BENTON, La.—In the classic American film “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” an idealistic leader appointed to the U.S. Senate finds himself in a tangle of political corruption and intrigue as he struggles to do what’s best for the people.
Mr. Smith, played by actor Jimmy Stewart in the 1939 film, arrives at Congress from an unnamed Western state after the death of an incumbent senator. Initially, he’s unaware of the dishonest actions of some of his new congressional colleagues, and his inexperience leads the press to take advantage of him.
In the movie, Mr. Smith refuses to become corrupt, proving the importance of decency and honesty and driving home the idea that one person really can make a difference.
The film appears to be as relevant today as it was more than 80 years ago, a cautionary tale for politicians who believe that they can change what they see as a broken system.
Mike Johnson, the new speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from small-town America, appears to want to do just that.
Shaping a Speaker
To understand Mr. Johnson, one must look to the places that shaped him—his church and community.God is loved in Louisiana. America is, too.
When people speak about Mr. Johnson in his hometown of Benton, their comments always weave back around to his faith, which was demonstrated to the world after he was elected House speaker.
“I want to tell all my colleagues here what I told the Republicans in that room last night,” Mr. Johnson said, addressing the House chamber after receiving the gavel on Oct. 25. “I don’t believe there are any coincidences in a matter like this. I believe that scripture—the Bible—is very clear that God is the one that raises up those in authority.”
Benton has a population of about 2,000 and serves as a bedroom community for the much larger nearby city of Shreveport.
At least 18 churches have Benton addresses, far outnumbering the single-traffic-light intersection in the small downtown.
Couples holding hands stroll through the upscale neighborhood that Mr. Johnson calls home, as children laugh and play on manicured green lawns where American flags wave beneath towering pines and hardwoods.
“He’s not afraid,” Marty Treece said of his now-famous neighbor.
Mr. Treece and his wife, Brenda, told The Epoch Times that they believe that God is using Mr. Johnson just like he used former President Donald Trump.
People in the community were excited when they heard that their congressman, a dark horse candidate for speaker, had ascended to the position without a single dissenting Republican vote.
For weeks, Republicans in Congress bickered among themselves in an attempt to elect another speaker, after hardline Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida and seven other Republicans voted to oust sitting Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) with the help of Democrats.
“All I want to say to Mike Johnson and those Republicans up there is ‘Stand up,’” Mr. Treece said. “It’s just sad that there are so many RINOs [Republicans in name only]” serving in Washington.
Mr. Treece said he likes the way in which Mr. Johnson is approaching the job already, especially in proposing a cut to the IRS budget to find money for Israel in its war with the terrorist group Hamas.
The Treeces said everyone knows that people will try to smear Mr. Johnson. But they feel certain that the new speaker won’t fear the trials ahead because his faith is his backbone.
No sooner had the little-known Louisiana congressman been elected as speaker than both sides of the political divide tried to quantify Mr. Johnson. He had managed to do what heavy-hitters in the GOP, such as Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), couldn’t—get elected as speaker.
Those on the political left dubbed him MAGA Mike, a Bible-thumping fundamental Christian who supported President Trump as he fought against what he maintains was a rigged 2020 election.
To those on the right, especially in his community, Mr. Johnson is known as a devout Southern Baptist who loves family and country.
Prayers From Home
Christians in Benton indicate that they see a spiritual significance in Mr. Johnson’s rise in politics.
Cypress Baptist Church—the home church of the Johnson family—was packed on Nov. 5 with believers who came to hear the Rev. John Fream.
“God, continue to lift up our dear friend House Speaker Mike Johnson and his wife, Kelly,” the pastor prayed aloud.
Mr. Fream, known in these parts as Pastor Fream, spoke of being thankful, even in a wicked world.
His sermon dovetailed with Psalm 37, reportedly Mr. Johnson’s favorite Bible verse. It calls on the faithful to “fret not” because the righteous will prevail against evildoers.
Some nonbelievers might scoff at those who follow the Bible, Mr. Fream said in the sermon. He knows some mock the idea that there are only two sexes and that marriage can only be between a man and a woman.
“What was worse, Sodom and Gomorrah, or today?” he asked a hushed congregation from the pulpit.
“They celebrate evil as good. We live in a world that is so upside down and inside out that you say, ‘God, send your wrath.’”
Outside the church, Lynn LaGars, a local construction worker, stopped in the parking lot to talk about Mr. Johnson, a man he’s known for about a year.
Mr. Johnson is a quiet man who’s never too busy or too self-important to talk to others in a friendly way, even “someone of my caliber, low down,” Mr. LaGars told The Epoch Times.
“Mike is a different cut. He’s always got a smile on his face. Never too busy to say something. If you want to talk to him, he'll talk to you.”
He was impressed when he heard Mr. Johnson speak about the dangers of technology during a church program last year. The lawmaker spoke against the easy access that children have to inappropriate content online, such as pornography that they may view on cellphones and computers.
That’s the kind of leader America needs now, Mr. LaGars believes.
Mr. Johnson Goes to Washington
When asked what he wanted to see Mr. Johnson do at the country’s Capitol, Mr. LaGars said the speaker needs to “bring Jesus” to Washington.Mr. Johnson is the right man to lead the United States “away from the path that we’re currently on,” Mr. LaGars said. “He was placed there by God. There’s no question in my mind about that.”
Like others in the community, Mr. LaGars sees Washington as a place of gridlock, a place where it’s difficult for conservatives to get anything done.
But “I feel like Mike is going to do a lot for Washington,” he said.
Constituents see Mr. Johnson as a son of Louisiana. They’re proud that he was born in Shreveport and attended Captain Shreve High School.
And he’s a man who understands the importance of family and conservative values, they told The Epoch Times.
He’s pro-life, opposes gender transition procedures for children, and supports Israel—stances that cause many to nod their approval. His solid résumé as a conservative lists stints working for Answers in Genesis, Louisiana Family Forum, the Alliance Defending Freedom, and Focus on the Family.
The new speaker’s commitment to the importance of family became evident during his acceptance speech after his colleagues elected him to direct the House. During his remarks, he recalled how his father, James Patrick Johnson, died in 2016, just three days before seeing his son elected to Congress.
“I just had this sense that somehow he knew,” Mr. Johnson said of his father during the speech.
Corrigan Jayroe works at a small hardware store in downtown Benton. The 18-year-old, who also volunteers as a firefighter, describes himself as a friend of Mr. Johnson’s son Jack.
The speaker has influenced him with his “spiritual walk,” Mr. Jayroe informed The Epoch Times.
“He’s an awesome, God-fearing man and a good dad.”
The teen said he has joked with Mr. Johnson that he ought to lower prices at the pump. But there are more important things that he'd like to see happen in the country, he said, things that are growing more serious.
“To be honest with you, [it’s] bringing God to the government,” he said.
Mr. Jayroe admits that he doesn’t look too kindly on President Joe Biden. But he still “loves him, as a Christian,” he said.
Does he fear that Washington will change Mr. Johnson?
“Absolutely not. He’s strong in his faith,” he said.
In fact, he said, it’s more likely to be the other way around, and Washington may be the one to change.
