Big Government Walker to Protect Wisconsin with Nanny State Transgender Bathroom Law.

Funny thing, at the same time Scott Walker accused Obama and the Justice Department of transgender bathroom overreach by the federal government...he and Rep. Jesse Kremer want a statewide law usurping local control to create their own policy?

Republican state lawmaker Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) plans on renewing his push this year for a "bathroom bill" in Wisconsin similar to the one in North Carolina, which would limit people to entering bathrooms that match their birth sex. "Progressive activists have finally blatantly, and unintentionally, unveiled their real war on women." Kremer and Sen. Steve Nass said the measure was needed to protect all students' privacy and safety and reinforce “the societal norms in our schools.”

Nationally, the Republican talking points network spread the precisely worded response. It included "local" and "that's what school boards are for." Scott Walker memorized every word, despite saying something completely different last year. Today...:

"The bottom line is issues like that need to be addressed at the local level. That's what we elect school boards for. It's not an issue the federal government should be involved in, nor should the state. It should really be left up to the local districts."

Or does Walker mean this, from last October:

“I think it’s important to have some clarity about that and I know school districts around the state have just begun to deal with that,” Walker said of the issue. “I understand at least one school district has looked at a separate bathroom and I think that makes some sense but I think with respect to all the other students there’s got to be some clarity.”

Will the "incidental" governor sign Kremer's bill into law because, well it's there in front of him? Anything is better than Obama's overreach, right?

Turning the majority political party into a rightwing socialist sledgehammer is just one goal. Kremer's bill would not just target transgender Wisconsinites, it would also turn liberal supporters into intolerant bigots: 

"In an attempt to appease a few individuals, these (liberal) extremists have overplayed their hand and we, as citizens, must stand up to their intolerance and bigotry," wrote Kremer.

Right wing lawsuit mills, with bizarre spin filled names that typically mean just the opposite of their chosen special interest, like the “Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty,” pick and choose who’s “liberty” to defend. Suddenly, enlightened social changes threaten the “long-standing practice” of discrimination:

The conservative public interest law firm, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, criticized the mandate as an "abrupt change in long-standing practice" and an unconstitutional overreach by the Obama administration.

Who could have foreseen the “party of small government” requiring a birth certificate to go to the restroom, the ultimate in nanny state social engineering.

Adding insult to injury, Republicans continue to use the most conservative courts to peel back progress. The Justice Department’s lawsuits over N. Carolina’s law requiring people to use public restrooms that correspond to the sex on their birth certificate is now a battle they really want to fight?

"This is a question for the legislature or for the courts interpreting existing law and constitutional provisions," said Rick Esenberg, president and general counsel. "It is not a question to be resolved by a bureaucratic command backed up by the blackmail of withholding federal funding."

Is he describing withholding food stamps and unemployment unless a drug test is given? Just wondering.

Here's what the administration wants from our public schools:

The Obama administration directed schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity ... states that Title IX protects students from discrimination based on their gender identity. The Justice Department on Monday sued North Carolina over a bathroom access law that it said violates the rights of transgender people, a measure that Lynch likened to policies of racial segregation and efforts to deny gay couples the right to marry.

Walker's inadvertent admission: Muslims unwelcome, shouldn't enjoy Freedom to Worship in US.

Remember when Scott Walker said during his failed presidential campaign that there is a “handful of reasonable and moderate followers of Islam." It was a peek into Walker's darker agenda.

That was also just one early sign Republicans were ready to take aim Muslims and the 1st Amendment.

At the Milwaukee Jewish Federation's menorah lighting ceremony, Walker didn't just skip over the one major religion dominating the news today, but denied he singled out any religion after singling out 4 of them. After blaming the media for his own bigoted shortcomings, our Humpty Dumpyist Governor tried to word-salad his way out of trouble (audio below):

Walker Rails Against Media After Reporter Questions Religious Freedom Quote: Walker Omitted Islam When Listing Off Religions Who Enjoy Freedom To Worship ... left out Muslims when listing off religious groups that deserve the freedom to worship Monday. Afterward, when a reporter pointed out the omission, Walker criticized the news media, and said he didn't specifically mean to "single one (group) or the other out."

He said that "whether someone is Jewish, or Christian, or Hindu, or Buddhist, or whatever it might be, that particularly here in America, we recognize that that's one of the great tenets."

A reporter later asked Walker why he left Muslims off his list.

As you can see, he singled out four religions. And yet Walker said he did no such thing and then blamed the media for pointing out his unintentional slip of religious bias:

"Pointing that out is typical of the media," said Walker. "Somebody asked me the other day, what did I find out about the media? It's like, what did I leave out? I just rattled off a bunch. You could mention three or four other religions. I didn't specifically single one or the other out."

The guy that yelled Walker was "a schmuck" before getting tossed from the ceremony, was right of course. and another reason why Walker doesn't makes open to the public appearances.

Walker pushes workplace discrimination/the firing of gay employees based on religious freedom and the conscience clause.

Make no mistake about it Scott Walker has a backup plan to allow gay discrimination to flourish if he had his way.

In February 25, 1082, Republican governor Lee Dreyfus signed the nations first Gay Rights Law. The reason? 

Dreyfus: “(The) fundamental Republican principle that government should have a very restricted involvement in people's private and personal lives.”

