Shock: Huntsman quits as Utah gov to be Obama’s ambassador to China; Update: I couldn’t say no, says Huntsman
posted at 9:45 am on May 16, 2009 by Allahpundit
And to think, some people accuse centrist Republicans of being Democrats in disguise.
The move is freighted with political intrigue. Huntsman, who speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese, quickly emerged after November as one of the leading moderate GOP voices…
Huntsman, who met with Obama’s transition team to discuss energy policy, was in Washington on Friday night, ahead of a planned Saturday announcement by the White House, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Several Utah news organizations said the governor will resign and accept the appointment.
Huntsman, 49, served a Mormon mission in Taiwan. The governor and his wife, Mary Kaye, adopted a daughter, Gracie Mei, from China in 1999. In 2006, he led a trade mission to China “because of their prominence on the world stage and the way in which they are growing so rapidly,” he told the Deseret Morning News of Salt Lake City.
So much for the great moderate hope in 2012. What’s his angle here? Three possibilities: (a) Despite all appearances, he was never thinking of running for president. (b) He was thinking of running, but he’s enough of a patriot that he couldn’t say no when the president called on him. (c) He was aiming at 2016 all along and this is actually a brilliant move to burnish his bipartisan cred and his foreign-policy gravitas in advance, especially insofar as it makes him a player with a rising superpower like China. My only question is, how does he get back on the national stage after he’s done as ambassador? He could run against Utah’s lone Democratic congressman, I guess, but that’s not much of a perch from which to launch a presidential bid. Bob Bennett is 76 years old, but his Senate seat’s up next year; even if he’s planning to retire, Huntsman’s not going to quit Team Barry so soon to run for it. I can only assume he’s eyeing Orrin Hatch’s seat, which is up in 2012. Hatch will be 78 at the time, which isn’t old for a Senator but isn’t young either. If he does run for another term, though, then Huntsman’s frozen out. Maybe his interest in China is such that he simply couldn’t turn down the opportunity, whatever it might mean for his future ambitions.
Needless to say, in coopting a potential rival, it’s a typically cagey move by The One.
Update: To expand on that last thought, I don’t think anyone on Obama’s team considered Huntsman a serious threat to beat him in 2012 but they’re obviously keen for the public to perceive the GOP as “far right.” Hence their obsession with Rush. Huntsman was a threat to that strategy so they needed to get him off the national stage and as far away as possible. Mission accomplished.
Update: Tapper’s got terrific background on Huntsman’s relationships with the White House and with China. The money quote from this morning’s announcement:
Huntsman today said he “never expected” as national co-chair of John McCain’s presidential campaign to be standing there. But when the president asks for service, he said, “that to me is the end of the conversation.” Huntsman said first in Mandarin, then English, a Chinese saying: “Together we work. Together we progress.”
Blowback
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I think Huntsman wants to serve his country and he seems uniquely qualified to be the US ambassador to China… a post once held by George Bush, Senior, if I’m not mistaken.
Being an ambassador really isn’t a very partisan post any way.
Huntsman isn’t a very partisan guy apparently… not likely that in the next generation at least, a Mormon has much of a shot at the nomination anyway. The message from the Republicans (natural allies for from our point of view at least) was pretty much “Mormons need not apply”.
So why wait around trying to convince folks, who don’t want to be convinced, that you don’t have horns or aren’t bent on world domination? There’s work to be done.
And what he said about when the President asks… that’s a very Mormon way to look at authority. Country first, Party way down the line somewhere.
petunia on May 16, 2009 at 5:23 PM
Petunia, very well witten! I believe, as you do, that Huntsman is a citizen first, and he will be doing an important job as Ambassador to China.
His language skills are terribly important. If he is indeed fluent in Mandarin, he will be able to capture the nuance of his communications with the Chinese. One cannot discount the importance of a US ambassador that that can speak and understand Mandarin.
Quaoar on May 16, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Interesting analysis:
Grow Fins on May 16, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Grow Fins -
I supported Romney in the Michigan primary because I saw him as the lesser of two evils (vs. McCain). The fact that he is a Mormon didn’t come into play.
