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Gov. Walker: Romney needs to show 'fire in the belly'

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    Wisconsin governor on 'Fox News Sunday

  • Duration 11:50
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Mitt Romney has had a tough week trying to explain secretly recorded remarks he made -- a fund raiser last night.

In which you said 47%.

Of Americans don't pay federal income taxes and think of themselves as victims.

For more on this -- not a campaign issues we're joined now by Romney supporter in Wisconsin governor Scott Walker who's in Milwaukee governor welcome back to FOX News Sunday.

-- to be back Chris thanks for having me you said.

Friday that you're bewildered by the the Romney campaign since he picked Wisconsin congressman.

Paul Ryan as his running mate you said that you expected -- to start running.

-- bolder reform agenda campaign and that so -- -- how's it why not.

Well I think part of it is dealing with some of these tough issues in the side I think if they get -- continue to be more aggressive just as they were days after.

Mitt Romney picked all right what I loved about the pick apart right wasn't just that he was from a stats or even about all right himself.

Was effective before that we -- that Mitt Romney was qualified to be.

His time in the private sector sitting jobs is time to any Olympics around this time as governor.

Helping balance -- budget without raising taxes the way that help create jobs when he picked all right when -- said to us was he's not just qualified.

He's got the courage and the passion to be an exceptional president I wanna see more of that campaign truck -- to see that the debates.

And I think that's what people are hungry for they want that states like Wisconsin and others across country but.

The governor has been a long time has been over a month since he picked Paul Ryan -- have the Republican Convention they have the week of the democratic eventually got a couple weeks since then.

Are they wasting Paul Ryan and are they wasting the opportunity to present.

A reform agenda.

Well I think it's not just about Polaroid did on about talk -- hearings just to Florida the other -- I think he's doing an effective job on the campaign -- I just like -- -- -- -- the enthusiasm that I saw with the two of them were together early on.

I think that's what Mitt Romney believes and I think that's what will draw people to -- running.

Now in my statement in states across the country particularly.

Battleground states and I think that's really -- -- at stake here we talk a lot about this this comment that was talked about this week I think that takes away from the larger issue.

Which is pretty simple.

This president his allies largely define success -- measure success in government.

By how many people are dependent on the government particularly on unemployment benefits I think Mitt Romney I and others I think the majority of people in this country.

We define success in government just the opposite.

But how many people are not dependent on the government not because we kick them out to the streets but rather because.

We've -- small businesses in the private sector to create more jobs that leads to greater prosperity and freedom.

For all of our people and I think that's the focus we've got to have the more we get off on these side issues.

Whether it's individual taxes -- this.

Video comet that really distracts from the larger debate that is at stake here.

Wonder which we've seen the last four years -- fail.

I think we need to move towards one that will have a vision of us moving forward again.

Well let's talk you say -- destruction but it is big news and we can't ignore it.

The video that was released this week because a lot of voters are receiving this information.

-- which Romney told big donors last night in Florida at a fund raiser about the 47%.

-- that.

Actually 46% of Americans who don't pay federal income taxes let's watch what he said.

To -- here.

Few days.

Governor what do you think about -- particularly.

Romney saying that 47% of Americans think of themselves as victims.

Well I don't know about the specifics of that what he -- but I can't tell -- the larger context most people I talked to including people.

One -- today here in the state of Wisconsin don't want to be.

They'd like to be able to go out and grab a job in the private sector -- like to deal to put food on the table clothes in the -- -- kids -- live a better life out there the vast majority of people.

We're somewhat dependent particularly when it comes to unemployment benefits in this state across this country don't want to be they -- -- live the American dream and that's the contrast here we've got a president.

Who I think has largely taken an attack at the American dream at the American spirit at the American free enterprise system.

And then president -- we have someone who would embrace that lift that up so that all people.

Could better themselves and improve their livelihood and I think that's the message that's -- ask operational message that we need to hear it certainly -- -- people like meet many many years ago.

To someone like President Reagan who share the same beliefs.

-- did so at a very optimistic -- I believe that's what governor Mitt Romney believes that.

I believe the more we get him out of the -- particularly in states like Wisconsin and here that the better off he's gonna be in this election.

If governor that's a great -- competitive he said that that would have been any problem of course he didn't say that and this is the last I'm gonna ask about move on but.

You know he seemed to write off he didn't say well you know these are people who earn hard times what they -- -- get out of hard times he was basically -- They're 47%.

Their victims they feel entitled.

And they're never gonna vote for me -- -- wise I'm not gonna worry about them.

You know it isn't what he didn't say which -- that.

Well I think that's that but that that's the congress -- we hear on the campaign trail we hear.

The other side effect you've heard a little bit of that even for mr.

Gibbs earlier this mindset that somehow even after four years.

This present is -- responsible for this economy that.

43 months of unemployment above 8% the 23 million of our fellow Americans were looking for work today that even in the foreign policy even in the budget discussions he -- let's not our fault -- the congress ball.

That's -- failure to lead we need Mitt Romney out there making the case about how his leadership.

Is now -- -- it ultimately -- -- selection -- more importantly how his leadership is gonna put many of the people today who are dependent on the government for unemployment back to work.

