Samuel Robert "Sam" Johnson (born October 11, 1930) is an American politician. He currently is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the third district of Texas (map).
He is best known for having called presidential candidate John Kerry "Hanoi John." During the Vietnam War, Johnson spent seven years as a prisoner of war. Many POWs suffer from long term mental illness attributable to their isolation from family and friends and ideological indoctrination at the hands of the enemy.
Johnson made the news again on March 1, 2005, saying in a speech to a pancake church breakfast at Suncreek United Methodist Church, "Syria is the problem. Syria is where those weapons of mass destruction are, in my view. You know, I can fly an F-15, put two nukes on 'em and I'll make one pass. We won't have to worry about Syria anymore." He backed up that statement by recommending a nuclear strike on Syria to President George W. Bush. [1] Disavowing his comments as a "joke," Johnson told The Dallas Morning Herald that he was surprised anyone took his comments seriously. Many of his constituents are concerned that his comments reflect the combined effects of advanced age and his POW experience rather than a failed attempt to be amusing.
Johnson ran unopposed by the Democratic Party in his district in the 2004 election. Paul Jenkins , an Independent, and James Vessels, a member of the Libertarian Party ran against Johnson. Johnson won handily in a highly Republican district. Johnson garnered 86% of the vote (178,099), while Jenkins earned 8% (16,850) and Vessels 6% (13,204).
Johnson, like all House members, will be up for re-election in 2006. He has not yet announced if he will run for re-election at that time.
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Last updated: 05-07-2005 04:55:09
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04
