A day before TIME magazine announced its Person of the Year for 2022, conservative Twitter users reacted with confusion and derision to the inclusion of Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney on the list.
Critics pointed to Rep. Cheney’s resounding defeat in the Republican primary for a congressional seat as evidence of his lack of political influence.
According to Time, other contenders for the world’s “most influential” person include Twitter owner Elon Musk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
LIZ CHENEY, RON DESANTIS, ELON MUSK ARE AMONG ODE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
Vice Chairman Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., speaks before the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol on Capitol Hill in Washington, Oct. 13, 2022. Cheney walks down the aisle again. Endorsing incumbent Democrat Abigail Spanberger in one of the tightest US House races in Virginia. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Commentator Charlie Kirk mocked Cheney’s credentials for the award. “Only in America can you lose a primary by 38 points, co-chair an unconstitutional congressional committee, poll 3 percent for president, and then be named a Man of the Year finalist.”
CONSERVATIVES DISAGREE THAT LIZ CHENEY ENDORSED DEMOCRAT: ‘STOP CALLING HER A REPUBLICAN’
ACT for America chairwoman Brigitte Gabriel called on Twitter owner Elon Musk to win the race for a second consecutive time, a victory that would put the billionaire in the same club as two-time winners such as Winston Churchill and Barack Obama. “Liz Cheney shouldn’t be seen as TIME’s Person of the Year, it 100% should be Elon Musk.”
Another Twitter user laughed at TIME for making fun of Cheney for publicly disparaging former President Donald Trump. “Elon Musk spent $44 billion to protect free speech, but Liz Cheney might be Time’s Person of the Year for hating Trump. LOL.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis waves as Bill Baggs arrives for a press conference at Cape Florida State Park, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, in Key Biscayne, Florida.
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
On Monday, MSNBC turned its ire on an entirely different candidate: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. “Morning Joe” host Mika Brzezinski grilled TIME executive editor Ben Goldberger on Monday for making DeSantis a finalist on TIME’s Person of the Year short list. He ran through the contenders: “Volodymyr Zelensky? Makes sense. Mackenzie Scott? E. Protesters in Iran? Makes sense. Ron DeSantis? Makes no sense to me.”
“By the way,” Brzezinski added, “it was a buried statement.”