Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker raised many eyebrows after he said the ideal 2016 Republican Presidential nominee would be a former or current governor — effectively snubbing Tea Party Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.). But the Republican made a compelling case as to why all eyes should be at the state level, saying it all boils down to perspective.
Walker joined American Enterprise Institute fellow and co-author Marc Thiessen to discuss their new book, “Unintimidated: A Governor’s Story and a Nation’s Challenge” at AEI on Thursday afternoon. Remarking on his comment to ABC’s Jonathan Karl last week, Walker laid out his argument for why the future Republican seeking the White House should have gubernatorial roots.
“Voters more than anything want leadership,” Walker told the audience. “They want leaders who are going to stand up and firmly say what they’re going to do to lay out those policies and then have the courage to stick with it and see them though and to prove that they work.”
Walker noted that many moderate voters admire a candidate who is not willing to evolve on their beliefs and politically pander — reminiscent of the flip-flopping both 2012 Republican President nominee Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama have done. Additionally, he said, those down the middle, who are likely to be swayed, value two key qualities: respect and focus.
“The two have to go hand in hand,” Walker said. “Stay firm to your principle but make sure you focus and address the issues overwhelming the public wants you focused on.”
Though Walker’s statement ruled out 2016 Presidential hopefuls serving in Congress like front runners Paul and Cruz, he did make one exception for a fellow Wisconsin Republican — Rep. Paul Ryan.
“[He’s] one of those rare people in Washington who has the kind of courage we see in the states right now,” Walker said. “He thinks more like an executive than he does a member of Congress.”
He did say that beyond Ryan, there are some exceptions to the rule. However, many working within the confines of the Washington political machine lack the perspective needed to govern the entire country effectively.
“If we’re going to invoke [moral rightness] the people I think who are best equipped to take that on are people who come at it from that kind of perspective, from the outside looking in,” Walker said. “And to add to it, if you look at governors or former governors, the people who just come in with an outside perspective, they’re people who by and large have successfully initiated and enacted those kinds of reforms at the state level.”
Though the 2016 Presidential race is still years away, several Republican governors are suspected to be preparing for a run. Walker included, others include Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
