“God Has Appointed Him To Convert the U.S. Into a Christian Theocracy”: Speaker Johnson Dodges Questions About Birth Control Views

Michelle MeyerNov 8, 2023

Minute Read

Speaker Mike Johnson holds a plethora of controversial opinions from anti-LGBTQ+ views to believing the Earth is 6,000 years old. Now, Fox News’ Shannon Bream has challenged him on his history regarding birth control.

Wildly Out of Step

Bream mentioned that the newly elected speaker had been accused of being “wildly out of step” with the average American when it comes to birth control. “He supported bans that would not only criminalize abortion but ban IVF treatments and common forms of birth control and that you voted against access to contraception,” she said, quoting Emily’s List.

A Bible-Believing Christian

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“Is that an accurate assessment of where you are? Because that’s not in step with the American people,” Bream asked. Johnson defended his views with Christianity: “No, Shannon. Look, I’m pro-life. I’ve said very clearly I’m a Bible-believing Christian. I believe in the sanctity of every single human life.”

The Nation’s Leaders

Johnson continued: “Listen, prior to the modern time, I mean until recently actually, almost all of our nation’s leaders openly acknowledged that they were also Bible-believing Christians. I mean, this is not something that should cause great unrest, okay?”

Evolution and Government Abuse

It’s no secret that Johnson is a young Earth creationist with a history of inserting his anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-evolution views into politics. He once went as far as to describe teaching evolution in public schools as “government abuse.”

Johnson Doesn’t Remember

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Bream went on to directly ask the speaker if he voted against “fertility treatments and access to contraception?” Johnson answered: “I don’t think so. I’m not sure what they’re talking about. I really don’t remember any of those.”

Concerns About Christian Nationalism

Johnson’s rise to speaker of the House is a concern to many. With worries about Christian nationalism at the highest they’ve ever been, many Americans think having someone with his views second in the line of succession to the presidency is dangerous.

Past an Idiot

One social media commenter said: “He’s past an idiot. He’s a dangerous zealot. Sixty-one percent of those who oppose abortion want access to birth control. There are Republicans who are believing in science and using their brains. Hormonal birth control doesn’t cause an abortion. Hormonal birth control prevents the egg from being released.”

All About Controlling Women

The commenter continued: “So if there’s no egg to be released to be fertilized by sperm, how can birth control cause an abortion? Birth control has been scientifically proven to reduce the percentage of abortions performed! As we know, it’s about controlling women.”

A Real Concern

Another person wrote: “Luckily there’s no way he’d get an anti-birth control bill passed by a Democrat-controlled Senate and signed by a Democrat president but it does really concern me that this could be a real threat in the future the next time Republicans hold both chambers and the presidency.”

Johnson Is an “Idiot”

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Plenty of commenters called Johnson an “idiot.” Some hit back, though: “Be careful about using the word ‘idiot.’ Trump is an idiot with only delusions of intelligence, which is why the U.S. is still a democracy, shaky though it might be.”

A Theocracy in All but Name

The commenter continued: “Johnson, on the other hand, is a fairly smart right-wing religious zealot who wants the U.S. to become a theocracy in all but name with a mere veneer of democracy to keep the restless quiet.”

A True Believer

Echoing the aforementioned individual, another person said: “He’s not an idiot. Trump is an idiot. Trump only cares about taking care of Trump. This guy is a True Believer. He’s educated, he’s intelligent, and his religious fervor isn’t a farce or a mask.”

A Christian Theocracy

Continuing, the commenter wrote: “He really believes his God has appointed him to convert the U.S. into a Christian theocracy. This is what we feared would come after Trump. Do not underestimate people like this. Vote at every level, every election, donate to the opposition, even if you don’t like or agree with them. Stop these guys.”

Questioning Republican Support

Others questioned those who still support the GOP: “Someone who is still a Republican is either stupid, willfully ignorant, or such a narcissist that they would rather see the country burn than admit they were wrong. I have relatives in all combinations of these categories.”

Christian Baby Factories

One person wrote a rather sarcastic comment: “So it’s not enough to force pregnant women against their will to birth a child. Now they want even more. Since they have a corrupt Supreme Court on their side, why not get birth control banned also? In fact, why not make a new law that mandates every woman in America to produce offspring? We could have nationwide Christian baby factories.”

A High-Profile Vote

Another individual, referencing Johnson’s claim about forgetting how he voted regarding fertility treatments and access to contraception, said: “If he can’t remember his participation in a high-profile vote less than a year ago, he obviously cannot be speaker. Who knows what he might forget or when?”

Spineless Like MAGA

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Another commenter wrote: “If you’re gonna vote against something, at least have the courage to stand by your convictions and admit to it when asked about it. He’s lame and spineless like everyone else in the MAGA GOP.”

An Interesting Suggestion

One person had a very interesting suggestion: “When they interview this guy, they should have a Bible ready and tell him that he needs to keep his hand on it as he answers. Ask him to do it on camera and, if he refuses, ask him why he refuses.”