In the wake of Rep. Mike Johnson’s sudden rise to House speaker, the media has had limited time to thoroughly vet him. Critics struggle to pinpoint a single evil inclination among his many controversial beliefs. Johnson has been labeled a Christian nationalist, an election denier, a proponent of dismantling Medicare and Social Security, and even a follower of neo-Nazi conspiracy theories.
Brian Beutler of Off Message argues that while it may be tedious, it is politically necessary to typecast opposition leaders. Democrats have benefited from the fact that prominent Republican figures, like Rep. Jim Jordan, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Rep. Kevin McCarthy, are easily defined by standout traits. For Johnson, however, no single narrative has emerged. The question arises: which flavor of “right-wing radical” should be focused on?
Personally, what stands out to me about Johnson is his sinister nature. He exudes strong incel energy, and his rise to power highlights how bitter sexual obsession has come to dominate the Republican Party. Journalists and Democratic researchers have compiled decades worth of quotes from Johnson, revealing his rejection of the First Amendment’s prohibition against government-imposed religion. He falsely claims that the Founders intended to impose his deeply fundamentalist faith on the public, arguing that “religious and moral virtue” is essential to prevent political corruption and abuse of power.
However, Johnson’s actions demonstrate the opposite. He played a leading role in the attempt to steal the election for Donald Trump, a corrupt abuse of power that lacks moral virtue. Like many right-wing extremists, Johnson uses religious rhetoric as a cover for his true fixation: resentment towards others for their perceived sexual freedoms.
Johnson has made alarming statements about same-sex marriage, describing it as a “dark harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy.” He has repeatedly used terms like “sinful,” “destructive,” “deviant,” and “bizarre” to describe homosexuality. He has even compared same-sex marriage to the right to marry pets. When asked about these positions on Fox News, he responded with a dismissive “Go pick up a Bible.” However, the Bible does not focus as much on policing people’s sex lives as Johnson does, and his outrage seems to stem more from incel-style fantasies than any scriptural basis.
In true incel fashion, Johnson is haunted by his own imagined erotic adventures of straight women in America. In 2015, he blamed legal abortion for school shootings, claiming that when the nuclear family is broken up and life is devalued, it leads to such tragedies. He has also blamed feminism, liberal divorce laws, and the “sexual revolution” for mass shootings. This aligns with the views of mass shooters, who often claim their violence is a response to women’s sexual freedom. This disturbing logic stems from the belief that women cannot be trusted to make decisions about their own relationships, as it may interfere with men’s desires for control and companionship.
Johnson wants to restrict women’s choices by enforcing abortion bans and opposing “no-fault” divorce laws. These laws not only benefit those in unhappy marriages but also provide an avenue of escape for abused women. Liberalized divorce laws have led to a significant decline in female suicides. Johnson’s own marriage was licensed under Louisiana’s “covenant” law, which severely limits the right to divorce unless adultery or physical abuse can be proven. Such laws align with the incel ideology that seeks to trap women in relationships for the benefit of men who fear they cannot find a willing partner without coercion.
Johnson’s views on sex and relationships may seem outlandish, but there is ample evidence, including video clips, that demonstrate his creepy obsession with controlling women. His comments about his wife spending time “on her knees” and his rhetoric reminiscent of “The Handmaid’s Tale” further solidify the incel vibe he gives off.
Many pundits remain perplexed by the alliance between Christian conservatives like Johnson and former President Donald Trump, a man with a history of adultery and sexual assault. However, their connection goes beyond religious beliefs. Both Trump and his followers share a deep anger towards women who assert their right to say no, whether it be to a date, marriage, or pregnancy. This coalition of men, driven by their own insecurities, seeks to restrict and cage women, while resenting those who freely express their sexuality. With Johnson now the most powerful Republican in Congress, the incel-ization of the GOP is complete.
