Who, me? I have nothing to do with any marriage case, no sirree.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker likes to talk tough most of the time, but when it comes to marriage equality, he seems to be backing down. Walker has long been an outspoken fan of his state's same-sex marriage ban, but late last week, with a case challenging that ban in federal court,
he started backpedaling:
... saying he didn't know if it violated the U.S. Constitution, would still be approved by voters today or would amount to a big change for the state's values and economy if overturned. [...]
"Any federal judge has got to look at that law not only with respect to the state's constitution but what it means in terms of the U.S. Constitution, as well. Again, I'm not going to pretend to tell a federal judge in that regard what he or she should do about it," Walker said. "...I don't know what (allowing gay marriage) means. Voters don't talk to me about that. They talk to me about the economy. They talk to me about their kids' schools."
Even all this pretended ignorance is quite a turnaround from his earlier position, and a ludicrous one. He doesn't know what allowing gay marriage means? It's not a giant mystery after being the law in Massachusetts for 10 years now. And this whole "gosh, I dunno, that sure is a head-scratcher" act is all part of a larger dodge on the fact that, as governor, he's a defendant in this case. Which he apparently now, after years of opposing marriage equality, wants Wisconsin voters to forget about.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett's decision, as he faces a tough re-election battle, not to appeal a marriage equality decision in his state was a good sign of just how decisively the tide has turned in favor of equality. Scott Walker trying to dodge the issue is perhaps an even stronger sign.