Posted on 02/23/2015 6:49:26 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
My take on Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker as a presidential candidate is that he’s enviably capable of having it both ways: an acceptable-to-the-GOP-establishment figure who’s also exciting to the conservative base because (a) his blue-state context makes him look more radical than would similar positions and behaviors in a red state, and (b) his electoral record in Wisconsin gives him an electability argument based on confrontation rather than compromise or outreach.
But even before officially announcing a presidential run, Walker’s showing signs of stepping on his own image of relative ideological moderation (essential to his Establishment acceptability and MSM approbation) and of courageous if not hammer-headed convictions (essential to all Republicans). His habit of saying “I don’t know” to base-bait questions, whether it’s the theory of evolution, Barack Obama’s patriotism or Barack Obama’s Christianity, isn’t pleasing anybody.
And that’s why Brother Benen is right that the kind of questions Walker has been evading are indeed a test of his leadership ability—maybe not for all presidential candidates but definitely for this one. A wishy-washy Scott Walker isn’t what any of his admirers is bargaining for. Such perceptions undermine all the credit he’s been given by all kinds of Republicans for fixing his sights on unions and public spending as the key reasons for Wisconsin’s allegedly sluggish economy, and letting nothing stand in his way in going after them. I mean, really: could it be that the guy who’s endured death threats for standing up for his principles can’t answer simple questions?
My guess is that the evolution and Is-Obama-a-Christian vacillations are particularly damaging to his Establishment street cred, since one of the reason corporate types like him is that while he’s a conservative evangelical who talks regularly with God about his political objectives, he’s mostly focused on the pan-Republican goal of clearing away obstacles to “job creators.” The news about Walker ought to be that he’s on the brink of double-crossing 2014 voters by pushing through a right-to-work statute in Wisconsin, further aligning his state with those job-creating paradises of the Deep South. Instead we’re wondering if Walker thinks dinosaurs walked the earth not too long ago or if he subscribes to Pope Erick Erickson’s anathemas against anyone who doesn’t believe in scriptural inerrancy.
If Walker doesn’t get his act together those earlier comparisons to him as a nastier version of Tim Pawlenty could come back.
Gov. Scott Walker sure as shootin' isn't pleasing the Left!
: )
Unless he comes out CLEARLY on the side of the citizens, the rule of law, and American sovereignty he won’t get elected.
Not accepting wishy-washy, not amnesty if they pay a fine bs.
The citizens are fed up with the invasion of our country and we MUST elect a President who WILL enforce the borders and laws.
He isn’t rising to leftist bait. Side steppin’ the Alinskys that are being thrown at him. Good Man!
A reading assignment:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3260480/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3260487/posts
And it's driving them nuts.
He really has said more than “I don’t know.” He’s pretty insistent that such questions are irrelevant to his running a country.
Anyone believe that the new manager at the local plant is going to be asked if he believes in evolution? I doubt it. They care more if he has the ability to run the operation.
Do you need to believe in evolution to run this nation? The majority of presidents were Christians who believe in a Creator, so apparently it doesn’t have a damn thing to do with ability to properly guide the nation.
This is why I was furious when Mitt, Rush and Drudge shoved Scott into the spotlight, he wasn’t prepared for it just yet. Now the MenSeekingMen have opened fire on him before he had a chance to get a defense team in place. Now he’s having to take all the arrows since nobody else on our side was elevated as a target.
Perhaps Mr. Kilgore should seek out the Democrat legislators who ran to Illinois to hide if they think Mr. Walker is vacillating and wishy-washy.
He's learned to duck their partisan shots and he's no stranger to their leading "gotcha" questions.
That is not the subject about which this moron is accusing him of being wishy-washy.
He thinks Walker is “wishy-washy” because Walker said he does not personally know whether Barack Obama loves this country, and that he does not personally know whether Barack Obama is a Christian.
Yes, the article is THAT inane.
“The news about Walker ought to be that he’s on the brink of double-crossing 2014 voters by pushing through a right-to-work statute in Wisconsin,...’
Walker never said he wouldn’t sign RTW, even when the media whined and whined about it. He said he didn’t think the bill would ever reach his desk.
He didn’t answer their question and they didn’t get the ‘gotcha’ they wanted, that really pisses them off.
They tried to get him to denounce Rudy’s assertion that Obama is not American and hates America.
Walker said something to the effect that he would let Rudy speak for himself.
He also might have added - “and I think Obama’s actions, words, and policies speak for THEMselves as well.”
Yes he has, but the msm needs a sound-bite that they think will help shape public opinion.
And it’s driving them nuts.
_________
I am lovin’ every minute of it!
Walker will only get elected if he is CLEARLY on the side of the citizens, the rule of law, and American sovereignty.
He has not been clear on this at all.
Immigration is a misnomer, what is happening is not immigration.
It is cheap labor importation through purposeful non-enforcement of borders and laws.
Not voting for any more cheap labor importers.
If he wants the votes of conservatives he has to be on the side of the citizens, not The Cheap Labor Express.
Stick around FR for longer than a couple of weeks.
You’re going to be fun.
Exactly. And I think the left is slowly realizing that their "Gotcha!" questions on social issues and things like evolution just ain't gonna cut it this time around, not with the world in the shape it's in.
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