Shelley Horn isn’t typically a woman to make waves nor is she interested in heading up any political movements. In fact, up until this year’s election, 57-year-old Horn had never even cast a vote.
In November, she voted for Liz Cheney. Now, she’s calling for the Wyoming Congresswoman’s recall in an online petition she posted late Tuesday night after Cheney announced her support in voting to impeach President Trump.
It’s not Trump himself – though she did vote for him – that’s got Horn so upset. Rather, it’s what she sees the impeachment doing to a country that’s already diametrically divided. Horn further views Cheney’s recent actions as pandering to the Democrats to the detriment of the voters back home.
“She doesn’t speak for the people of Wyoming,” Horn said by phone Wednesday afternoon as signatures on her petition continued to ratchet up with new signers every few seconds.
As of press time, it had already garnered over 7,500 signatures from all across the state.
Horn said she’s never done anything like this before, but when she heard Cheney’s announcement, it was the last straw for the mother of five daughters, all of whom are surprised to see the spit and vinegar in their mother’s latest actions of which she said they fully approve.
“I don’t care if you’re for Trump or against him,” she said. “This isn’t going to help anyone. Period.”
She’s not surprised by the number of signatures, and acknowledges that the petition is not a call to see Cheney physically removed from office. Rather, Horn hopes it sends Cheney a staunch message that many in Wyoming aren’t happy with her recent actions.
“It’s another divisive move to sow hate and division while furthering her own career,” Horn said.
Horn also questions Cheney’s allegiance to her home state, referring to her as “a classic Washington insider and career politician,” who only returns to Wyoming when she wants their votes.
A review of Cheney’s voting record on the ABC affiliated website Five Thirty Eight indicates that she has voted in support of the president’s position 93% of the time. Cheney has consistently voted along Republican lines, but her views have differed on areas of national security and calls to reject electors by the president and some Republicans.
In a statement on Jan. 12, Cheney defended her opposition against the president, saying that he was directly responsible for summoning and assembling the mob and lighting the flame that ignited the attack.
“A violent mob attacked the United States Capitol to obstruct the process of our democracy and stop the counting of presidential electoral votes,” Cheney’s statement read. “This insurrection caused injury, death and destruction in the most sacred space in our Republic.”
There has never been a greater betrayal, Cheney further said, “by a president and his oath to the Constitution.”
Making history
Late this afternoon, the House of Representatives voted 232-197 to impeach President Trump on a single article of “incitement of insurrection.”
Ten Republicans, including Representatives Dan Newhouse and Jamie Herrera Beutler, both of Washington State, Rep. John Katko of New York, Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinios, Representatives Fred Upton and Peter Meijer, both of Michigan, Rep. Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, Rep. Tom Rice of South Carolina, Rep. David Valado of California and Cheney, voted in favor.
This vote is unprecedented, making Trump the first president in history to have been impeached twice.
Most Republicans, however, voted against the rushed impeachment, citing the fact that Trump will be out of office in seven days and such a rebuke would do little to unite an already fractured country.
Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell has indicated that the trial in the Senate likely will not take place until after Biden’s inauguration, according to reporting by The Hill, nor has he indicated how he will vote, stating he will wait to hear the legal arguments.
Sowing discontent
Regardless, Cheney’s actions will have lasting repercussions for Horn and others who no longer trust her to serve in the best interest of her constituents.
On Wednesday, Horn had already called Cheney’s office and sent an email, letting Cheney know about the petition and Horn’s plans to do everything in her power to make sure that Cheney is never reelected.
“I’d run against her myself if my knees weren’t so bad,” Horn said. “A lot of people trusted her, and we were wrong.”
Many others on social media echoed Horn’s discontent.
“I thought she would be a solid Republican,” Cameron Mills wrote on a local social media group page. “It’s now clear that 90% of these dems and repubs run in the same corrupt circle. Disgusting.”
Andre Rivard agreed.
“Like rats jumping a sinking ship,” he wrote on the same thread, “there goes another one. No backbone in the GOP at all. Rhinos are showing their true colors now all apart (sic) of the deep state. Swamp is getting deeper and wider.”
Others, like Bernese Larson, disagreed, stating her support for Cheney’s actions.
“She showed a lot of courage in doing the right thing,” Larson said. “President Trump has continued to repeat the lie that he won the election. Repeating it over & over will not make it true. I realize this is not a popular opinion, but have to go with the truth.”
For her part, Horn continues to watch the signatures add up and has also shared it on Cheney’s Facebook page and Twitter account, so she, too, can track its progress, Horn said.
“I just want her to pay attention,” she said. “I just want her to know that the voters are not happy with her.”
