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.”
Huntsman (who?) trivializes it every day that he doesn’t bow out.
But it is okay letting it be ‘Trivialized’ by Wolf Blitzer, MSNBCBS and other members of the Obama-Lewinsky gang?
Huntsman has apparently seen his opening and he is going for it.
I will not support anyone who writes love letters to BHO.
A future 2012 campaign trivia question puts his two cents in.
Good point. Who could trivalize the Republican debates more than the vapid fools at ABCNBCCBSCNNMSNBCFOX?
Watching Trump on Hannity right now, he’s belly-aching about the last 4 years and how we can’t go through that again, what part about Obama, Pelosi, and Reid did he not get just 1 year ago? Hannity should be asking him?
The Donald just remarked in FOX that Huntsman is pizzed that Trump did not have an hour for a 1 on 1 with him.
There’s only one “major” candidate to the left of Milt Romney. That man is Jon Huntsman.
The Donald just remarked on FOX that Huntsman is pizzed that Trump did not have an hour for a 1 on 1 with him.
Why do Mormons love to look down their long noses at non—Mormons? Get all the reasons by reading “The God Makers”, by Decker and Hunt. A very astounding read!
Huntsman lost me in the very first debate when he told me I should accept “settled science” in the global warming debate. Sorry, dude...science is the search for knowledge, not the blind acceptance of it...that’s called faith. He made his play for the moderates and took the McCain route trying to please the media now he has to live with it.
I care about our nation's future--should I be a candidate for president?
Huntmsan is a daddy's boy--much like JFK-- a classic example of a trust fund baby who was born on third base and acts like he hit a triple. He resents that Trump started out in his father's modest real estate business and developed it into a conglomerate. Huntsman did nothing but spend his father's money while collecting a sinecure paycheck from the family foundations.
Huntsman is a poser and he knows it. Trump is a real dealer--made, lost, and made fortunes again--Huntsman knows it, but can't stand that this upstart has earned more money on his own than he Huntsman will ever earn in his lifetime.
Two large egos, you bet-- but only one has ever delivered the goods. And it ain't daddy's boy.
I believe Huntsman’s claim is he just called to wish him well after he got out of the race like Pawlenty
Yes, I am only supporting Huntsman in the hopes someone puts the Reid question to Trump and makes him answer for being politically bipolar
Huntsman may not be the right guy, but he’s not wrong about Trump— Trump is a complete buffoon. When I heard Trump say that he’ll give “his endorsement after the debates” — like anyone seriously gives a rat’s behind who Donald Trump endorses.
Well, I’ll take “grandiose and a little bombastic” over a backstabbing little weasel any day.
Trump has still not ruled out a run for president. Why is has moderating anything?
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