If Romney runs in 2012, I will support a true conservative. The fact that he changes positions more often than my teenage daughter changes clothes will be the reason I won’t support him. The fact he is a Mormon will have no bearing.
bw222 on May 16, 2009 at 5:56 PM
The fact that he changes positions more often than my teenage daughter changes clothes will be the reason I won’t support him. The fact he is a Mormon will have no bearing.
bw222 on May 16, 2009 at 5:56 PM
old and tired argument that has no basis in truth
Conservative Voice on May 16, 2009 at 6:09 PM
I don’t think Huntsman was thinking very hard about running for President
karasoth on May 16, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Obama reaching out to the GOP base? ROFL…
ddrintn on May 16, 2009 at 6:15 PM
This is absolute nonsense. Romney kicked Huckabees tail in the majority of primaries and probably would have secured the nomination if it wasn’t for McCain.
There is suspicion of Mormons among certain groups in the party but if a Black man can become President of the USA, then a Mormon certainly can secure the Republican party nomination.
Daemonocracy on May 16, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Huntsman must know a good Chinese recipe for Mandarin Crow.
(He’ll be eating it instead of rubber chicken on any 2012 campaign trail.)
He obviously also has a fortune cookie that reads:
The one you obey will send you away.
Joining Team Obama ends his R political future.
profitsbeard on May 16, 2009 at 6:18 PM
I second that. If Romney had been the nominee, I would have been more enthusiastic than I was about McCain. If pro-choicer Giuliani had been the nominee I would have been more enthusiastic. This “narrow-minded monolithic bigots” stuff is wearing pretty thin.
ddrintn on May 16, 2009 at 6:19 PM
If Romney won the nomination we would have gotten trashed worse
karasoth on May 16, 2009 at 6:20 PM
A Romney/Palin ticket in 2008 (which probably wouldn’t have happened anyway) would have scalded Obama, I think.
ddrintn on May 16, 2009 at 6:21 PM
It might surprise you to know the the church was once pretty much 50/50 in the parties. I KNOW that the Dems are targeting us. I sent a little thank you note email to Michelle Obama in the Primaries for her graciousness when visiting church headquarters right after the hanky panky of the anti-Mormon stuff in the South… I got on a mailing list.
I seriously watched Obama for a while before I decided he was way too liberal and basically dishonest. And when I sent a pretty alarmed email over the Stimulus bill I got taken off their lists…. Rudely I might add.
There is only a couple of issues the Church has ever asked us to take sides on, Abortion and Gay Marriage. That makes us lean heavily to the Republican side unless the Dems become more open minded on those issues.
Utah went to Perot by the way. Libertarian freedom is most prevalent in Mormon thought I think. And the founding documents are sacrosanct in American politics for us.
The fact that Dems see opportunity is shown by the unending line of top Dems who have come to visit Church Headquarters lately. Al Gore was just there a few weeks ago. Someone thinks they have a chance with us.
We are more naturally moderate I think. Live and let live. (I’ve never really lived in Utah so I don’t know how it is there.)
We hold ourselves to very conservative standards in daily living. However, we simply can’t expect others to live the way we do. So we don’t.
God doesn’t force people to follow him, we don’t either. But the shape of the society around us is important. And does effect how easy it is to maintain our own standards. In the last few years there have been more divorces among people I know in the Church than I ever thought was possible. We have caught your disease I’m afraid. When I was a kid I didn’t even know divorce existed certainly not among Mormons. It is hard to understand it.
Protecting Traditional marriage in the larger culture is so important to us, because society’s attitudes about marriage are seeping into our daily lives in ways that I would never have imagined. It is truly heartbreaking to see Mormon kids go through this.
I believe some Mormons think they make more political headway on social issues by trying to moderate the Democrats. I don’t really think that will work but I’ve heard talk of it.
petunia on May 16, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Romney would have performed much better than McCain in the debates. Romney, with his business background, would have looked all the more appealing after the banking crisis. Romney would not have backed off of Obama’s liberal voting record and ties to radicalism as McCain did.
You can’t say for sure if Romney would have lost because he would have run a much different campaign.
Daemonocracy on May 16, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Shouldn’t the Headline be:
NO DEMOCRAT qualified to be Ambassador to China; Huntsman get the call.
originalpechanga on May 16, 2009 at 6:43 PM
I hope he’s not planning for a career in the Republican Party. When Obama buys you, you stay bought.
