M.L. Nestel
December 1, 2023
Pete Buttigieg speaking with attendees at the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention.
(Gage Skidmore/Flickr)
Pete Buttigieg and homosexuality are living rent-free in House Speaker Mike Johnson's head.
The newly minted House Speaker Johnson from Louisiana who took over the reins after his predecessor Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was ousted is credited with penning the foreword of author Scott McKay's book, titled "The Revivalist Manifesto" that reportedly propagates debunked conspiracy theories and homophobic leanings.
It also appears to target Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg by calling the former Indiana mayor "Gay Mayor Pete Buttigieg" and a “queer choice” for Biden's cabinet position, according to CNN.
When asked during an appearance on CNN's "Out Front" with Erin Burnett about his response to the commentary in this book, Buttigieg was appalled by how low the attacks go to knock his character.
"It seems like they just can't think of anything else," he said. "There is no discussion of what we actually did."
The book's foreword glowingly supports the author and the work product.
“Scott McKay presents a valuable and timely contribution with The Revivalist Manifesto because he has managed here to articulate well what millions of conscientious, freedom-loving Americans are sensing,” according to his 300-word foreword from 2022.
CNN reported that Johnson also actively promoted the book on his social media and hosted McKay during a podcast.
A Johnson spokesman told the outlet in a statement that the Speaker actually "never read the passages" in question and that he "strongly disagrees with" them.
"He wrote the foreword as a favor to a friend, supportive of the general theme of the book but not as an endorsement of all the opinions expressed.”
What gets Buttigieg the most is that Johnson is now in a powerful position.
"You have somebody who has been taken seriously by the Speaker of the House of the United States suggesting that the reason that we had supply chain problems in the rebound from COVID wasn't because of the factories in China shutting down and then sending their ships here all at once — it was because the Secretary of Transportation is married to a guy and not to a woman."
"They just can't seem to let go of this."
Burnett cited numerous comments made by Johnson over time.
In 2008, he is quoted as saying, "Homosexual behavior is something that you do, it's not something that you are."
Last month, Johnson said: "One of four students in the United States identify with something other than straight — we're losing the country."
"He seems fixated on it," Buttigieg said. "And it is really troubling for millions of Americans, including me and my husband, and this is, again, not just some fringe radical member of Congress."
Pete Buttigieg and homosexuality are living rent-free in House Speaker Mike Johnson's head.
The newly minted House Speaker Johnson from Louisiana who took over the reins after his predecessor Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was ousted is credited with penning the foreword of author Scott McKay's book, titled "The Revivalist Manifesto" that reportedly propagates debunked conspiracy theories and homophobic leanings.
It also appears to target Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg by calling the former Indiana mayor "Gay Mayor Pete Buttigieg" and a “queer choice” for Biden's cabinet position, according to CNN.
When asked during an appearance on CNN's "Out Front" with Erin Burnett about his response to the commentary in this book, Buttigieg was appalled by how low the attacks go to knock his character.
"It seems like they just can't think of anything else," he said. "There is no discussion of what we actually did."
The book's foreword glowingly supports the author and the work product.
“Scott McKay presents a valuable and timely contribution with The Revivalist Manifesto because he has managed here to articulate well what millions of conscientious, freedom-loving Americans are sensing,” according to his 300-word foreword from 2022.
CNN reported that Johnson also actively promoted the book on his social media and hosted McKay during a podcast.
A Johnson spokesman told the outlet in a statement that the Speaker actually "never read the passages" in question and that he "strongly disagrees with" them.
"He wrote the foreword as a favor to a friend, supportive of the general theme of the book but not as an endorsement of all the opinions expressed.”
What gets Buttigieg the most is that Johnson is now in a powerful position.
"You have somebody who has been taken seriously by the Speaker of the House of the United States suggesting that the reason that we had supply chain problems in the rebound from COVID wasn't because of the factories in China shutting down and then sending their ships here all at once — it was because the Secretary of Transportation is married to a guy and not to a woman."
"They just can't seem to let go of this."
Burnett cited numerous comments made by Johnson over time.
