Walker’s Odd Line in Sand with Trump

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker’s recent tame rebuke of Donald Trump’s reprehensible comments about Republican Sen. John McCain’s military service comes after Walker took nearly $500,000 from Bob Perry, the architect of the notorious “Swift Boat” campaign smearing the military service of Purple Heart winner John Kerry. One Wisconsin Now today called on Walker to return the Perry money to the late Republican’s family.

“Scott Walker took half a million dollars from the most notorious anti-veteran group in the history of politics,” said Scot Ross, One Wisconsin Now Executive Director. “If Walker refuses after posing for holy pictures as he and his fellow Republicans try to catch Donald Trump in the polls, Walker is showing again he will say or do anything to get elected.”

A review of Walker campaign finance records show Walker’s gubernatorial campaign account has almost exactly the $490,000 needed to relieve himself of the Perry funds. Walker also received an additional $10,000 from Perry’s widow.

“Scott Walker has allegedly finally found his line in the sand with GOP front-runner Donald Trump ,” said Ross. “But Walker’s record on veterans is awful and his refusal to return the ‘Swift Boat’ $500,000 brings more shame onto Wisconsin.”

Top Walker confidantes and employees went to prison for embezzling funds from an organization Walker created that were supposed to go the families of Wisconsin soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan to finance vacations and other personal expenses.

Walker also proposed in his 2015-17 state budget to remove oversight of for-profit colleges which are regularly cited as providing useless degrees and preying on soldiers who have earned GI Bill benefits. And, in 2014, Walker signed a bill that changed the rules for asbestos lawsuits, over the objections of veterans groups, who had argued the changes will make it harder for veterans exposed to asbestos to recover damages before they die from asbestos-related illnesses.

In addition, Walker memorably compared Wisconsin teachers to ISIS and said he was prepared to be the commander in chief because 30 years ago he had attained the rank of Eagle Scout.