‘People Are Getting Screwed,’ GOP Candidate Jon Huntsman Tells ‘The View’
EmailGOP contender Jon Huntsman blamed his inability to gain traction with Republican voters on his decision to “cross a partisan line” and accept an ambassadorial appointment from President Obama, as well as his refusal to engage in what he called “silly” political pandering.
“On paper, Jon Huntsman sounds like perfect Republican candidate,” said Barbara Walters, host of ABC’s “The View,” by way of introducing the candidate today. “So what we don’t understand is why is he at the bottom of the polls?”
Huntsman, former governor of Utah and ambassador to China, has languished at the bottom of the polls because, he said, we’re in the silly season,” comparing the past months of the campaign to a “circus.”
“I don’t sign those silly pledges. I don’t pander. I won’t do Don Trump’s silly debate,” he said.
Huntsman, 51, went on to say that some Republicans write him off because they will not support a candidate who served under Obama, even in the non-partisan position of ambassador.
“I crossed a partisan line, I put my country first,” he said. “I was raised to put my country first.”
Asked about GOP front-runner Newt Gingrich’s controversial comments that poor children be made to work at school – even as janitors – to learn the value of a job, Huntsman scoffed.
“Newt is a very creative man,” he said to titters from the audience. “We have labor laws on the books and they serve us just fine.”
Moreover, he said, the United States needs to be “the light that radiates standards” to the world on matters of child labor, human rights and democracy.
In an earlier segment, host Whoopi Goldberg became exercised by Trump’s comments, prompting Huntsman to joke that the actress should “be my special envoy to the Donald Trump debate.”
One host, self-professed liberal Joy Behar, asked why Republicans believe lowering the corporate tax rate will create jobs, when taxes for businesses are already low and the country is experiencing record-high unemployment.
Huntsman punted on the question, but emphatically declared: “The people are getting screwed.”
“We have two deficits. … We have a jobs problem on one side and a trust deficit on the other,” he said.
Huntsman said the tax code needed to be reformed and simplified and compared it to a “1957 Chevy trying to drive on the super highway.”
Huntsman, who did not qualify to participate in Saturday’s ABC News debate in Iowa, faced off head-to-head against former Speaker Gingrich in a Lincoln-Douglass style debate Monday in New Hampshire.
Huntsman said there were too many televised debates.
“There’s a dumbing down of the debates,” he said.”They become entertainment after a while.”
Huntsman, who decided early not to make a play for the first-in-the-nation caucus state in Iowa, has put all of his chips on winning in New Hampshire.
Asked if he would drop out if lost there, he said: “Losing is not an option. There’s too much at stake.”
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Posted by: trish | December 13, 2011, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm
Mr. Huntsman is by far the candidate that would make most sense to any logical country in the world-of course, the US is not in that category.
The fact that he doesn’t have more traction within his party only speaks of the poor civility of its citizens, that consider it a serious political discourse to rant intermittently for 30 seconds at a time. Shame on the biased media for allowing themselves to filter the candidates for the masses, who can’t even get to know the better options.
Posted by: Maria | December 13, 2011, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
I really hope that this appearance helps him! This guy is a class act and were he to be the Rupublican nominee I would be hard-pressed with my support for President Obama or rallying behind him. He definitely does not deserve last place given his credentials, intelligence, and position on the issues… in my opinion.
Posted by: MyTakeOnThis61 | December 13, 2011, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
It’s sad what the Republican party and its base has become. Huntsman is the one politician that independents and even some Democrats could vote for. He has morals and integrity. Unfortunately, that no longe appeals to the Republican base, hense their support of Gringrich.
Posted by: Catherine | December 13, 2011, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm
I like Jon Huntsman. He is one of the few GOP candidates who has sensible ideas. It is too bad that the party is not listening to him. Democrats who are fed up with Obama would vote for this man.
Posted by: savethemiddleclass | December 13, 2011, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
Huntsman is the only candidate that could realistically challenge Obama for the Independents and moderates who actually choose the president in our elections. Smart, experienced, moderate – naturally the GOP is running as far and as fast away from him as possible. They have become deliberately anti-intellectual, anti-factual, and anti-reality. Thanks, Republicans, for four more years of Obama!
