Scott Walker touts 'freedom,' jabs Obama in NRA speech
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Freedom. It's all about freedom.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker used the word "freedom" to start his speech and repeated the phrase "it's all about freedom" five times as he addressed more than 4,000 cheering attendees at the National Rifle Association's annual meeting.
The likely GOP presidential contender also wasted little time before bashing President Obama, another constant theme among the dozen Republican heavyweights speaking Friday at the NRA's massive meeting in Nashville.
"Sometimes I think that the current occupant in the White House forgets that when the president is sworn in he takes an oath to 'preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.'" Walker said early in the speech.
"Well Mr. President, the Second Amendment is part of the constitution. You don't get to pick and choose which part of the constitution you support. Preserving, protecting and defending it is not optional. It's mandatory."
The political red meat stirred the crowd and mirrored the rhetoric of the other GOP members to speak Friday. Although Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is the only declared presidential candidate appearing Friday, Walker is one of the leaders in very early polls for the GOP 2016 presidential primary.
An owner of a shotgun, rifle and "A+" rating from the NRA, Walker touted his legislative track record with second amendment bills in Wisconsin. He pointed to bills he signed to allow concealed carry in Wisconsin and "castle doctrine," or legal protections for people to shoot other people illegally entering their homes, as his commitment to protect "freedom."
"It is my honor to work with the NRA in my state and across the country. I'm proud of my A+ rating as governor.
Some on the Left might call it a 'scarlet letter' but I consider it a badge of honor," Walker said.
"It's about protecting the rights of law-abiding citizens to possess firearms — but it is bigger than just that. It is all about freedom — the very thing our founders spelled out in our nation's constitution."
Veering away from gun rights, he slammed the president on his foreign policy. Specifically, he referenced Obama calling the Islamic State "the JV squad."
"We need a commander-in-chief who will say that radical Islamic terrorism is a threat. A leader who will affirm that Israel is indeed our ally. And a president who will look the American people in the eye and say that we will do whatever it takes to take the fight to them before they bring the fight here to American soil," Walker said.
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