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Scott Walker: Prioritizing economics over social issues is just smart politics
Politico ^ | 06/12/2015 | ALEX ISENSTADT

Posted on 06/12/2015 11:50:38 AM PDT by GIdget2004

In an address to major donors gathered here, Scott Walker — who has wrangled with some in the Republican Party’s evangelical wing — urged the GOP to focus on fiscal and economic issues, rather than social ones, in the 2016 election.

During a question-and-answer session following a speech at Mitt Romney’s E2 Summit, Walker was asked by an attendee how the party can avoid locking itself into a divisive war over social issues, as it has done in the past.

Walker, whose presentation lasted in total around 4o minutes, stressed that he counted himself a social conservative, but called it a “great question.” He noted that, when running for governor in 2010, a time when the state was dominated on the statewide level by Democrats, he focused like a laser on economic matters but said little about social ones.

“We said that if we’re going to win, we’ve got to focus on two things — the economic and fiscal crises facing our state and our country. We were so disciplined on message it was almost over the top. If you asked me anything I’d say the same … answer.”

He added, “It doesn’t mean running from [social] issues, it means putting it in the right context because you don’t want to insult people who care about those issues no matter where they stand. But make it clear that that’s the higher priority.”

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; homosexualagenda
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To: Durbin

Tell all that to president Romney.


21 posted on 06/12/2015 12:11:07 PM PDT by ansel12
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To: jpl
John Adams: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Umm....I would say that "social issues" are pretty darned important if you propose in any way to return us to Constitutional government. In fact, what John Adams was getting at was that if the people abandon the self restraint that comes only from God-given morality, they will become ungovernable savages and the Constitution will no longer matter. We have to stop creating this false dichotomy between "social issues" and other issues. If we don't have a solid, righteous culture ("social issues") then nothing else matters. Who cares what the tax rate is in Hell?

22 posted on 06/12/2015 12:12:25 PM PDT by noiseman (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
But he is saying extremely important issues should not be focused on.

Entirely understandable, but this country has moved inexorably leftward on social issues. A candidate can and should act according to conservative values once in office, but putting the focus on social issues won't win you an election, otherwise President Rick Santorum would be ramping up for reelection.

23 posted on 06/12/2015 12:14:09 PM PDT by ScottinVA (The election of Obama was a hate crime.)
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To: noiseman
If we don't have a solid, righteous culture ("social issues") then nothing else matters.

America hasn't had one of those in many years, otherwise Rick Santorum would've been elected in 2012.

24 posted on 06/12/2015 12:16:38 PM PDT by ScottinVA (The election of Obama was a hate crime.)
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To: ScottinVA

So essentially you are saying that the only time you would be willing to fight for something is when you essentially already have it? That you will simply give up if the going gets too tough? How can you consider yourself a conservative (presuming that you do)?


25 posted on 06/12/2015 12:18:06 PM PDT by noiseman (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: ansel12

And we’ll celebrate the success of making noise on social issues next time President Santorum visits, right?


26 posted on 06/12/2015 12:18:27 PM PDT by ScottinVA (The election of Obama was a hate crime.)
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To: ScottinVA

I’m aware of that, but how do you propose to reclaim the culture by refusing to fight for it?


27 posted on 06/12/2015 12:19:19 PM PDT by noiseman (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: GIdget2004
Five days ago Walker was talking about how we need a marriage amendment to ban gay marriage and today he's saying how we should stay the hell away from social issues and focus on the economy. What will he say next week?

There is only one candidate who has consistently stood by his principles and who won't change his tune to suit the audience he's with, Ted Cruz. That's why I want him as my president even though I don't agree with him 100% of the time. At least I know where he stands and I know that won't change.

28 posted on 06/12/2015 12:20:23 PM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: ScottinVA

To me, that is surrender. What the left has won they have won unfairly and unconstitutionally. Who will be the voice for what is right and also Constitutional.