In 2008, he is quoted as saying, "Homosexual behavior is something that you do, it's not something that you are."
Last month, Johnson said: "One of four students in the United States identify with something other than straight — we're losing the country."
"He seems fixated on it," Buttigieg said. "And it is really troubling for millions of Americans, including me and my husband, and this is, again, not just some fringe radical member of Congress."
House Speaker Penned Foreword for Conspiracy Theory-Laden Book Last Year
Johnson described the book as “a valuable contribution” to political discourse.
By Chris Walker , TRUTHOUT
Mike Johnson Once Said Only God Gives Authority for Presidents to Take Office
The current speaker of the House was a key figure in Trump’s allies’ plans to overturn the 2020 election.
By Sharon Zhang , TRUTHOUTNovember 20, 2023
The book disparages Democratic Party officials, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whom McKay describes as a “queer choice” for an official in President Joe Biden’s cabinet, which he claims was made to appease LGBTQ supporters. McKay also calls Interior Secretary Deb Haaland “half oppressed” because her mother is Native American while her father has Norwegian roots, and claims that Obama’s primary appeal to voters was “that he was black.” McKay also defended podcast host Joe Rogan’s past use of the n-word.
Johnson wrote around 300 words of praise for McKay’s book in the foreword last year.
“Scott McKay presents a valuable and timely contribution with ‘The Revivalist Manifesto’ because he has managed here to articulate well what millions of conscientious, freedom-loving Americans are sensing,” Johnson said in the foreword.
Johnson also actively promoted McKay’s book, hosting him on his podcast the same year to discuss its contents. “I obviously believe in the product, or I wouldn’t have written the foreword. So I endorse the work,” Johnson said.
Within that podcast, McKay derided what he referred to as “the trans movement,” and called on listeners to fight to “preserve” far right values by opposing it. Johnson also endorsed the “deep state” conspiracy theory, which is often pushed by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Johnson’s extremist viewpoints are largely unknown to the American public, despite the fact that he’s second in line for the presidency. Johnson likely isn’t a household name because he was chosen as a consensus option for Republicans after weeks of disagreement on a nominee for the speakership this fall.
An Economist/YouGov poll published this week demonstrates just how little Americans know about Johnson, as a plurality of respondents — 39 percent — say they don’t know enough to have an opinion on him. Thirty-five percent of respondents say they have an unfavorable view of Johnson, while just 25 percent say they have a favorable view.
Johnson has repeatedly espoused Christian nationalist views. He believes there should be no separation between church and state, and has said that God gives authority to elected officials to govern. He has expressed support for criminalizing consensual sexual relationships between gay partners, and touts the Bible as the basis of his political philosophy (while ignoring, as many right-wing politicians do, teachings about uplifting people who are dispossessed and marginalized).
“Go pick up a Bible off your shelf and read it. That’s my worldview,” Johnson said after being named speaker.
This article is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), and you are free to share and republish under the terms of the license.
CHRIS WALKER is a news writer at Truthout, and is based out of Madison, Wisconsin. Focusing on both national and local topics since the early 2000s, he has produced thousands of articles analyzing the issues of the day and their impact on the American people. He can be found on Twitter: @thatchriswalker
Johnson described the book as “a valuable contribution” to political discourse.
By Chris Walker , TRUTHOUT
Published December 1, 2023
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) applauds alongside fellow lawmakers as the House of Representatives holds an election for a new Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol on October 25, 2023 in Washington,
D.C.WIN MCNAMEE / GETTY IMAGES
Before being named speaker of the House in October, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) penned the foreword to a book written by a far right blogger in his home state that espouses a number of conspiracy theories.
The book, “The Revivalist Manifesto,” written by blogger Scott McKay, also includes derogatory comments about LGBTQ people and condemns the Movement for Black Lives.
Johnson’s foreword for the book, as well as his subsequent promotion of it, suggests that he endorses such views.
Although Johnson’s decision to attach himself to the book was made in 2022, CNN unearthed the lawmaker’s foreword in a report published this week. Johnson’s relative anonymity within the House of Representatives before being named speaker likely helped to keep the news under the radar when he penned the foreward last year.
