Walker vs. Cruz on Gay Marriage - [Oct - 2014]

US News and World Report ^ | Oct. 7, 2014 | David Catanese

[SoConPubbie]

While Scott Walker wants to move on, Ted Cruz plans to fight.

In a nutshell, those are the battle lines being drawn over gay marriage among the 2016 GOP presidential aspirants.

[READ: Supreme Court Greenlights Gay Marriage]

After the Supreme Court punted on state rulings, how to define legal matrimony again veered into sharp focus, with two polar opposite approaches being outlined by the Wisconsin governor from a blue state and a Texas senator from a deep red one.

“For us, it’s over in Wisconsin,” Walker acknowledged, citing the high court move that means a lower court decision to accept gay marriage in his state is the final word on the subject.

And Walker, who faces re-election in four weeks, seems content with the finality on the topic.

“I’d rather be talking in the future now more about our jobs plan and our plan for the future of the state. I think that’s what matters to the kids. It’s not this issue,” he says.

If Walker finds himself reprising that answer on a Republican presidential primary debate stage sometime next year, expect a thunderous response from Cruz, who in two short years in the U.S. Senate has already made himself a favorite of social conservatives.

Cruz blasted the Supreme Court’s decision not to weigh in on the issue as “astonishing” and “indefensible,” and has previously introduced legislation to protect the authority of state legislatures to define marriage. He also plans to introduce a constitutional amendment to prevent Congress or the court from striking down bans on same-sex marriage imposed by states.

[SoConPubbie]

"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

[SoConPubbie]

Ted Cruz Ping!

If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.

Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

CRUZ or LOSE!

[marron]

Just moments ago I said something nice about Walker.

I still like him and I realize a conservative in Wisconsin has to pick his battles, but Cruz is definitely the man.

[SoConPubbie]

1010RD,

Is this article incorrect about Scott Walker on this issue?

[Jim Robinson]

Goodbye, Scott, we hardly knew ye.

[South40]

Some call Cruz an "extremist".

[Hardens Hollow]

““I’d rather be talking in the future now more about our jobs plan and our plan for the future of the state. I think that’s what matters to the kids. It’s not this issue,”

The kids have been indoctrinated in public schools, so of course they don’t care about anything involving morality and principles. Adults need to be in charge and set the agenda - and IMO that adult is Cruz.

[SMCC1]

A governor has a much different job than a senator. A GOP Senator from a red state can afford to take on any and all issues and talk, talk, talk without political consequences. A GOP governor in a blue state has to pick battles in order to govern effectively.

[Amendment10]

"“For us, it’s over in Wisconsin,” Walker acknowledged, citing the high court move that means a lower court decision to accept gay marriage in his state is the final word on the subject."

If Walker is clueless about 10th Amendment-protected state powers versus constitutionally unprotected “rights” like gay marriage, what other parts of the Constitution is he clueless about?

[donna]

The USA cannot survive gay marriage. No country can.

So, it’s time to fight or give up.

[Rusty0604]

My thoughts exactly.

[rabidralph]

Walker is in the habit of running away from tough issues and doesn’t state a position until the crisis is settled. After the election he sidestepped making Wisconsin a Right-to-Work state. Yet the legislature is very interested in passing something during the session. Similarly with concealed carry, he doesn’t say right out he supports it but “if the bill comes to my desk, I’ll sign it.” I don’t know if Walker has the courage of real convictions and I expect him to fold. I’ve always preferred Cruz or Palin, who are consistently conservative and don’t apologize for it.

[SoConPubbie]

A governor has a much different job than a senator. A GOP Senator from a red state can afford to take on any and all issues and talk, talk, talk without political consequences. A GOP governor in a blue state has to pick battles in order to govern effectively.

Sorry, that's not Leadership.

We heard the same crap as an excuse about the Progressive Liberal Romney.

What you are telling us is that Walker can be expected, as POTUS, to roll over on any issue, no matter how right his position is, if he is expecting to much political flack.

Give me the Fearlessness of Ted Cruz to the Political Calculation, apparently, of Scott Cruz, any and every day of the Week!

CRUZ or LOSE!

[SoConPubbie]

Walker is in the habit of running away from tough issues

Yea, and it's sad, because he has shown the necessary toughness and strength of character to take the fight, righteously so, to the unions. It appears that since he has gotten serious about running for POTUS, he is either erroneously listening to bad advice from his advisors, or, he is putting his own plans (for POTUS) above what is best for the people of Wisconsin.

[SoConPubbie]

Hey 1010RD,

Is the article correct about Scott Walker and Gay Marriage?

[SMCC1]

How can you be so sure Cruz won’t also pick his battles if he becomes president?
Right now, it’s politically smart for him to be the conservative firebrand as it’s the open niche in the GOP primary. Once/If the constituency he needs changes...who knows.

I like both guys, but I’m just saying...they’re BOTH politicians.

[SoConPubbie]

Just moments ago I said something nice about Walker.

I still like him and I realize a conservative in Wisconsin has to pick his battles, but Cruz is definitely the man.

Scott Walker is a good man, and he is a conservative, it's just that Ted Cruz is much more of a full-spectrum conservative than Walker.

I don't know about you, but I want the best man for the job of POTUS, not 2nd best.

I want someone who fearlessly defends conservatism, like Ted Cruz and shown the world for the last 3 years, not someone who is going to run his support for each conservative issue through a filter of political pragmatism, which Scott Walker seems to be doing as of late.

[Balding_Eagle]

Taking the news article at face value, Cruz essentially accepted and endorsed Walkers position that ‘it was over’ in the article.

“Cruz blasted the Supreme Court’s decision not to weigh in on the issue as “astonishing” and “indefensible,” and has previously introduced legislation to protect the authority of state legislatures to define marriage. He also plans to introduce a constitutional amendment to prevent Congress or the court from striking down bans on same-sex marriage imposed by states.”

[SoConPubbie]

How can you be so sure Cruz won’t also pick his battles if he becomes president?

I can't, and in the spectrum of possibilities, that possibility exists, however, as of right now, given the track record of Ted Cruz, it isn't probable.

With Scott Walker, given his position on Gay Marriage, his refusal to fight for Right-to-Work, his telling Tea-Party conservatives to quit fighting the GOP-E, etc., I know that I am going to get someone who will not fight for every conservative issue, and more than likely, will shy away from necessary fights, because, in his mind, it is not practical to his administration. His job isn't about the administration, or his POTUS run, his job is to fight for what is right, to fight for the principles enshrined in the constitution. Scott Walker failed in that regards with regards to Gay Marriage.

[garjog]

“A GOP governor in a blue state has to pick battles in order to govern effectively.”

This is so true. I wouldn’t right him off just because he isn’t trying to fight a losing battle in his state.

We need a governor for a presidential candidate who knows how to manage a budget and run a bureaucracy. And deal with wack-job democrats.

Walker has a proven record as a fighter.