Scott Walker catches flak

by A.B. Stoddard, columnist, The Hill - 02/27/15 3:30 PM ET

We know how excited people get when they are running for president, especially when they are speaking at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). How else to explain why Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) could imply he is prepared to handle the threat from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) because he had faced down 100,000 union protesters in his state capital? While discussing the threats the next commander in chief will have to confront, Walker said: “If I can take on 100,00 protesters, I can do the same across the world.”

After Walker caught immediate flak for his statement, he said to reporters later: “There’s no comparison between the two, let me be perfectly clear. I’m just pointing out the closest thing I have to handling a difficult situation was the 100,000 protesters I had to deal with.”

Three things to note here: 1) Walker didn’t have to deal with protesters at the statehouse, the police did; 2) that was indeed a comparison; and 3) this time he can’t blame the media for “gotcha” questions.

Welcome to the spotlight, Gov. Walker.

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