SKYFOX on May 16, 2009 at 6:53 PM
Over at NRO’s “The Corner,” Jay Nordlinger reporting from the ME has this observation to make:
And just another random thought: Wasn’t Obama dazzled by the fabulous “infrastructure” of China when he attended the Olympics. Of course, he basically only saw the Potemkin Village version.
onlineanalyst on May 16, 2009 at 6:54 PM
NO DEMOCRAT qualified to be Ambassador to China; Huntsman get the call.
originalpechanga on May 16, 2009 at 6:43 PM
:)
Conservative Voice on May 16, 2009 at 7:03 PM
Thanks for the insights.
Grow Fins on May 16, 2009 at 7:08 PM
No we didn’t. Utah went to Bush in 1992 and Dole in ’96.
Utah was the only state in ’92 in which both Bush and Perot received more votes than Clinton (I consider it a badge of honor). Perhaps that’s what you were thinking of?
Chagoth on May 16, 2009 at 7:10 PM
Was Caroline Kennedy unavailable?
onlineanalyst on May 16, 2009 at 7:10 PM
Maybe because we need someone who is reliable in the post?
Dunno. While Barry scares the bejeezus outta me maybe the Huntsman pick is one of Barry’s rare moments of sanity.
Limerick on May 16, 2009 at 7:37 PM
Your forget, the US financial house burned down long after Romney dropped out of the race. McCain’s gaffe (“the fundamentals of the economy are strong”)and subsequent panic essentially sealed the election for Obama.
Romney would have DESTROYED Obama in a debate over financial issues. It’s right up his alley. The debate would’ve ended with the moderators accusing Romney of child abuse and Chris Matthews whining about what a bully he is.
Wingo on May 16, 2009 at 7:39 PM
It’s only natural that Mormons are conservatives. More than social issues like abortion or gay marriage, it’s also simple principles as living within your means when life is good, but also being prepared when things take a turn for the worst. Which is why Prophet Hinkley told us to plant gardens, and have plenty of food storage. Also, we believe the Constitution to be divinely inspired. Some hold it to the same value as scripture.
Oh, and this doesn’t have to do with anything, but I’m jealous of Gov. Huntsman because he’ll probably get to visit the Hong Kong Temple. It’s so beautiful…
Emily M. on May 16, 2009 at 7:46 PM
No wishy-washy Mormon RINO has a chance at presidency, as Romney well established. This isn’t cagey strategy at all, just one more political kickback for one more Team Obama quisling of the McCain debacle.
TMK on May 16, 2009 at 7:47 PM
Arrrrrrrgh. *Prophet Hinckley. What the heck is wrong with me today?
Emily M. on May 16, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Fare-thee well in China Mr. Huntsman.You fell for it,so you deserve it.You obviously ain’t ‘the one’ we are looking for..if there is such a one. Is there a lil’ Reagan running around out there??
lizzee on May 16, 2009 at 7:55 PM
Axelrod sends in the second-string astroturfers after Grow Fins has been punked.
onlineanalyst on May 16, 2009 at 8:12 PM
Not according to what I posted by Nordlinger.
onlineanalyst on May 16, 2009 at 8:14 PM
I’m not sold on Huntsman as our gov. And for all of you saying we are a one party state, I can’t tell you how long ago we ever had a Republican mayor of Salt Lake. The last one we had met Pres Bush every time he came with protests and the middle finger raised and awful signs.
That aside, Huntsman is a good fit for Chinese ambassador. He spent 2 years talking to the people on the streets, not the politicians, living in humble places, eating what they eat, and learning the language of the people. So he speaks the language, has an adopted little Chinese girl, an Indian adopted son and 5 children of his own. It will be quite a site for the Chinese with their one child limit. He seems to love the Chinese people because of his experience with them. I hope he does a great job.
Maybe, never a Republican candidate, but that’s OK. Life doesn’t begin and end because you run for president.
Bambi on May 16, 2009 at 8:24 PM
I guess that takes the most qualified GOP presidential candidate out of play (snark, snark, SNARK!)
Upstater85 on May 16, 2009 at 8:53 PM
What happened to GF?
Upstater85 on May 16, 2009 at 8:53 PM
Utah was the only state in ‘92 in which both Bush and Perot received more votes than Clinton (I consider it a badge of honor). Perhaps that’s what you were thinking of?
Chagoth on May 16, 2009 at 7:10 PM
Are you sure? I could have sworn I looked at the map and was embarrassed that Utah went for Perot. But since I can’t even remember what state I lived in at the time it maybe a false memory… Maybe 92 and I lived in NY? Oh well.
petunia on May 16, 2009 at 8:55 PM
GF’s multiple posts – a variation on a theme– were listed by a HAer.
