Last week Republicans in the United States House of Representatives voted to keep Congresswoman Liz Cheney in leadership. Her own state’s Republican Party voted to censure her and asked her to resign due to her vote in favor of impeaching President Donald J. Trump.
But Cheney received 145 votes of support as she retained her leadership position within the caucus. Sixty-one members voted against her.
Cheney is seemingly emboldened having survived efforts by conservative Republicans in Congress to give voice to the Wyoming Republicans who overwhelmingly believe she has failed in her duties of representing them.
Cheney said that President Donald J. Trump “does not have a role as a leader of our party going forward.”
Congresswomen Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks both acknowledged they voted in support of Cheney remaining in leadership.
It should be noted that, even if Republicans disagree with that vote, they should appreciate the honesty, transparency and openness.
An honest disagreement is much easier to stomach than someone who refuses to be honest, refuses to be transparent and refuses to be open.
Enter Congressman Randy Feenstra.
On Feb. 3 The Iowa Standard reached out to Feenstra’s office to ask if he agreed with removing Liz Cheney from leadership.
One week later, after receiving a column for publication from Feenstra’s office, we responded again:
“On another note, I wanted to check in to see if Rep. Feenstra has announced whether he voted for Liz Cheney to retain her leadership position or not. If at all possible, we’d appreciate a response. Even just letting us know you won’t respond would be nice as well,” The Iowa Standard wrote.
As of early Thursday morning, we have not received an answer.
We also never received an answer from a Jan. 31 email sent to Feenstra’s office.
At that time, we asked for Congressman Feenstra’s thoughts on the new PAC created by his colleague, Congressman Adam Kinzinger.
Kinzinger also voted to impeach Trump and donated $2,000 to Feenstra’s primary campaign against Congressman Steve King.
We continue to wait, but can no longer advise any of Feenstra’s constituents to hold their breath and it would likely be hazardous to their health.
After all, it’s been more than a week already.
For what it is worth, King has made his thoughts about Liz Cheney known.
He retweeted an article from the Washington Examiner that featured Cheney’s quote about Trump not having a role in the GOP, and called it “utter arrogant condescension.”
“74.2 million votes and no role for Trump?? How about no role for Liz?” King tweeted.
On Feb. 7, King tweeted:
“Wyoming Republicans censure Liz Cheney for her ‘vote of conscience.’ First, one has to have demonstrated they have a conscience.”
King retweeted a message from Jeremy Carl:
“Don’t let Kevin McCarthy and others muddy the waters. A vote not to remove Liz Cheney from leadership is a vote to impeach Trump. Make sure you know where your rep stands.”
As of today — Feb. 11, 2021 — Iowans in the Fourth Congressional District have not been told where Feenstra fell on Cheney’s role in leadership.
They are not being told by the individual being paid to represent them.
Let’s hope that changes.
We applaud the courage and openness displayed by Congresswomen Hinson and Miller-Meeks. Agree or disagree with how they voted, it is impossible not to admire their courage and their willingness to provide basic information to their constituents.
It is how good government works.
Actually, being open and honest with your constituents isn’t an example of how good government works, it’s just common decency and should be expected of any elected official.
Right now the message to Republicans in Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District is they do not deserve to know the truth.
Or, perhaps, the message is they can’t handle the truth.
