Mike Johnson Leads: How Republicans Defend Family Values

Speaker Mike Johnson: 

When I say that Republicans are pro-family, it’s not just rhetoric—it’s our core conviction. We’ve always stood for life, for parents, for safe communities, for traditional values, and for the kind of economic freedom that lets families flourish.

In today’s America, that stance isn’t neutral. It’s a line in the sand. Because too many forces—from cultural institutions to federal policy—are now working against the very foundation of the family.

Our mission is to rebuild what’s been broken—to restore a culture of life, defend parents’ rights, secure our borders, protect the truth about marriage and gender, and create an economy where moms and dads can raise their children without fear or dependency.

The Democratic Party may claim compassion—but their policies speak otherwise. Policies that promote abortion, silence parents, open our borders, redefine marriage, and expand government control do not protect families. They weaken them.

In these conversations, you’ll hear from voices who know what’s at stake—pastors, parents, policy experts, and public servants. Together, we’ll make it clear: Republicans are not just the party of limited government or strong defense. We are the party that stands for the American family.

(Note: This is an imaginary conversation, a creative exploration of an idea, and not a real speech or event.) 

The Sanctity of Life

Mike Johnson (Moderator):
Welcome, friends. Today, we’re talking about the sanctity of life—not just as a political issue, but as the moral core of what it means to be pro-family. When we say Republicans are pro-family, we start here: we believe life is sacred, from the womb to natural death. And the policies we support reflect that. Lila, let’s begin with you.

Lila Rose:
Thank you, Speaker. When a nation stops protecting its most vulnerable—its unborn—it stops protecting families. Abortion doesn’t empower women. It often leaves them traumatized, unsupported, and isolated. What we need is a culture where every child is welcomed, and every mother is supported—not pushed toward ending life as a solution to hardship.

Marjorie Dannenfelser:
Exactly. The Republican platform is not just about opposing abortion—it’s about building up alternatives. Crisis pregnancy centers, adoption reform, parental leave policies—all of this is pro-family. Compare that to the Democratic platform, which now calls for abortion access through all nine months. That’s not compassion. That’s moral failure.

Dr. Ben Carson:
From a medical perspective, let me say this clearly: life begins at conception. I’ve operated on babies in the womb. I’ve seen them fight for life. Science is on the side of life. But so is common sense. We teach children that hurting the vulnerable is wrong—but we’ve legalized the destruction of the most defenseless among us.

Pastor Samuel Rodriguez:
I’ll speak to this as a pastor and as a Latino father: life is not a political issue. It’s a spiritual one. God gives life. And when a society sacrifices its children in the name of convenience or ideology, that society loses its soul. This is why so many of us—across races, denominations, and political backgrounds—are moving toward the pro-life movement. Because life is sacred, and family begins in the womb.

Mike Johnson:
Thank you, Pastor. That’s powerful. I want to be clear: when we say the Democratic Party stands opposite of us on this issue, it’s not an insult—it’s a truth backed by policy. Their platform removes all restrictions, demands taxpayer funding of abortion, and even opposes protections for infants who survive failed abortions.

This is not fringe. This is their mainstream. And that is not pro-family.

Lila Rose:
And the irony is, they say they support women—but they ignore that many women are pressured into abortion by partners, by economic fear, by lies. The truly pro-family path is one that says: you’re not alone. We’ll walk with you. We’ll support your child. That’s what real compassion looks like.

Dr. Ben Carson:
And if I may add, the breakdown of family often begins when we sever our commitment to protect the child. What message are we sending to young men and women when we normalize ending life as a first resort?

Marjorie Dannenfelser:
This is why laws matter. Culture matters. But so does courage. And I believe the Republican Party today is standing with more moral courage on this issue than ever before.

Pastor Samuel Rodriguez:
Amen. A culture of life leads to a culture of love, responsibility, and generational blessing. And that is the heartbeat of the pro-family movement.

Mike Johnson (Closing):
Thank you all. This conversation reaffirms why this issue is foundational to our party and to our values. We don’t oppose abortion because we want control—we oppose it because we believe in life, family, and future.

When we defend the unborn, we defend the family. And that’s why we say, unapologetically: Republicans are pro-family.

Parental Rights in Education

Mike Johnson (Moderator):
When we say Republicans are pro-family, we don’t just mean protecting the unborn—we mean protecting the rights of parents to raise, educate, and guide their children. That right is sacred. Yet today, it’s under siege in classrooms across America. Dr. Swain, would you start us off?

Dr. Carol Swain:
Thank you, Speaker. What we’re witnessing is an erosion of parental authority. Schools are hiding curriculum. Children are being socially transitioned behind parents’ backs. Parents are being told they’re the problem—especially if they disagree with progressive ideologies. But let me say this plainly: the family is the primary institution of education—not the state.