Posted by: Searambler | December 13, 2011, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
I’ve always like Huntsman. He is, unfortunately, far too intelligent and logical to appeal to the tea party fan base.
The GOP is left with some very strange and self absorbed candidates who don’t know much— and don’t know that they don’t know much.
I’d love to vote for Huntsman.
Posted by: Debbie | December 13, 2011, 1:25 pm 1:25 pm
This will probably get deleted… but I have to put this out there… Did you folks look at the video? Damn!!! Barbara Walters has some GREAT looking legs (and overall shape!) for an 80 year-old woman!!!!
Posted by: MyTakeOnThis61 | December 13, 2011, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm
Huntsman can’t get any traction because we remember how things worked out with McCain who was beloved by the independents and democrats. When the Democrats let the Republicans pick their candidate, we’ll let you pick ours. Otherwise – MYOB. And if you think Huntsman is great – send him some money. That would help keep him in the race. And Trish….any logical country would not have elected such an inexperienced person to the presidency as we did with Obama. And, yes, “shame on the media” for “filtering the candidates for the masses”. Maybe some background on Obama would have been helpful.
Posted by: Kate | December 13, 2011, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm
I’m tired of all the debates. They’re just another circus side show. I’m an independent and can honestly say that the only GOP potential candidate I would vote for is Huntsman. He’s the only intelligent one of the bunch. Apparently the GOP doesn’t want anyone intelligent running, so I’ll have no choice but to vote for Obama this time around.
Posted by: Hellena | December 13, 2011, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm
KATE: McCain shot himself in the foot when he selected his running mate. That choice changed the minds of a lot of Democrats and Independents. Some of us are old enough to remember the assassination of JFK. We KNOW that the VP actually can assume that office in a heartbeat. Even though we were children, we have read the history books and we know that LBJ’s goals were not the same as JFK’s.
Posted by: savethemiddleclass | December 13, 2011, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
Huntsman and Paul are the only mature and pragmatic candidates running for the GOP nomination, which is the reason neither of them has a chance to win. The race is between Gingrich and Romney, the rest are running for the VP spot. The GOP nominee is likely to be Gingrich, he has an outstanding education, relevant experience, is very articulate and witted, does not mind taking credit for the budget surpluses produced by President Clinton’s decision to raise taxes in 1992, is an adulterer, served his first wife divorce papers while she was battling cancer in a hospital, made Clinton swear under oath that he was not having an extra marital affair while he was having one of his own, got a $1.6M job with Freddie Mac a few months after leaving Congress while blaming Dodd and Franks for the real estate debacle, did a 180 on the MEDICARE dismantling plan after he noticed the senior’s reaction, and called for amnesty for illegal immigrants while accusing President Obama of being soft on illegal immigration. In summary, he has all the attributes needed to lead the Immoral Minority team to victory.
Posted by: DominickSr | December 13, 2011, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm
Dear Savethemiddleclass — you just made my point. Democrats are never going to vote for the Republican so why select a candidate acceptable to them? And independents are dissatisfied with their previous party affiliation and vote for the ‘other’ or don’t vote at all. And I do remember JFK – and how he stole the election in Chicago. I also remember what a fabulous president LBJ was. Are you saying that Biden is ready to ascend to the Presidency? Hardly. Didn’t stop Dems and Indys from voting for Obama tho. So why would it put them off McCain?
Posted by: Kate | December 13, 2011, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
Trish, and everyone else: there is absolutely nothing wrong with being liberal. It’s one point of view, it’s their right. And if you’re a Christian, your “saviour” was a downright all the way to the left and beyond ‘give all your money to the poor and downtrodden then turn the other cheek’ liberal. Come to think of it, J.C. would probably get run out of most evangelical churches on a rail these days.
