Go Away Son, You Bother Me.
Posted on 12/05/2011 6:04:44 PM PST by Son House
GOP Presidential Candidate Jon Huntsman dismissed Donald Trump and the debate the real estate mogul and reality TV star will be moderating, and told Larry Kudlow he’s the only consistent conservative in the race.
The former Utah Governor and former ambassador to China likened the Newsmax-sponsored presidential debate to a reality show, and said he would not be participating.
“There’s some dignity associated with a run for the highest office in the land, and it shouldn’t be trivialized and it shouldn’t be dumbed down,” he said. “If Don Trump cares about our nation’s future, he should have been a candidate for president. He shouldn’t be manipulating the process from the sidelines.”
His statement was the latest in an ongoing war of words with Trump. Huntsman also denied Trump’s claim that he called several times to schedule a meeting in hopes of getting Trump’s endorsement.
“I called him once after he got out of the race, just like I called Tim Pawlenty, as a courtesy call,” Huntsman said. “Not looking for a meeting, not looking for support or anything else.”
One debate Huntsman said he will be doing is the “Lincoln-Douglas” debate Newt Gingrich in New Hampshire on December 12. He thinks it will provide an opportunity for an in-depth discussion of the issues.
“You can only get so much in 30 second sound bites,” he said. “People fall back on rehearsed lines and that doesn’t serve the purpose of educating the voting public about who you are and what it is you stand for.”
Huntsman also touted his conservative credentials, saying “You’re not going to find a more committed conservative in the race … I am a consistent conservative.”
He pointed to his pro-life, pro-second amendment stances. He also said as governor of Utah he delivered the largest tax cut in the history of the state and signed the second school choice voucher bill in the country.
Mitt Romney, on the other hand is a “flip-flopper conservative,” Huntsman said, adding that he thinks Newt Gingrich is “grandiose and a little bombastic.”
And while many may not know of his conservative views, Huntsman said he’s not going to pander for votes.
“I’m going to be who I am. I’m not going to contort myself into a pretzel,” he said. “I want a steady, substantive rise and that’s exactly what we’re getting in New Hampshire.”
I’m not a fan of Trump, but I bet it will be better than Scott Pelley lecuturing the Republican candidates and arguing with at least one of them. Maybe Scott Pelley wants to run for president himself.
Huntsman is pro-life with EXCEPTIONS, which is not good enough. In fact, it shows weakness to make both sides somewhat happy.
The post is wrong. Simple as that. Huntsman did no such thing.
So you prefer Donald Trump, a registered Democrat in 2001, who was all for ‘Universal Healthcare’, who is still seriously threatening to run as an independent in November, over the pro-life, pro-gun, tax-cutting, Republican governor of one of the most conservative states in the union?
“Huntsman is pro-life with EXCEPTIONS, which is not good enough. In fact, it shows weakness to make both sides somewhat happy.”
It may not be good enough for you, but have a look at Romney or Gingrich’s record on life and compare it to Huntsman’s.
You can hit Huntsman on plenty of things, but trying to whack him on his pro-life record? in this race? and against this field?
“There’s only one “major” candidate to the left of Milt Romney. That man is Jon Huntsman.”
I think you might get some disagreement on that one. In fact, you SHOULD get some disagreement on that one! George Will’s recent column states the case very well.
Have a look at Huntsman’s bold plan to rein banks in using the FREE MARKET. The fact that he has a solid pro-life, and pro-2nd Amendment record. That has was a tax-cutter as Utah governor. That he attempted school vouchers while governor.
There are no doubt many valid reasons why people on this site dislike Jon Huntsman, but simply ignoring such a conservative record, as so many do, is unfair and counter-productive. He is no ‘liberal’. He is no ‘RINO’ (an awful term at the best of times) and he certainly isn’t a man of the ‘Left’.
I’d argue he is to the RIGHT of Gingrich, and he is clearly to the right of Romney. Just look at the record.
But thanks for calling Jon Huntsman a “major” candidate. *friendly tip of the hat*
I support Santorum and Bachmann - no exceptions/no caving to moderates - not one bit.
Then that is completely fair enough. You are obviously a person with principle, who cares passionately about the issue, and I admire you for it.
Had you said you were about to vote for Newt Gingrich, then my head would have exploded!
Jon Huntsman does have a pretty sound pro-life record though.
Actually, on reflection, and to avoid being a hypocrite, I don’t think I’m being fair to Newt here. He IS to the left of Huntsman on several issues, but he has always been pretty solid when it comes to being pro-life.
Beat me to it. In 'Trivial Pursuit ver 2020', Huntsman won't even be a Trivia Question.
I heard this am on F&F that Huntsman's FIL is funding his entire campaign. How sad and pathetic is that.
I agree this is one issue I wouldn’t mind Huntsman flip flopping on. But at least he is being consistent and honest in not passing himself off as a climate scientist. And there is no environmental agenda. His energy and job plans are build around the premise that while environmental concerns must be recognized, we cannot sacrifice economic growth for our country solely for those environmental concerns.
Trump on Fox this morning admitting/slipping on reason he’s having the debate “to let them go at each other”. Don’t take the bait participants! Be polite, and make your points.
So you believe everything you are told to believe ? That is stupendously sad and pathetic.
Look it up and you will find millions through donations with some self-financing. Too proud to ask his father, but not FIL ? And if Trump was running like anyone would criticize using his own money.
So you believe everything you are told to believe ? That is stupendously sad and pathetic.
Look it up and you will find millions through donations with some self-financing. Too proud to ask his father, but not FIL ? And if Trump was running like anyone would criticize using his own money.
Huntsman is actually starting to turn back from climate change, beginning in a speech to the Heritage Foundation today. Not sure yet if that is motivated by a sharper edge in his quest for traction or the politics of global warming...but it is promising. Stay tuned.
bfl
Donald Trump said he did and Donald said he turned him down. I heared the interview myself by Hannity and Donald did say that. So we are down to who is telling the truth.
I’d lump him in with Buddy Roemer, Fred Karger and the rest, but the presstitutes have been pushing him enough to get him into the debates and polls.
Trump trivializes everything he touches.
All the candidates should stay away from his “debate.”
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