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Scott Walker: 'Never Compromise Your Principles'

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Scott Walker, one of the leading candidates in the Republican presidential race, isn't a household name. But he's very well-known among voters who'll be taking part in the upcoming presidential primaries.

Early poll numbers put the Wisconsin governor in the top tier of a very crowded GOP field. His campaign message? Reform, growth, and safety.

"If you made a list of common sense, conservative reforms in this country, I don't think you could point to one that we haven't accomplished across the way in Wisconsin, a blue state," Walker said at a recent campaign event in Iowa.

"If we can do it there, we can do it anywhere in America and certainly in our nation's capital," he added.

That's Walker's claim to fame: a conservative governor getting results in a state that had not voted Republican in more than 30 years.

Unintimidated

He's also battle-tested, winning reelection and overcoming a nasty recall effort brought on by liberals and public unions.

The presidential hopeful has built a tough reputation, even writing a book called, Unintimidated. His critics think he won't compromise at all.

"Some folks will say Unintimidated means 'I'm not going to compromise.' I know you're a student of history. Ronald Reagan, the 80/20 model - do you subscribe to something along those lines?" CBN's Brody asked the governor.

"Well, you should never compromise your principles," he replied. "But in terms of the details, I think as governor when I push for the stuff that probably most people know about me, which was taken on the unions."

"I wanted 100 percent repeal of collective bargaining," the governor continued. "We tweaked it a little bit even with our own Republicans."

"And it ended up being better because you still have it, though we got rid of all the things that were difficult for schools and counties and cities and state government, and yet still gave them something to hang onto," he said.

"So as long as you don't compromise on your principles, the details you can always work that out," Walker concluded.

That message resonates with conservatives, such as Iowa voter Heather Rowley.

"I think he's a very strong conservative, solid on the social issues, which in my opinion are some of the more fundamental issues of this campaign," she said.

As a  pro-life candidate, Walker wants to strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood. In addition, he's called the Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide a "grave mistake" and wants a constitutional amendment allowing states to define the issue not the courts.

Setting the Record Straight

But a media report implied he and his wife might take opposites sides of the marriage issue. Walker quickly cleared up any confusion.

"Some in the media, not you, but others have I think misstated my wife's position," Walker told CBN News.

"There are some family members who have extended family who have different views on this, but my wife actually supports my position so that's something," he said.

"She pointed out she was torn by the fact that she's got me with a position and she's got others family members in different position, but being emotionally torn doesn't mean that she's got a difference of opinion," he explained.''

"Now, others in our family do have a difference," Walker said. "But again, I point to anyone - not just to an evangelical audience - to anyone and say look at my record. If I was going to be pushed on this, I would have been pushed a long time ago."

And Walker's record shows he's no pushover. He said that as President Walker, he would display that no-nonsense approach from day one.

"I'd speak out and take an active, aggressive position, to call on the Congress to fully repeal Obamacare and put patients and families back in charge and actually send up draft legislation to empower them to do that," he told CBN News.

"I'd pull back on Day One of the bad Iran deal we just talked about and going forward would make sure that we pulled back on so many of the other bad regulations under this president," he said.

Grounded in Faith

Walker wants everything he does to be grounded in his faith. As the son of a Baptist preacher, he knows a thing or two about the Bible.

"One of the scriptures I find to be most comforting is in where Paul talks about the thorn in his flesh and speaks the words of Christ saying, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,' Walker said. "It is just such a powerful reminder that no matter how challenging times are His grace is more than sufficient."

That's something he will need in what's shaping up as a long and crowded campaign.

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About The Author

David
Brody

David Brody is a thirty-four-year veteran of the television industry and currently serves as Chief Political Analyst for CBN News. He’s interviewed many prominent national figures across the political spectrum during his time at the Christian Broadcasting Network, including former President Donald Trump. During Trump’s administration, David interviewed him at the White House, aboard Air Force One, and at Mar-a-Lago. He’s also interviewed former Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo three times each. In addition, David has provided on-air political analysis for CNN