What They're Saying About Scott Walker's Announcement Speech on July 13, 2015

ICYMI: Walker Announces Run for President, Appears on ABC's "World News Tonight"

Waukesha, Wis. – Governor Scott Walker announced his run for president today in front of thousands of supporters. In his speech, he outlined his plan for growth, reform, and safety and discussed his record as both a fighter and a winner. Additionally, Governor Walker and his family appeared on ABC's "World News Tonight," where they discussed his vision for the country and visited his hometown and the McDonald's where he used to work as a teenager.
 
http://bit.ly/1CD3Fdm

What They Are Saying:
U.S. News & World Report: "With his shirt sleeves rolled up as he roamed a platform without a podium, Walker posited himself as a fresh, bold reformer who will stress growth at home and safety from threats abroad." (Dave Catanese – July 13, 2015)

Time: "Speaking in rolled-up shirtsleeves in front of a faux wooden stage at the Waukesha County Expo Center, Walker’s speech sought to highlight his Midwestern everyman image: the son of an Iowa pastor who never graduated from college and shops frugally at Kohl’s. Speaker after introductory speaker mentioned his back-to-back-to-back victories in the blue state, winning election twice and beating back a recall after he dramatically weakened the power of the state’s public sector unions." (Zeke Miller – July 13, 2015)

Bloomberg: "As he has in recent weeks, Walker sought to sell himself as someone who has delivered results, contrasting himself with Republicans in Congress who have been part of an institution best known for gridlock on recent years. "My record shows that I know how to fight and win.  Now, more than ever, America needs a president who will fight and win for America," he said. After traveling the country ahead of his announcement, Walker said he's heard from people tired of politicians only saying what they're against. "I'm for transferring power from Washington into the hands of hard-working taxpayers," he said. "I'm for building a better economy that allows everyone to live their piece of the American Dream." (John McCormick – July 13, 2015)

Politico: "Sleeves Rolled Up, Scott Walker Kicks Off Presidential Run: Scott Walker officially announced his bid for the presidency on Monday, launching his campaign from a place that showed off his reputation as not only a tough fighter, but more importantly, a winner. ... “My record shows that I know how to fight and win. Now, more than ever, we need a president who will fight and win for America,” Walker said, his sleeves rolled up, seemingly at ease with the crowd. Walker also made a point of saying he was not a creature of Washington. Unlike many of his rivals in the crowded GOP field, senators or products of political dynasties, Walker presented himself as an outside leader who can and did get things done." (Kyle Cheney – July 13, 2015)

National Journal: "Inside a small, circle-shaped auditorium draped with American flags, Walker spoke of patriotism and piousness. His announcement speech, delivered inside a converted barn, was targeting not just the Republican voters here but those in a neighboring state that looks uncannily like his own. His message was simple. "I love America," Walker declared, his first words upon taking the stage in front of a thousand cheering Wisconsinites. Walker's 30-minute announcement speech sounded at times like an audition for patriot-in-chief. He spoke of Boy Scout outings and American Legion events. He recalled placing flags on soldiers' graves and tying ribbons around oak trees. And he talked tough on foreign policy, promising to reassert a muscular role for America on the global stage."The world needs to know that there is no better friend and no worse enemy than the United States of America," Walker said. The crowd responded with booming chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!" (Tim Alberta – July 13, 2015)

MSNBC: "Pitching himself as a battle-tested champion of “big bold reforms,” Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker announced his presidential campaign on Monday. … The governor has emerged as a top tier contender in the Republican primaries, where he offers up a rare mix of humble roots, executive experience, and ideological purity. In his announcement speech he recalled flipping burgers at McDonald’s as a teenager, recounted his father’s career as a preacher and his mother’s work as a secretary…" (Benjy Sarlin – July 13, 2015)

Associated Press: "Scott Walker vowed Monday to fight for America's interests abroad and for his conservative policies in Washington, launching a 2016 Republican presidential bid by highlighting his clashes with labor unions as his campaign taunted his Democratic critics. The 47-year-old second-term governor embraced his "fighter" reputation as he formally declared his candidacy in an evening speech, his family at his side, and protesters gathered just outside the convention hall. "We are running to serve as your president of the United States of America," Walker declared. "Americans deserve a president who will fight and win for them," he said. "You see, it doesn't matter if you're from a big city, a suburb or a small town, I will fight and win for you.” (Todd Richmond & Steve Peoples – July 13, 2015)

Wall Street Journal: "Scott Walker Joins Race As Fighter For The Right: Scott Walker joined the 2016 presidential campaign Monday, promising to bring to the U.S. the brand of tough-minded conservative politics that drove his rise in Wisconsin. Thirteen times in his speech announcing his Republican candidacy, the Wisconsin governor said he is a fighter as he discussed his record, the American dream and the battle against Islamic State. … Mr. Walker, the 15th major Republican to formally join the race, framed his announcement speech around the battle he is best known for: the 2011 effort to largely end collective bargaining for the state’s public-sector labor unions, which stands as one of the biggest setbacks for organized labor. … In the same hall where he celebrated his 2012 recall victory, becoming in the process the first sitting governor to turn back a recall election, Mr. Walker framed the 2016 election as an us-versus-them proposition. Mr. Walker said he’ll lead a fight for the “hardworking taxpayer” against “big-government special interests.” (Reid Epstein – July 13, 2015)

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Taking the stage before thousands of supporters at the Waukesha County Expo Center, Walker pledged a hawkish foreign policy, the repeal of the health care law known as Obamacare and a sharp reduction in the role of the federal government. Walker said he would stand out among a crowded GOP field by standing for "reform, growth, safety." "Healthy or sick, born or unborn, I will fight and win for you," Walker said. "Young or old — or somewhere in between — I will fight and win for you." (Jason Stein, Mary Spicuzza, and Patrick Marley – July 13, 2015)

Wisconsin State Journal: "He touted his conservative accomplishments in Wisconsin, talked about shopping at Kohl's and tied Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton to President Barack Obama, saying "America is leading from behind and we're headed toward a disaster." "The good news is that there is still time left to turn things around," Walker said. "To do this, we need new, fresh leadership. Leadership with big, bold ideas from outside of Washington. The kind of leadership that can actually get things done — like we have here in Wisconsin." (Matthew DeFour – July 13, 2015)

On the Twitters:

@MollyBeck: @ScottWalker's dramatic campaign ad about his 2012 recall playing, killing it with the crowd, too.
@TimAlberta: Walker's speech is looong -- and he's delivering it from memory. No notes or teleprompter. Wow.
@kasie: Walker has used the last six months to improve dramatically in front of a crowd. He was strong at Freedom Summit, this is still much better
@blakehounshell: I would say Walker has the most practical, governor-like launch speech so far.
@wpjenna: Walker presidential checklist: Repeal Obamacare. Get rid of excessive regulation. Approve the Keystone Pipeline. Then more job training.
@DSORennie: Walker good at show and tell. His Iran critique of Obama built round a former Iran hostage in the crowd who gets a Walker shout-out
@jonallendc: .@GovWalker was smooth and detailed. His worldview was clear and very Republican. Excellent performance, down to rolled up sleeves.