Time Anoints Obama Ambassador Jon Huntsman as the GOP 'Cool Kid' In Weakest Field Since 1940?
Time magazine’s not being shy about who they like in 2012 GOP presidential field. A big spread in the May 23 edition is headlined "The Cool Kid: Jon Huntsman is a pro-civil union Mormon who spent nearly two years working for Obama." The main emphasis followed:
He is, after all, a pro-civil-union Mormon who has just finished nearly two years of service for Obama in the land many Americans consider the new evil empire. He is pro-environment — a little too green for many in his party — and hardly anyone knows who he is. Though Huntsman's path to the nomination is a certified long shot, you have to wonder why so many on both the right and left seem to be freaking out at the prospect of his jumping into the race.
Henneberger says he’s "pro-environment" (read pro-cap-and-trade), but then insisted that "as governor, he did all the things Tea Party conservatives say they want, slashing taxes and adding jobs." On one hand, he’s an oxymoronic "pro-civil union Mormon," and on the other, he’s "antiabortion and pro-gun," so he’s "deeply conservative." As for the Mormon business, Huntsman is remarkably slippery:
And as for whether or not Huntsman still belongs to the Church of Latter-day Saints, I know less than I did before I asked him. ("I'm a very spiritual person," as opposed to a religious one, he says, "and proud of my Mormon roots." Roots? That makes it sound as if you're not a member anymore. Are you? "That's tough to define," he says. "There are varying degrees. I come from a long line of saloon keepers and proselytizers, and I draw from both sides.")
He wasn’t much on the issues either:
I don't even come close to getting him to spill such puny secrets as whether he thinks we should be in Afghanistan or Libya ("There will be more to say about that"), in what ways he disagrees with Obama ("I don't want to get into specifics") or, for that matter, where he parts company with his fellow Republicans, including his distant cousin, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney ("It wouldn't be fair to offer an opinion without doing due diligence").
This guy can’t take a position on where he stands on anything, and yet his adviser’s trashing everyone else. Time also highlighted in big black letters Huntsman political adviser John Weaver (previously a McCain adviser) "This is the weakest Republican field since Wendell Wilkie won the nomination on the sixth ballot in 1940."
After touting Huntsman the "deeply conservative" governor, Time became more honest later in the piece, wondering if there’s room in the GOP for civility-sporting moderates like Huntsman:
Huntsman could see and raise Obama in the cool-and-cerebral department. Does he ever get good and mad? "When you step in the dog poop in the house," says his wife with a snicker. But shows of pique, his friends say, are not really in his repertoire. "You can be stern and forthright, and that's my management style," he tells me, "but when you lose it totally, that's a sign of weakness." One imagines Obama and his former ambassador, who were born just a year apart, one-upping each other with humorous asides in the heat of political battle and, if things got really crazy, perhaps letting fly with a searing look.
When I ask where he disagrees with Obama, he says, "I'm a little reluctant, days off the plane, to take shots." There's something to admire in every President he's known, he adds, and he launches into a canny but glass-half-full rundown on Nixon, Reagan, both Bushes and Obama. The current occupant of the Oval Office, he says, "is trying to pick up the pieces of our economy and make sense of a world grown more complex and confusing."
....But in the age of the Tea Party, of cable and blogosphere bile, is there room for such civility on the national stage? Does the influence of the Tea Parties leave any room at all for a moderate like Huntsman? And does his party want to win badly enough to give anyone who might appeal to independents a shot? "Just because I don't yell, scream and shout," he says, "doesn't mean others aren't entitled to. And people want to be led" rather than pandered to, he insists, despite ample evidence to the contrary.
On the page after the Huntsman profile, Time's Mark Halperein casts Huntsman as a 20-to-1 shot for the nomination: "Just returned from China, he's off to a surprisingly fast start, impressing many pols and donors with his business background and presidential manner. He's supposedly way ahead in his chances compared to Sarah Palin (60 to 1) and Michelle Bachmann (1,000-to-1!) Huntsman is 50 times more likely to win than Bachmann, says Time.
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Comments
". . . two years of service for Obama . . . "
Submitted by Galvanic on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 11:12am.
Thanks for clearing that up for us, TIME. For 50 years, I thought US ambassadors served the nation.
I am all for looking at
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 11:04am.
I am all for looking at candidates and what their credentials are and what they believe in our country's direction is and how to get there. But, working for Satan is not exactly a great start.
What's next, Huntsman
Submitted by jdhawk on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 11:20am.
What's next, Huntsman renouncing Ryan's proposed budget plan? Oh, wait! The other "moderate" Gingrich did that already . . . .
Huntsman has bumpkus odds on getting the GOP nomination. Although in a Chinese communist ass kissing contest . . . .
I think you are wrong. Never
Submitted by buddyc on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 11:33am.
I think you are wrong.
Never underestimate:
1. money
2. charisma
3. speaking ability
4. looks
5. business experience
6. foreign policy experiencee
Actually any of Daniels, Huntsman, Romney, Pawlenty or Bachman excites and encourages me.
Looks like Rick Perry is thinking about it, too
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 11:53am.
Texans?
I'd love to hear your take on the guy.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Wouldn't mind it
Submitted by jon_torlin on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 12:53pm.
I'm kinda biased, but I wouldn't mind it at all.
He's not perfect, but he's a Texan and a real American and I've met the governor, I like him. Not like the poser in the WH.
And given how the WH has been treating Texas re: the wildfires and the nonsense that was El Paso the other day, he'd get a good following.
I think if he was running, he'd have the best chance of all of them. Otherwise, I'd like to see Bachmann in the running.
-Jon
another McCain
Submitted by ohio granny on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 11:24am.
The media trying to trick us into nominating another McCain. Newsflash to media, this time we will nominate our own candidate without ANY input from you. We don't like you, we don't trust you. We know you will lie, cheat, sell your soul for the DemocRATs. Go back to your cave until after the 2012 election. We don't want to hear from you.
Huntsman, Daniels, Romney ...
Submitted by UncleDirtNap on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 11:24am.
... beware any of the candidates the left wing media has anything good to say about.
Just look at McCain
Submitted by Galvanic on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 12:31pm.
When he occasionally jousted with Bush-43's policies, the MSM celebrated McCain as a "maverick" Republican who bucks the GOP elite and reaches across the aisle to Democrats.
As a Presidential candidate, the MSM painted him as a right-wing extremist with an agenda that would set the US back 50 years.
No sooner had Obama been declared the winner in 2008, the MSM reverted back to their positive image of McCain.
Better to be scorned by the MSM from Day 1 on.
Ditto...
Submitted by Conservator on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 2:31pm.
Is it really "The Cool Kid?" Or is it the Kool-Aid Candidate who helps to reelect Obama?
Timen Ragazine wants to pick
Submitted by jessieH on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 11:27am.
Timen Ragazine wants to pick the GOP candidate! Now that is funny!
That is such a silly
Submitted by buddyc on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 11:30am.
That is such a silly unsupported over the top head line. I mean take a look at some really weak presidential primaries from the past:
2008 Dems Obama, Dodd, Clinton, Edwards, Richardson
2008 Repubs McCain, Romney, Huckabee
1992 Dems Clinton, Brown, Tsongess, Kerrey, Harkin
2004 Dems Kerry, Edwards, Dean, Clark
1988 Dems Hart, Jessie Jackson, Biden, Dukakis
1996 Repubs Dole, Buchanan, Kemp, Forbes, Alexander
I would say when you look back at who lost out in either the primaries or the election you get a perspective on what weak is.
Huntsman, Romney, Pawlenty, Daniels is really a very good group of candidates. All were VERY successful and popular governors of significant states (except perhaps Huntsman but Huntsman brings tremendous business and foreign policy experience). Just look at Romney (brilliant academic record, brilliant business record, successful governor of a blue state, successful with the Olympics.
If you really look at it, the weakest fields ever would have to be 1992 dem group when Clinton surprised and was elected. The repub 1996 group led by Dole was HORRIBLE and weak. The next would be the 2008 dem group with a varied group of idiots, highly unpopular people and people with NO experience, (Hillary 49% of the country hated her, Obama with NO experience and Edwards with his well known even if not well reported problems.
Which leads into a bigger challenge for the GOP in 2012:
Submitted by Galvanic on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 3:00pm.
Control over their nomination process.
The GOP should've re-examined their process the day after the 2010 elections. It's probably too late now.
Some states have open primaries where any registered voter can cast a vote.
Then there are the caucuses, where the best organized campaign has the advantage.
If the GOP isn't careful, they could very well end up with another Dole '96 candidacy, leaving a very vulnerable Democratic incumbent in power.
The two major parties have gotten complacent with the system they created. The primaries are paid for by the taxpayers, and both the Dems and GOP each get $100 million from the US Treasury to help offset the expenses of their National Conventions, which are nothing more than 4-day coronation galas.
But that system is going to bite them in their collective asses.
We can begin by demanding that the political parties pay for their own primaries and conventions.
Just another jackass in an elephant suit
Submitted by Dave. on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 11:51am.
We don't need no more stinkin' RINOs who are going to aid the communists in their wanton destruction of what is left of our America.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Time would love for people to believe...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 4:21pm.
that Huntsman is the GOP "cool kid" in an attempt to try to get them to support him, knowing what a weak candidate he would be against Obama. Huntsman is a zero...less than zero actually, and the left would love to see someone like this run against "The One".