I really appreciate learning about the values of Mormonism. They appear to be a rock-solid denomination in terms of respect for family and country, and their fiscal conservatism is a plus.
My first choice for president was Fred Thompson. My next was Mitt Romney. Unfortunately, the media made the biggest deal about his Mormonism being a liability, an absolutely inane attitude. I think that the media feared him as a solid contender and thus put McCain and Huckabee in front of the cameras as much as they could. By the time the primaries came to PA, Romney had suspended his campaign. He went to bat for McCain and the Republican party soon after.
onlineanalyst on May 16, 2009 at 9:02 PM
It’s growing pimples in Swedish.
Loxodonta on May 16, 2009 at 9:05 PM
I just had the thought that I’d like to spend the Obama administration in China…
And think what good preparation it will be! He’ll come home and our government will be just like theirs!
petunia on May 16, 2009 at 9:06 PM
ah… thanks
Upstater85 on May 16, 2009 at 9:07 PM
Petunia – Bush came first, and Perot second.
It’s funny, onlineanalyst, I hate to mention it, but dirty harry is also a Mormon and the dems didn’t make as much about him as the republicans made about Romney. Seems funny doesn’t it? The Mormons have supported the most conservative agendas including prop 8 in California and yet, “we need not apply.”
Bambi on May 16, 2009 at 9:11 PM
I think the Democrats realized that their Huntsman mole wouldn’t have a future after they tried to promote him as the Republican who worries them the most and everyone laughed and saw right through act. It didn’t help that the Democrats tried the same thing just weeks ago with Specter before welcoming him to their ‘rat’s nest.
Buddahpundit on May 16, 2009 at 9:20 PM
Allah seems to name all of the possible scenarios here, in lieu of an actual opinion. I like choice A best – if he’s the liberal Republican that he appears, why would anyone vote to replace Obama with him? Surely he was never serious about 2012, and how could he be since no one’s ever heard of him.
As for Huntsman’s idiotic “end of conversation” quote, whatever. He seems like another greasy pig politician to me.
Jaibones on May 16, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Is it true that Utah’s economy is the best in the nation?
Dr Evil on May 16, 2009 at 9:40 PM
You mean the Economic crisis caused by people *LIKE* Mitt Romney. That Economic Crisis? How about how Mitt Romney created a health care ban which bankrupted the State of Massachusetts and drove most of the private health care companies out of the state… That Mitt Romney. You mean the Mitt Romney who personally directed and oversaw outsourcing Operations… that Mitt Romney
yeah I am SURE Obama would have had trouble with that.
karasoth on May 16, 2009 at 9:43 PM
He’s co-opting and compromising his future competition. This plot has very little depth . . . it’s all about Obama.
rplat on May 16, 2009 at 9:44 PM
I’ll admit that MassCare is a disaster, but it’s barely a bastard child the plan he intended. It was twisted into it’s current incarnation by the MA legislature.
I was referring instead to his private sector career. Bain capital doesn’t need a bail out, nor will it ever.
That Mitt Romney.
Still no guarantee it would have changed the outcome of the election, but Mitt would’ve at least made a game of it.
Wingo on May 16, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Indeed. We’re rock solid. 5% unemployment. No government surplus, but no deficit either.
Stick that in your crack pipe and smoke it Jenny Granholm!
Wingo on May 16, 2009 at 10:25 PM
As Mormons we have 13 Articles of Faith the Twelfth Article of Faith is:
When a President calls you do duty. You do it. That is what he means.
This attitude makes Mormons good citizens of whatever country they live in. But of course it doesn’t mean you can’t voice your opposition to policies.
But we recognize the importance of law and order and being part orderly government.
petunia on May 16, 2009 at 10:27 PM
No. The economic crisis that was caused by people like Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, ACORN and the other lefty scum who forced the mispricing of debt on the market, in order to push their idiotic social engineering plans. That crisis, genius.
progressoverpeace on May 16, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Judd Gregg said no.
ddrintn on May 16, 2009 at 11:09 PM
No. The economic crisis that was caused by people like Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, ACORN and the other lefty scum who forced the mispricing of debt on the market, in order to push their idiotic social engineering plans. That crisis, genius.
progressoverpeace on May 16, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Thats not what all the Democrats would have said if Mitt Romney was the guy
karasoth on May 16, 2009 at 11:11 PM
You’re exactly right. When Obama started his run, the economy was nowhere on the horizon as an issue. He was running on the anti-war sentiment. Though this crisis was years in the making, I seriously doubt that Obama thought a rotten economy was what his primary problem would be.
