GOP's Jon Huntsman Gets MSNBC Seal of Approval
With Jon Huntsman's presidential announcement on June 21, the former Utah governor joins a crowded field vying for the Republican nomination. But while MSNBC has put most GOP hopefuls through the ringer, Huntsman has been heralded by the network as Mr. Civility in an otherwise nutty Republican field.
[Video below the fold]
On the May 23 edition of "Morning Joe," Time magazine's Mark Halperin summarized the network's adulation for Huntsman most succinctly: "He's a Morning Joe candidate."
"Given that he's not ever done this, given that he's been immersed in U.S.-China relations for the last two years, I was pretty blown away," added Halperin.
During the same segment, MSNBC contributor Mike Barnicle compared Huntsman to JFK, gushing, "The guy was so smooth, the guy was so comfortable, so handsome, so articulate, so composed."
Buttressing Barnicle's point, Halperin recalled: "And one of the liberal trackers said 'I really like this guy.'"
On the May 16 edition of MSNBC News Live with Cenk Uygur, Newsweek's Jonathan Alter touted Huntsman's "likability" as a "critical" factor: "Huntsman also benefits from Huckabee's departure because Huckabee was the most likeable candidate in the race. Likability is critical. Likable Newt Gingrich is not. Huntsman is pretty likable."
When asked by MSNBC's Willie Geist on the June 1 "Morning Joe" to calculate Huntsman's odds, Halperin pegged him as a potential "finalist" in the race: "I think he's got the second best chance to be the nominee right now after Mitt Romney. Not very far ahead of Tim Pawlenty but I think if he lives up to his potential he will be a finalist in this thing for sure."
"Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski praised herself on June 13 for having predicted Huntsman's rise: "This is someone, I don't know, who I think is going to burst onto the national scene. I really do. I've thought that for about six months now."
Moments earlier, MSNBC's Joe Scarborough hailed Huntsman's rhetorical skills: "He seems very sure of himself. He can speak in complete sentences. One sentence actually relates to the previous sentence. He reeled together a very effective paragraph there. And these days in American politics, that ain't nothing."
Like all candidates competing for the nomination, Huntsman will have to demonstrate his conservative bona fides to primary voters. Time will tell whether receiving the "Morning Joe" seal of approval by the same network whose anchor felt a thrill up his leg after hearing Barack Obama speak will, as Scarborough put it, "doom" Huntsman's candidacy.
"We've been too nice to him," quipped Scarborough on June 17. "He's done."
--Alex Fitzsimmons is a News Analysis intern at the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
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Comments
Hunstman gets MSNBC's seal of approval, which is why...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 6:05pm.
no sane Republican/conservative should even remotely entertain the faintest idea of considering voting for him.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
MSNBC approves of Huntsman?
Submitted by motherbelt on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 6:41pm.
Buh-bye.
You said it...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 9:51pm.
MSNBC's "blessing" is a curse as far as I'm concerned.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
What if they wised up and are
Submitted by amyshulk on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 10:44pm.
What if they wised up and are pulling double reverse psychology on us? I've been troubled they are talking him up, but I reserve judgment until I know more.
Ronald Reagan
I don't think so, and take a gander at this...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 11:53pm.
The libnuts are okay with Huntsman because, despite what he may say, he is no real conservative. He is on the record for being in favor of a government requirement for a healthcare mandate...He has also appeared in a commercial sponsored by Environmental Defense, a group that pushes a global warming agenda, in which he says "Now it's time for Congress to act by capping greenhouse-gas pollution," in other words, he's in favor of cap and trade. However, this year he flip flopped on this position, saying "Cap-and-trade ideas aren’t working; it hasn’t worked, and our economy’s in a different place than five years ago. Much of this discussion happened before the bottom fell out of the economy, and until it comes back, this isn’t the moment." Isn't it convenient that he flipped on this position this year, the year that he just happens to be running for president?? And to top it all off, Huntsman was Obama's ambassador to China...What more do you need to know?
Add it all up, and this guy is no conservative, and will not be getting my vote.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
The way I see it? Except for
Submitted by amyshulk on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 3:16am.