"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
Weak Compared to What?
Submitted by Gat New York on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 6:06pm.
"This is the weakest Republican field since Wendell Wilkie won the nomination on the sixth ballot in 1940."
These are “weak”?
Romney – MBA and JD from Harvard - turned around Bain & Company – saved the Salt Lake City Olympics from a financial disaster - was Governor of Massachusetts.
Cain – Masters in Computer Science from Purdue – Chairman and CEO Godfather Pizza – Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
Pawlenty – JD from U of Minnesota – attorney with Rider Bennett – VP with Wizmo Inc. – Minnesota House Majority Leader – Governor of Minnesota
Bachmann – JD Oral Roberts and William & Mary – Minnesota State Senator – U.S. Congressman.
Daniels – Princeton BA - JD from Georgetown – President of Hudson Institute – President of Eli Lilly North America – Director of OMB (Bush) – Gorvenor of Indiana.
Giuliani – JD from New York University School of Law - U.S. Attorney Chief of the Narcotics Unit – Associate Deputy U.S. Attorney General (Ford, Reagan) – U.S. Attorney for Southern District of NY – New York City Mayor
Perry – BA Texas A&M – Captain U.S. Air Force – Texas House of Representatives – Governor of Texas.
Just to name a few.
And they are comparing “weak” to what?
This guy?
Obama – JD from Harvard – community organizer (no accomplishments) – part time law school lecturer – Illinois State senator (no accomplishments) – U.S. Senator (very briefly –no accomplishments).
Their strategy is to label all GOP contenders are jokes, or as weak or as racists since they cannot run on the issues. It won’t work.
You forgot to add no real
Submitted by jqc1985 on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 6:27pm.
You forgot to add no real accomplishments for Obama under president.
Obama's accomplishments
Submitted by Radical1979 on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 7:01pm.
Actually Obama has had some accomplishments as president. He's tripled the debt, got the U.S. involved in a civil war in Libya, and decreased the oil supply by denying off shore drilling to the point that gas is over $4 per gallon.
Not to mention the fact that he's promising wheat to Jordan, when, after the flooding of the mighty Mississippi it's certain the price will go sharply up, affecting Americans here at home.
He's had many accomplishments. None of them good.
President
Submitted by Gat New York on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 7:33pm.
It was not worth mentioning.
Gat New York. Great job. Too bad Time magazine doesn't...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 8:10pm.
hire writers like you who can see things as they are and not how Time magazine wishes they should be. (But then, of course, it would no longer be a Liberal magazine would it?)
Jon Huntsman is the liberals' Rep. candidate
Submitted by jqc1985 on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 6:30pm.
Since Time is for Jon Huntsman I know he's not the candidate I will support.
The last time I spent money to buy Time, JFK was president.
Submitted by jawebster1 on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 8:04pm.
Time and Newsweek, two evil twins separated at birth! Too bad US News missed a good bet and failed to fill the niche those two created. It could have been great like Marlon Brando was (in 'On the Waterfront') and Fox News is.
The MSM would just love to saddle us with another RINO nominee
Submitted by Phryj1 on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 9:34pm.
Someone who will just roll over and play dead, let the Obama campaign and Pro-Obama advocacy groups walk all over him. Someone who's liberal enough that even if he managed to beat Obama, he wouldn't be much of an improvement. Just like McCain.
I'm pretty sure that even if McCain had managed to beat Obama, his veto pen would've started rusting from disuse and much of the Dems 2009-10 legislative agenda would still have gotten through.
Progressives seem to be completely averse to facts and logic. Apparently, reality has a conservative bias.
How about an interstellar shot?
Submitted by Chris Norman on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 11:35pm.
"Though Huntsman's path to the nomination is a certified long shot..."
A "long shot"? That's like saying firing a rocket from earth to Alpha Centauri would be a "long shot". Just getting more than a few hundred people to know that this guy even exists would be a "long shot".
Galvanic Nails this RINO's "two years of service to Obama"
Submitted by daveinboca on Thu, 05/19/2011 - 4:16am.
Instead of two years to the government of the United States and its Constitution. Did this arrogant airhead realize when he was sworn in that he was not swearing to protect Obama?
Time Magazine is to a newsmagazine what Pravda was to a newspaper under Stalin.
Spitting the field?
Submitted by Michael Gilson on Thu, 05/19/2011 - 11:32am.
Times goal may not be to get Republicans to nominate another no-hope RINO. They might instead be trying to inflate this guy's ego enough that when he loses the nomination he pulls a Perot and runs as a third party.