Erie Pa.— Last week, the Jefferson Educational Society held the first event for Global Summit XVI, “A Conversation with Liz Cheney and Sister Joan Chittister.,” in which Cheney and Sister Joan sat down in a panel–like setting to talk about an array of different topics relating to Cheney’s career in politics.
The event was set to take place at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center, starting at 7:30 pm with doors opening at 5:30 pm. I made the choice to get there early, as a large turnout was expected. I arrived around 5 o’clock, parked in the free parking lot outside of the convention center and walked to the entrance of the venue, which already had a line out the door.
While waiting in line, one could already sense the excitement for the night that lay ahead. After a minute or so in line, a woman ahead of me turned around and noticed my press badge for the Gannon Knight, “Oh, how cool!” she inquired. We briefly spoke and I relayed to her that I was not sure what I was getting myself into. “Sister Joan is wonderful,” the woman assured me, “You’re in for a treat!”
The event began with the introduction and speech of the President of the Jefferson Society, Dr. Ferki Ferati, who announced that this was record breaking event. This event was the largest one–room event in the convention center’s history, garnering a crowd of a little over 3,500 people.
After Ferati, we heard brief remarks from the Vice President of External Affairs for LECOM Health, Monsignor David Rubino, who spoke about LECOM’s partnership with the Jefferson Society, followed by the Chief Diversity & Community Development Officer of Erie Insurance, Christy Blashock, who introduced to main guest of the night, Liz Cheney.
Cheney was welcomed on stage with a standing ovation. She began with some opening remarks and went into her background, saying she has been in republican politics since “before Donald Trump started spray tanning.” She spoke about her commitment to public service and told stories of campaigning with her family. Cheney mentioned the storming of the nation’s capital on January 6, 2021, while also denouncing the actions of former president and current republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. She noted the importance the electoral process and of a “peaceful transfer of power” that stopped with Trump after the events that took place on that day in January of 2021.
Soon after, the Benediction nun, theologian, and author Sister Joan Chittister was introduced. Sister Joan joined Cheney on stage, with the two women coming together in powerful and welcoming embrace. For the next 45 minutes or so, the two engaged in a powerful discourse, with two major themes in mind— Americanism and democracy.
Cheney touched on number hot–button topics such as the defunding of the police, the attack on the Capitol in January of 2021, immigration, voting for the impeachment of former President Trump and her support for the Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
One of the first questions directly posed by Sister Joan to Cheney was what the word “democratic” meant to her.
The former Wyoming Republican Representative responded by mentioning the concept of the democratic system along with implementation and understanding of the constitution. “We have to have two parties that are both faithful to the constitution” Cheney states later in the conversation.
Throughout the talk, Cheney spoke out a number of times against Donald Trump and his vice–presidential running mate J.D. Vance.
Cheney mentions the dangers she believes are posed against the American people, in the event of a second Trump term. Regarding the protest that took place in January of 2021 once again, Cheney often notes the importance of the courts, and their ability to enforce the laws. She argued that if the sitting president does not support the courts, they cannot enforce the laws. Cheney references Trump not stopping the protestors at the Capitol for a number of hours, leading to his own vice–president Mike Pence, having to be evacuated from the Capitol for his own safety.
At the end of their conversation, Cheney was then posed with questions from the question cards that were filled out by audience members before the program. She answered one question that asked about what it was like to enter the Capitol Building after the events on January 6, 2021. “It was so sad.” She remarked, remembering being “very angry” on the day of the attack. She mentioned her father, Dick Cheney, former vice President of the United States from 2001–2009 under the George W. Bush administration, being worried for her safety after Trump remarked in his speech following the attack “that they needed to get rid of the Liz Cheney’s of the world.”
Another question asked, was if it was difficult to convince her father to publicly support Kamala Harris.
“It was not a fight.” Cheney responded, going into her close relationship with her father and the goal of defending the republic.
Another audience question posed, was how the Republican Party plans to restore itself, if Kamala Harris were to be elected president in the upcoming election on November 5.
“Well, I think that defeating Donald Trump is the first step,” Cheney responded followed by an applause from the audience. She continues later stating, “We all have to make sure that we are giving positive reinforcement to the serious members [of the Republican Party], to the people who are trying to do the hard work, and who are reaching across party lines.”
Another question asked to Cheney was when she plans to run for office again.
“We have to get through this year.” Cheney states and mentions that being a mother of five she would like to spend time with her last child who graduates from high school in May of 2025.
One the last question posed to Cheney was whether or not she would serve in a Harris administration if asked.
A number of audience members yelled “yes.” Cheney did not give a direct reply, but she sang the praises of Vice President Harris as being someone she believes is a good fit for president.
To the voters undecided in who to vote for in this election, Cheney describes Trump later in the talk saying: “He is so erratic, so unstable, so chaotic, that there is no question that he will make us much less safe, and much less secure.”
She finishes saying “You have to be for the stable adult in the race.”
Lastly, Cheney’s message to Gannon students and other young voters: “Please get involved, please rep your state, please vote.”
To sign up for any of the upcoming Global Summit XVI events and for more from the Jefferson Educational Society check out the link below:
