Republican Speaker Mike Johnson declared to applause from his party that the "people's House is back in business" in his first speech after weeks of contentious politicking.
With Johnson at the helm, social conservatism is making a comeback after being sidelined for decades.
While Christian views on marriage, abortion, and other issues have often been used as campaign fodder by Democrats, few Republican presidential candidates and leaders have made these values central to their agendas. Social conservatives have long been the least popular guests at the Grand Old Party, receiving plenty of lip service but rarely finding champions in power.
President Donald Trump, however, was a surprising hit with the social right. He became the first sitting president to attend the annual March for Life and was the first Republican presidential nominee to aggressively address abortion on the national stage. His support from Christian voters puzzled many observers, as he had not previously shown a deep understanding of his faith during his decades in public life.
Johnson's promotion as Speaker of the House could mark a new chapter for the Republican base. Christian Republicans were tired of being loyal to a party that didn't reciprocate. They wanted to be respected as much as the war hawks or the wealthy individuals who benefited from tax cuts.
Christians have long been an essential voting bloc for Republicans, but they have often taken a back seat to other priorities in Washington. Republican leaders have treated social conservatives with an "adults are talking" attitude, and their power has visibly declined.
For example, when the House passed a bill enshrining gay marriage, many Republicans voted in favor of it without deeply considering the issue. They were surprised to find that many of their constituents still believed marriage was a sacred institution.
Johnson, a former lawyer for Alliance Defending Freedom, has been a vocal advocate for the issues that matter to voters but make his colleagues uncomfortable. Christianity is central to his identity, and he made that clear in his first remarks as Speaker. He spoke of the inspiration he draws from Moses and cited Christian apologist G.K. Chesterton on the American creed. He also spoke passionately about the border crisis and referenced prayer and scripture.
While getting social conservatives' policy goals across the finish line will be challenging, it is a step that should not be dismissed. Many of the issues social conservatives care about are popular with voters, but Republican candidates often lack the messaging discipline to effectively communicate these values. This is a result of a Republican leadership more comfortable discussing economics than the moral foundations of Western civilization.
However, Republicans have reason to fear addressing these contentious issues because the media is quick to attack them. Johnson has already faced accusations of discrimination against sexual minorities and has been portrayed negatively for his opposition to gay marriage and abortion. The media rarely presents these stances as a reflection of Johnson's commitment to his Christian faith or his support for the sanctity of life.
Republicans have long known that the media will treat them unfairly, leading many to shy away from these issues. But this is a mistake. The past decade has shown that the slippery slope is real, with the FBI monitoring churches, states prosecuting worship, and lawyers targeting businesses. The cultural left demands submission to their ideology, and Republicans cannot afford to run away from these issues.
A socially conservative Republican Speaker is a small step, but considering that we haven't truly had one in decades, it is a significant one. If Johnson can navigate the treacherous politics of the day and succeed in his position, it could mark a new chapter for the Republican base.
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