Every now and then, the GOP let slip the truth. Earlier this year, George W. Bush tried to condemn the “wholly unjustified and brutal invasion” of Ukraine, but instead said Iraq, inadvertently slamming the disastrous war over which he presided. Whoops! On Monday, it was Jan. 6 apologist Ron Johnson’s turn to accidentally tell us what he really thinks.
quite the slip from Ron Johnson here pic.twitter.com/0zweRhruJX
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 20, 2022
The MAGA senator went on Maria Batiromo’s Fox Business show to, of course, talk about Republican’s favorite topic: the current president’s non-politician son. They got a little off topic, instead discussing Jim Jordan’s recent claims that investigations into “so-called domestic violent extremism” (i.e., Trumpists) were overblown. Johnson agreed, claiming “cyber threats” and “drug trafficking” were more pressing issues. He then went over his record.
“When I was chairman of Homeland Security, we’d have an annual threat hearing. And my ranking member would always be bringing up white supremacy which you know, I condone,” he said. Johnson quickly caught himself, saying, “I mean, I condemn.”
Problem is, a lot of people thought Johnson — who has done things like call COVID “over-hyped” — was right the first time. The slip inspired a lot of Freud jokes.
Senator Ron Sigmund Freud Johnson says what? https://t.co/dJLTo51a1q
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) September 20, 2022
I can hear Sigmund Freud cackling from his grave at this fucking Nazi. https://t.co/s9U33sHbzC
— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) September 20, 2022
“White supremacy, which I condone….I mean condemn”! Certainly a Freudian slip! https://t.co/1K8ckBfB4l
— Diane Bernaerts (@DianeBernaerts) September 20, 2022
It also inspired lots of laughter and face-palms.
Whoopsie… https://t.co/eraotcJj3A
— Rex Chapman (@RexChapman) September 20, 2022
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) September 20, 2022
“Slip” https://t.co/9vtXBcTKK2
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) September 20, 2022
— Charlotte Clymer (@cmclymer) September 20, 2022
https://t.co/Kgigo1URQ1 pic.twitter.com/R8lhAOsJJQ
— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) September 20, 2022
Others reminded people to believe people when they say who they are.
When a Republican tells you who they are the first time, believe ’em! https://t.co/VT1Jzn5FVa
— Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) September 20, 2022
And others pointed out that Johnson is up for re-election, running against the Democrat Mandela Barnes.
Oh, it’s BEEN clear. https://t.co/z5HFjMqtw7 pic.twitter.com/vfkGdKHdFt
— Nina Turner (@ninaturner) September 20, 2022
Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson can’t remember if he condones or condemns white supremacy.
Now would be a good time to contribute to his Democratic opponent @TheOtherMandela. https://t.co/Aw0fR751Kg
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) September 20, 2022
Seems like a good TV ad to put up in Wisconsin https://t.co/KSILkP5U2d
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) September 20, 2022