Scott Walker attacks 'elitist' critics

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is sounding off on the pro-union demonstrators who protested his education budget proposal earlier this week outside the house where his parents live in suburban Milwaukee.

“I think those sorts of things backfire,” he said on Fox News’ “The Kelly File” on Tuesday night. A number of education union workers showed up outside the residence with signs on Monday, according to a Facebook posting on the event. They say Walker’s budget proposals dramatically cut funding for education, while Walker has said cuts to the University of Wisconsin System represent only 2.5 percent of the budget.


Walker owns the home but currently lives in the governor’s mansion in Madison.

It’s not the first time protesters have shown up outside the Wauwatosa residence. In 2011, Walker’s family faced a similar situation during protests over the state’s budget and a controversial collective-bargaining bill.

“My mom not only had a protester outside of her house — she actually had someone chase my youngest son and her down the aisle at the grocery store just to yell at them,” Walker recalled.

He also rejected concerns about his education level, which has come under increased media scrutiny over the last week. Walker dropped out of Marquette University in his senior year.

“That’s the kind of elitist, government-knows-best, top-down approach we’ve heard for years,” he said of the criticism, adding that President Barack Obama, who graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School, has done a “lousy job.”

“I’d rather have a fighter who’s actually proven he can take on the big government special interests and win,” Walker said. “I think there’s a lot of Americans out there who scratch their head and say, ‘We have people who have helped found Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, plenty of other successful businesses and enterprises across this country and did exactly the sort of the thing I did.”

Walker also sought to clarify why he punted on a question about evolution during a trade event in London last week.

“I think what I should have said is I was there on the taxpayers’ dime to do trade and investment. I told that group upfront. It’s why I didn’t talk about foreign policy. And I think the taxpayers of Wisconsin would have been upset, saying, ‘Why are you off talking about political questions?” he said.

He added that he has no problem answering the question, but that he felt the need to stick to official business in the United Kingdom.

“I think God created the Earth. I think science and my faith aren’t incompatible,” he said.