Governor Walker in London, Volunteering Around The World

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Have you always wanted to travel the world, but couldn’t cover the cost? Volunteering while traveling, or “voluntourism,” might be for you. We discuss how an author’s experiences volunteering abroad changed his life. We also look at Governor Walker’s London trip, and why the international visit is part of the presidential audition process.

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  • Walker Isn't First Governor To Make Headlines While In London

    London seems to have proven to be political quicksand for state governors attempting to burnish their foreign policy credentials ahead of their likely U.S. presidential campaigns.

    When Gov. Scott Walker visited London this week on a trade mission, he made headlines for not answering a handful of questions on foreign policy and one about whether he believes in evolution. But, a number of other state leaders have also garnered media attention during visits to London. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie received criticism for comments he made about vaccinations. Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal received some heat for his views on Europe’s “no-go” zones for Muslim immigrants. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney got in trouble for calling out London’s preparedness for the 2012 Olympic games.

    “I think all of those cummulatively reflect that a trip to England doesn’t make you ready to talk about foreign policy,” said Charles Franklin, the director of the Marquette Law School Poll and one of the state’s eminent political scholars.

    Given all the negative headlines, it might seem a mystery why governors feel compelled to make the trip in the first place. But, Franklin said that particularly for governors who typically stay within their state borders, there’s a sound rationale for going to London.

    “This is a nearly universal ritual for candidates who haven’t been involved in international affairs, Franklin said. “Senators have a little bit of an advantage there because they can travel on congressional business. But governors in particular need to travel around to establish that they’ve been to Europe, been to England, been to Israel or wherever.”

    No one expects that a few days in a foreign country makes for deep foreign policy experience.

    “But I think the most critical thing is simply to be able to talk coherently about your foreign policy views,” Franklin said.

    For the average Iowa caucus goer, said Franklin, it might not make a huge difference if they see a potential candidate visit 10 Downing Street. But in the broader context, he said, it might play into voters’ equations when they ask themselves, “Is the kind of candidate I want to see as president?”

    “Each of the candidates has to establish that comfort level among voters,” Franklin said.

  • Governor Walker In London–The Presidential Politics Of The Foreign Field Trip

    Governor Walker is the latest in a line of potential presidential candidates to get unwanted headlines on a trip to London. A political observer answers the question: why has the international field trip become part of the presidential candidate audition?

  • Volunteering Your Way Around The World

    “Voluntourism” is a new word for traveling the world while volunteering. Our guest took his family for six months of global volunteering, which changed their outlook on the world.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Charles Franklin Guest
  • John Marshall Guest