This blog has recently chronicled efforts by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and his supporters to scrub the web of extreme statements Johnson made. The idea is to present Johnson, who was unknown to most Americans before he became speaker, as a non-threatening moderate.
That’s the message the average American is getting. Members of the Republican Party’s Christian Nationalist base are getting a much different message, one that reflects the real Mike Johnson.
A Dec. 3 email signed by Johnson under the auspices of the National Republican Congressional Committee asserts that “America is hanging on by a thread” and “may be beyond redemption.”
The appeal for funds, which includes a photo of Johnson and his wife, repeatedly asks recipients, “DOES AMERICA NEED MORE GOD?”
It goes on to bemoan the fact that “1 in 4 high school students identifies as something other than straight,” asserts that “God is mocked openly in the public square” and adds, “And you don’t even want to see the filth that passes for popular culture these days.”
The message asserts, “Let’s face it – we live in a depraved culture. I didn’t want to believe it at first, but I fear God may allow our nation to enter into a time of judgment for our collective sins. The only question is, is He going to give us one more chance to restore our foundations and return to Him?”
Here’s the conclusion: “America needs to recognize that we have much to repent for if we want to avoid the judgment we so clearly deserve, but that starts with returning America to God’s good graces once again.”
This sounds like the rantings of a TV preacher, not a public figure who is second line to become president of the United States. These are the words of someone who fails to understand – or simply doesn’t care – that America in 2023 is a multi-faith, multi-philosophy society where we strive to live together in peace.
America, this is your new speaker – a religious extremist who believes the diversity of our nation is a bad thing that offends God – and a man who insists that his definition of faith should rule over all of us.
How do we know that? He just told us.
Photo: Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images