Not because of the government because we've got -- on the way for people work in the private sector that's the message I hope resonates at the first debate and we'll continue between now and or sex.

-- -- so in our -- the radio interview Friday.

You said that you felt that too many people -- restraining Romney from.

Giving his vision.

I guess the question becomes let's -- let's say that you suddenly -- -- campaign chairman what would you -- Iran what does he need to do this week during the bus tour -- Ohio what does he need to do when he -- face to face man to man with Barack Obama that's for us -- I think he got to get off the hills he got to get -- in charge forward I think Americans want a fighter they went so it is not gonna fight over politics but rather who shows.

The -- that that this guy Mitt Romney's gonna fight for the American people when he gets the office he's not going to be on his heels.

He's gonna move forward I think he's got a great plan he just needs.

-- opportunity get beyond some of these side -- issues.

That I think are distracting from the incredibly positive plan he's got to help the middle class to help the hardworking taxpayers of this country.

Move forward and I want to see more passion certainly in part it is a referendum on this president no doubt about.

But I think for most Americans particularly in my state where there's an awful lot of swing independent voters.

They wanna know more than what's wrong with this president they wanna know what's right what's gonna move this country forward I think Mitt Romney's got that plan.

I what -- -- fire in the belly was even before I've seen it when he's been -- Wisconsin.

I sought and James -- -- -- I've seen it elsewhere I wanna see him lit up and rated though because that's the Mitt Romney I -- I wanna see most Americans see that he does.

I think to win this election.

Well let's talk about Wisconsin which has not gone Republican.

Since Ronald Reagan in 1984.

But mr.

Obama was campaigning in Milwaukee yesterday for the first time since February.

Having said that the real clear politics average of recent poll shows Obama with a seven point lead now in your state and one poll shows with the president now leads Romney.

And who is better at handling the economy.

Question governor is Wisconsin really in play this year.

-- I really think it is -- -- in my recall election we won in June by more votes.

There were cast two years ago -- -- larger percentage than two years ago in many -- the polls show that it would be dead at a tight affect some of the exit polls that night showed it was.

A split to a decision right down the middle I ended up winning by a larger margin.

But I had two years prior so I think there's a lot of things moving here certainly there's a very clear political -- to have been for years.

Between Republican Democrat in 2002004.

We were the closest blue state America only a couple thousand votes out of two and a half million made the difference.

I think though the fact the president was here yesterday.

Mitt -- son was here yesterday Mitt Romney's wife and was here couple days ago both Joseph Biden and Paul Ryan we're -- last week.

I think -- to see plenty of more attention to Wisconsin as well as Iowa and other midwestern states between now the election I do think it's competitive but again I've -- all want to Mitt Romney.

If he wants to win Wisconsin.

He's got to show people that the it stands for reformer and that leads to greater recovery if he shows that Wisconsin those -- go to voters are gonna swing his way -- he can win the election.

Let's talk about about your issue your big reform -- you made.

National news over the last two years -- your law that you push very hard hard and and -- -- opposition effectively ending collective bargaining.

For for most public workers now nine days ago and it didn't got a lot of attention but at Wisconsin county judge.

Overturned part of that law as unconstitutional when it comes to school workers and local government workers.

How big a setback is that for -- governor.

Well it's a problem in the short term just because a lot of our local governments have already set their tax -- area -- budgets in place.

It's a real concern in the short term effect -- one of the national bond rating agencies.

Even put out notice event and a negative outlook for local government bond ratings because of that decision now.

Last year we had another.

Activist liberal judge from day -- that the capital base of the state.

Make a decision that ultimately was overturned the law was upheld by the State Supreme Court I am confident that that will happen again.

But in the short term it is a problem in our state.

We've had legal action we had an election a recall election the first of the country.

Where governor was elected in this case -- a larger margin than before I think for most of us who was got -- we've moved on over the last several months.

Rated move forward and it's good because the reforms that save body more -- billion dollars worth the savings.

Property taxes went down for the first time in twelve years on the media -- home a major budget deficit turned into a surplus.

We're had done the right track rule in this state Ford and this is just a temporary setback.

Until the upper court upholds that.

And we have less than a minute -- I want to ask you about another labor issue is you know I'm sure.

They just ended.

Tenacity and angry school strike in in Chicago.

First of all how did you think that Rahm Emanuel the mayor of Chicago had a -- secondly.

Are you beginning to see a split even between democratic office holders and public employee unions.

Well I really do either and I mention this even before restricted to places like Chicago where -- -- -- York.

Even some of the other states you look at Massachusetts New York others out there.

When you're the chief executive get a mayor -- governor in the buck stops if you.

You've ultimately got to make decisions that that make things work in in this case.

What we did with our reforms much like they tried to do in Chicago wasn't just about taxpayer savings it was about making the government work.

And that's effectively have a place think about mirror Iran and then it was just talking about particular.

About having accountability.

And having measures on which you can hold people accountable and hire and fire based on -- That's what we did a Wisconsin and when you do that when you pay based on performance.

You can put the best and the brightest to your classroom that you can keep them there it's good for the taxpayers it's good for the students it's good for great teachers.

Governor gonna have to leave it there Governor Walker thank you so much for talking with us today and will be watching what happens -- Wisconsin's there.

Thank you Chris.

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