Mike Johnson is under attack for the religious and cultural beliefs that he holds.
In an appearance on a recent weekend news program, the newly-elected Speaker of the House made the following comments regarding the barrage of negativity that he is having to endure:
“There are entire industries built on taking down, tearing down people like me. I understand that comes with the territory and we’re not fazed by it,” he said.
From the moment he took possession of the Speaker's gavel, enemies within the media have joined forces with partisan operatives in an attempt to pigeonhole him as an extremist.
Appearing to take things in stride, he stated, “I’ve been labeled all kinds of stuff, but these people don’t know me.”
Johnson is currently serving a fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, having secured Louisiana’s fourth congressional district seat with the largest regional margin of victory in over 50 years.
Arriving at his new post with almost 20 years of constitutional law experience under his belt, in his practice he routinely safeguarded the fundamental rights of individuals and businesses.
He characterized his legal career as one that placed him in the position of “defending religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, and biblical values...”
Highly respected by his colleagues, a deeply divided Republican caucus actually came together and succeeded in electing him as new House Speaker.
Even prior to his Speaker post he was held in high esteem by his colleagues. He was one of the most well-liked members of the GOP leadership.
Back in 2022, he had been unanimously elected vice chair of the House Republican Conference for a second time.
The favorable reputation was due in large part to the way in which he comported himself, humble in his demeanor yet true to his principles.
He hadn’t really aspired to the Speaker’s office or ever actually contacted anyone about the position. Rather, his colleagues were the ones that reached out to him and encouraged him to seek the nomination.
He has described himself first and foremost as a Christian, stating the following when he first ran for Congress:
“I'm a committed Christian and my faith informs everything I do.”
A number of journalists appear to be heavily triggered by Johnson's expressions of faith.
During a 2022 technology panel, which took place at his church in Louisiana, Johnson spoke about a subscription-based computer program that he and his teenage son were using at the time to monitor questionable content.
Media outlets, including Rolling Stone and The New Republic, apparently unearthed the remarks. Attacks were then leveled at the Speaker for his commitment against pornography.
While talking to reporters at the Capitol, he described the negative media blitz as “just the latest attack in a campaign by D.C. insiders on my faith.”
Walking the Christian walk, he explained, “If you truly believe in the Bible’s commands and seek to follow them, it’s impossible to be a hateful person because the greatest command in the Bible is that you love God with everything you have, and you love your neighbor as yourself.”
Those who are going after Johnson are perhaps unintentionally, or perhaps intentionally, forgetting that the beliefs he espouses are the same Judeo-Christian principles that served as foundational pillars during the initial formation of our country.
The Founders were heavily influenced by biblical teachings contained in the Old and New Testaments.
Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence the profound “self-evident” truth that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
These words spring from the Judeo-Christian credo that all people are created in the image of God.
The Founders recognized Scripture as a prime source of moral and ethical wisdom and incorporated many of its precepts into the U.S. Constitution. The three branches of government, checks and balances on power, the freedom to worship, and equal treatment under the law are but a few.
It is through the application of these inherent values that Johnson desires to implement what he terms “principled governance.”
He summed up the application of his faith in the following manner:
“We’re going to continue to love all people. We’re going to continue to bless even those who persecute us because that’s our worldview and that’s how we operate.”
He added, “Everybody take a breath, give us a chance and you’ll see what principled governance looks like.”
Praying for Speaker Johnson’s success.
And a miracle for America.
James Hirsen, J.D., M.A., in media psychology, is a New York Times best-selling author, media analyst, and law professor. Visit Newsmax TV Hollywood. Read James Hirsen's Reports — More Here.