Gov. Scott Walker (Photo: Andrew Beckett)
Potential presidential candidate Scott Walker wowed a conservative crowd in Des Moines over the weekend. Walker was uncharacteristically emotional as he spoke at Saturday’s Iowa Freedom Summit. The governor told of threats he and his family received during the 2011 Act 10 protests, and touted accomplishments since he took office, including Act 10, tax cuts and reduced spending, education reforms, and even concealed carry.
“We’ve cut taxes in Wisconsin, we’ve reduced spending, we’ve balanced the budget, we took the power away from the big government special interests,” Walker said. “And you know what? The liberals didn’t much like that.”
AUDIO: Walker at Iowa Freedom Summit (23:00)
Walker said his “big bold reforms” were key to his electoral success in Wisconsin, where he’s been elected three times, including the recall attempt against him. “Common sense conservative reforms can actually work and they work in a blue state like Wisconsin,” Walker said. “If they work in Wisconsin, they can work anywhere in the country, right? I think that sends a powerful message to Republicans in Washington and around the country. If you’re not afraid to go big and go bold, you can actually get results.”
Walker hit on a familiar theme – and said it’s something politicians in Washington need to understand. “The measure of success in government is not how many people are dependent on the government. The measure of success in government is how many people are no longer dependent on the government.”
Walker also touched on foreign affairs. “We need leaders who understand that when freedom loving people anywhere in the world are under attack, anywhere else, they’re under attack against all of us who believe in freedom. We need leaders who will stand with our allies against radical Islamic terrorists.” saying leaders need to stand up to Islamic terrorism and stand with freedom loving people around the world.”
The Iowa Freedom Summit was one Walker’s most high-profile forays to date into a possible run for president in 2016, and he promised to return to Iowa often.