Hit Piece on Speaker Johnson's Finances Backfires Spectacularly: 'I'm Supposed to Be Angry at This?'
Editor’s Note: Our readers responded strongly to this story when it originally ran; we’re reposting it here in case you missed it.
Gangs sometimes initiate new members by asking them to commit a crime. Only then, in the minds of existing gang members, will the new initiates become trustworthy.
With this in mind, establishment shill Matt Fuller of the Daily Beast complained, in effect, that new Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson of Louisiana lacks the personal wealth required of a ruling-class oligarch.
“Mike Johnson doesn’t have any retirement savings, own a single stock, or have any assets at all,” Fuller posted Nov. 1 on social media, sharing a Daily Beast hit piece entitled, “Does New Speaker of the House Mike Johnson Have a Bank Account?”
“He has less than $5,000 in his bank account. He’s got a 250-500K mortgage, a home equity loan, and a personal loan. So what’s his retirement plan? To lobby?”
Mike Johnson doesn’t have any retirement savings, own a single stock, or have any assets at all. He has less than $5,000 in his bank account.
He’s got a 250-500K mortgage, a home equity loan, and a personal loan.
So what’s his retirement plan? To lobby? https://t.co/xPzUPqqc4w
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) November 1, 2023
Conservatives offered incredulous reactions.
“So he can relate to the struggles that we’re all out here having? I’m supposed to be angry at this?” podcaster Joey Mannarino wrote.
So he can relate to the struggles that we’re all out here having?
I’m supposed to be angry at this?
— Joey Mannarino (@JoeyMannarinoUS) November 1, 2023
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida noted the absurdity in Fuller’s comments.
“The Daily Beast is furious that [Johnson] isn’t rich, corrupt or rich from being corrupt. He doesn’t have shady business deals. He doesn’t trade stocks as a congressman. Cry more, I guess?” Gaetz posted.
The Daily Beast is furious that @SpeakerJohnson isn’t rich, corrupt or rich from being corrupt.
He doesn’t have shady business deals. He doesn’t trade stocks as a congressman.
Cry more, I guess? 🤷♂️ https://t.co/eRVtp9p0u7
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 1, 2023
Other X users also pointed out the misplaced criticism.
This is hilarious. We’re no longer going after the ones that have become multimillionaires while public servants, we’re now going after the ones that aren’t. God forbid someone in that Office has actual morals & ethics!
— Southern FFA Family (@FFAFamily) November 1, 2023
That’s rare and refreshing. So he should have an understanding of everyday Americans and understand our financial security and safety should be priority number one.
— Angela 💭 (@ms_babyrussell) November 1, 2023
On multiple levels, Fuller’s criticism of Johnson appears almost too revealing to be true.
Imagine believing, for instance, that such a critique would land with the general public. How detached from ordinary Americans does a journalist have to be in order to reach that conclusion?
Likewise, imagine how desperate the Daily Beast’s readers must be for partisan hit pieces. If “Mike Johnson does not have much money” constitutes the establishment media’s best shot, then the speaker’s reputation appears safe.
Furthermore, a creative writer looking to pen a satire of the establishment media could not have invented a more representative set of comments than Fuller’s.
Alas, those comments revealed the role of establishment journalists. Above all, they run cover for the ruling class.
Only on rare occasions, however, do they broadcast this. Indeed, they will not often say the quiet part out loud. “We do not trust you because you have not yet proven corruptible” seldom works for public consumption.
Normally, they prefer to initiate their members in private.
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