Scott Walker hires lawmaker who slashed uni budgets over ‘gay-themed’ books
Republican Presidential wannabe Scott Walker has appointed a lawmaker to his campaign who slashed university budgets because they stock ‘gay-themed’ books.
The Governor of Wisconsin is one of seventeen Republicans currently vying for his party’s nomination to run for President in 2016.
However, the Republican made a surprising move this week – when he hired lawmaker Garry Smith to help lead his campaign in South Caroline.
State Rep. Smith rose to prominence last year – when he pushed through a bill massively slashing the budgets of two universities over ‘gay-themed’ books at the institutions.
The Republican authored a bill to cut $17,000 (£10,200) in funding from the University of South Carolina Upstate and $52,000 (£31,200) from the College of Charleston – because their libraries include lesbian author Alison Bechdel’s autobiography ‘Fun Home’, and radio textbook ‘Out Loud: The Best of Rainbow Radio’.
Smith claimed at the time that the material ‘promoted a lifestyle’ and ‘did not reflect community standards’.
South Carolina’s Senate eventually reversed the cuts – but only if it spends the money teaching about ‘American ideals’ instead.
The appointment is not entirely unfathomable – Walker claimed recently that Boy Scouts of America had “protected children” by banning gay members.
He said: “I was an Eagle Scout, my kids have been involved, Tonette (his wife) was a den mother.
“I have had a lifelong commitment to the Scouts and support the previous membership policy because it protected children and advanced Scout values.”
Despite being strongly opposed to LGBT rights and same-sex marriage, Walker has actually already attended a same-sex wedding.
He insisted previously: “Even though my position on marriage is still that its defined as between a man and a woman, and I support the constitution of the state but for someone I love, we’ve been to a reception.”
Describing the issue as “personal”, he said the wedding was of a family member.