Tiffany Justice:
I talk to parents every day through Moms for Liberty. They’re not “extremists” like the media claims. They’re mothers and fathers who want to know what their kids are learning. That’s not radical—it’s responsible. The idea that a bureaucrat knows better than a mom or dad is deeply anti-family. Republicans are the only ones consistently standing up for parental rights.

Pastor John MacArthur:
Scripture is clear: children are entrusted to parents, not to governments. When you teach children values that contradict what their parents believe—and do it in secret—you are spiritually undermining the family. That’s not education. That’s indoctrination. And frankly, it’s a form of rebellion against the family structure God ordained.

Christopher Rufo:
From an investigative standpoint, we’ve uncovered countless examples of curricula pushing radical gender theory and racial essentialism. These ideas tell children that their identity isn’t rooted in family or faith, but in politicized group labels. This isn’t diversity—it’s disconnection. And it leads to confused kids and broken homes.

Mike Johnson:
Well said. And what alarms me most is how the Democratic Party defends all this. They call it “equity.” They call it “affirmation.” But they are affirming government power over parents. That’s not pro-family—that’s paternalism masquerading as progress.

Dr. Carol Swain:
Exactly. And when you lose the family’s voice in education, you lose the moral compass of the next generation. That’s why this isn’t just about school policy—it’s about preserving the family’s role in shaping a child’s future.

Tiffany Justice:
That’s why we fight. Because if parents don’t have a say, then who does? We are the ones tucking them in at night, answering their hard questions, paying the bills, and praying over their futures. We will not surrender that role—not to any political party, not to any school board.

Pastor John MacArthur:
If the Church, the home, and the community do not reclaim moral leadership, the government will gladly take it. And what follows is not family flourishing—it’s spiritual confusion and moral decay.

Christopher Rufo:
We’re not anti-teacher. We’re anti-secrecy. We’re anti-activism in the classroom. And we’re pro-parent, pro-truth, and pro-family.

Mike Johnson (Closing):
This is what the fight looks like. Not against teachers—but against the ideology that says parents don’t matter. Republicans believe in restoring trust in the home, authority to parents, and education that reflects the values of America’s families.

That’s why we say: we are pro-family. And this issue proves it.

Border Security and Immigration Reform

Mike Johnson (Moderator):
When people ask what immigration has to do with being pro-family, I tell them this: You can’t protect American families if you can’t protect America’s borders. What we’re seeing isn’t compassionate policy—it’s chaos. It’s hurting real people—mothers, children, entire communities. Brandon, you’re on the front lines. Tell us what’s happening.

Brandon Judd:
Thank you, Speaker. What people need to understand is this: our southern border is wide open, and it’s creating a humanitarian and national security disaster. Fentanyl is pouring in. Cartels are controlling migration routes. Families are being separated, exploited, and endangered—not just here, but across Latin America. It’s not compassion. It’s carnage.

Tom Homan:
I spent my life in law enforcement and border protection. Let me tell you—the ones who suffer most are the vulnerable: trafficked kids, abandoned migrants, and American families in border towns overrun with crime. When Democrats refuse to enforce the law, they’re not protecting families—they’re inviting danger. That’s not pro-family. That’s reckless.

Jaco Booyens:
I work directly with survivors of sex trafficking, many of them minors. And where do we find the largest spike in cases? Near open-border zones. Children are being bought, sold, and brutalized while politicians give speeches about inclusivity. You can’t claim to support children and ignore the border crisis. It’s one of the most dangerous contradictions in American politics today.

Rev. Tony Suarez:
As a pastor, I minister to both immigrants and Americans in affected communities. We are a nation of immigrants—but we are also a nation of law and order. True compassion means stopping exploitation, not enabling it. I support legal immigration. But the current Democratic approach? It leads to death, debt, and division. That’s not love. That’s not family.

Mike Johnson:
Thank you, Reverend. And let’s be clear: this isn’t just about policy—it’s about protecting the moral and physical safety of our neighborhoods. We’re seeing MS-13 gang resurgence, fentanyl overdoses destroying families, and chaos spreading from the border to every corner of America. And yet, the Democratic Party continues to push sanctuary policies, open-door asylum abuse, and resistance to deporting even known criminals.

Brandon Judd:
We’ve arrested repeat offenders, gang members, and traffickers—only to be told to release them. That’s not justice. That’s betrayal of every family we swore to protect.

Tom Homan:
And when Republicans say “build the wall,” it’s not about hate—it’s about creating a barrier between children and cartels. Between families and fentanyl. Between law and lawlessness.

Jaco Booyens:
You want to fight trafficking? You want to protect women and children? Secure the border. That’s the starting line—not the finish.

