In Pre-Primary Pivot to Right, Walker Shifts Tone on Abortion

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Times

DES MOINES — It was a memorable political ad: Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin spoke directly into the camera in a 30-second spot last fall and called abortion an “agonizing” decision. He described himself as pro-life but, borrowing the language of the abortion rights movement, pointed to legislation he signed that leaves “the final decision to a woman and her doctor.”

That language was gone when Mr. Walker met privately with Iowa Republicans in a hotel conference room last month, according to a person who attended the meeting. There, he highlighted his early support for a “personhood amendment,” which defines life as beginning at conception and would effectively prohibit all abortions and some methods of birth control.

Mr. Walker has quickly vaulted into the top tier of likely Republican candidates in the presidential race, surging on the reputation he earned by taking on labor unions and surviving a bitter recall election in a swing state.

But the governor is also making an aggressive effort to win the hearts of the party’s Christian conservatives. In doing so, he is stressing a much harder line on social issues than he did just a few months ago, when he faced a robust challenge from a well-funded Democratic woman in his run for re-election as governor.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/23/us/politics/scott-walker-hardens-tone-on-social-issues-to-woo-christian-conservatives.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

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I thought Walker might be a significant threat, being able to show himself off as a rational conservative who could appeal to broad range of voters in a Blue State. Now, I'm not so sure.

[OldRedneck]

1. We need a campaign to mail packages to Walker

I don't know how to embed images here, so, follow this link.

We need to send Walker a case or two of these -- he'll need them.

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[weissmam]

2. when the race really gets started the other GOP hopefuls will have him for lunch

[sadoldgirl]

3. Okay, so he has to convince

the religious right, but with social media,- and therefore memories -, how will
any of them be able to come back to the middle?

Just think about the Schiavo case with Jebbie; it will be revisited for sure.

Then how will he get out of that dilemma?

[LibDemAlways]

4. i'm all for the race to the right in the primaries.

Makes it harder for the eventual nominee to appeal to the middle in November. The more wingnut the better.. Bring it on.

[blkmusclmachine]

7. You assume the "lib'rul media" will report any of this in 2016. Don't count on it. The media is

captured.

[LibDemAlways]

8. True. It will be up to our nominee to remind voters

during the debates about the outragous stands taken by the Repuke nom during the primaries. The media will definitely be AWOL.

[jmowreader]

5. This is a big reason I think the Republicans will never see the inside of the White House again

Most of the electorate isn't as far to the right as the people who vote in primary elections.

Oh yeah...I THOROUGHLY pissed off a winger one day. I told the lady I didn't think life began at conception.
"Well, when DO you think life begins?"
"When you can use it as a tax deduction."

[SoapBox]

6. He and other wack jobs will look nuts...Jebbie will be portrayed

as the calm voice of reason.

I think he (Jebbie) is a terrifying threat.