Speaker Johnson's close ties to Christian right — both mainstream and fringe
NPRSpeaker Johnson's close ties to Christian right — both mainstream and fringe Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP Mike Johnson's surprise rise to the speakership after weeks of bitter party infighting was cause for celebration for Pastor Dutch Sheets. Garlow was part of a group of religious leaders who hosted dozens of online global prayer sessions for "U.S. election integrity" which promoted false claims of election fraud and hosted prominent figures in the effort to overturn the election including Trump's former lawyer Sidney Powell, who pleaded guilty last month in a Georgia court to six counts of conspiracy to commit election interference. Johnson's faith could help him govern in today's GOP The Christian Right has not had as close an ally and evangelist in House leadership since former Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a controversial and pugilistic figure who campaigned against a "war on Christianity" and embraced religious activists throughout his political tenure that ended in 2006. "There's plenty of room in democracy and in pluralism for people with extreme views, as long as they're willing to play by the rules, as long as they're willing to say: You win some and you lose some in elections, but the rules are what they are," he said, noting that this view is not shared with NAR adherents, and those that played a role in trying to undermine the 2020 election. "I don't know how much Mike Johnson buys into any of that, but he's definitely sending overt signals to these extremist networks of Christians that he is in solidarity with them," he said.
History of this topic
'You’re a lapdog': Mike Johnson slammed over 'shameful' attack on Bishop
Raw Story
Speaker busted for using 'fake prayer' to push 'Christian nationalism' in House: analyst
Raw Story
GOP lawmaker: Denying Mike Johnson's speakership would 'squander' opportunity from God
Raw Story
Letters to the Editor: Why Mike Johnson’s public displays of religious piety are a real problem
LA Times
McCarthy and Johnson are both conservative Christians. Only one is on the ‘front lines of the culture war’
LA Times
Speaker Mike Johnson draws scrutiny for ties to far right Christian movements
NPR
‘He is theocratic’: Top Democrat on Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership style
Raw Story
'Yearns for theocracy': New speaker once suggested 'religious litmus test' for politicians
Raw Story
Christian conservatives cheer one of their own as Mike Johnson assumes Congress’ most powerful seat
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