Rev. Tony Suarez:
And we must do it with moral clarity, not political compromise. We need pathways for legal, family-based immigration—but not at the cost of ignoring the devastation being caused by the current system.

Mike Johnson (Closing):
Thank you, all. This is the truth the mainstream often won’t say: open borders destroy families—both American and immigrant. Republicans believe in protecting the home, upholding the law, and building a country where families can live in peace and order.

That’s why we say: we are pro-family, and we are pro-border security.

Protecting the Definition of Marriage and Gender

Mike Johnson (Moderator):
Thank you all for being here. Today, we’re tackling a deeply moral issue: the redefinition of marriage and gender. Republicans believe that marriage between one man and one woman, and gender rooted in biological reality, are not just social preferences—they’re essential to the foundation of family and society. Dr. Mohler, would you begin?

Dr. Albert Mohler:
Thank you, Speaker. Marriage is a pre-political institution—it existed before the state. It’s the union designed for procreation, permanence, and parenting. Once marriage is redefined, its core purpose becomes unclear, and its stabilizing power collapses. Likewise, when gender is no longer grounded in biology, identity becomes fragmented. This is not liberation—it’s confusion. And it deeply harms children.

Katy Faust:
I come at this from a child’s perspective. Every child has the right to their mother and father. When we legally redefine marriage or allow adults to change family structures based on their desires, we’re saying adults’ wants matter more than children’s needs. That’s not pro-family. That’s pro-adult desire.

Ryan T. Anderson:
There’s a false belief that affirming new gender ideologies and redefined marriage structures is compassionate. But look at the consequences: skyrocketing gender dysphoria, irreversible medical procedures on minors, and fatherlessness rising. These are not fringe effects. These are the natural outcomes of undermining the truth about the human person.

Pastor Jack Hibbs:
I’ve pastored for decades, and I’ve seen what happens when families lose clarity. God created us male and female—not as interchangeable roles, but as a divine design for relationship, parenting, and identity. When society starts saying “a father isn’t necessary” or “a child can choose their gender,” we are not progressing—we are unraveling. And sadly, it’s children who suffer most.

Mike Johnson:
Exactly. And let me say something directly: this is where the Democratic Party stands in open opposition. Their platform actively promotes gender fluidity in schools, supports government-funded sex changes for minors, and celebrates family models that intentionally exclude mothers or fathers.

They call this inclusion. But we call it institutionalizing instability.

Dr. Albert Mohler:
Yes—and when truth becomes optional, children become the experiment. And no society can sustain itself on a foundation of moral relativism and emotional affirmation over biological and spiritual truth.

Katy Faust:
We need courage again—leaders willing to say, “Children deserve to be raised by their own mom and dad.” That’s not discrimination. That’s defending the natural rights of children.

Ryan T. Anderson:
And we must not be silenced. This isn’t about hate. It’s about human flourishing. Biology matters. Marriage matters. And if we abandon these truths in the name of “progress,” we lose the very thing that anchors civil society: the family as it was designed.

Pastor Jack Hibbs:
The Bible, history, and common sense are all on the side of truth. And truth, when lived out with love, is always pro-family.

Mike Johnson (Closing):
Thank you. What we’ve said here today is clear: Republicans defend the family by defending its design. We love all people, but love doesn’t mean rewriting reality. It means standing for truth—boldly and compassionately—so that the next generation can grow up knowing who they are, where they come from, and what family truly means.

That’s why we say: we are pro-family.

Economic Policies That Empower Parents

Mike Johnson (Moderator):
One of the most overlooked ways we support families is through economic policy. At the Republican Party, we believe the government should make it easier—not harder—for families to succeed. That means lower taxes, more freedom, and policies that reward—not punish—marriage, work, and children. Dave, would you kick us off?

Dave Ramsey:
Thanks, Mike. It’s pretty simple: when families are drowning in debt, they can’t thrive. When taxes are high and inflation is out of control, parents have to choose between groceries and gas. That’s not freedom—it’s bondage. And what I love about pro-family economics is this: it’s about putting control back in the hands of parents. Teach them to budget, give them breathing room, and watch them flourish.

Sen. Josh Hawley:
Exactly. That’s why I’ve proposed tax policies that reward marriage and childrearing—not penalize it. Right now, our economic system is tilted toward corporations and single-household models. We need to turn that around. We need to support the family as an economic unit. A strong marriage is one of the best predictors of upward mobility, and we ought to treat it that way in law and policy.

Rachel Greszler:
What we often forget is that government “help” comes at the cost of independence. Too many families are being pushed into dependence—on programs, on inflation-driven credit, on two-parent burnout models. Republicans are saying: let’s cut taxes, eliminate disincentives to marriage, expand flexible work options, and let families make their own economic decisions again.

