Don't Let the Suit Fool You

Louisiana is going to be in the news a lot over the next 12 months. Jeff Landry will step into the governor’s mansion next year taking the state into God knows where. In Washington during what will be a historic election year if Donald Trump becomes the Republican nominee, Louisiana will be in the news because of Mike Johnson. Yes, that Mike Johnson. The man who was an unknown name in politics except in northwestern Louisiana, is now Speaker of the House of Representatives. What kind of factor will he be in the presidential race on a national scale, as the state is not a battleground state where Trump will be knocking on the door to get voters to send him back to the White House? However, Johnson as Speaker, will be essential to other states as he will no doubt be called on to raise funds for a Trump campaign and that is probably where he will be most effective. We already have gotten a glimpse of what policies he will bring to the floor of the House when he sent a stand-alone bill to aid Israel and Ukraine as the two nations are engaged in ongoing military conflicts. The bill to aid Israel alone and not Ukraine was a signal to the base that he “values” the lives of the Israelis more than he does that of the Ukrainian people even though they have been facing the might of the Russian military for well over a year. That is also a nod to conservative Christians who believe that Israel is involved in a “holy war” and that America must stand with Israel, but not with Ukraine at the same time. One would think/believe that Christians would stand on the side of those who are persecuted/killed no matter what nation they live in. Besides that’s where Mike Johnson has carved out his identity of who he is and where he stands. Johnson has been described as someone who is the “embodiment of White Christian nationalism in a business suit” that may come across as a nice guy, but his policies have always been about power. Power being attained through conservative laws and biblical teachings where he wants the two to be tied together. He does not believe in the separation of church and state. He believes that the founders wanted the church to control the state when it was just the opposite when one reads the First Amendment grants freedom of religion. Nonetheless, Johnson believes that “religion” should be Christianity which we are told is not a religion, but a “movement” started over 2000 years ago. It is a movement that many say, has strayed from the teachings of Jesus. Johnson believes that America is a “Christian” nation somehow ordained by God which is why he is in a business suit and not a preacher’s robe. Johnson likes to talk about “faith”, “beliefs” and “freedoms” as if those values belong to conservatives only. Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama have always talked about having faith, beliefs, and the yearning for freedom for all while being strong respectable family men. Somehow conservatives tend to think that what they believe is more in tune with God and that they are the only ones who can “save” America from where it is heading. Johnson still has not told us why he is so loyal to someone who is not the president, the same someone who he voted to try to keep in office. The same someone who preaches Christian nationalism, while not professing to be a Christian. Perhaps Johnson believes that the only way that Christians who believe as he does, can realize the power to rule America, is through men like Donald Trump. Why else did he turn a blind eye to what Trump did as president and the Jan. 6 insurrection that Trump stood idly by as the world watched in disbelief? Many will say that they are not Christian nationalists, but the concept intrigues them. The more we hear about Mike Johnson now that he is the Speaker, the more we see how many will say that he is “extreme” in ideology policy towards certain Americans, especially those in the LGBTQ community. Now, don’t let the blue suit and red tie fool you. Johnson will turn back the clock as speaker if Trump and Republicans take control of Congress. Clothes can influence what we think of people. Merely look beyond the clothes and get to know the individual. One other thing. In a way, Johnson is telling us what is in his heart. That can tell you a lot about someone who says that his beliefs are influenced by the scriptures, but his actions seem to go totally against them. Imagine Johnson the Christian and Trump the opposite in control of people’s lives. Politics do indeed make strange bedfellows. Remember, the world is watching. So is God.