Scott Walker ‘Punts’ on Evolution Question

Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) appeared determined to stay on his topic, when facing questions from the press in the United Kingdom on Wednesday.

Between the Democrats’ spin machine-in-waiting and journalists eager to make headlines with a “gotcha” question to a potential Republican candidate—questions they don’t seem to have time to ask Hillary Clinton—Walker behaved like a man in a minefield.

Speaking at the Chatham House foreign policy think tank London, Walker was asked: “Are you comfortable with the idea of evolution? Do you believe in it?”

“For me, I am going to punt on that one as well,” he said. “That’s a question politicians shouldn’t be involved in one way or another. I am going to leave that up to you. I’m here to talk about trade, not to pontificate about evolution.”…

He added when pressed: “I love the evolution of trade in Wisconsin.”

Walker then took to Twitter to clarify his response.

Both science & my faith dictate my belief that we are created by God. I believe faith & science are compatible, & go hand in hand.

— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) February 11, 2015

He also refused to answer questions on foreign policy, citing an age-old maxim.

The governor also repeatedly dodged questions about United States foreign policy, citing respect for President Barack Obama. He said American politicians should not criticize a sitting president while abroad.

“Being old fashioned, and having respect for the president, I just don’t think you talk about foreign policy when you are on foreign soil,” he said.

And true to form, the Democrats used that angle to attack Walker—just as they would have attacked him if he did discuss foreign policy while overseas. The test for a potential GOP nominee now isn’t about answering hard questions. There’s plenty of time for that. It’s avoiding the prat and pitfalls that will surely knock a few presidential hopefuls out before the race even gets started.

In response to Walker’s comments, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee said: “Let’s recap – today in London, Scott Walker traveled to a foreign policy think tank to refuse to discuss foreign policy, dodged a straightforward question on evolution, and failed to explain away the budget fiasco he left behind in Wisconsin.

“For someone who went to London to build his street cred as a serious leader all Walker showed today was the same ducking and dodging Wisconsinites know all too well and that we’ve come to expect from the 2016 GOP field, whose policy positions are just too divisive to share. Would’ve been a lot simpler to just stay home.”