Of course that rotten economy is not going to stop him from taking the economy far left or curtail any potential spending he had planned. Whatever else may lay on the horizon, we can pretty much bet the ranch the economy is still going to be hurting come next election. Mitt, by far, has the best credentials here though I wouldn’t rule out Gregg or even possibly Paul Ryan. Maybe it is me but I can’t forsee a situation where Obama’s crazy economic agenda is actually going to leave us in a better position in 2012. I happen to believe one of the only reasons Americans would not elect the incumbent is based on the economy.
msmveritas on May 16, 2009 at 11:22 PM
Bambi on May 16, 2009 at 9:11 PM
You almost had me…I thought you meant this dirty harry, not this one.
Conservative Voice on May 17, 2009 at 12:07 AM
Absurd on it’s face. A free man can always say no to a President, who is suppose to be the people’s servant after all. But then maybe he considers Obama to be more of a Mussolini.
MB4 on May 17, 2009 at 12:19 AM
As a mormon, I’d take the former over the latter any day.
Wingo on May 17, 2009 at 1:04 AM
Huntsman will be replaced by a more conservative governor, he wouldn’t have even gotten past the primary in a potential bid to defeat Obama in the next election, and the GOP hasn’t asked him to perform any duties for the party, so what’s the big deal? I don’t even know what diplomats do, to be honest, but it seems obvious that conservatives should prefer a centrist Republican in the position over whoever Obama’s second choice might have been.
RightOFLeft on May 17, 2009 at 2:43 AM
Put it another way: why should Huntsman have turned down the opportunity to serve his country?
RightOFLeft on May 17, 2009 at 2:45 AM
I’d vote for a mormon for the same reason I’d vote for a catholic.
TTheoLogan on May 17, 2009 at 2:55 AM
This thread proves Michael Steele was correct in his recent assessment of Republicans and Mitt Romney. Many do have issues with his Mormonism.
True_King on May 17, 2009 at 8:11 AM
If Romney had been the nominee I wouldn’t have left president blank on the ballot.
single stack on May 17, 2009 at 9:25 AM
I do not understand this obsession with Mormonism. On both sides! It’s almost like most Mormons on this site love to pull the “race card” any time someone says they don’t care for Romney or any other Mormon politician. Then undoubtedly some evangelical will pipe up with some nonsense about mormonism being equivalent to satanism.
I don’t care for Romney as a candidate for POTUS because I don’t think he is conservative enough. Same for Huntsman, glad to see him out because that is one more RINO we don’t have to worry about getting the nom in 2012.
conservnut on May 17, 2009 at 9:28 AM
“Hatch will be 78 at the time, which isn’t old for a Senator”
That statement says so much of why we’re in such deep doo-doo.
angryed on May 17, 2009 at 9:37 AM
I look at it at jettisoning the excess cargo so that the plane can fly higher.
kingsjester on May 17, 2009 at 9:46 AM
Conservative Voice on May 17, 2009 at 12:07 AM
Too funny! I love that Dirty Harry. Don’t think much of the other dirty harry who sits in the senate.
Bambi on May 17, 2009 at 10:41 AM
I agree – do Mormons want to be pandered to as if they were blacks in the Democratic Party? And evangelicals really need to accept that they are not the only Conservatives.
katiejane on May 17, 2009 at 11:19 AM
I never even heard of this guy until now.
Sounds like just another globalist RINO.
ex-Democrat on May 17, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Also guys… Mitt Romney also played the Mormon card in the same way Obama played the race card
karasoth on May 17, 2009 at 11:37 AM
I wouldn’t characterize Mormons as “Big Tent” folks. Ask any “non-believer” that has ever lived in a mormon community.
Wyznowski on May 17, 2009 at 11:44 AM
I’m getting pretty sick of the way RINO keeps getting thrown around against people others hardly know anything about.
Neither Hunstman nor Romney are RINOs.
Romney is a conservative intellectual in thought, but believes pragmatic politics comes first. I don’t personally agree with that philosophy, and Romney was not my first choice in the Republican primary (I preferred Thompson). However, I see no reason to excise Romney from the party, as he can be a useful ally in achieving the goals I think are important.