Posted by: Steve From NH | December 13, 2011, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
“Huntsman can’t get any traction because we remember how things worked out with McCain who was beloved by the independents and democrats. When the Democrats let the Republicans pick their candidate, we’ll let you pick ours. Otherwise – MYOB. And if you think Huntsman is great – send him some money. That would help keep him in the race. …”
(eyebrows raised incredulously)
Ya know Katherine… I WOULD send Huntsman some money (I really would) if his views were more in tune with my views. His are not far away though, but at present, President Obama’s views and governing are much closer to those of my own. I think the economy is going okay. Could it be better? Yep! Could Mr. Huntsman do better? Possibly, but that is an unknown. Could I live (and be somewhat happy) with Mr. Huntsman’s social views? Yep! However, President Obama’s views and execution of those views pulls him a bit more ahead in the race (and not by much either), in my my book. As I write this; a Huntsman nomination would have me sitting down and really researching and thinking over the issues prior to pulling the lever. As far as the other cast of characters are concerned its President Obama over them with my eyes closed.
Posted by: MyTakeOnThis61 | December 13, 2011, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
“…Are you saying that Biden is ready to ascend to the Presidency? Hardly. Didn’t stop Dems and Indys from voting for Obama tho. So why would it put them off McCain?”
I will answer only for myself: S-A-R-A-H-P-A-L-I-N
and that is the unmitigated truth! He was a 78 or 79 year old man who (and I did not or do not mean him any harm) had an absolute nitwit as his running mate! Yep! I believe given Biden’s experience and influence in Congress who could step into the Presidency–although I think he really wouldn’t want to do do.
Posted by: MyTakeOnThis61 | December 13, 2011, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm
Mytake: My name is not Katherine. And my point is – select your candidate and let the Republicans select theirs. And believeing Biden could be president – priceless. Did you sit down and really research and think over the issue prior to replying? Bidern? Really?
Posted by: Kate | December 13, 2011, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
Huntsman said it himself – the country comes first! Enough of this pandering, pledge signing, flip flop, deceiving crooks. The values and ideals put forth by Huntsman are for country first. If the repubs want to place lobbying, religion, govt intrusion, partisan politics before the country then there is no way this country will ever heal itself after 25 years of political grandstanding and pandering.
Posted by: raggmopp | December 13, 2011, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm
Kate: If you think that JFK stole the election of 1960 and believe that LBJ was a fabulous President, then I hesitate to even respond to your comment; nevertheless, I will do so, because what I am about to say concerns what I was ready to do. You cannot dispute that unless you are ready to call me a liar. I am a registered Democrat; however, I do not vote a straight ticket. In other words, I THINK. I do not buy into anyone’s agenda. It was the middle of October before I weighed the pros and cons of Obama and McCain. Frankly, I had many misgivings about Obama (all of which have come true). I believed McCain was the better candidate BUT he would have been the oldest man who had ever taken the oath of office as President. That office ages a person. I saw a good chance that he could die in office. I was simply horrified at the thought of Palin being in the Oval Office. Biden did not scare me; she did. I will NOT vote for Obama again. I may not vote for President in 2012, especially if the GOP is unwise enough to give me a choice of Gingrich. BY ALL MEANS, CHOOSE YOUR CANDIDATE. UNLIKE THE 2008 ELECTION, THIS ELECTION IS THE GOP’S TO LOSE!
Posted by: savethemiddleclass | December 13, 2011, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
“Mytake: My name is not Katherine. And my point is – select your candidate and let the Republicans select theirs…”
Which is what you are doing. IMHO… throwing the election into President Obama’s hand.
“Huntsman said it himself – the country comes first! Enough of this pandering, pledge signing, flip flop, deceiving crooks. The values and ideals put forth by Huntsman are for country first. If the repubs want to place lobbying, religion, govt intrusion, partisan politics before the country then there is no way this country will ever heal itself after 25 years of political grandstanding and pandering”
…and he is SPOT-ON regarding this!!!!
Posted by: MyTakeOnThis61 | December 13, 2011, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
Jon Huntsman was a good conservative Governor. But his campaign is a disaster.
Huntsman panders to the liberals, and basically insults Republican voters as too stupid to vote for a smart guy like him.
Not surprising he would go on the hideously liberal “The View” to get some love from the liberals.
