Posted on 11/20/2013 1:44:18 PM PST by SoConPubbie
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is urging Republicans to keep a strict focus on the pocketbook concerns of voters in coming elections — and avoid social issues that have been the party’s Achilles’s heel in some recent campaigns.
Walker, a potential presidential candidate in 2016, also told The Hill the GOP can shed its reputation as the “party of no” only if it offers creative alternatives to Democratic policies they oppose, like ObamaCare.
“For us politically, it doesn’t make sense for us not to be focused on the fiscal and economic issues,” he said in a Monday interview.
“The left wants us to get off of economic and fiscal issues because they know in my state, and across America, that’s where Republicans have the edge.”
Walker, one of several Republican governors eyeing a White House campaign, argued Republicans “have a convincing case to make” to younger, more libertarian-leaning voters on fiscal issues if they can avoid alienating them on other matters.
Asked about gay marriage, an issue that is currently dividing the GOP, Walker said: “I don’t talk about it at all. I don’t talk about anything but fiscal and economic issues in the state.”
Walker, who is promoting a new book, Unintimidated, wouldn’t promise to serve a full second term as governor if reelected in 2014.
He said it “would be nice” to have a full four-year term to target his legislative goals, without all the “commotion” of the recall election he faced in 2012 amid a nasty fight with Wisconsin’s public sector unions.
But Walker pointedly refused to rule out a 2016 White House run.
“It’s flattering for people to mention some other office, and who knows what the future will hold, but I’m focused on my current office,” he said.
Walker said his ideal candidate for 2016 would be a governor “outside Washington who has a proven record for reform.”
One of the chief problems for the GOP in the 2012 election, Walker said, is that Republicans failed to articulate a positive vision for voters to embrace.
He ripped Mitt Romney, the party’s 2012 presidential nominee, for failing to explain what he’d do as president.
“Right after my recall I was asked, literally the next day, could Mitt Romney carry Wisconsin? And I said absolutely, if he shows the ‘R’ next to his name stands not just for Republican but for reformer,” Walker said.
“My frustration was feeling the Romney camp was advising their candidate that all they needed to do was focus their attention on how bad things were under Barack Obama, that that would be enough. The Obama campaign, because [Republicans] didn’t fill that void, was able to make the ‘R’ next to his name stand for rich guy.”
“The last election, the reason social issues came up was because there was a void,” Walker added, referring to Democrats’ charges that Romney and Republicans were waging a “war on women.”
“The lesson after last November … wasn’t that Republicans need to change our positions, to magically be more moderate to win elections. The lesson was we have to focus on the things we care about and lead on those, and those are fiscal and economic issues.”
Walker sought to downplay his own efforts to curtail abortion rights in the state.
He’s signed bills into law to cut state funding for Planned Parenthood, tighten requirements for abortion providers and require women seeking abortions to first get ultrasounds.
“I signed hundreds of bills the last couple years. There’s literally a handful that relate to that issue,” he said.
“I’m still pro-life. Not having a highly controversial organization like Planned Parenthood take state taxpayer funds, instead relying on counties, gets some activists worked up, but taxpayers say, ‘What’s the big deal there?’ ”
Walker also declined to discuss an ongoing John Doe investigation in the state into whether his campaign and outside conservative groups broke any campaign laws during Wisconsin’s recall election.
“There’s no reason for me to comment on it. There’s only two ways — if someone’s been directly involved, they legally can’t comment on it, and if they haven’t been involved, they don’t know what’s going on,” he said.
Walker had kind words for both New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and his friend, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).
“Paul Ryan’s one of those unique leaders in there that, even though he’s in Congress, has some chief executive in him,” he said.
When asked about Christie, Walker defended the New Jersey governor from right-wing critics who question his conservative credentials.
“I think Chris Christie is a conservative. I don’t buy that he’s a moderate. There’s an issue or two, but that’s true for everyone,” said Walker, who compliments Christie several times in his new book.
“Chris, like me, took on the unions, took on the teachers union; he passed pension reform. Most of the grief he gets politically comes more from his embrace of the president around when Hurricane Sandy hit. He’s a pretty outspoken conservative.”
Walker has been critical of last month’s federal government shutdown, which was engineered by the House GOP with encouragement from Republican Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Mike Lee (Utah).
