Mike Johnson, the newly elected House Speaker, has a track record of using direct, straightforward language when opposing the Democrats. Here are some examples:
In February of last year, Republicans and Democrats got into a verbal battle about the Pledge of Allegiance. Democrats tried to make the problem political.
A proposal by Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz would have let “inspirational citizens share and lead as they say the Pledge of Allegiance.” Representative Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat from New York, pointed out that the House already began each session with the Pledge. He said, “I have no idea why we need to pledge allegiance two times in the course of a day to demonstrate how patriotic we truly are.”
“It’s inaccurate to claim that we do the Pledge on a daily basis or take part every day because I don’t see Mr. Nadler there on the floor whenever the Pledge is completed, and most members aren’t there,” Johnson interrupted. “They can offer it, but we are not interested. What the Judiciary body does is protect the freedoms that the flag stands for. This is the job of the body that is in charge of upholding the Constitution and basic rights. It seems silly to say that we were unable to devote 30 seconds at the start of this crucial task to do something that all Americans should be doing. This is something I wish we had carried out two years ago.”
It looks like Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) tried to make the problem political by bringing up January 6 and then offering an addition to the amendment that said, “Provided, nevertheless, that the Pledge can not be initiated by a person who advocated an insurrection opposing the governing body of the United States in any manner.”
Johnson personally talked to Cicilline about his dishonest amendment, saying, “I believe it is unfortunate that this occurred on the very first day, the passage of the Regulations package, by making something too political that shouldn’t be political. The only thing this change does is make it more political, and we both recognize it, whether you are willing to admit it or not. You’re using politics to make your point, and we all get it. Unfortunately, I don’t think any rebels will show up to say the Pledge, and even if they did, they wouldn’t be recognized, so this is pointless.”
“Maybe we should change the rules so that we also start with a prayer. That would truly enrage some of our adversaries,” Johnson said. “In the past couple of years, they worked hard to get rid of the phrase ‘under God’ from the witness pledge here. This has been done in US Congress for as long as anybody can remember.”
Cicilline’s proposal did not pass. Gaetz’s change was approved by everyone.
Johnson slammed Alejandro Mayorkas, the secretary of DHS, in July for letting his agency decide what is genuine and what is false. He pointed to the fact that a court had determined that DHS didn’t make a difference between domestic and foreign speech when trying to shut down debate.
“Beyond doing immense harm,” he said, “I’m uncertain as to exactly what you’re doing at the Dept. of Homeland Security.”
Secretary Mayorkas’s policies have created agencies that colluded and coerced social media companies to censor American speech online.
WATCH: @RepMikeJohnson schools Mayorkas on the First Amendment. pic.twitter.com/zHAj6iuAF7
— House Judiciary GOP ?? (@JudiciaryGOP) July 26, 2023
Afterward, Johnson fired, saying, “I only have 25 seconds.” There isn’t time for a question because you’re going to be elusive, but just so you know, I have served in Congress for around seven years. I believe that you are possibly the most dishonest person that the Judiciary Committee has ever heard from.”
