Scott Walker Calls Out Media for Asking Him ‘Gotcha’ Questions after Refusing to Comment on Obama’s Christian Faith

By Isaiah Narciso
Scott Walker
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R-WI) participates in a panel discussion at the American Action Forum in Washington, January 30, 2015. Credit: Reuters/Yuri Gripas

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker found himself in an interesting situation after he questioned whether or not President Barack Obama was a Christian, deciding to take on the media's role in asking "gotcha" questions instead.

According to John Dickerson of Slate, the Wisconsin governor, a possible 2016 presidential candidate for the Republican Party nomination, refused to answer questions that pertained to President Obama's Christian faith. Walker argued that answering such questions were a waste of time in his opinion.

"To me, this is a classic example of why people hate Washington and, increasingly, they dislike the press," Walker said. "The things they care about don't even remotely come close to what you're asking about."

The source of the original controversy came from Dan Balz and Robert Costa of the Washington Post. They asked Walker, who was in Washington on Friday attending the winter meeting of the National Governors Association, about the president's Christian faith.

"I've actually never talked about it or I haven't read about that. I've never asked him that," Walker said in a calm voice. "You've asked me to make statements about people that I haven't had a conversation with about that. How [could] I say if I know either of you are a Christian?"

Walker then elaborated to the Washington Post reporters that most Americans probably did not care about such matters.

"People in the media will [judge], not everyday people," he said. "I would defy you to come to Wisconsin. You could ask 100 people, and not one of them would say that this is a significant issue."

Dickerson argued that Walker was "trying to transform a duck into a weapon by making the press an issue." He contended that even the silliest of arguments can affect Americans' impressions of any potential presidential candidate, Walker included.

"It's the silly stuff that breaks through and defines a candidate because people don't always spend weeks looking over the position papers on their websites or studying their speeches," Dickerson wrote." Or, the silly stuff sets a first impression that sticks."

Dickerson contended that silly "gotcha" questions do have a place in presidential campaigns, arguing that if people like Walker refused to answer them, then people may question whether or not the Wisconsin governor should secure the Republican presidential nomination.

"The silly questions are the ones that give you a break from the searing questions that you've just now promised you've committed yourself to in your declaration against the frivolous and obscure," Dickerson wrote. "Duck those hard questions now that you've declared yourself guardian of the important and people are going to think you're trying to trick them."

Even though people may forget this question in the long-term, Dickerson maintained that Walker's response to the media's questions may have revealed something important about the governor.

"His reticence does suggest a timidity and caution at this stage in his campaign," Dickerson wrote. "That could be prudence and Walker is arguably the riskiest Republican politician in America having taken on the unions and survived a bruising re-election that resulted from it."

Dickerson thought that Walker failed to take advantage of answering the question, writing that he "missed his first opportunity" to set himself apart from the other presidential contenders.

Walker spokesperson Jocelyn Webster told the Washington Post that the Wisconsin governor was only trying to make a principled point.

"Of course the governor thinks the president is a Christian," she said. "He thinks these kinds of gotcha questions distract from what he's doing as governor of Wisconsin to make the state better and make life better for people in his state."

  • [Exclusive Interview] A revelation within the brink of life and death — Meg Leung’s mission in Christian art

    Meg Leung (梁麗橋), an artist with a lifelong love for watercolor painting, sees her art as more than a means of expressing her inner world; it is a bridge connecting her to God. Her artistic journey has revealed God’s perfect plan and inspired her to communicate the power of faith through her wor

  • Transgenderism a fundamental human right? Hong Kong public disagrees, survey finds

    A 2024 survey from the Society for Truth and Light (明光社)'s Center for Life and Ethics Research reveals that respondents from various backgrounds prioritize personal safety and fairness when it comes to transgender issues. When laws involve moral judgments, most respondents believe courts should not make the decisions. The study also indicates that religious believers share similar views with non-religious respondents, reflecting that many churches may rarely address gender topics in depth.

  • Discipleship and Evangelism: Walking the Path of the Great Commission

    Like an ever-flowing spring, the gospel refreshes dry, parched lands and needs our unwavering passion and steadfast faith to transform lives and bring renewal. The "flame in our hearts" calls Christians to keep their faith and love for the Lord ablaze, representing the work and power of the Holy Spirit, driving us to proclaim God's glory boldly.

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo