Newsfront HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON ‘Right Guy at the Right Time’ Colleagues see straightforward leader who can unite the GOP. T BY JOHN FUND
he response of house dem- ocrats to the election of Mike Johnson of Louisiana to be House speaker was at
first to ridicule him. Rep. Angie Craig, a Minnesota Democrat, laughed on MSNBC as she said: “We all had to Google Mike Johnson the other night as he was nominated — and we’re members of Congress.” But that quickly shifted. Demo-
crats released a 30-second ad brand- ing him “MAGA Extremist Mike” and claiming he was “the master- mind of the Jan. 6 plot” to block President Joe Biden’s election. Brian Beutler, a liberal activist
and editor at The New Republic, urged Democrats and reporters to hound Johnson with obnoxious questions. “When Johnson is absent or unavailable for any reason, it must be because he’s hiding from yet more questions about his election lies. Or maybe he’s trying to arrest a gay cou- ple, or a woman who terminated a pregnancy,” Beutler wrote on his blog. “With him it’s always one or the
other.” DEMOCRATS BRAND HIM A MAGA EXTREMIST
Johnson himself was forthright in defending his socially conservative views. “Give me a chance. Let me have a chance to lead here, and you will see what I’m really about,” he told centrist Republicans before his election.
GOOD REPUTATION His pitch won him unanimous sup- port because of the good reputation
His 7 Core Principles H
ouse Speaker Mike Johnson says he bases
all of his actions on seven core principles that he lists on his congressional website and which touch all elements of the conservative base. They are: Individual freedom.
His positions on the Second Amendment, school choice,
10 NEWSMAX | DECEMBER 2023
he built up as vice chairman of the House Republican Conference, the No. 5 leadership spot. He demonstrated an interest in
the details of legislation, impressing other members with expertise in tax, budget, and defense issues. It didn’t escape the notice of
MAGA members that he had served on the defense team in former Presi- dent Donald Trump’s first impeach-
and free speech fall under this. Limited government.
How far should the EPA, the FDA, and other unelected administrative agencies be able to regulate without congressional approval? Rule of law. Will the administration of justice be
carried out without regard to politics and identity-based categories? Peace through strength.
Where does the need to protect American interests overseas square with putting the interests of Americans at home first? Fiscal responsibility.
Should the U.S. budget move toward balance and should
wild spending programs like the Green New Deal be curbed? Free markets. Will the
U.S. economy continue to be a competitive one in which politically favored corporations aren’t dominant? Human dignity. Will the
rights of the unborn, religious liberty, and parental control be upheld?
PAUL MORIGI/GETTY IMAGES FOR CONGRESSIONAL INTEGRITY PROJECT
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