“Governor Walz Brings a Lot of Experience”: Jessica Tarlov Defends Minnesota Governor on Fox News
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On Tuesday’s episode of “The Five,” Fox News’ Jessica Tarlov defended Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s record, highlighting his achievements and experience both as governor and a former congressman. This came in response to co-host Jesse Watters’ criticisms, which have echoed sentiments from The Washington Post’s Jeremy Barr, who reported last month that Watters described Vice President Kamala
Harris was “even more radical and incompetent than old Joe Biden,” and called her a “California socialist.” During the discussion, Watters labeled Walz a socialist, prompting Tarlov to set the record straight. “Governor Walz brings a lot of experience that she wanted on the ticket,” Tarlov asserted. “Not only in his time in Congress, where he was, I think, the seventh most conservative Democrat.
Someone who is a gun owner. Someone who does have those Midwestern values. But his executive experience in Minnesota. Jesse just radiated some of them — the attacks on him as a socialist.” Tarlov continued, “I don’t know what kind of socialist runs the number six best state in America for big business. Target is there for a reason, and 3M, United Healthcare, and General Mills are there for a reason.
And the kinds of things that he has gotten passed are exactly the kinds of things that Kamala Harris wants to talk about — things like paid sick leave, $2.3 billion into public schools, a huge infrastructure bill.” She contrasted Walz’s leadership with that of Republican leaders, specifically mentioning Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
“What you’re going to see is the right trying to define him as Jesse did,” Tarlov explained. “But you’re going to see that side-by-side picture of Tim Walz after he signed free school breakfast and school lunch, and someone like Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who is a star in the Republican Party — got a prime speaking spot at the RNC — signing a bill to allow kids under 16 to be able to work. That is the contrast here.
A guy who wants to put food in people’s bellies, and someone who wants kids to be able to work. He is the real deal. He is what JD Vance wishes that he were.” Tarlov’s defense highlighted Walz’s legislative accomplishments and his appeal as a pragmatic leader with Midwestern values, countering the narrative that he is a socialist.
Her comments underscored the governor’s balanced approach to governance, emphasizing economic growth, educational investment, and social welfare initiatives, thereby presenting a stark contrast to more conservative policies. This robust defense aimed to showcase Walz’s qualifications and readiness to support Kamala Harris as her vice presidential pick.
