McLean, Virginia — Senator Mitt Romney, of Utah, supplied greater than 200 Republican donors a stark message on the fragility of American democracy throughout personal remarks on Monday evening at a fundraiser in Northern Virginia.
In keeping with 5 attendees, Romney informed the group that he has a chart in his Senate workplace tracing the historical past of civilizations over the previous 4,000 years. He stated it's a reminder of how they'll rise and collapse, and of how uncommon American democracy is in international historical past.
From the Mongol Empire to the Roman Empire, Romney stated, autocracy is the chart's "default setting," with authoritarian leaders at each flip.
"We're actually the one important experiment in democracy, and preserving liberal democracy is a unprecedented problem," Romney stated, in response to the attendees, who gathered on the Hilton Lodge in McLean.
Attendees described Romney, the GOP's 2012 presidential nominee, as delivering the remarks as a warning for the group, which included many longtime members of the Republican institution, because the U.S. confronts Russia's invasion of Ukraine and as former President Donald Trump continues to exert energy contained in the Republican Occasion.
Romney was the introductory speaker at a closed fundraiser for Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming. Cheney's major race has a nationwide following — she's dealing with a problem from Harriet Hageman, a Trump ally who has been endorsed by Home Minority Chief Kevin McCarthy, of California.
Cheney, a Trump critic, is the vice chair of the Home choose committee investigating the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol and Trump's function in efforts to dam the certification of President Joe Biden's election.
Trump has been livid with Cheney ever since she voted to question him final 12 months after the assault. On the time, she was within the Home GOP management.
At Monday evening's occasion, which raised over $526,000 for Cheney, Romney framed the survival of American democracy as a battle on two fronts, with the opportunity of important erosion until leaders are vigilant.
Overseas, he stated, it faces threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who's following an authoritarian playbook "rehearsed time and time once more, over the numerous 1000's of years of world historical past."
At residence, Romney stated, "what has saved us from falling in with the identical sort of authoritarian chief as Vladimir Putin are the strengths of our establishments, the rule of legislation, our courts, Congress, and so forth."
"Folks of character and braveness," Romney stated, "have stood up for proper at instances when others wish to look away. Such an individual is Liz Cheney."
The gang roared its approval, attendees stated.
Cheney's father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, and mom, Lynne Cheney, have been noticed by CBS Information as they exited the fundraiser. Attendees stated Cheney's mother and father didn't make formal remarks on the fundraiser however did socialize with friends on the opening reception.
The fundraiser was organized by veteran Republican energy brokers Bobbie and Invoice Kilberg, who've many years of hyperlinks to previous Republican presidents.
In an interview late Monday, Invoice Kilberg stated the occasion went "exceedingly effectively," not solely by way of the fundraising whole, however for rallying Republicans who're more and more anxious about their get together and nation.
"I believe persons are actually hungry for a smart, rational different in our political dialogue," Invoice Kilberg stated. "They are not proud of the route of the Republican Occasion and so they're not notably proud of the route of the Democratic Occasion."
"They noticed two, wise, clever, rational conservatives, and so they have been excited. It has been a very long time since we had that chance."
"Romney received a standing ovation," he added, when he praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and when he spoke about American democracy. "He stated we've got to understand how fragile this technique is."
"That was the essence of Liz's remarks as effectively," Bobbie Kilberg stated. "She stated, if somebody would not have respect for the rule of legislation and the democratic system, then it is all for naught."
Congresswoman Cheney supplied a quick greeting however didn't communicate with CBS Information as she left the occasion together with her household.