Scott Walker: Prioritizing economics over social issues is just smart politics

Politico ^ | 06/12/2015 | ALEX ISENSTADT

[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.”

[HarleyLady27]

Is that why here is here in Utah with Mitt Romney, Christy, and a few others??????

[Arthur McGowan]

I remember Bob Dole talking “process” all the time. “We need to get the women’s vote...” It makes the candidate sound cynical, devious, and calculating. Just hammer ALL the issues. Announcing that abortion just isn’t important doesn’t gain pro-abortion voters. It just disgusts pro-life voters.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Santorum was never the Republican candidate for President. What are you talking about?

[trisham]

Reagan. Our last, best president.
"Our task is to make them see that what we represent is identical to their own hopes and
dreams of what America can and should be. If there are questions as to whether the
principles of conservatism hold up in practice, we have the answers to them.

Where conservative principles have been tried, they have worked."

Ronald Reagan

[ansel12]

Says the raving thread guy, who is totally detached from reality, and thinks that attacking conservatives and Palin supporters at FR, is the way persuade people to like their guy, and overcome suspicions that he might no be truly a social conservative.

[ScottinVA]

I agree wholeheartedly.. where conservative principles have been tried, they’ve worked.

But...

You have to get into office FIRST! That’s been my whole point!

[ScottinVA]

Sorry you’re abjectly unable to comprehend my point about getting into office first. No worries .. I won’t hold that deficiency against you. It just wouldn’t be fair.

[Nextrush]

“Free markets” and or a “market system” without a Bill Of Rights including free speech and freedom of religion in the First Amendment, not to mention the right to bear arms in the Second and so on are pretty empty and meaningless in the end.

I tend to believe with this trade legislation, Amnesty for illegals, Climate Change and so on what the politicians are really doing is protecting big business and crushing smaller business and the individual anyway.

That’s not my kind of capitalism......

[trisham]

I understand your point, but I don’t think that Walker does himself any favours by putting aside social issues. Surely he understands that most conservatives are concerned with both fiscal and social issues?

[ScottinVA]

Is your point Santorum wasn’t the nominee? He was most assuredly running for President in 2012.

And...

He ran largely on social issues and didn’t even win the GOP nomination.
THAT is what I’m talking about.

[ansel12]

Sorry you’re abjectly unable to comprehend my point about getting into office first.

So you gave up on arguing that he is a hard core social conservative, and now say that he is secretly a hard core social conservative, who is concealing it, until after he tricks the social liberals into voting for, THEN when in office, he will reveal his true, hard core social conservative self.

You only increase the doubts about Walker.

[ScottinVA]

I agree, but if you check my comment at #16, you’ll see he’s laid down some strong markers on abortion... in words and deeds. Not sure what more people are wanting. He has some strong cred there.

[hosepipe]

Got it, folks. Put the social issues in the forefront and vehemently condemn any candidate who doesn’t. President Santorum will attest to how well it’s all worked out.

---

Santorum is a Union Stooge..
Walker may not be.. an actual stooge..
BUT.. he may be a stealth STATIST...

Not a gross in yer face STATIST... but one that tolerates STATISTS..
You know.............. LIKE MOST REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS..

Just being a republican leaves you with ten foot pole marks all over you..
To Wit: are you a STATIST -OR- a republican..

STATISTS are for the FEDERAL GIVERNMENT —NOT FOR— the State Givernment(S)..
STATISTS despise State Givernments.. FOR; Central Control and single payer.. (in degrees)

Basically they are TRAITORS..

[ScottinVA]

No son.

I just have better things to do than engage with someone with wildly irrational notions. You just aren’t worth my time.

[Heart-Rest]

"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. "
==========================================================================================================

You are overlooking one of the biggest factors for many voters, regarding Rick Santorum's eventual abject failure in 2012.  This video clip of Santorum in the past endorsing liberal Arlen Specter over a more conservative opponent, is why I did not (and would not) vote for Santorum, and I am not the only voter who holds that view.

If you remember, Arlen Specter was pro-abortion, and a lefty Republicrat, who later completely switched to the demoncrap party .

(As the old saying goes, actions always speak louder than words, and Santorum's actions certainly did so in the past, and that is what doomed his 2012 candidacy.)

[Nextrush]

The country needs more “Winstons” instead of the Republican “Nevilles” we’ve got now..,,,,

[ansel12]

That is your anti-conservative argument?

Rick Santorum, the union guy who lost his seat by 17.4 %, and was a lifetime supporter of Arlen specter, and who mocked Reagan supporters, and called himself a “progressive conservative”, and who switched to being pro-life for his first campaign run?

[trisham]

I understand that, but we conservatives have been concerned about this issue for a number of years. When a politician backs away from social issues, many of us wonder where his true priorities really lie.

I don’t think that most of us are looking for a Santorum, but that doesn’t mean that we are looking for a fiscal conservative, either.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

That is lame. We are in a primary season and the last two election cycles Republicans have followed Walker’s advice. They went on to lose. So perhaps this time they should try Santorum. I bet he would do better than either McCain or Romney did.

[Nextrush]

I don’t want to legislate moral or religious belief, but I wan’t freedom of speech and religion for those who have moral beliefs.

The elite politicians and businesses are attacking those things.

They’ve shot down religious freedom legislation in a number of states in the last year or so including Arizona, Indiana and Arkansas with ‘conservative Republicans’ folding quicker than cheap suits......

Governor Walker cannot be silent on this.