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I’m With Jon Huntsman: Should We All?

By: BigRedConservative (Diary)  |  December 4th, 2011 at 12:35 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Let us start with the usual disclaimer-I will gladly vote for any of the remaining GOP Presidential candidates in a general election (with the dishonourable exception of Ron Paul). I have briefly hopped on (and off) the Cain Train, I was a Bachmannite for a while, I succumbed to the Texan charms of Rick Perry. Back in the dark days of spring, I even supported Gary Johnson.

But I cannot see any viability for any of these people. All of them have either made catastrophic gaffes, or (in the case of Perry) underwhelmed supremely. So a week or so back I dived into the pool of candidates for what I hope was the last time. And the only person left I can support with enthusiasm is Jon Huntsman Jr.

I know the negatives-he believes in AGW, he worked for Obama, he stabbed the Beloved Leader in the back. I look past them, and I see a hugely intelligent and charismatic man with workable, excellent solutions for America, a positive and strong foreign policy and unwavering commitment to life reflected in his record as Governor of Utah.

He has a record of executive leadership, and in his time as Governor was a serial tax-cutter who worked tirelessly to make Utah the best place in these 50 states to do business. We’ve all heard of the Texas miracle-Utah’s transformation has been just as spectacular.

In Jon Huntsman I see a man who is both politically sharp as a knife, but also essentially a decent man. He has refused to throw mud or sling insults at the opposition, and has remained on friendly terms with people from every side of the political spectrum. His “remarks” about the rest of the field have been condescending, but they represent a man trying to differentiate himself from a primary field where you can’t tell the difference between many.

He is also electable in a way that the others in the lead are not. Newt Gingrich-a bona fide genius, but so intensely dislikeable, and with a rather questionable personal life. The average guy in a swing state with more than a passing knowledge of the Bible, Talmud, Qu’ran, Vedas or just morality will not appreciate a serial divorcer and adulterer. Rick Perry-I love the guy, but a lot of people I know don’t. They find him overbearing and a bit uncharismatic once he opens his mouth. Romney-we all know that there are jellyfish with more spine or guts than him. Jon Huntsman (as multiple polls testify) is the antithesis of this: scandal-free, a good speaker, a likeable individual (once you remove the tan and stupid ties).

Who knows-perhaps he’ll collapse and burn out like everyone else. But until that happens, I believe that Jon Huntsman will be the best man to oppose Barack Obama in 2012-and win.

COMMENTS

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  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    He does, however, have a conservative record. I’d vote for him, but he’s been stuck at 2% forever. I don’t see any reason for his popularity to rise at this stage of the contest.

    • elayman

      And will skyrocket in traction from a good showing in NH or even sooner delivering against Newt at their debate next week.

      I’m not saying he is likely to be the nominee but it isn’t in the past tense yet, and the tide does seem beginning to turn…

      • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

        I see no reason why Huntsman would poll above 5% with Republican voters.

        • papabear

          If I concluded that Huntsman was the only one to support, that would be my reaction.

          Nominating Huntsman = Obama +4 years

          I actually think he would be a better candidate than Romney, but I have never seen a (R) nominee so unloved. The “Unlike the rest of the field, I believe in science” comment says it all.

          Supercilious and condescending != charismatic!

          I am praying that Perry will get it together and excite the base. I am reluctantly supporting Newt, but hoping for a Perry resurgence. I don’t see any other candidate as viable.

          • elayman

            I won’t even bother with my take on the back story of this remark, but Republicans are either sensitive to the extreme or don’t have a functioning memory if you seriously believe that is what he said.

          • papabear

            Here is the direct quote “To be clear. I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy”

            This was a direct response to Perry saying that climate change was a hoax cooked up by scientists who have a financial interest in keeping the issue alive (in the middle of August ’11). If you polled the rest of the field, I think you’d also find that they do not trust the scientists. As a matter of fact, any rational person who can use the internet should not trust the scientists. Climategate 2.0 shows that they cherry pick data and lie like Obama. Check out the Wattsupwiththat website if you need an education.

            This particular topic shows the foolish and shallow nature of Huntsman. Funny that my mind added in the unspoken “Unlike the rest of the field”. Do you disagree with that?

            If so, would you kindly point to some data to show me I am wrong?

            Would you care to enlighten me with the back story?

            As far as the snarky little question about hitting close to home, you entertain me. Are you trying to tell me that I am uneducated for not trusting the mainstream climate scientists?

            Seriously??

          • katem

            I enthusiastically support Huntsman. He is the best-qualified and most experienced candidate in the GOP race. Huntsman has been a governor and an executive in the private sector. His deep knowledge of and experience in Asia makes him stand out from the other candidates. Asia is and will continue to be critically important to American economic and security interests. Huntsman’s foreign policy views appeal to a lot of conservatives, as noted in George Will’s column. And Donald_24 makes a good point — Huntsman is the only one who has put forward serious policy ideas about “too big to fail” banks. Last week, the Washington Examiner had a couple of interesting articles discussing Huntsman’s views on “too big to fail.”