Pastor Andy Stanley:
And let’s not forget the spiritual side. Money is more than math—it’s a mirror. When families are constantly worried about finances, they experience stress, conflict, even divorce. Teaching stewardship, contentment, and generosity within a biblical worldview is foundational. Republicans tend to understand that economic strength begins with moral clarity and self-discipline.

Mike Johnson:
That’s such an important point, Pastor. You know, when Democrats push for massive spending bills and sweeping entitlements, they say it’s to help families. But the result is inflation, weakened work incentives, and bigger government control over the most personal parts of family life—childcare, healthcare, even values.

Dave Ramsey:
I’ve seen families go from hopeless to hopeful once they got control back. The problem is, the current system isn’t built to support that kind of freedom—it’s built to keep people barely treading water. That’s why real pro-family policy is about economic empowerment, not economic dependence.

Sen. Josh Hawley:
And we can’t be afraid to say it: strong families should be at the center of economic policy. Every time we debate spending, tax codes, or business regulations, we should ask: Does this help families thrive? Or make them struggle more?

Rachel Greszler:
We need to move from a government that subsidizes dysfunction to one that rewards stability. And that means giving families more of their own money back—and trusting them to use it well.

Pastor Andy Stanley:
The truth is, when you lift up families, you lift up communities. Stronger homes mean stronger nations.

Mike Johnson (Closing):
Exactly. Being pro-family isn’t just about what happens at the dinner table—it’s about making sure families can afford that dinner table. The Republican Party stands for lower taxes, stronger marriages, more choices, and less dependency. Because when families are free and financially strong, America is too.

That’s why we say: we are pro-family—spiritually, culturally, and economically.

Final thoughts By Speaker Mike Johnson

What we’ve heard throughout these five conversations is more than just a policy debate—it’s a vision for the future.

A future where life is cherished.
A future where parents—not bureaucrats—raise their children.
A future where borders are secure, values are respected, and work is rewarded.
A future where the family is the center—not the casualty—of public policy.

The Republican Party doesn’t hide from this mission—we embrace it. We don’t just oppose what’s wrong. We promote what’s right. And we do it because we believe that the family is the single most powerful force for good in this world.

To those who wonder where we stand, let me say it plainly: We are pro-family.
We always have been. We always will be.
And we’ll keep fighting until America is once again a place where families can grow in faith, flourish in freedom, and walk boldly in truth.

Short Bios:

Mike Johnson – Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; a constitutional attorney and outspoken advocate for traditional family values and religious freedom.

Lila Rose – Founder of Live Action; a leading pro-life activist who uses media to advocate for the protection of unborn children.

Marjorie Dannenfelser – President of SBA Pro-Life America; strategist focused on electing pro-life leaders and advancing life-affirming legislation.

Dr. Ben Carson – Renowned pediatric neurosurgeon and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; advocates for faith, life, and strong families.

Pastor Samuel Rodriguez – President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference; a leading Latino evangelical voice for life, faith, and justice.

Dr. Carol Swain – Conservative political scientist, author, and former professor; known for her work on race, education, and parental rights.

Tiffany Justice – Co-founder of Moms for Liberty; a national advocate for parental rights in public education and local governance.

Pastor John MacArthur – Influential Reformed pastor and theologian; known for his defense of biblical authority and the traditional family structure.

Christopher Rufo – Policy expert and filmmaker; exposes radical ideologies in public education and government institutions.

Brandon Judd – President of the National Border Patrol Council; represents front-line agents and highlights national security concerns affecting families.

Tom Homan – Former Acting Director of ICE; strong voice for lawful immigration and family-safe border policies.

Jaco Booyens – Human trafficking survivor and activist; works to end child exploitation and advocates for strong national borders.

Rev. Tony Suarez – Evangelical pastor and broadcaster; supports immigration reform grounded in law, compassion, and family preservation.

Dr. Albert Mohler – President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; cultural commentator defending Christian doctrine on marriage and gender.

Katy Faust – Founder of Them Before Us; advocates for children’s rights in family structure debates, emphasizing child-first policy.

Ryan T. Anderson – President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center; author focused on natural law, marriage, and gender identity.

Pastor Jack Hibbs – Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills; prominent voice in the movement for biblical values in civic life.

Dave Ramsey – Financial coach and bestselling author; teaches debt-free living and economic independence for families.

Sen. Josh Hawley – U.S. Senator from Missouri; promotes pro-marriage, pro-parent economic policies and cultural conservatism.

Rachel Greszler – Economist at The Heritage Foundation; focuses on tax policy, labor, and family-centered economic reforms.

Pastor Andy Stanley – Senior Pastor of North Point Ministries; emphasizes leadership, purpose, and financial wisdom in family life.