Staff Reports
President Biden is set to hand out his Presidential Citizens Medal to a select few, applauding them for their “exemplary deeds of service.” Among the glittering roster of honorees, one name stands out like a sore thumb: Liz Cheney, the former congresswoman whose entire political career seems to have been defined by her disdain for Donald Trump. Of course, given that this ceremony is all about honoring bipartisanship, perhaps Cheney’s main act of service was providing Democrats with a reliable ally when they needed one most.
Biden’s White House press release gushes about the honorees being bonded by “common decency and commitment to serving others.” For many, this may elicit a chuckle, especially when considering Cheney’s vocal opposition to her own party’s leader. Somehow, her crusade against Trump and her role as Vice Chair of the House committee investigating the January 6 incident has earned her a pat on the back rather than a swift exit from the limelight. It appears that when you betray your party, you get a shiny medal instead of a reprimanding letter.
Bennie Thompson, the Mississippi Democrat who chaired that same January 6 committee, also made the cut for this prestigious award. Is there a secret club for committee chairs that publishes a “how to earn yourself a medal for partisan politics” guide? The award ceremony might as well be staged in a bipartisan soap opera where the stars are swapping sides like they’re trading baseball cards.
Biden to award Liz Cheney, Bennie Thompson and others Presidential Citizens Medalhttps://t.co/7a1l4uAzhR pic.twitter.com/mgbvEcenJx
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) January 2, 2025
Among the list of honorees are several names from the Democratic side, including former senators Chris Dodd and Ted Kaufman, alongside a smattering of military veterans and advocates. However, there’s a curious contrast when looking at the awardees. On one hand, there are individuals like Frank K. Butler Jr., a Navy SEAL recognized for revolutionizing battlefield trauma care—definitely a noteworthy achievement. Yet in the same breath, Biden honors Mary L. Bonauto, who famously argued for same-sex marriage before the Supreme Court. One has to wonder whether helping cement the foundations of marriage—or transforming them—is really tantamount to displaying “exemplary deeds of service.”
As the nation inches closer to the award presentation, which will take place at the White House, it’s clear the event is a political softening effort to drown out criticisms of Biden’s leadership. In Biden’s version of heroism, the lines between principled service and party loyalty clearly blur, leaning heavily towards the latter. Regardless of the actual merits of the recipients’ actions, the event gives off the unmistakable odor of political theater, where dissent against one’s party is lauded, and conservative values are sidelined.