            There are many things about Huntsman that should appeal to conservatives but are not widely known. Like Santorum, Romney and some of the other candidates, Huntsman by all accounts is a family man. Of his 7 kids, 2 are at the Naval Academy training to serve their country. The Huntsmans adopted their 2 youngest daughters, an unselfish act and one that complements Huntsman’s pro-life position. I’m impressed reading about Huntsman’s parents, self-made billionaires who are giving away the bulk of their wealth to charities, including a cancer hospital that they founded and that candidate Huntsman was actively involved with at one point. In a recent interview, Huntsman’s father urged very wealthy individuals to donate more to charity. All of this says a lot about Huntsman’s good character and background.

            If Huntsman gets a chance to be the “not-Romney” candidate, I do not foresee him falling like Bachmann, Perry and Cain did. Huntsman is a serious man with serious ideas and substantive experience. He has a lot to offer this country and would be a good president. Let’s hope enough people realize it before it’s too late and we’re stuck with a nominee who is not a conservative.

          • znjs

            I really hope he’s given his chance.

        • elayman

          Massachusetts citizens or Congresspeople that personally experienced the leadership of Romney and Gingrich respectively….not so much..

          • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

            The jockeying for position in Congress is like a never-ending primary battle. Like anywhere else in life, people get stepped on during someone’s climb to the top, and they’re gonna hold a grudge about it. I can’t think of a single Senator or Congressman in the top leadership that wasn’t disliked during and after their tenure by the majority of their peers. Seems the only time one of them will say anything good about those leaders is after they’re dead.

          • elayman

            and we don’t want him back. At least Sen Coburn on Fox today and it sounds like they remember him more as the deeply unethical smug blowhard that we have all been reminded up the last few weeks more than differences behind us sour grapes. Gingrich was completely engaging the three months of this primary season until he got a whiff of power. They are completely serious. More need to speak up and tell it like it is.

          • tomatin

            As speaker Newt passed a solid conservative agenda really shrinking government. That’s the facts.

            All the rest is opinion.

          • elayman

            It’s good to know how far conservatives will sell out their core values for the sake of a competent Washington insider…

            Sen Coburn, who came into the House as part of the 1994 Republican Revolution, isn’t exactly a fan of the guy who is credited with bringing that. He didn’t say Gingrich was a liberal. The problem is the leadership department. And that is not my opinion.

      • donald_24

        to run against Obama. I have actually been following him since he was governor of Utah and like his policies. I like that he is the only cadidate to date who has a plan to end Too Big to Fail.

        • exitsfunnel

          I’m not a giant Jon Huntsman fan or anything but I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that he is the least bad of what’s left. If I don’t vote for Ron Paul in the primary, I’ll probably vote for Huntsman.

          -exits

    • elayman

      but assessed the weakness of the current field and took sort of a last minute plunge coming back from China. He hasn’t been well served by a somewhat hastily arranged operation I think we can all agree. And after being out of the domestic scene for 2 years was woefully overconfident and knocked for a loop until things started to get straightened out management and financial wise late Summer. It’s still wobbly but at least a step up from laid flat in a roadside ditch in New Hampshire.

      • conservativecurmudgeon

        Huh? The guy that served in the Obama administration? The one that absolutely has dripping contempt for movement conservatism? Oh, yeah, I’m rallying around an Obama-ite! Just point me in the direction of the Jon Whatsisname Juggernaut! Sign me up! I’d start a “Draft Jed Clampett” bandwagon at the Convention before I’d let this little Fauntleroy near the nomination.

        The only way I would ever, ever vote for that guy is if he were the last man standing between Barack Obama and a second term– and only then I would do it holding my nose, wearing rubber gloves, donning a haz-mat suit, and showering vigorously upon my return from the polls.

        Sorry. Ab-so-lutely Not.

        • katem

          I encourage you to review Huntsman’s record as Utah’s governor and his economic proposals. He is a consistent conservative on the most fundamental issues. Huntsman’s record is the opposite of Obama’s record — Huntsman is pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-growth (lower the tax rates and close loopholes), pro-school voucher and free market advocate. Serving his country as ambassador to China for the Obama administration was patriotic. Partisan politics is supposed to stop at the water’s edge and, in any event, Huntsman had a lot to offer any president in China (previous experience in Asia with government and the Huntsman Corp.; he speaks Mandarin). Huntsman is no “Obama-ite.”

        • elayman

          Huntsman’s record as Utah’s governor isn’t

  • znjs

    And by a distance – all the other ones have big red flags for me. I’m a little disappointed at how he rolled out his campaign, but really like what he brings to the table.

  • lucasblack

    Huntsman has a good record, but he has run a horrible campaign. He needs to fire John Weaver.

    • elayman

      at least in New Hampshire. The campaign might have been wise to self-finance for a more national effort at the outset but I don’t think overall it has been a terrible operation. The worst mistake so far was not attending the Huckabee forum the other night.