I think it is a chicken position. I respect Cruz on these issues. He has guts. I don’t agree with him on everything, but the so-called social issues are #1 for me. They are #1 #2 #3 #4 #5......they are everything to me. What is money without religious freedom? What is money if you are forced to violate your own conscience and disobey God? What is money if you are forced to fund the murder of babies? What is money if you are forced to be silent about your faith, about morality, about things you care deeply about?


29 posted on 06/12/2015 12:20:34 PM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: EBH
Focus on what belongs the Cesar?

That makes sense, since he's basically running for Caesar.

If he was running for God, I'd expect him to focus on the more spiritual.

30 posted on 06/12/2015 12:21:04 PM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: GIdget2004

I agree with Walker here, BUT it was a stupid thing to say.


31 posted on 06/12/2015 12:21:28 PM PDT by alstewartfan ("The wheel of fortune changes everything. Don't lose your head now." "Riyadh" by Al Stewart)
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To: noiseman

[If the people abandon the self restraint that comes only from God-given morality, they will become ungovernable savages and the Constitution will no longer matter.]

THIS is what I what in a POTUS.

ACTS 5:27-29

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.

29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.


32 posted on 06/12/2015 12:22:00 PM PDT by stars & stripes forever ( Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12)
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To: GIdget2004

The problem with this theory, is that the social issues inevitably impact economics. For example, where do you think the economy would be today if we had not aborted 55,000,000 babies?

This is the questions we should be asking the political leaders.


33 posted on 06/12/2015 12:22:57 PM PDT by FranklinsTower
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To: noiseman

You fight for those as an officeholder. We’re dealing with a center-left America now, in case you haven’t noticed. If you’re going to put the social issues in the forefront BEFORE you get elected, you’ll be watching someone else’s victory speech on election night.

Feel free to tell us which conservative Presidential candidate in the modern era has put the social agenda at the forefront and gone on to win the general election? And please... don’t insult yourself and the rest of us by responding with “Reagan.”


34 posted on 06/12/2015 12:23:26 PM PDT by ScottinVA (The election of Obama was a hate crime.)
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To: GIdget2004
Most social issues are in fact economic issues and improving the economy will improve those too.
Setting the stage for a growing economy will do more for social issues than taxing hard working people into insolvency or dictating what people are supposed to think about each other.

35 posted on 06/12/2015 12:24:21 PM PDT by BitWielder1 (I'd rather have Unequal Wealth than Equal Poverty.)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
To me, that is surrender

Wrong. That's called facing the reality of running for high office in an increasingly liberal country of 310 million people.

36 posted on 06/12/2015 12:25:04 PM PDT by ScottinVA (The election of Obama was a hate crime.)
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To: ScottinVA
What you dismiss as "social issues" are the very foundational issues that America depends upon if it is to remain (or become once again) America. You foolishly believe that you can just give up on the culture and somehow remain content if they just don't take too much of your money along the way. People with that attitude are just as much a part of the problem as are the loony leftists.

Welcome to the Neville Chamberlain school of American patriotism. I, for one, want nothing to do with you defeatists.

37 posted on 06/12/2015 12:25:50 PM PDT by noiseman (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: FranklinsTower
For example, where do you think the economy would be today if we had not aborted 55,000,000 babies?

Fair enough. See my comment at #16. Walker has made his statements in word AND in action on that subject.

38 posted on 06/12/2015 12:27:08 PM PDT by ScottinVA (The election of Obama was a hate crime.)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

Too many Romney people around him.

In fact I got to thinking its odd how Rubio gets a pass on trade authority when so many seem to think Walker would choose him as a running mate.


39 posted on 06/12/2015 12:28:40 PM PDT by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
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To: GIdget2004
People seem confused. He's talking about campaigning, which is marketing and positioning. It's about maximizing the focus on your more popular beliefs, while minimizing the focus on the more divisive or controversial positions.

It does not involve altering your beliefs or lying about them, it's about generating enthusiasm for your candidacy by appealing to the larger electorate, while diluting the opportunities for your opposition to demonize your beliefs.

He's not talking about governing, which comes after winning an election.

40 posted on 06/12/2015 12:29:01 PM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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