Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) on Sunday defended his use of the word “socialism” over the summer, saying he believes “capitalism works” but that there are things society needs to do together.
In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” host Shannon Bream asked Walz about his use of the word “socialism” during a “White Dudes for Harris” livestream in July.
“One man’s socialism is another man’s neighborhood,” Walz said in the July livestream.
Bream first quoted this Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of socialism, defining it as “a social system or group of life without private property” and adding that “the means of production are owned and controlled by the state”.
“Did you want to advocate for this here in the United States?” asked Bream Walz.
Walz responded with an enthusiastic no, adding that he was a capitalist.
“Republicans often talk about socialism, and I would advocate that we build our roads together,” he said. “I don’t think anyone is arguing that you have to build your own road from your house to your business location or whatever. That’s why I used this definition that uses the right thing for these things that we do together together.”
He added: “I believe in moral capitalism. “I believe that capitalism works and helps everyone, but I also believe that you have to make sure that there are things that we do together, together.”
These include public education and public health, Walz said.
When asked by Bream if the use of the word was a “knucklehead thing,” Walz continued to defend the use of the term, saying it was “what the right-wingers use.”
“Look, the point is that Donald Trump says this is a socialist or Marxist government,” he added. “Kamala Harris is doing exactly the opposite – creating a free economy that works and gives people the opportunity to grow up into the middle class.”