Not so principled now, it’s just a law that could and will be repealed or weakened at any time, especially by Walker. In this Meet the Press exchange, Chuck Todd asked Walker if he believes gay workers could be fired. Here it comes, the old "That means you have to have that balance" BS. You know, firing gay people because of your religious liberties and conscience represents a "balance:"



Todd could have followed up Walker's answer with a whole slew of questions, like what would gay workers do if they're in a state that doesn't have a law protecting them from from getting fired? Will Walker suggest they move? Acquiesce to being a second class citizen? Yes.

Guys like Walker have a blind spot when it comes to religious freedom, how one person could infringe on the religious freedoms of another. It's an easy concept to grasp.

But Walker's best chance to discriminate is in the state Constitution; the “conscience clause,” and he knows it:

Walker: "The Wisconsin constitution explicitly protects the rights of conscience of our citizens … the government will not coerce you to act against your religious beliefs. I call on the president and all governors to join me in reassuring millions of Americans that the government will not force them to participate in activities that violate their deeply held religious beliefs. No one wants to live in a country where the government coerces people to act in opposition to their conscience."

And if that doesn't work? Well, like all conservative politicians, they have no problem promising to pass a constitutional amendment that, for the first time, would limit freedoms and take rights away:

Walker: "We will need a conservative president who will appoint men and women to the Court who will faithfully interpret the Constitution and laws … to support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to reaffirm the ability of the states to continue to define marriage."

Gaffe Prone Walker sticking with it: Wants conservative voters to think being gay is a choice, are pedophiles.

Remember this memorable comment from presidential wannabe Scott Walker saying gay Boy Scout leaders are "pedophiles." Cap Times:

I have had a lifelong commitment to the Scouts and support the previous membership policy because it protected children and advanced Scout values.”

You'll notice the press has not used the word pedophile...anywhere. Yet that's what Walker meant. Continuing to avoid that word, CNN's Dana Bash got the strangest answer from Walker when asked to address the controversy:

Walker clarified that he thought that the ban on gay scout leaders didn't offer physical protection to children as much as protection from the spotlight of the debate on the issue.

Wow, major bullshit right. Even "stand with Walker" supporters will recognize that...I hope? 

Insulting, and a complete take-back...let's call it damage control, for purely political purposes, Walker notched another major gaffe. 

It was so easy for Dana Bash to make Walker squirm, watching him tripping over his own incredibly embarrassing word salad, that I just had to post it here. It was incredible:

Walker: "I just think it pulls Scouting into a whole larger political and cultural debate, as opposed to just say Scouting is about camping...instead of pulling all these other issues out there. And I would hope that we can stay focused, that's all. 

Bash: "But should there be a gay ban on allowing gay men to be Scout leaders?

Walker: "That's up to the people that run the place. One thing that people find unique, I guess, whether you like it or not, is I answer your questions. People ask me a question and I'll answer a question..."

Bash: "But you're not really answer this one..."

Walker: "Sure in this case that's what I thought, I thought the policy was just fine..."

Hold on, "previous membership policy ... protected children" doesn't sound like "I thought the policy was fine," right? Walker can't think on his feet without pulling out some well rehearsed line from previous speeches, and he didn't have one. In fact, a conservative Walker supporter and pundit casually acknowledged that on the radio this morning, humorously conceding, "who would believe that?"

Walker tipped his hand when he avoided the whole "choice" thing, which of course he obviously believes. After all, that's why gay Boy Scout leaders are pedophiles:

CNN's Dana Bash asked the Republican presidential candidate whether he thinks that being gay is a choice. "That's not even an issue for me to be involved in," Walker said.

Compliment Bash for tough questions and staying on topic:

Bash offered that to act on behalf of people as a president does, "you have to understand or at least have an opinion on who they are and where they're coming from."

Walker: "I don't have an opinion on every single issue out there. To me, I don't know.

"It's appalling that a candidate for president in the year 2015 could botch such a fundamental question," said JoDee Winterhof, senior vice president of policy and political affairs for the Human Rights Campaign. "Of course it isn't a choice. If it was, Scott Walker would be able to tell us when he chose to be straight."

Walker Stumbles Again, Twice; compares gay men to pedophiles, dismisses value of minimum wage workers lives.

Gay Boy Scout Leaders Dangerous: The press won't say it, but I will: Scott Walker just compared gay men to pedophiles, when he said the ban on gay Boy Scout leaders "protected children." Seriously, what else would it mean?

The Boy Scouts of America’s National Executive Committee voted unanimously this week to allow gay adults to serve as employees and troop leaders. In response to the vote, Walker told IJReview: 

“I was an Eagle Scout, my kids have been involved, Tonette (Walker) was a den mother. I have had a lifelong commitment to the Scouts and support the previous membership policy because it protected children and advanced Scout values.”

What a leader and bigoted presidential wannabe.

Minimum Wage Disconnect: Scott Walker must also think that minimum wage service industry jobs are either on their way out or just a brief jumping off point to a great paying job in the future that will never go away. These jobs are here to stay, as the nation moves to a greater dependence on service industry employers. Major companies that reorganized their business model after the Great Recession now require fewer full time workers, and depend more on parttime workers making less money and no costly benefits.

So Walker's tone deaf comment about how lame it for Democrats to focus on the minimum wage is brutally disconnected from reality:

"The left claims that they're for American workers and they've just got really lame ideas — things like the minimum wage. Instead of focusing on that, we need to talk about how we get people the skills and the education and the qualifications that they need to take on the careers that pay far more than the minimum wage."