What Does it Mean to Put Country Over Politics? Maria Asked Kamala Harris and Liz Cheney in a Historic Conversation

This week, Maria had a historic conversation: She sat down with Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former Wyoming Republican Representative Liz Cheney to discuss what it means to put country over politics—and why now is the moment to do just that.

Read on for highlights from that conversation, or to watch it in its entirety.

MARIA SHRIVER IN CONVERSATION WITH VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS AND FORMER REPRESENTATIVE LIZ CHENEY

Maria Shriver: Madam Vice President, did you ever think in your wildest dreams Liz Cheney would be campaigning for you?

Vice President Harris: Perhaps not. But I started my career as a prosecutor, and for most of my career I never once asked a victim of crime, or a witness, “Are you a Democrat or a Republican?” What I did ask everyone is this: “Are you OK?”

When I think about what is at stake in this election, it’s something so fundamental: Do we take seriously the importance of a president who obeys the oath to be loyal to the Constitution of the U.S.? Do we prioritize a president who cares about the rules of law?

In the last decade, there have been some powerful forces suggesting the measure of the strength of a leader is who you beat down. But the real measure of the strength of a leader is who you lift up. And so for that reason, I’m not surprised that Liz Cheney and I are on the same stage 15 days before the election.

Maria Shriver: Congresswoman Cheney, are you surprised you’re out here campaigning for a Democrat?

Liz Cheney: Everyone who watched January 6 knows what Donald Trump is willing to do. He lost the election, he tried to overturn it and seize power, and then he sat in his dining room and watched the attack on television.  People pleaded with him to tell the mob to leave and he wouldn’t. That’s a depravity that to me—and I think to anyone who’s taken the oath of office—makes someone absolutely unfit to ever be president again.

I’m proud and honored to have made this decision to endorse Vice President Harris. I’ve spent time with her. I’ve had the chance to talk with her about the kind of president she’ll be. And I think all of us know this is a good and honorable and great nation, and we have to have leaders who take that seriously—leaders who are going to be sincere.

As a mother, I want my children to know there’s someone sitting in the Oval office who they can look up to. And I know Vice President Harris will be that person.

Maria Shriver: How scary was it for you to make this decision?

Liz Cheney: It wasn’t scary at all. Because when I look at the nature of the threat that Donald Trump poses—and what he did on January 6, that level of instability and erratic decision making and the misogyny—that’s not someone you can entrust with the power of the oval office.

I think we are facing a choice in this election that’s not about party; it’s about right and wrong. Many Republicans have said to me, I can’t be public—but they’ll do the right thing.

If you’re at all concerned, you can vote your conscience and not ever have to say a word to anyone. There will be millions of Americans who do that on November 5.

Maria Shriver: Everyone I talk to says, “I’m so anxious.” Madam Vice President, can you speak to the stress and anxiety of this time so many of us are feeling?  

Vice President Harris: We cannot despair. The nature of a democracy is such that there’s a duality. On the one hand, there’s an incredible strength when our democracy is intact, and what it does to protect the freedoms and rights of its people. And it is very fragile. It is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it.

That’s the moment we’re in. I say do not despair because in our democracy, the people—every individual—has the power to make a decision about what this will be. So, let’s not feel powerless. Because if we feel powerless, then we have been defeated—and that’s not our character as the American people. We are not one to be defeated. We rise to a moment. And we stand on broad shoulders of people who have fought this fight before for our country. Let us look at the challenge that we are being presented and not be overwhelmed by it. The baton is now in our hands to fight for, not against, for this country we love.

That’s what we have the power to do. So, let’s own that. Dare I say be joyful in what we will do in the process of owning that, which is knowing that we can and will build community and coalitions and remind people that we’re all in this together.

Let’s not let the overwhelming nature of this strip us of our strength.