Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) argued in an interview with Fox News how he hasn’t actually switched positions on immigration reform, contrary to claims from critics.
Walker, as TPM has previously noted, has given conflicting statements on immigration reform. In an interview with The Wausau Daily Herald in 2013, Walker voiced support for a pathway to citizenship. In 2006, when Walker was Milwaukee County executive, he showed support for a pathway to citizenship. But more recently, he’s stressed opposition to “amnesty” —shorthand among immigration hardliners for a pathway to citizenship.
In an interview Tuesday night, Fox News’ Bret Baier asked Walker “If you’re willing to flip-flop on such an important issue like this, how can voters be sure you’re not going to change your position on some other big issues?”
“A flip would be someone who voted on something and did something different,” Walker said. “I don’t have any impact as a governor, I don’t have any impact as a former county official,” Walker said.
That would change, Walker said, if he were to run for president and win.
“And so I’ve spent the time talking to border state governors, I’ve talked to members of the Senate and the House,” Walker continued. “I’ve talked to people who care about this issue all across the country.”
In April, Walker moved to try and cement his position as a conservative on immigration reform proposals by suggesting that support for limiting legal immigration reform.
“In terms of legal immigration, how we need to approach that going forward is saying, we will make adjustments,” Walker said in an interview with Glenn Beck.
Watch Walker’s response below:
