Voters may know Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker best as a coupon-cutting every man who shops at Kohls, but he’s also a deeply religious person whose faith would guide his decisions were he to become president.
“It defines who I am and it plays a role in every part of my life in the sense that, how I treat others, it had an impact on how [wife] Tonette and I decided to get married, how we decided to have children,” Walker, the son of a Baptist preacher said during a CNN interview aboard his RV moving through the first caucus state of Iowa.
But when it comes to the role his religion plays in his politics, Walker said “God doesn’t hand down 10 commandments and say ‘here’s your policy going forward,'” when it comes to politics.
“It’s more of a matter how you live your life,” Walker said. “I hope that people whether they agree or disagree of what I did over the last four years as governor and see even in the most challenging times, I try not to respond. I didn’t lash out in anger. I didn’t attack people whether you agree or disagree with me.”
Friends and family insist Walker is a remarkably even keeled person — that he has no temper. He credits his faith.
“For me, the stability that I have, I try to keep a stable balance of life is to not be overwhelmed by the challenges that I face. Certainly, that’s a part of who I am. And my belief in Christ, that certainly has an impact. But in terms of specific policy, no, I don’t have a list of things that God gives me every morning to accomplish in my elected office. It’s more how I act and interact, what I do and how I treat people,” Walker said.
His father’s profession also influenced Walker’s ability to speak in public. When Walker officially announced his bid for president last week, he had no notes and no teleprompter. In fact, he delivered a more than 3,000 word speech almost word for word, from memory.
“I love to tell stories. I think I got that from my father who’s a preacher,” Walker said.
So how did he memorize the six-page speech? He doubled his steps on his Fitbit.
“I walked around our property, where the residence is for the weekend, a good chunk of week at night, I’d be up until almost 10:30 at night walking around,” Walker said.
“I really wanted it to be my voice. I wanted to have direct conversation with the American people. I was going to ask for their vote. I wanted it to come from me and got rid of the podium, got rid of notes, got rid of a Teleprompter.”