He said his reforms to Medicaid in the state — moving many on Wisconsin’s rolls into the private insurance market by giving them vouchers — was an example of thinking outside the box and coming up with the type of solution not found in Washington.
“The lesson learned with that is we shouldn’t be the party of no, of austerity. We should be the party of reform. … The larger point is, we have to offer a viable alternative to ObamaCare,” Walker said.
That is true. However, if you want to win elections, you need to make a convincing argument as to why doing nothing is best.
There was. Listen to your own video you posted and he clearly says "I don't care where workers come from..." and rattles off the countries. In fact, the video is about immigrants who want to come here and work.
and he made clear statements concerning "those already here" and giving them a pathway to citizenship, and furthermore, he made very clear statements concerning border security, that you did not need to make it better if you just made it easier to get here.
But he clarified those statements today.
So you’re trying to bail out the credibility of the scum liars at the Hill because the Hill reported that Walker supports illegal aliens.
So?
What’s your point, SoConPubbie? You’re making zero sense by defending the neo-Nazi scum at the Hill and attacking Walker.
It's a relevant comparison.
He stating polar opposite positions on the same policy.
No, he simply clarified his argument that what he was talking about was the immigration system as a whole need reform, and added that he opposes amnesty.
This is classic John McCain behavior.
The guy who kicked union ass and eliminated a $3 billion dollar debt has John McCain-type behaviors?
I have to agree, Republicans shouldn’t be the party of no.
They should be the party of Hell No!
A great alternative to Obamacare was suggested by Ted Cruz and others, just let insurance be sold across state lines. Competition will improve things for everyone.
If he does run, he'll still be tons better than whatever turd sandwich the Dems put up, and he's been through the liberal fire.
I believe Walker to be Prevaricating.
Prevaricate—get out of telling truth: to avoid giving a direct and honest answer or opinion, or a clear and truthful account of a situation, especially by quibbling or being deliberately ambiguous or misleading
Walker is tacking “to the middle”, trying to position himself as as “moderate” as Christi but more accomplished, and doing so as part of perliminaries to announcing a 2016 POTUS run
I do not think Walker has what t takes upstairs to be President. I wish him luck with Wisconsin and hope he stays there.
Party of no? You betcha. Sometimes a parent has to say NO to their child, sometimes a girl has to say NO to her boyfriend, and sometimes a political party has to say NO to a bunch of faculty lounge theorists that think they are smarter than everyone, but are actually delusional.
He’s already shown that he is not. How many RINOs have to lose before a bull elephant with tusks and a willingness to use them shows the establishment how it’s done.
Libertarians could join Liberals and convince them to drop their financial issues.
“Walker, a potential presidential candidate in 2016, also told The Hill the GOP can shed its reputation as the “party of no” only if it offers creative alternatives to Democratic policies they oppose, like ObamaCare.”
THIS is a major part of the problem. We Never again need to offer dim lite garbage... we know the problems and we need to be proactive with Conservative plans and when they work we contrast our way with the way of failure. Walker sounds like a loser and a follower. Reagan would have never said, “I offer my version of a rat plan”.
Well THAT guy’s 15 minutes was quick wasn’t it?
Loser idea! This is the whole problem with the GOPe...chronic me too-ism! Just because the democrats said that there was a healthcare Crisis in this country doesn't mean there's a healthcare crisis!!!!! I oppose repeal and replace...I want repeal and then leave me and my family the hell alone!
Only fools found Hope in obama.
Psssst...Scott... saying no got us sequester... sequester is good... helping country.... saying NO is good... especially to a self absorbed citizenry...
Scottie, let me get the doggie-poo bag and clean up after you.
Good boy. Now LISTEN:
First correction cleanup: The GOP will never overcome its Leftstream Media “ - - - reputation as the “party of no” only if it offers creative alternatives to Democratic policies they oppose, like ObamaCare. - - - - .”
Playing by the Rules of the Leftstream Media only makes RINOs like yourself “Democrat-Lite.”
Okay Scottie-dog, try again by making a statement that you proves that you have learned SOMETHING from the failed RINO Way of Dole, McCain and ‘Romneycare’ Romney.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.