Posted by: Bob | December 13, 2011, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
And my point is – select your candidate and let the Republicans select theirs.
Posted by: Kate | December 13, 2011, 2:38 pm.
Kate, these comment forums don’t affect the Republican primary one bit. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, right? We’re just giving out some constructive criticism of the Republican Party when we say things like ‘Huntsman would have the best chance out of all the Republican contenders to beat Obama because he can garner votes from the Independents and moderates’. The GOP powers-that-be will do whatever the Tea Party tells them to do, regardless of what is said here. Anyone but Huntsman, and they guarantee four more years of Obama. In my humble opinion, of course. Personally I HOPE they end up choosing Newt. The comic value alone would be priceless, watching Newt’s campaign implode around him…….
Posted by: Searambler | December 13, 2011, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm
Other than Ron Paul I think Huntsman would be the only other real choice. I would even like o see them on the same ticket. It would not be another set of Establishment leaders at all. We definitely need to change our criteria for the Presidential vote.
Posted by: Jason | December 13, 2011, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
While watching the Huntsman- Gingrich debate, it felt so good to have two people agree on some views. The idea that you can actually agree on anything is a fading notion, between politicians, bloggers, and everybody in between. Can you imagine the possibilities if we had a Congress that would even consider the option of agreeing, even if it just was for the sake of the people?
Posted by: Maria | December 13, 2011, 6:03 pm 6:03 pm
Searambler – if you would like some constructive criticism for the Democrats – worry about keeping the Senate and taking back the House instead of who should run on the Republican ticket. And explain to me how Huntsman can beat Obama with the independent and moderate vote when he can’t get the Republican vote. You’ve got to be doing some kinda very super intelligent, logical math to come up with those numbers.
Posted by: Kate | December 13, 2011, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
McCain was 72 when he ran, not 78 or 79. Although with the hard life he led in his early years, he had about that many miles on tire. Huntsman is our only shot…
Posted by: Greg | December 13, 2011, 11:21 pm 11:21 pm
JON HUNTSMAN is anti-establishment & the most successful Governor alive
:::FACTS::
as 2-term Governor, REFORMED healthcare (w/out mandate), education, & taxes. Pew ranked #1 governed state. Now state #1 in eduation spending, #1 in JOB GROWTH. often >90% approval in office. Passed pro-life amendments. Safeguarded 2nd amendment. Now, WSJ ranks fiscal plan ***MOST ECONOMICALLY CONSERVATIVE*** & UNLIKE NEWT AND MITT, wants to: end too-big-to-fail, drastically cut deficit with Paul Ryan sized cuts, end loopholes, end subisidies, flatten, simplify taxes, reform Congressional lobbying
:::END FACTS:::
Newt is polarizing, a DC idea man, not a reliable, sturdy leader.
Romney is a phony. He says whatever the majority of his audience wants to hear at any given moment. If he doesn’t want to answer a question, he evades it, talks in circles, and changes the subject by attacking Obama. Most of all, he’s a PROVEN FAILURE… a one term Governor who left office with 34% approval!
Everything that’s wrong with Newt and Mitt, is right with Jon Huntsman.
He’s the one! He’s the one who can beat Obama and unite this country!
Give him a first look!
PROVEN REFORMATION LEADER
***JON HUNTSMAN 2012***
Posted by: Bob Moore | December 14, 2011, 5:34 am 5:34 am
Jon Huntsman will never get elected president in this country. He’s a true intellectual and that turns off both the pseudo-intellectuals on the left and the simpletons on the right. He actually is a compassionate conservative, not just in name only like Bush. And unlike Obama, he would put solutions over politics and constant campaigning.
Posted by: J. Burrows | December 15, 2011, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm
I like Jon Huntsman. He has dignity and grace and seems like an ethical person with family values.
Posted by: Pamela | December 16, 2011, 10:56 am 10:56 am
I respect that he answered a call to duty. It took guts. Makes me think he’ll serve all Americans instead of pander only to the GOP.
Posted by: Pamela | December 16, 2011, 10:57 am 10:57 am