Hunstman is not a RINO either, nor is he a moderate, whatever the media likes to say. He only looks moderate because he’s out in Utah and supports civil unions. A policy I might add, that many conservatives support as a means of protecting marriage from attacks by the judiciary through equal protection claims.
For Utah, Hunstman is a moderate conservative, as President he’d probably be your basic establishment conservative. So I would not have supported Huntsman in the primary, as I feel we need a movement conservative to lead us. (I prefer Sanford, Jindal, or Palin- I would even prefer Romney, as I feel he has a better intellectual appreciation of conservatism). Nor do I feel Hunstman had a big chance in the primary, no matter what Obama’s people say. Nobody leaps from Utah governor to the Presidency. Not unless they are somebody that ordinary people can identify with (like Palin).
Despite the fact that I am more conservative, and would not support Hunstman, or that I would prefer some candidates to Romney, does not mean that I feel the need to attack or ridicule them for anything and everything they do. Nor do I falsely label them RINOs. If they are RINOs then the majority of Republicans are RINOs. Which is not a good argument to make.
Our reaction to this news should be thus:
Politics ends at the water’s edge. Is Huntsman the best man to serve America as ambassador to China? (A nation that we now need good relations with even more than before). Yes, he is probably one of the best men President Obama could have chosen. Thank goodness. Good job Obama. Too bad you’re set on socializing medicine, and spending us into bankruptcy, and have violated property rights as established under bankruptcy laws, ect. I’m afraid picking a good ambassador to China is not going to win my vote after all that.
Sackett on May 17, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Why?
progressoverpeace on May 17, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Can anyone name any ambassador to any country that has ever made a difference?
Hunstman will be about as relevant as the assistant to the under secretary of the Department of Interior. If Obama’s goal was to eliminate a potential 2012 opponent….job well done Sir.
angryed on May 17, 2009 at 12:26 PM
On the Mormon issue, I think you all don’t get the fact that Mormons are very sensitive to discrimination- because we actually face it all the time- and we get it from both the right as well as the left.
Look at the situation involving Prop 8. Who was targeted and lost their jobs? Mormons. The left obviously hates us.
What about conservatives though? Do you know how often I have personally been discriminated against in the workforce when the boss who happened to be an evangelical found out my religion?
Do you realize that I personally witnessed a Mormon missionary get arrested and hauled of to jail because he didn’t have his license on him (he left his wallet in the pocket of his other pants). The police officer was a deacon at the local Baptist church. This happened in 1997! Or when I was in Oklahoma, and the older generation would tell that they prefer the old days, when their grandfather would take them out at night to “hang negros and shoot Mormons”? (And it was true too, Mormons were targeted by the KKK and occasionally murdered throughout the South).
And then Huckabee comes along and makes his Mormons believe “Jesus and Satan are brothers” comment. This is a direct reference to the opening argument of “The Godmakers” by Ed Decker- which accuses Mormons of being secret worshipers of Satan. Oh, and every, and I mean every, evangelical church I have ever visited has a copy of the Godmakers, which they regularly show to their congregations (it’s both a book and a video). Basically, Huckabee just used code words to publicly accuse Mormons of being devil worshipers. But the only people who got the code where evangelicals and Mormons, so Huckabee got away with it.
That’s why Mormons are still very resentful of the recent Republican primary, and rightfully so. Huckabee should have been ridden out of the Republican party on a rail for attacking a religion like that. (And don’t claim it was done in ignorance- Huckabee was a Baptist minister, even if he didn’t purchase a copy of the Godmakers for his church, he certainly must have watched it.)
It’s true that Mormons can be oversensitive, but we have reason to be so sensitive.
Sackett on May 17, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Why do we need good relations with China?
Because we need them to buy all this debt that Obama is racking up on wasteful spending.
I admit, it’s sort of like approving a child for making a half hearted attempt at cleaning up a mess he made himself.
Sackett on May 17, 2009 at 12:38 PM
We are all pretty ticked at the recent primary, though, on top of that, the treatment that Romney got was well beyond the pale. But a good deal of it was ginned up by the MSM. There was that awful deal with the devil that Huckabee made with McShame to finally get Romney out, but I blame McShame more than Huckabee on that. Of course, I think that McShame is lower than the lowest worm. I blame Huckabee just for bringing religion so explicitly into the campaign to begin with. Peronally, I was not that big on Romney, until it was clear that he was the best left in the field.
I always admired Mormons for their industriousness and success.
