Tell Me Why (A Serious Question)
 

I happened to watch Jon Huntsman being interviewed by Fareed Zakaria on his GPS show today. I was reminded of how good a presidential candidate Huntsman really is. Some of you are more conservative than me, but fiscally I lean pretty far in that direction. So what does Huntsman offer?

-He is recognized as being the most consistently conservative in virtually all respects than any other candidate, including social issues such as pro life.

-He has the experience, in business, government and foreign affairs. Not only was he a respected and successful state governor but also ambassador to China, and he speaks and writes Mandarin.

-He has never been accused of flip-flopping on his positions on important issues--solid as a rock.

-He's run an intelligent campaign, attacking his ideological opposition, but never making it personal or negative.

-He not only has a well-thought out plan for fixing the financial mess, but it's one that even the staunchest fiscal conservatives don't argue with.

-He has committed to bringing the country back together, with all political factions asked to pull towards common, important, agreed-upon national goals.

So can some tell me why this guy isn't one of the front-runners for the Republican nomination. I'm at a loss as to why so many other candidates who are flawed in ways Huntsman is not are so popular with the Republican electorate.

Can anyone explain?

I can tell you that I get that "Gore" feeling about him.
Like he is so much smarter than everybody else in the room and knows it so he speaks down to you.

I don't know that he actually is like that or does that but that is the feeling I get.

The media controls who we "see" as a frontrunner or one of the Top 3. The "debates" are very contrived and the "moderators" could not be more obvious in their bias and preference for the candidates they want as Obama's opponent.

As for all the republicans who treat him as if he were invisible and inaudible, I think it is because of this. (Guilty by association....)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Huntsman,_Jr.

I've also been curious about why Huntsman's candidacy has been so muted. How can he be less attractive than Gingrich to conservatives, evangelicals, DC haters and, for that matter, any Republicans who have morals?

If most of the skeletons get out of Newt's closet in the next few weeks, Huntsman could well be the February Flavor.

Huntsman committed the sacrilege of actually putting his country before party by serving in the Obama administration. Perhaps the right-wingers consider him a plant, an operative, a double agent, the anti-Christ, whatever. :cus:
I agree that he is the most rational candidate of the bunch, which is why he will never get the nomination. :cus:

I like what Huntsman said in response to the "Why did you accept the position Obama offerred you" question.

He said "When the President of the United States asks you to serve, you say 'yes, sir'"

The Republican Party has been taken over by the extreme reich wing - some refer to them as "the crazies". They want a flame thrower.

Huntsmann doesn't appeal to "the crazies". He is far to intelligent and moderate for them.

The R's would choose Santorum or Bachmann before Huntsmann.

I think it is name recognition and the Glenn Beck factor involving Jon Sr.

There are several reasons Jon Huntsman has not emerged as one of the top candidates despite his credentials. (1) He got into the race late and without a strong on-the-ground presence. (2) He was an excellent governor of Utah, but Utah does not put you on the national stage. (3) He lacks the charisma that has characterized most successful candidates. None of this is a knock on Huntsman. He will not get the nomination but would be an excellent Secretary of State.

How noble some of you are. If Jon Huntsman was the current front runner, you know dang well the libs here would be ripping into him just like they have all the others.

You've all heard the "Anyone but Obama" slogan. The libs will vote anyone but a conservative no matter what the cost is. If Christ himself descended from heaven to run the libs would still vote for Obama just for spite. That's what they do.

I will vote for Huntsman in the Florida primary...how about the rest of you?

Jesus would never run as a Republican.

He worked for Obama. Huntsmann is DOA.

Interesting question though. I think its pretty safe to say he certainly wouldn't run as a Democrat. I have a distinct feeling he'd be ok with prayer in schools and wouldn't be too happy about millions of abortions every year.

I'm not sure he's real happy with either party right now. So who would he vote for? Obama? I think not.

Kind of a silly discussion anyway I guess.

dklassen - I agree that Christ (as portrayed in the Bible) certainly wouldn't like the Democrat planks that you mentioned. However, he would also probably be aghast at many GOP planks that include cuts in aid to the poor.

I believe a couple of quotes that might come into play would be 1) the one about it being easier for a camel topass through the eye of a needle than a wealthy man get into heaven and 2) the one about "rend unto Caesar what is Caesar's" meaning to pay your taxes even if you disagree with them.

That's the thing about the Bible. You can use it to support or attack any issue you want.

I suppose that would Include those who won't work shouldn't eat? I don't believe our current entitlement mentality is what the good Lord intended. That's in large part the Democratic plank.

Huntsman has not climbed to the top of the Republican list because he is consider to be a RINO as is Romney based on a number of his policy decision when serving in Utah and also because of his pro-abortion stance. Like Romney he has fliped floped on a number of issues.

As for the speculation of what would Jesus do...as I recall my bible teachings Jesus was apolitical

Here are few thoughts from Jesus and His Dad regarding government and politics...

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. Prov 21:1

It is God’s will for you to pray for your spiritual leaders.
I Thessalonians 5:25

It is the only way that your spiritual leaders can fulfill their accountability to God. James 3:1

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. IIChronicles 7:14

Indeed, the real truth and the real fix to our problems.

I don't know of any nice way to say it but it ain't the conservatives trying to remove God from everything they can get their hands on. We do "cling to our Bibles and Guns"... so he says.

Gee, all the forum liberals have a warm feeling about Huntsman. I wonder how that will affect my opinion of him.

I couild be cynical and say I haven't learned enough about him to REALLY dislike him. I know that I don't agree with a couple of his positions but there are two parts to this.

1) Is he 'worse' (in my opinion) than the others running for the nomination?
2) Are the rest of his policies, the ones I haven't researched, also the opposite of mine?

I liked much of what I heard of him from a couple of brief interviews. Granted the best "sound bite", to me, was his "When the President calls, you serve". I thought that was a wonderfully refreshing example of country over partisanship.

Keep one thing in mind. If he wins, this would be his last term. No more politics to worry about, no more middle to try and please, no reelection to worry about.

I strongly believe you'd see him unleash a no holes barred far left agenda that would make the last three years look like child's play. He WILL unleash government spending, expansion and wealth transfer to the likes of which we've never seen. You think our deficit is bad now?

He has no love for the middle class and even less for private sector business. You think he's just after the millionaires and billionaires? Total con job.

Just wait and see what he does to this country when he has nothing to loose.

Well said! So true and so scary!

Like Clinton did when he left us with a surplus?

Look, I saw the YouTube videos where conservative pundits said that the MINUTE Obama got into office, he was coming after our guns.

Didn't happen.

I'd be FAR more worried about what Congress is doing concerning locking up US citizens indefinitely if they're SUSPECTED of terrorism.