The way I see it? Except for Cain, all of them had to "go along to get along" on some things. I'm just getting caught up on politics and just recently figured out the link between Christianity and conservatism. Should my voice not be heard because I once bought the liberal line that religion was bad?
IMHO, what the candidates do in their real lives has more import, and indicates their true values.
Ronald Reagan
I checked him out a bit -
Submitted by amyshulk on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 6:57am.
I checked him out a bit - looks like he will do what Pres. Obama did - poll test his words to sound like he's a conservative. Blech. No wonder Ann Coulter wants Christie to run!!!
Ronald Reagan
Glad to hear you've done your homework...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 12:48pm.
As I said, Huntsman is no conservative, no matter what he says, or what any media outlet says about him.
And as for Obama, he never tried to sound conservative...The best he could muster was trying to sound like a moderate, more or less, which was a complete sham. Obama was, is, and always will be a deep dyed far left liberal/socialist. Unfortunately for the country, he managed to con enough people into thinking that he was what he pretended to be, just long enough to get their vote. Once safely in office, the mask came off and people realized, too late, what and who Obama really was and is.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Pres. Obama {I was in the USN
Submitted by amyshulk on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 5:03pm.
Pres. Obama {I was in the USN - respect the office} Sounded reasonable on the trail, if you didn't listen to the end, or think about it. I knew what he was and knew exactly when the wind shifted and he would win. My biggest concern was that he would be a charlie brown like me, since I recognized a piece of myself in him. Too bad it was the "Make it so" because I can't decide part!!!
The ONLY reason I was willing to give Huntsman a chance is because I've been judged by others who took the word of other people, and promised I'd never do that to someone.
Ronald Reagan
Well, I was born and raised in a military family...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 5:56pm.
(both sides, going back to the Revolutionary War) and was also a military wife, and I will continue to call him just Obama.
"Pres. Obama... sounded reasonable on the trail, if you didn't listen to the end, or think about it."
Sorry, but that statement just astonishes me, especially coming from someone who has a military background as yourself. Unfortunately, there were far too many people who must have not "listened to the end" or who didn't "think about it" because they elected him. And I don't understand your reference to "Charlie Brown" ...Do you mean that you thought that Obama was one who was picked on and taken advantage of by others? Please clarify.
As far as Huntsman is concerned, I almost never take others' word for just about anything...I believe in always doing my own homework and finding my own answers...Too bad those who voted for Obama didn't do the same.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
My "Pres. Obama... sounded
Submitted by amyshulk on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 6:52pm.
My "Pres. Obama... sounded reasonable on the trail, if you didn't listen to the end, or think about it." was referring to how/why the fence sitters were fooled. I wasn't. As I noted before on NB, I never felt I knew enough to vote until last year.
"Charlie Brown" refers to seeing all sides and being paralyzed by it. {Again, it's why I didn't vote prior to last year.} But he went to "Make it so" to disguise it - and to deflect blame IMO.
Ronald Reagan
I'm happy to hear that...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 7:15pm.
I'm happy to hear that you weren't one of the millions who were willingly brainwashed into thinking that Obama was something that he clearly wasn't, isn't, and never will be, and who, zombie-like, voted for him.
As for your "Charlie Brown" reference, I don't think that Obama is "paralyzed" as a result of seeing all sides of an issue...Based on his track record in the Illinois state senate, where he voted not "yes" or "no", but "present," 129 times, along with his history while president, I believe he simply doesn't have the ideas, intestinal fortitude or the courage to stick himself out there and suffer the consequences when one of his decisions or policies goes awry. The bottom line is that Obama is very clearly not a leader, and as a result, is a disastrously poor president.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Does Obama respect Conservatives?
Submitted by Boudin on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 7:42pm.
No he doesn't. Obama does everything in his power to ridicule, and subvert our message of liberty and pursuit of happiness. Obama send out his attack dogs (DoJ, EPA, SoS, IRS) to punish good honest folks who disagree with him. He is pond scum.
If all Huntsman can do is utter McCain like rhetoric, well I am here to tell you he is a loser just like McCain. He is NOT up to the task that needs to be done!
Huntsman's dreaming...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 8:06pm.
He has delusions of grandeur to be sure...He's a lightweight and a major league RINO, and I don't believe he has any real chance of being the nominee.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Hmmm... lamestream media like
Submitted by gopsteve on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 6:14pm.
