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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Time to move on ... Mochas, midrash and mysteries: The problem with atheists and believers ... Should boulevard median use artificial turf? ... Our View: Time to move on ... Mochas, midrash and mysteries: The problem with atheists and believers ... Should boulevard median use artificial turf? ... COMMENTARY Chris Honoré: Scott Walker: a Republican prototype Comment By Chris Honoré DailyTidings.com By Chris Honoré Posted Aug. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Chris Honoré Posted Aug. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Let’s assume that when the Republican primary contest has concluded, Donald Trump’s candidacy will be a footnote. He will have flamed out like a meteor entering our atmosphere. The longer he stays in the race the more we will know about him, and the collage won’t be pretty. So the real question is, who will be the last person standing (there are now 17)? For the sake of discussion, let’s use Scott Walker, governor of Wisconsin — who is, Trump aside, leading in a number of polls — as today’s prototypical Republican and examine his views. I acknowledge that I find his policy positions, and those of the Republican field in general, bordering on the surreal. I hear myself saying, repeatedly, “seriously?” Listening to them can be jarring, for they always seem a bit cranky, often mean-spirited, ever ready to put ideology and party before country. But back to Walker: When he announced his candidacy, he said that “on day one,” if the nuclear deal with Iran is approved, he would jettison it and “take the fight to Iran” while putting in place “crippling sanctions.” It’s pure fantasy. This crossroads moment won’t come again. Typically, the Republicans, who have reflexively rejected this nonproliferation agreement, two years in the making, have offered no viable alternative other than war. Think of it: Dropping bunker-busting bombs on Iran followed by myriad unintended consequences is their only strategy. Really? This is not unlike the conservatives voting repeatedly to repeal the Affordable Care Act while offering nothing to put in its place other than forcing millions of Americans to once again confront their health care without insurance, turning to emergency rooms when in distress and unable to afford a primary care physician, or facing bankruptcy because of a serious illness. Truthfully, Medicare for all would be the most elegant and efficacious solution to America’s health care needs, but given our Congress, that remains a bridge too far. Walker, following the lead of his fellow Republicans, believes there is rampant election fraud (absent even a shred of evidence) and supports voter I.D. at the polls, knowing countless Americans will be disenfranchised. Regarding gun control, he favors the right to carry concealed weapons and is a rigid supporter of the Second Amendment. He opposes Medicaid expansion, which affects the poorest among us. Mirroring his party, he is against raising the minimum wage to a living wage. He is strongly pro-life and supports a constitutional amendment regarding “personhood,” a position that argues that life begins at conception and would therefore make all abortion illegal. He signed legislation mandating that all women who seek an abortion have an ultrasound prior to the procedure. He would immediately defund Planned Parenthood, the bane of conservatives, even though it offers a wide spectrum of health care services and screenings, especially for poor women. He believes marriage should be between a man and a woman and so disagrees with the applicability of the 14th Amendment and the recent Supreme Court decision regarding same-sex marriage. As president he would remove the wolf from the endangered species list and streamline the procedure for mining applications. To extrapolate: Welcome big oil to the artic. He favors school choice and vouchers, a conservative position with the inherent goal of privatizing our public schools and placing education in the hands of schools-for-profit companies. This would be the death knell of one of our most democratic and valued institutions. Walker, like many conservatives, commingles church and state despite the expressed proclamations of our Constitution. He has stated that his relationship with God drives every major decision he has made, including his run for governor and now for president. This doesn’t seem to disturb Republicans, but I find it chilling. We are a nation of laws, not scripture. Granted, Americans like to see their leaders exiting a church on any given Sunday morning carrying a Bible (just not the Koran). And not to forget, the next president will likely make one or two Supreme Court nominations. SCOTUS is the gift that keeps on giving. Aug. 6 is the first Republican debate and will be hosted by Fox News. Walker has made the cut. As has the Donald. Not-to-be-missed television. Chris Honoré lives in Ashland.  By Chris Honoré DailyTidings.com By Chris Honoré Posted Aug. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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