Editor’s Observe: John Avlon is a CNN senior political analyst and anchor. He’s the writer of “Lincoln and the Battle for Peace.” The views expressed on this commentary are his personal. View extra opinion at CNN.
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It would shock you to be taught that the brand new speaker of the Home, Mike Johnson, has mentioned ”we don’t reside in a democracy.”
Merriam-Webster’s definition of democracy is “authorities by the folks; particularly rule of the bulk.” That’s the way in which most People expertise elections: The particular person with probably the most votes wins. It’s true in each race besides president (thanks, Electoral Faculty), from mayor to senator to governor. And for the reason that nation’s founding, voting rights have steadily expanded. Typically, that is celebrated as progress towards a extra good union.
However majority rule appears to be a drawback for Johnson. He described it prior to now as “two wolves and a sheep deciding what’s for dinner” (a quote usually misattributed to Benjamin Franklin). As an alternative, Johnson has mentioned that the Founders arrange America as a constitutional republic “as a result of they adopted a biblical admonition.”
There’s quite a bit to work with right here – notably the “biblical admonition” bit, given the Founders’ acutely aware resolution to depart the phrase “God” out of the Structure, in addition to the Invoice of Rights’ prohibition on the institution of any state faith. In distinction, Mom Jones reported that Johnson has referred to as for “biblically sanctioned authorities” and promoted the notion that the USA is a “Christian nation.”
On condition that one among Johnson’s few well-known positions earlier than attaining the speakership was his strenuous effort to assist overturn the 2020 election, it’s essential to grasp that his dismissal of majoritarian democracy is a part of a right-wing development.
For instance, Utah Sen. Mike Lee tweeted “We’re not a democracy” within the run-up to the 2020 election: “Democracy isn’t the target; liberty, peace, and prospe[r]ity are. We would like the human situation to flourish. Rank democracy can thwart that.” Lee defined his terminological embrace of “constitutional republic” over democracy as being a strategy to keep away from “the extreme accumulation of energy within the palms of the few.”
However after the 2020 election was decisively gained by Joe Biden, the likes of Lee and Johnson didn’t appear so involved with constitutional processes or the extreme accumulation of energy. They have been among the many many Republicans who tried to overturn the election with none proof of mass fraud, selecting to defend Trump’s lies as a result of it supplied the possibility for his or her social gathering to remain in energy. The ends justified the means.
On the floor, disregarding the favored vote is an odd search for self-styled populists. However in fact, Republicans have gained the presidential widespread vote just one time since 1992. This has not curbed their ideological ambition. In that point, they’ve picked 5 conservative supreme courtroom justices and abolished the constitutional proper to abortion, which 63% of People, in response to Gallup polling, opposed overturning.
That is the place Johnson’s discomfort with majority democracy begins to trace together with his excessive evangelical beliefs.
Each have been important parts in his choice as speaker. Only a day earlier than his elevation, the speaker designate, Rep. Tom Emmer, was attacked from the suitable for his resolution to certify the election in addition to his vote to guard homosexual marriage.
In distinction, Johnson checked each right-wing litmus take a look at, from embracing election lies to opposing equal rights for gays and lesbians. Crucially, he was extra genial and humble than higher-profile right-wingers like Rep. Jim Jordan, who tried and failed to say the speakership. However with a couple of days of belated vetting, it’s clear that Johnson is probably the most socially conservative speaker in residing reminiscence.
He could be pretty described as anti-gay in addition to anti-abortion. Johnson helps a nationwide abortion ban after a fetal heartbeat is detected, although 69% of People help abortions being authorized within the first trimester, in response to Gallup polling. He’ll blame abortion for college shootings – and feminism – however not weapons.
Johnson additionally opposes marriage equality, which is the regulation of the land and supported by greater than 70% of People, in response to a Gallup ballot. He’s additionally supported criminalizing homosexual intercourse and even described heterosexual intercourse outdoors of wedlock as evil. Significantly. Right here’s the complete quote: “States have all the time maintained the suitable to discourage the evils of sexual conduct outdoors marriage, and the state is correct to discriminate between gay and heterosexual conduct.”
For these conserving rating, that’s states’ rights for discrimination however not reproductive self-determination.
This isn’t all previous activism, both. His spouse’s counseling firm’s working paperwork – notarized by Johnson – equate homosexuality to bestiality and incest as sins within the eyes of God. (Notably, the corporate web site was taken down after Johnson reached the speakership.)
As not too long ago as final month, Johnson dismissed as a fiction that the concept of separation of church and state applies to conserving People free from the facility of the church on his husband-and-wife podcast, unironically referred to as “Reality Be Instructed.” His feedback on weapons got here after the mass taking pictures in Maine final week.
These are presumably honest however excessive positions, untempered by moderation and unconcerned with widespread opinion. Sometimes, profitable elections requires attracting votes past the bottom and governing requires reasoning along with opponents.
However Johnson is a part of a era of conservative politicos who’ve by no means had a aggressive election. Johnson went from being a right-wing activist lawyer lobbying for a creationist theme park to being a state legislator who ran twice with no Democratic opposition.
Because the writer of “Laboratories of Autocracy” and former Ohio Democratic Celebration Chair David Pepper particulars, Johnson has 3 times gained his closely gerrymandered Home seat by 30 factors or extra as a result of the seat has been drawn to make sure that no Democrat has a prayer of profitable it. This structural dynamic implies that congressmen like Johnson can basically ignore anybody who isn’t on the far proper and keep in energy.
Republicans have been busy replicating this incentive construction as a core election technique. It was mirrored within the Republican-led North Carolina’s legislature erasing as much as 4 Democratic congressional seats this previous week. That is designed to undercut the desire of the folks in a state the place there are extra registered Democrats and independents than Republicans. It’s an try and artificially safe partisan energy by decreasing consultant elections.
This empowers excessive positions just like the election lie litmus take a look at. The data that candidates will solely must win a partisan main to remain in energy — relatively than win a aggressive common election — emboldens tribal politics to the purpose the place there’s a creeping contempt for majority democracy. It could possibly dress up as constitutional regulation or parade round as a unadorned energy seize.
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We noticed a sinister snapshot of this dynamic the evening Johnson secured his social gathering’s nomination for speaker. Earlier that day, former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis tearfully confessed that she had misled the nation by selling Trump’s election lies. However when requested by ABC Information correspondent Rachel Scott whether or not he nonetheless stood by his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Johnson shook his head in dismay that such a query would even be requested. Different representatives laughed dismissively in a riot of group-think whereas North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx advised the reporter to close up.
That is the sound of the ends justifying the means. That is what occurs when dismissing majoritarian democracy and denying information turns into an appropriate technique to carry on to energy. Election subversion is simply one of many instruments obtainable if you’re intent on imposing an agenda disconnected with the beliefs of a majority of your fellow residents.
