Scott Walker is up by a mile in Iowa — but don’t start comparing him to Hillary Clinton just yet
Posted on 02/25/2015 1:47:01 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
And when the questions are this far afield, this cartoonish, this ridiculous, Republicans and Democrats alike should commend a politician whose response is, like most of ours would be, “Huh?”
As a member of the political press, I have to say, the media’s recent attempts at exposing Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker as an unsuitable presidential candidate have been nothing short of embarrassing.
If you were dropped into America from Mars — nay, Canada! — you’d have the distinct impression that we only elected amateur psychologists, who were required to peer into the soul of some guy named Barack Obama, who is not running for President in 2016. Let’s stop the madness.
Does Scott Walker believe that President Obama loves this country? Does he believe Obama is a Christian?
To the first, which was asked because another person who is not running for President said he does not, Walker answered, “the mayor can speak for himself.”
To the second he replied, “I don’t know,” which is apparently sacrilege, unless you are one of the many Democrats who have suggested outright that the President is not a Christian.
Walker went on to rightly and articulately condemn this question as absurd: “To me this is a classic example of why people hate Washington and increasingly they dislike the press. The things they care about don’t even remotely come close to what you’re asking about.”
Absolutely right.
Yet, the media is insisting, quite earnestly, that Walker’s answers to these questions that have nothing to do with policy or legislation ought to disqualify him from running for President.
No, really.
Dana Milbank, in the Washington Post: “What Scott Walker did ought to disqualify him as a serious presidential contender.”
Also, Walker’s answers to these insane questions somehow prove he’s lacking leadership.
MSNBC.com: “Scott Walker Faces Leadership Test, Fails.”
Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Holly Shulman: “Today, Walker has proven himself once again to be unfit to lead.”
Forget that Democrats for years suggested that George W. Bush was unpatriotic, racist, a religious zealot, a Nazi even! Forget that the Vice President has made numerous racially insensitive remarks for which no one (including Joe Biden) has been held accountable.
That these folks can say and write this stuff of a guy who is, for one thing, 18 months away from the 2016 elections, and for another a Governor who won three elections in four years, is something to marvel at. If only hyperventilating and hyperbole won Pulitzers.
But inexplicably, it’s not just the left that’s pushing the argument that Walker’s refusal to answer categorically absurd questions about the President’s inner psyche was somehow a mistake.
My friend and colleague Matt Lewis at the Daily Beast admitted the questions were “stupid,” but still insisted that “campaigns are crucibles, and if the last couple of days are a harbinger of things to come, he’s in trouble.”
With whom? Only the media care what Scott Walker thinks Obama thinks. Voters care about what Walker will do.
Joe Scarborough in Politico also agreed these questions were “inane,” but still offered advice to others to avoid Walker’s “unforced errors”:
“Don’t take the bait and do not appear to be questioning the president’s patriotism or faith.” Agreed! So how did Walker fail either of these tests, exactly?
And Republican strategist Dan Senor also warned the GOP field to avoid getting caught up in these strange discussions:
“The last thing we want is to be drawn into a psychoanalytical debate about what is in the president’s heart.” Exactly, so why should Walker have answered any differently?
What all these folks are actually suggesting is that Walker should have, in fact, not only psychoanalyzed the President but defended him as well, if only to quell the angry mob press.
Lewis thinks Walker should have said, “Yes the president is a Christian. His policies are bad.”
Scarborough wants Walker to have said, “I believe this president loves his country even if his policies are dangerously misguided.”
Senor wants Walker to have said, “I don’t challenge President Obama’s love for America; I challenge his agenda for America.”
There are good arguments that winning elections means playing the game, and I’m the first to admit that sometimes that means putting politics before principles.
But answering questions that have nothing to do with policy or legislation isn’t just playing the game — it concedes that these are appropriate things to discuss.
And when the questions are this far afield, this cartoonish, this ridiculous, Republicans and Democrats alike should commend a politician whose response is, like most of ours would be, “Huh?”
What difference does it make at this point whether or not zero is a Christian or patriotic? He isn’t running (hopefully) in 2016, and the media questions should be geared toward the candidate’s view of what he/she wants to do as President. I think I would answer with something long those lines - ask zero these questions - and, it doesn’t really matter - obama lies so much - no one knows when he is telling the truth - if he ever does.
I always bow to the experts...
Although my first choice for a Walker VP would be probably Susana Martinez, I genuinely like Carly Fiorina. She is sensible & smart, yet she generates real warmth.
I would like to see her get a very BIG job in the next GOP administration.
I thought of Susana Martinez too - I need to learn more about her.
“why is saying
yes, obama is a christian is the correct answer
and saying
no, obama is not a christian the incorrect answer?”
I’ll take a stab at answering that. Could it be because the question is being asked by people who will call any answer coming from a conservative the wrong answer?
Scott Walker is up by a mile in Iowa — but don’t start comparing him to Hillary Clinton just yet
“liberals WITH college degrees are the biggest morons this side of creation.”
Let’s be fair now. Some liberals WITHOUT college degrees are ALMOST as stupid as the ones WITH degrees.
I have to admit though that the only liberal dumb enough to tell me that the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is approaching life threatening levels DID have a college degree. I have yet to meet one that dumb who does not have a degree.
“viscous anti Conservative campaign”
I assume you misspelled vicious but viscous could work also.
Arguing with a liberal is like playing chess with a pigeon.
Well the BS was pretty thick.
“Obama lies so much - no one knows when he is telling the truth - if he ever does.”
We will know he is telling the truth when he admits to having lied about every subject under the sun. In other words never.
I’m old enough to remember the likewise insanity that Pres. Reagan inspired in the media. That is definitely a good sign.
You do have a point there. I have taken the liberty of selecting a musical comment which would seem to fit your political leanings, it is performed with great virtuosity possibly influenced by liquids of low viscosity by a man whose talent only slightly exceeds my own. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JYdTHI6w-k Should it not be up to your standards I recommend the version by the late, great Hoyt Axton. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ2fGltn9i8 Sing a rousing rendition at the next SDS meeting you attend and you will be hit...I mean you will be a hit...or maybe I had it right the first time.
I’d hit it.
This is a MUST READ for anyone questioning Scott Walker about his recent statements.
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
I would love to be a fly on the wall in the JEB household listening to Columba complain about the bad press she is getting and this is only the beginning I believe. Although I don’t agree with the press discussing spouses and children that is the reality today. So I wonder if Columba is going to get really sick of seeing negative stories about her and tell Jeb to get out. I mean they say she hates politics as it is and she hasn’t seen anything yet.
Lies and false accusations are not excluded.
Absolutely. Look what they did to Herman Cain. Flocks of woman running to the nearest microphone spouting BS and then when he dropped out, suddenly they went back to their hole. Talk about a coordinated effort to stop Cain. I don’t know if he would have gotten the nomination, but he was treated most unfair of anyone I have ever witnessed except the Palin Family.
When Carly ran for Senate in CA, as a RINO BTW, she was eviscerated for firing people from HP when she ran it.
The attack ads were relentless.
She might sound good making Speeches, but she will be Palinized into submission. She is not a Conservative.
Barbara Bush was right the first time: “Enough Bushes have been president.” [paraphrasing]
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