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Huntsman Not Ready for the Big Dance

By: Matt Schultz, Iowa Secretary of State (Diary)  |  June 6th, 2011 at 08:30 AM  | 

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From the diaries by Erick

“Is Jon Huntsman not coming to Iowa because he opposes ethanol subsidies or because he is afraid to explain his positions on other issues? Iowa Congressman Steve King opposes ethanol subsidies and he continues to get reelected with large margins of victory.”

Over the years I have heard presidential candidates state reasons for skipping the Iowa caucuses. It always leaves me wondering if those are the real reasons for not coming to Iowa. The most recent example of this is Jon Huntsman’s announcement that he won’t compete in Iowa. Apparently, Huntsman believes that he will not get a fair shake in Iowa because he opposes ethanol subsidies. In my opinion, this excuse seems to have as much credibility as “the dog ate my homework.”

It is apparent that Mr. Huntsman is in need of a lesson in Iowa politics. Iowa is a bellwether state. We care about our families, our faith and our freedom. We are not single-issue voters. We just want to know how presidential candidates are going to make our country better. Hopefully Mr. Huntsman will change his mind and come to Iowa and explain how he plans on fixing the problems facing our country.

Iowans look forward to the opportunity to hear Mr. Huntsman’s vision for America. We will listen to him explain his support for Cap and Trade. We will listen to him explain why he took more than one billion dollars in federal stimulus money. We will listen to him explain why he wants to replace his former boss, Barack Obama. We will listen to him explain why he is distancing himself from his Mormon faith. Mr. Huntsman should know that Iowans elected me as their Secretary of State and my Mormon faith was never an issue.

Is Jon Huntsman not coming to Iowa because he opposes ethanol subsidies or because he is afraid to explain his positions on other issues? Iowa Congressman Steve King opposes ethanol subsidies and he continues to get reelected with large margins of victory. If Mr. Huntsman refuses to compete in a bellwether state like Iowa, he is not ready for the big dance. After all, our last two presidents won the Iowa Caucus before they went to the White House.

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  • izoneguy

    Heh, Mr. Huntsman does not have any vision – much less one for America.

  • Change Jar Conservative

    If he gets almost no support in Iowa then we’ll know that Iowans really are single issue voters. If he does well then he can be the bellweather for your thought that Iowans aren’t single issue voters.

    • red_oakster

      Huntsman is a 2012 version of George H.W. Bush’s 1980 campaign, but the Iowa caucuses have changed a bit in 32 years. Serious conservatives now rule the caucus roost. That means that an establishment country-club politico like Huntsman must make New Hampshire his do-or-die state.

      What I don’t get is how Huntsman thinks he’s going to appeal to voters in New Hampshire. He’s not hugely different from Romney and for those NH voters who want someone more reliable on cutting taxes and reducing the size of government, Pawlenty and even Guiliani are going to be much more appealing alternatives.

      This candidacy looks delusional to me.

      • acat

        is that one implemented a socialist healthcare plan in his State that Obama used as a model for Obamacare, while the other was willing to be used as ambassador to a socialist state for Obama.

        Other than that, I’m not seeing a lot of daylight…. or any reason to support either.

        Mew

        • Flagstaff

          gets farther and farther from my support. No because of the defense, but because it’s unnecessary. The answer has always been, “I made a mistake by supporting a plan that I thought the people of Massachusetts wanted and that they now approve of 3-1, but I wouldn’t even consider a plan like that for the entire country.”

          For those who say that the page-count comparison between MassC and ObamaC is irrelevant or misleading, I counter that it disproves the charge that MassC and Obamac are “essentially the same,” which I’ve heard several times. Even if it’s 145 pages to 900, it’s too big a difference to be “essentially the same.” Still, I understand a conservative’s distrust of Romney. I also imagine that the Left believes Romney is the toughest of the Republicans for Obama to beat.

          Whoever gets the nomination, we need to be ready to smack down Obamic lies and take advantage of them. Obama doesn’t even hesitate when he burps up a whopper, such as “I’ll deliver health care to 40 million new patients without spending one thin dime or raising taxes at all.” McCain let that go without further comment after the “financial debate.”

          • edingerb

            That is good.

          • williamjameson

            rather than continuing running for office again. He’ll drop out by Christmas if not sooner. Some people are best working for leaders rather than being potus.

  • eldstenorge

    I am from Utah and I can tell you, you are wrong on this. Huntsman is more than ready for the big dance, but only as a Democrat.

    • lineholder

      why Huntsman didn’t just go ahead and admit that he is a “closet” Democrat

      • Flagstaff

        we should be ashamed of ourselves.

    • davesinsanantonio

      who is trying to pretend he is the wolf.