Scott Walker, explaining in USA Today his refusal to play the press's "Gotcha!" game:
One thing we've learned in Wisconsin through all our challenges and successes over the past four years, is when we keep our focus on what matters to the people, we earn their respect, if not always their agreement. And, in a purple state that hasn't gone to a Republican presidential candidate in 30 years, our approach has translated into three wins in four years.
There has been much discussion about a media double standard where Republicans are covered differently than Democrats, asked to weigh in on issues the Democrats don't face. As a result, when we refuse to take the media's bait, we suffer.
I felt it this week when I was asked to weigh in on what other people said and did and what others' beliefs are. If you are looking for answers to those questions, ask those people.
I will always choose to focus on what matters to the American people, not what matters to the media.
Editorial in USA Today, same day:
But when it comes to taking on the indulged interests in his own party — including people who question President Obama's patriotism and religion, or who deny established science — Walker is positioning himself as a panderer of the first order:
[. . .]
Walker says these are nothing but minor "gotcha" tempests ginned up by news organizations. His responses, however, suggest a disturbing unwillingness to stand up to extreme elements within the GOP. Walker, trying to position himself as the leading conservative alternative to former Florida governor Jeb Bush, has already sent out fundraising appeals based on his being attacked by a liberal press.
My God, that is so utterly clueless. They're so dumb -- or maybe it's just the arrogance of thinking they're still the only game in town -- that the online Walker piece actually links to the editorial. Hey, what he's saying? Go here read this -- that proves it! They claim that his refusal to answer the questions shows "deference to the hardcore Obama haters" and the examples they give of how to run a classier campaign are all Republicans (all of whom lost, by the way). Completely ignored is the main compalint coming from the right, that Democrats are never, ever asked to distance themselves from their fringe elements in the same way.
Pathetic. Some days I am more ashamed of being a part of the mainstream press than others.
