[Cincinatus' Wife]

Evangelicals Looking for Walker to “Do Nothing” in 2016 Election

"When speaking to religious audiences, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker likes to remind people that he goes to church and knows his Bible. These reminders frequently come as Walker seeks to distinguish himself from political opponents in Wisconsin—the ones, he claims, who’ve sent his family death threats and harassed his kids on Facebook; the “literally thousands of protesters outside our family home” in Wauwatosa. Some of these protesters have, according to Walker, driven past the house and given him the finger as he and his family raked leaves on a Sunday afternoon after church and before the Packers game.

Speaking in 2012 to a teleconference with activists from Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition, Walker said his faith has enabled him to rise above the “vitriol, and the constant, ongoing hatred” during the recall election he faced in the wake of his anti-union legislation, which has crippled the state’s once-iconic labor movement. Along with the unmistakable contrast of his church-going family with the profane and progressive activists, Walker cited two Bible verses. He didn’t recite them, but for anyone who knows their Bible—as Walker, the son of a Baptist pastor, does—the meaning was clear. The verses that helped him withstand the hatred were Romans 16:20 (“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you”) and Isaiah 54:17 (“no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.”)

Should he run for president, Walker may very well turn out to be the 2016 cycle’s evangelical favorite—not because he ticks off a laundry list of culture war talking points, pledges fealty to a “Christian nation,” or because he’s made a show of praying publicly to curry political favor. Although by no means universal, some conservative evangelicals—those who eschew the fever swamps of talk radio, yet share the same political stances of the religious right—are weary of the old style of campaigning. They’re turned off by the culture war red meat, the dutiful but insincere orations of piety.

Emphasizing that ours is a “Christian nation” and pushing “hot button issues” as a style of campaigning has been detrimental to evangelicals, said Mary Jo Sharp, who teaches apologetics at Houston Baptist University and analyzes political campaigns as part of a class she teaches there. “It’s very difficult to hear” that kind of rhetoric, she said. “Christians are not supposed to be the dividers.” Over the course of his political career in Wisconsin, Walker “hasn’t presented as any kind of culture warrior,” said Hunter Baker, Associate Professor of Political Science at Union University, a Southern Baptist school in Jackson, Tennessee. “One of the worst things that ever happened with conservative Christians,” said Baker, was that they “give in to a tribal impulse,” by questioning “are we getting the respect we perceive we once had, are we losing ground, we need to mobilize, we need to increase our force.” That, he added, “is a losing strategy. It gives people the sense you’re working from resentment.”.......

[Old Retired Army Guy]

Walker is the son of a Pastor. He doesn’t need to go out everyday and prove his Christianity. The Economy and Foreign affairs are what voters worry about.

[unlearner]

“how it was surprising he would have this problem given that he mentions God a lot”

That is not the litmus test of conservatism. Obama mentions God a lot too. In fact, he even called Jesus “Lord”. But his track record in office has not been consistent with evangelical Christian beliefs whether he calls himself Christian or not.

Scott Walker is nothing like Obama, but conservatives are looking for someone who will stand strong on conservative values. We have been burned too many times to take this lightly. If candidates want our support, they must be consistently conservative. Period.

[Unam Sanctam]

Walker is my tentative choice, but I thought he was pretty weak on Indiana and religious freedom in comparison to Cruz and Jindal.

[Jack Hammer]

“You know, because that’s the criteria.”

That’s the criterion.

Apparently no one studies English anymore.

[sgtyork]

Speak softly and get things REAL things done…

Scott Walker’s Budget Defunds Planned Parenthood, Targets Contraception Access

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/04/contraception-wisconsin_n_831252.html

Wisconsin Abortions Drop 16% After Pro-Life Law Allowing Women to See Ultrasound of Baby

http://www.lifenews.com/2014/06/02/wisconsin-abortions-drop-16-after-pro-life-law-allowing-women-to-see-ultrasound-of-baby/

[MrEdd]

Politico has the exact same understanding of social conservatism exhibited by libertarians.

[Eric Pode of Croydon]

I guess that any voter who is upset because Scott Walker doesn’t mention Jesus enough is welcome to vote for Huckabee.....

[Erik Latranyi]

Walker is the most politcially astute candidate in the race.

He is not allowing himself to be drawn into “gotcha” issues created and dominated by the left. These “fabricated” issues create a situation where any answer is used by the left to paint the candidate in a negative light.

That is why Walker is not quick to jump into things and shoot his mouth off....something that destroys many candidates.

Instead, Walker is more cold and calculating....a quality we need when the deck is stacked against you.

[arthurus]

that’s the criterion

or

those are the criteria

[Darren McCarty]

I haven't decided yet where my vote is going. I like Cruz and I like Walker.

Talk is cheap. I don't need to hear TALK all the time about social issues. Walker's Upper Midwestern. Most Midwesterners are social conservative but care first about competence, the economy, and getting the job done. Those who talk too much on an issue (either direction) are usually viewed as not doing their job properly and neglecting other issues.

As someone who is social conservative, actions matter. Scott DesJarlais can talk all he wants, but he's a baby-killer as shown by his actions. Walker's RECORD is pretty damn good.

[MrB]

By “social issues”, leftist journalist mean

“our Humanist religious test”.

Amazing how “age of the earth” and “evolution” somehow, also,
are “social issues”.