Jon Huntsman cautions Republicans against becoming “the anti-science party.”

Washington Post 8/22/11

From the New York Times:

The former governor, who served as ambassador to China under President Obama before quitting that post this year to pursue the presidency, has tried to stake out a middle ground in a contest where the loudest voices have come from what he referred to on Sunday as “the fringes.”

Mr. Huntsman insisted that the American public was “crying out for a sensible middle ground.” He described the United States as a center-right country and said that was precisely where he stood.

Mr. Huntsman fared poorly in the Ames straw poll last weekend in Iowa, a state to which he had devoted little attention. He received less than 1 percent of the vote; Mrs. Bachmann won with 29 percent.

So what does this mean?  Independents and moderates from both parties are embracing Jon Huntsman and breathing a sigh of relief that there really is a Republican who calls for sensible middle ground.  Meanwhile, hard core Republicans have turned up their respective noses like a skunk is in the barn. 

The reality is, ‘sensible middle ground’ is what is electable.  Huntsman knows that most of the far right folks in the GOP now simply aren’t ready for prime time.  There aren’t enough Americans who think that Social Security is a giant ponzi scheme or that you can pray away the gay to have one of the fringe candidates elected.  They appeal to their core but it doesn’t push them across the finish line.   

Republicans are going to have to bury the idea of RINO if they want to get elected.  They need not rest on their laurels from the mid-terms.  That win was historical and predictable.  Republicans are going to have to remember who really sways any presidential election.  Far righters need to realize that there just aren’t enough of them to conquor us. 

When people wake up, after the primaries, and realize what some of the fringe are suggesting, they will be afraid….VERY afraid.  This might be the time to listen carefully to Mr. Huntsman.  He seems to know what he is talking about.  You know all about dark horses and Jon Huntsman is one.  Too many folks are sitting up and taking notice. 

15 Thoughts to “Huntsman warns GOP about becoming the ‘anti-science party’”

  1. El Guapo

    There is even a question as to whether the extreme right wingers can even win the nomination. Oh, sure, I agree that on talk radio Ron Paul and Bachmann get a lot of praise. But what happened in 2008? John McCain won the nomination.

    I’m going on the record now: when it comes time for the actual voting in the primaries, a more moderate candidate will come out on top.

  2. Steve Thomas

    Huntsman is violating a cardinal rule of elections. In order to gain the nomination, you campaign to the base. Once the nomination is secured, you campaign to the center. Currently he’s drawing about 1% of the base. That ain’t gonna cut the grass. I see one of the three poll leaders taking this. Perry will fade a bit in the future, and he and Bachman will trade places several times as wach try’s to move to the right of the other. Romney has the most name recognition, and will be perceived (correctly) as the more moderate of the three. All he needs to do is to hang on to what he has, and he wins. He’s got the cash, and the organization. There is the wild-card of Palin jumping in (I’m betting against it), but if this happens, she pulls from Perry and Bachman much more than Romney.
    Back to Hunstman: I don’t see him breaking more than 5% at any time up till the primaries, if he lasts that long.

  3. I am going to agree with El Guapo and agree in part with Steve. This is a year of strangeness and I think that the rules might have changed while I wasn’t looking.

    As an unpartied person (by choice, having tried them both) what do I know. But…Huntsman seems different and also refreshing after all the weirdness. He is being described as a game changer and the only person who can beat Obama on TV.

    I would like to see a side by side of him and Romney.

  4. Steve Thomas

    Well today he said he’d welcome the opportunity to be Bachman’s running mate. I’m not sure as to whether or not that was a smart move. It has both an upside and a downside.

    1. Who said they would welcome the opportunity to be Bachmann’s running mate?

      Huntsman? That wasn’t a smart thing to say.

  5. He did say it wouldn’t be a good idea for him and Romney to be on the same ticket in some interview he did recently.

    Its a shame that elected officials have to spend so much time and money campaigning rather than governing.

  6. marinm

    http://www.slate.com/id/2302131/

    On Sunday, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Huntsman found himself in a virtual love-in with Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann over, of all things, taxes. The paper asked Huntsman if “the half of American households no longer paying income tax—mainly working poor families and seniors—should be brought onto the income tax rolls.”

    Still in love with him MH?

    “Part of the problem is today, only 53 percent pay any federal income tax at all; 47 percent pay nothing,” said Bachmann. “We need to broaden the base so that everybody pays something, even if it’s a dollar. Everyone should pay something, because we all benefit.”

  7. Juturna

    I’ve been interested in Huntsman since I first read the Dems recommended his appointment to China as they saw him a large risk to Obama. That goes back a while.

    Ryan says he’s out for President. What about VP?

  8. marinm

    Rubio..McDonnell..Ryan

    That’s the short list in my mind.

    I really think that Rubio has a good chance.. First hispanic VP? Young man. Sports some conservative creds…

  9. Juturna

    Ah McDonnell. He played one too many shell games with ‘budget’ and expense for me. I agree with Ryan, Rubio might be too new. Wonder if Giuliani will take Perry’s offer??!!

  10. marinm

    Giuliani is a liberal neo-con.

    http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2011/08/ron-paul-0

    “I think what we’re seeing here is something of an “anybody-but-Obama” effect, which bodes ill for the slumping incumbent; he should be leading Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann by more than the margin of error.”

    Maybe this election is less about how right-leaning a candidate is and more about just kicking the current guy out. 😉

    1. I expect people are just frustrated. This is not all that different than other polling around this time in an administration.

      Plus it always helps to have the fauxes talking about how miserable things are. I fell asleep with them on and woke up almost suicidal.

  11. Juturna

    I agree with “anyone but Obama” but would add with a 50% chance of sanity.

  12. I still like Obama. He has exceeded my expectations.

  13. Juturna

    I wonder what would have been different with McCain/Palin with regard to the economic situation. Same congress…

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