That said, I hope that Huntsman goes to China, to never be heard from again. The Precedent is a traitor and I can think of no justification for working with him on anything. None. Unless someone is able to undermine his destructive policies, which is basically impossible from an ambassadorship.
As to our need for good relations with China, now, I just disagree with that. China has been in a quiet war against us for a long time. China cannot afford to stop buying our debt, but I wish they would. The only thing that can stop The Precedent, now, is the stock market. Otherwise, he will just keep moving to push this world to chaos and destroy the US – and the West, if he can.
progressoverpeace on May 17, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Give it a rest with the “traitor” business would you? You’re so far off the reservation you’ll be in Ruby Ridge territory soon. I believe the Black Helicopters are boarding at Gate 51.
Grow Fins on May 17, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Isn’t Harry Reid a Mormon? Hardly conservative…
And the reason to disqualify many Mormon’s is because “Prophet Hinkley” tells you…
Religion, and Politics, don’t mix…you have to make decisions, and the two are not always compatible.
right2bright on May 17, 2009 at 1:50 PM
FIFY
right2bright on May 17, 2009 at 1:51 PM
No, I won’t. The list of his treasonous acts is already quite long. Personally, I’d be satisfied if he were investigated for his illegal campaign finances, and thrown in jail for that, but there are far more crimes he has committed, and people are getting an idea of what destruction The Precedent intends for our nation.
Grow a brain. Your stupidity is about the same as The Precedent describes his own spending to be – unsustainable.
progressoverpeace on May 17, 2009 at 1:54 PM
I wonder sometimes why we do stay in this party so full of those who hate.
Not just Mormons but anyone who differs on anything. Anyone who does believe exactly as progress or right2 or conservnut…. are RINOs.
Can this party be saved with people like this in it? I’m not sure.
Mormons might be better off working with more reasonable minded although impossibly liberal folks.
It doesn’t really change how we live our own lives whether the people we live among are hypocrites on the left or the right of the political spectrum.
petunia on May 17, 2009 at 1:55 PM
The fact is, your founder took child brides, hated Christians, and denied blacks membership…you have to own up to your own failings, not just blame others. don’t revise history.
Polygamy was against the law, child brides were against the law, and many resented the dissing of the blacks…Mormon’s defied the law.
Many people were “unfairly” punished by the law…The Irish, the Chinese, Mexicans, Indians, Italians, Polish, Catholics, blacks…you don’t remember the big deal that JFK was the first Catholic to hold that office, an office that some said a Catholic would never hold.
right2bright on May 17, 2009 at 1:58 PM
My little petunia, I was one of the first to support Romney as a VP or a high cabinet position…I just didn’t think he could win the Presidency because he just doesn’t connect with the people, I also do not think that Huck should have run for anything.
So don’t try to pigeon hole me, I look for what a man can bring to the table…and Romney didn’t have it, nor Huck, Giuliani has it, but his personal life has too much baggage for a national ticket, along with some of his liberal social views.
But when he talks, everyone listens, I don’t know what it is, but some capture people and others don’t. Obama (and I hate this) has “it”, but not much else.
right2bright on May 17, 2009 at 2:02 PM
right2bright on May 17, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Are you aware that every time you repeat twisted lies about Joseph Smith you are fulfilling his prophecies?
Consider carefully your position on Joseph, what if you are wrong about what you think you know? Where does that leave you? In opposition to a prophet of God? That is not something that should be done lightly.
I know from my own experience who Joseph was. I have received my testimony of his calling through the spirit of God. What are your words compared to that? Should I give them equal weight with the voice of God? Joseph Smith was a witness of Jesus Christ and his work.
I am content with my place in this society. Content with my place in this world. I know in whom I trust and do not expect the praise of man for it.
I wish you peace but you will not find it in your present state of mind.
petunia on May 17, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Show me quotes of mine that you have such problems with. I will deal with specifics, if you’ll provide them.
progressoverpeace on May 17, 2009 at 2:22 PM
right2bright
You are the one rewriting history. Joseph Smith did not hate Christians as should be obvious since he was one himself. He ordained a black man to the office of the Seventy (Elijah Abel). Blacks were always permitted as members of the church, and a black man was in the first party of Mormons to enter Salt Lake City.
As for “child brides”, Joseph Smith did practice plural marriage, and one of his wives was 15 when he married her. However, at that time in the American West it was not uncommon for women to marry at age 14 or so. Furthermore, the rest of Joseph’s wives were in their twenties or even older when he married them. So your implication of him being some closet pedophile who married hordes of young girls is simply not consistent with the historical record.
