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If you haven’t read Wednesday’s profile of state Sen. Karen Johnson, R-Mesa, by Tribune writer Mary K. Reinhart, you should check it out. Reinhart does an excellent job of capturing Johnson’s political views as a super-strict constitutionalist as well as her friendly personality.
Whenever I read or hear someone go into a full-throated, vicious criticism of Johnson, I know that person hasn’t spent any time actually speaking or interacting with her. Johnson has the disposition of a sweet grandmother. She might say some things you find pretty weird (I still don’t get her obsession with the “threat” of the mythical North American Union). But you can’t help but admire her because she’s so nice to everyone. And if you listen to her for a while, you might just surprise yourself by agreeing with her every so often.
When Johnson moved to the Senate from the House in 2005, she was given a desk on the floor next to Sen. Ken Cheuvront, D-Phoenix. That had lots of people wondering if any sparks would fly, as Johnson believes strongly that couples should involve only one man and one woman and Cheuvront is openly gay. Johnson has even suggested bringing back Arizona’s former ban on co-habitation, much less a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
Toward the end of 2005 session, Johnson told me she had worried about possible tension with her floor neighbor. Not because of Cheuvront’s sexuality, she said. She had assumed he must be a flamin’ liberal because he is one of those Phoenix Democrats.
Johnson discovered Cheuvront is actually more of a libertarian (Just get government out of our lives and spend less of our money), so he and Johnson share pretty similar views on a variety of issues related to government taxes, business incentives and economic policy. Johnson also shares Cheuvront’s dislike of many of President Bush’s policies, although often for different reasons.
For his part, Cheuvront said three years ago that Johnson is rather pleasant to be around, and he felt pretty lucky with his seating assignment. So by the end of the 2005 session, Johnson and Cheuvront were far more chummy than the legislative leaders of their respective parties.
Johnson also has a rather strong ethical streak that’s somewhat rare among career politicians. She doesn’t dissemble or try to hide from her more controversial views. She votes her conscience instead of swaying to the political winds or to the pressure of certain interests that could help her later. So she continues to get respect from her constituents and her colleagues, even when it seems like she’s tilting at windmills no one else can see.
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Let me help you understand why Senator Johnson is so concerned about the North American Union.
The steps that took Europe to merge into the EU are almost the exact same steps being taken in our country. Those advancing the NAU agenda call it a community, but that is a distinction without a difference. The SPP is being used to harmonize our laws without congress, NAFTA’s tribunals overrule our own nations judiciary, and just a few weeks ago ASU hosted a conference on North American Governance.
There is just too much info to share in this short forum, but please just check out the facts, the documented facts at http://www.JBS.org/nau . This is no theory, just facts on what legislators from 20 other states and the entire legislature of 3 states and half of the legislatures of 2 others have taken the time to stand up and expose this threat to our family and freedom. Instead of mocking without facts, I hope everyone will take the time to see what has so many people in so many different walks of like so concerned.
http://www.JBS.org/nau