Hmmm...
lamestream media like Huntsman, don't like Perry or Bachman. Well, that makes up my mind!
Then Came Huntsman (Remember "Then Came Paulsen"?)
Submitted by jfshaughnessy on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 6:24pm.
Fantastisch.
They have selected and approved of the Republican eunich they will never vote for.
http://www.amazon.com/Pat-Paulsens-Half-Comedy-Hour/dp/B002IRYYDC
They also had orgasms over
Submitted by Slyrr on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 6:52pm.
They also had orgasms over McCain being picked as the 2008 candidate. McCain - the brainless slug who ran his whole campaign like a year-long concession speech.
GOP - don't let MSNBC pick our candidate in 2012! This country can't afford another four years of Obama and giving in to 'the candidate that liberals love' would be forking over another four years to Obama and his 'czars'. DON'T - DO - IT!
Mc Cain snow jobbed Arizona
Submitted by jkwtrading on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 12:11am.
Mc Cain snow jobbed Arizona in the last campaign...I wonder how they really feel about him now.
Did you see at 5 am when they opened the show with Rick Perry?
Submitted by Texndoc on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 7:02pm.
You had Joe and Mika tee-heeing at the Texas accent and Halperin looking at them like 2 escaped mental patients. "You know, Texas has created 37 percent of all the jobs in the US created last year" said Halperin. It didn't matter to Dumb and Dumber. "He sounds like Will Ferrell doing George Bush! Heeheehee!"
Huntsman is a terrific candidate...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 7:17pm.
...the sooner the Dems can primary him against O'bozo the better...
whoa, boy that would hurt
Submitted by jkwtrading on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 12:10am.
whoa, boy that would hurt them..
MSNBC
Submitted by jessieH on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 7:39pm.
Well, that's good enough for me. Now I know who NOT to vote for.........The treasonous media will not influence who the citizens vote for! We are awake and aware of the un-American propaganda coming from the so-called media. MSNBC is one of the worse. Huntsman doesn't stand a chance in hell of getting elected, now.
Like Huntsman. . .
Submitted by rickbren on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 9:27pm.
. . . I, too am a Latter-day Saint. He and Dirty Harry aren't two peas from the same pod, but they're not that far apart. The only vote he will get from me is if he is the GOP nominee. An endorsement by PMSNBC is enough to kill any support I may have had for him (and that wasn't much!)
mslsd...a very stupid network
Submitted by Diesel on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 10:30pm.
mslsd...a very stupid network for very stupid people. lean forward & hurl!
I Give My Seal of Approval for
Submitted by Comrade Jim on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 10:43pm.
Anthony Weiner to be the Democratic Party nominee for president.
me too then the Weiner roast
Submitted by jkwtrading on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 12:08am.
me too then the Weiner roast can begin... bring the buns anyone..
""Morning Joe" co-host Mika
Submitted by Chris Norman on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 11:21pm.
""Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski praised herself on June 13 for having predicted Huntsman's rise..."
His "rise"? To what? One of the "other candidates" in the polls? An asterisk?
McCain is a RINO. Huntsman is a RINO from Hell
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 11:51pm.
The faster this imposter is run off the campaign trail, the better.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Huntsman,Romney and Prog-luddite Elitist Marxisim
Submitted by swim-r-sink on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 3:33pm.
Well just poke your computer mouse around a bit and anyone that is not at room temperature can figure out the why for positive reactions to these Progressive Clowns by MSNBC, Simple answer,they will both fit just fine on the ends of the George Soros Presidential Puppet strings! Do you really think he gave a diddly ding dang doo about who won the last election?? What have they not taken control of?
Please lord...
Submitted by NewHampshire on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 6:21pm.
Get me the puke bucket NOW. What is wrong with Joe S? I used to like him a lot... he's been infected with the fatal progressive disease.
Cavuto had his {Huntsman's}
Submitted by amyshulk on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 11:07pm.
Cavuto had his {Huntsman's} father on, then had a break down of Huntsman's tenure as gov. of Utah.
Club for Growth said:
Taxes - good: installed a Flat Tax.
Spending: NOT good. <10% every year - much higher than others in *much* bluer states.
Ronald Reagan