Scott Walker, a Republican candidate for governor in Wisconsin, may have set the record for fastest flip-flop on the Arizona immigration law yet.
In a story first published Friday, Walker told the AP, “In America, we don’t want our citizens getting pulled over because of how they look.”
Throughout the day Friday, Walker’s campaign Facebook page was deluged with comments, many from people threatening not to vote for him.
“Oops, you lost my vote when your wrist went limp on Arizona,” wrote Todd Osborne.
“Now I too am wavering in my vote for you Scott,” wrote Michael Miller. “You are gonna have to fully explain your position as I do not believe you have fully read the letter of the law AND looked at the Federal laws on the books.”
That evening, Walker responded in a Facebook post:
“Let me be clear, my concern about the immigration law passed in Arizona is that immigration is a federal issue. The United States government should be securing our borders,” he wrote. “When the federal government steps on states’ rights, I invoke the 10th amendment. In this case, the issue is the responsibility of the federal government.”
The post garnered 132 comments, many of them negative. (It also got 105 “likes.”)
By Saturday, Walker had issued a full statement, saying that if he were governor of Arizona, he’d sign the law, too.
“I sympathize with the people of Arizona who are victimized by violence, crime and property damage as a result of illegal immigration,” he said. “After speaking this morning with the sponsor of the new law in Arizona, State Senator Russell Pearce, I’m satisfied that the amended bill provides adequate protections against racial profiling and discrimination. A police officer may only inquire about the immigration status of persons they have stopped, detained, or arrested for other reasons.”
“If I were Governor of Arizona, I too would sign the Arizona immigration bill. As Governor of Wisconsin, I will sign legislation that strengthens our protection against illegal immigration and ensures that taxpayer funded benefits like Badger Care and drivers licenses are not available to those who are here illegally,” he said.
His staff then responded to each angry Facebook comment with a link to the new statement.
Walker, who campaigns on a “Brown Bag Guide to Government,” is the county executive for Milwaukee County and a former state legislator.
The Arizona law requires police officers to demand proof of immigration status if they have a “reasonable suspicion” that someone is in the country illegally.
Walker’s campaign did not immediately return a request for comment.
Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio had a somewhat similar change of heart earlier this month.
