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David Walker, former U.S. Comptroller General, on the calls for him to run for president in the 2012 election.
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Today I am suspending the campaign but suspending the campaign.
Does not mean suspending citizenship.
-- and I are committed to be active citizens.
Newt Gingrich vowing out and now there's a push to get my next guest to jump and organizers in at least a dozen states launching a website and -- and -- Did convinced David Walker to Iran the former US -- joining me now.
-- -- registered independent.
Have been for fifteen years according to a man or woman that all these folks are saying oh -- -- a lot of young.
We need -- don't need someone who knows money speaks out on these issues finds a -- the Republican argument holds the democratic argument.
Can forcibly bring both sides together.
They point to you you -- just.
I'm not a candidate I don't expect to be a candidate I would rather run a issue oriented campaign rather than a political campaign.
But that the fact is I think you've -- it.
Well whether -- whether you can and what you -- -- two different things what I would prefer to connect it up with the money I understand that -- I don't know that much about it candidly to truly independent draft effort I'm not involved whether it.
I've not had communications -- you're making much further progress in the sons of Italy are with me.
-- I think you have a good shot -- but it.
It was a joke about a little bit but see that's saying something that a guy who's not say as nationally known that household name -- some of the names out there.
Is being seriously.
Considered.
By.
A lot of folks just had it.
Well I think an analogy might be what's happening in in Italy where prime minister multi -- deemed to be.
He's not a member of a political party he's a professional.
Was actually tapped by the parliament to be prime minister.
And to try to be able to rise above.
Partisan politics to try to be able confront the problems that that nation faces I think that can be done by one of the major party candidates would have on the ground.
Well I think it's possible -- he's -- proven -- -- all we sectors of the economy he's -- -- can work with the opposition party and he's got turnaround experience.
And I think it's possible.
My view is it's critically important.
That at least one of the debates be focused on this issue that we talk about substance and solutions what -- them.
The issue of how we gonna put this country's finances in order not just the economy for today that's important but how we gonna keep the economy strong tomorrow.
What are we need to do to put our finances in order you know -- -- -- come down -- -- the president's -- saying we need to spend more.
-- we need to rein in the military.
You're gonna get Mitt Romney coming back we need.
Tax cuts we need to address entitlements.
We need to stop a lot of that spend.
Never did to -- While the need to make because what's going on in Europe can happen here.
And my view is is that we must make meaningful progress what's being overlooked that we had a president walker.
Which by the way would be cool we -- I could see president walker president Cavuto a twist.
But I'm you can always team up yeah absolutely are but -- president walker would entertain tax hikes and entitlement cuts what.
Well look I think we need to restore tough budget controls like we -- from the early ninety's to 2002.
We need to reform social insurance programs to make really monetization does user with a click here.
Well no it was bush you know it was bush.
He started it started during bush 41.
A bush 41 and Clinton support did three things one tough budget controls.
Secondly -- it would -- tires started with the tax -- Well that's right he did have attack site when he saw when he saw that he's -- -- costs.
I'm open to dramatic tax reform that will raise more revenue yes I'm open the dramatic tax forms so what appears to Tea Party types hear that and say well there is not our -- well may not be but the fact is we're going over a cliff.
And if we and we they're gonna make decisions prudently in preemptively.
Or we gonna end up hit the wall and have to do dramatic and drop -- and things and the kinds of things -- seeing in Europe could happen here we have more time.
But we're not exempt from the laws of prudent finance and it's critically important that we make meaningful progress -- 2013 I personally believe -- That the decisions that are made are that failed to be made the next three to five years or -- gonna determine whether our futures better than our past.
We are critical crossroads were -- people -- and -- tipping point right now.
-- what are your thoughts and some the president said the other day that one weighted exact savings is just now the trillion dollars -- so.
To fight in Iraq and Afghanistan that winds down.
Spend half of it on -- -- of this restructuring and whatever is calling.
-- -- -- That sounds this on a -- and it it just sounds crazy because.
If you're arguing that we need to stop the spending and then you using these elusive savings.
To conduct more spend.
And you started saying that.
These were.
Off budget type of spending initiatives wars that should have been on the books and now you're taking that -- money and spending it.
And compounding deals.
It just spreads.
Politely what we need to do is two things one we have to get the economy growing -- a faster rate the short to -- says spent you have to -- well look.
I'll come back to that.
You have to get unemployment under -- down.
But you have to deal with the true threat.
The truthful that -- today's deficits and debt -- what's lies ahead.
That's driven by health care cost it's driven eligible -- -- to slow down you know hold manufactured what else for that but here's what to do.
You have to be able to do something to deal with the short term and couple -- with a clear credible concrete and enforceable plan to deal with the -- -- And concurrent and -- analysts -- done at the same time it is not prudent nor is it politically feasible to be able to do it independently.
You have to do it at the same time I think that's possible do look I've been all over the country.
Nobody spoke to more Americans.
About the challenges that we face and nonpartisan solutions that hopefully can get bipartisan support the people -- and the politicians they want truth.
Leadership solutions.
And they will respond to somebody who gives of that and hopefully one of the candidates will.
You Nicolaus and cement.
Very good seated it's great to see you and thank you didn't talk to would you entertain.
An Italian in your cabinet just.
Of course you know Connecticut has more Italian Americans of any state you know.
Hello I'm -- -- hello hello.
And some good gel but not all know where David Walker thank you very very much.