Among the far right conspiracy theories that are included in the text, McKay baselessly alleges that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts was blackmailed into siding with liberal bloc members of the Court on some cases, errantly tying Roberts to child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. McKay also parrots the “Pizzagate” hoax, falsely alleging that Democratic Party insiders were using a pizza restaurant in Washington D.C. as a front for child trafficking.
RELATED STORY
Before being named speaker of the House in October, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) penned the foreword to a book written by a far right blogger in his home state that espouses a number of conspiracy theories.
The book, “The Revivalist Manifesto,” written by blogger Scott McKay, also includes derogatory comments about LGBTQ people and condemns the Movement for Black Lives.
Johnson’s foreword for the book, as well as his subsequent promotion of it, suggests that he endorses such views.
Although Johnson’s decision to attach himself to the book was made in 2022, CNN unearthed the lawmaker’s foreword in a report published this week. Johnson’s relative anonymity within the House of Representatives before being named speaker likely helped to keep the news under the radar when he penned the foreward last year.
Among the far right conspiracy theories that are included in the text, McKay baselessly alleges that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts was blackmailed into siding with liberal bloc members of the Court on some cases, errantly tying Roberts to child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. McKay also parrots the “Pizzagate” hoax, falsely alleging that Democratic Party insiders were using a pizza restaurant in Washington D.C. as a front for child trafficking.
RELATED STORY
Mike Johnson Once Said Only God Gives Authority for Presidents to Take Office
The current speaker of the House was a key figure in Trump’s allies’ plans to overturn the 2020 election.
By Sharon Zhang , TRUTHOUTNovember 20, 2023
The book disparages Democratic Party officials, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whom McKay describes as a “queer choice” for an official in President Joe Biden’s cabinet, which he claims was made to appease LGBTQ supporters. McKay also calls Interior Secretary Deb Haaland “half oppressed” because her mother is Native American while her father has Norwegian roots, and claims that Obama’s primary appeal to voters was “that he was black.” McKay also defended podcast host Joe Rogan’s past use of the n-word.
Johnson wrote around 300 words of praise for McKay’s book in the foreword last year.
“Scott McKay presents a valuable and timely contribution with ‘The Revivalist Manifesto’ because he has managed here to articulate well what millions of conscientious, freedom-loving Americans are sensing,” Johnson said in the foreword.
Johnson also actively promoted McKay’s book, hosting him on his podcast the same year to discuss its contents. “I obviously believe in the product, or I wouldn’t have written the foreword. So I endorse the work,” Johnson said.
Within that podcast, McKay derided what he referred to as “the trans movement,” and called on listeners to fight to “preserve” far right values by opposing it. Johnson also endorsed the “deep state” conspiracy theory, which is often pushed by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Johnson’s extremist viewpoints are largely unknown to the American public, despite the fact that he’s second in line for the presidency. Johnson likely isn’t a household name because he was chosen as a consensus option for Republicans after weeks of disagreement on a nominee for the speakership this fall.
An Economist/YouGov poll published this week demonstrates just how little Americans know about Johnson, as a plurality of respondents — 39 percent — say they don’t know enough to have an opinion on him. Thirty-five percent of respondents say they have an unfavorable view of Johnson, while just 25 percent say they have a favorable view.
Johnson has repeatedly espoused Christian nationalist views. He believes there should be no separation between church and state, and has said that God gives authority to elected officials to govern. He has expressed support for criminalizing consensual sexual relationships between gay partners, and touts the Bible as the basis of his political philosophy (while ignoring, as many right-wing politicians do, teachings about uplifting people who are dispossessed and marginalized).
“Go pick up a Bible off your shelf and read it. That’s my worldview,” Johnson said after being named speaker.
This article is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), and you are free to share and republish under the terms of the license.
CHRIS WALKER is a news writer at Truthout, and is based out of Madison, Wisconsin. Focusing on both national and local topics since the early 2000s, he has produced thousands of articles analyzing the issues of the day and their impact on the American people. He can be found on Twitter: @thatchriswalker
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