, frankly, is extraordinary is simply not the answer for our country."
Bolduan asked Mitchell what's "driving" Cheney at this point, and he praised her for standing up for "principle" despite the hell that House Republicans are giving her for it.
Mitchell told Bolduan, "I think it's a belief in what is right. And I haven't always agreed with Liz. But I will give Liz credit that's she's always stood for what she believes is right, what she believes in principle — regardless of the cost."
Another thing "driving" Cheney, Mitchell added, is a hope that the U.S. will eventually have a sane conservative party, which at this point, it doesn't.
"l think there is a longer term political interest here for her and for our nation," Mitchell told Bolduan. "When we figure out how destructive this is, we're going to need leadership that will help lead this country. President Biden has said it: We need a healthy two-party system. I'm not sure we don't need a three-party system. But I'll settle for two healthy, competitive parties. And right now, the Republican Party is not healthy."
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