Gov. Walker’s Foul Photo Op

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker recently appeared at a charity event for teen drug treatment featuring controversial Phil Robertson of the television show Duck Dynasty, and proudly posed for a photo with Robertson, first lady Tonette Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and her husband Rep. Joel Kleefisch. One Wisconsin Now rapped Gov. Walker for a serious lapse in judgment in posing for a photo op at a teen drug treatment program fundraiser with reality TV star Robertson who has publicly advised men to seek to marry women as young as 15 years old.

“Whatever your politics, we should be able to agree that appearing with a television personality that advises men seek to marry 15-year-olds at a fundraiser for teen focused drug treatment programs is just plain bad judgment,” commented One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross.

According to a news report Robertson previously appeared in a video in which he said, “You got to marry these girls when they are 15 or 16. They’ll pick your ducks,” He went on to opine, “You wait until they get to be 20 years-old, the only picking that’s going to take place is your pocket.”

Mr. Robertson was suspended for a time from the reality television show featuring his family, Duck Dynasty, for offensive comments including equating homosexuality with bestiality and claiming Southern blacks were happy before the civil rights movement when Jim Crow laws prevented large numbers of citizens from being able to vote, attend adequate schools or avail themselves of public accommodations like restaurants, hotels and restrooms.

Ross also noted that in addition to the bad judgment of the photo, Walker’s appearance at the event was rife with hypocrisy. As Governor, Walker proposed and signed in to law cuts of over $9 million to AODA programs targeted to help troubled youths.

He concluded, “It’s hard to decide what is most offensive about this whole affair. Gov. Walker’s appearance at an event raising money to help teens with drugs after he axed over $9 million in needed state funding to balance a budget that sent millions in tax giveaways to the wealthy or corporations. Or his smiling photo op at a benefit event for teens with someone who believes men ought to be seeking out 15 or 16 year-olds to marry.”