As for people resenting the “dissing of blacks” I don’t know what history you are reading, but you got it completely backwards. Mormons were hated for being black loving Yankees. (Mormons friendliness to Negros was even cited in the declaration the mobs put out justifying their assault on Mormons.)
But of course, in truth you don’t care about facts or historical records. You simply hate Mormons, probably because you are afraid of us, and you will keep on throwing as many lies and false accusations as you can at us in the hope that even without proof, you’ll manage to harm our reputation and shut us up.
The hatred you show is exactly why Mormons are so sensitive and so angry about discrimination against us. In a political forum such as this, what are your accusations for except to try and make Mormons ineligible to run for the Presidency of the United States?
Therefor I intend to ignore your inevitable future posts in which you will no doubt continue attacking Mormons and our faith, and I will simply say now that you are a liar who can not be trusted to accurately present the true facts of history.
Sackett on May 17, 2009 at 2:23 PM
right2bright on May 17, 2009 at 1:58 PM
wrong wrong wrong. Joseph Smith married teenagers, and at the time of day, that wasn’t all that weird. ( the weird was the number, not the age ) Polygamy was against the law after the fact, because they were bent on getting the Mormons.
Smith did not hate Christians, he didn’t hate anyone, as he was quick to forgive those who tarred and feathered him and broke his tooth, the same people who told his children they were going to kill their daddy, because he was a Mormon. Your description of hate, is like saying the Mormons hate the ghey…when the militant gays destroyed property, etc.
Blacks were never ever ever denied membership…they were denied the priesthood, not the same thing. In fact they were able to sit next to whites, and not on the back row either…can’t say the same for other churches in the south can we.
And how this all relates to Huntsman how?
Wyznowski on May 17, 2009 at 11:44 AM
I am sorry if a few members of my faith treated you unkind, that isn’t the norm, nor is it tolerated.
Conservative Voice on May 17, 2009 at 2:23 PM
I actually have to go to church… my block starts at 1:00 and I have a class to teach so I shouldn’t have come here… weakness I guess. But I was offended by the tone of some posts. I do truly wonder if there is hope for the Republican Party. But honestly the hate on the other side is strong too. It is hard to deal with.
I’m sorry if I’ve offended some of you. I wrote in anger… but I took stock and it isn’t right to attack you. I apologize.
Now I do have a lesson to finish…
petunia on May 17, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Sackett on May 17, 2009 at 2:23 PM
you said it better, thanks
Conservative Voice on May 17, 2009 at 2:28 PM
I agree. If Huntsman truly feels that he can make a valuable contribution to this nation in the ambassadorship, then fine, but a call from Obama does not equal a call from God.
hillbillyjim on May 17, 2009 at 2:29 PM
hillbillyjim on May 17, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Did he claim it was from God? Or is he honoring a call from the President that is neither illegal, immoral or unethical…or undermine the constitution…because as an American I would accept the call from my President, even though I disagree with the guy 95% of the time, as long as it didn’t go against my set of principles.
Conservative Voice on May 17, 2009 at 2:35 PM
petunia on May 17, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Working with liberals is hopeless. Read what is written about gay marriage by liberals for other liberals. On three separate occasions I have read articles that start by listing the “enemies” of “tolerance” towards gays, essentially calling them bigots. Then the articles proceed to talk about how gays and evangelicals, or Catholics, or whoever really can all get along if they just recognize their common ground.
Then the article specifically says this doesn’t apply to Mormons. That there is no common ground with Mormons.
Make no mistake, the gays have put us in the crosshairs, and they have far more influence over the liberal thought than we do.
Frankly my view on the matter is that we have no choice. No matter how badly the evangelicals mistreat us we have to stick with them.
Sackett on May 17, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Right2bright uses his “Christianity” as justification for his narrow-minded hate and bigotry. It’s not just Mormons with r2b; it’s anyone with whom he happens to disagree, and of course he uses Bible quotes minus context to back his positions.
Nothing new here.
hillbillyjim on May 17, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Even your websites declare now that Joseph Smith had child brides…and you have seen his quotes on how he despised the Christians.
Please, the same can be said about false prophets (like Smith) fulfilling the prophecy of the NT.
You show me evidence he never married children, and I will show you evidence from your own records, from LDS records that says he did.
If I am wrong, then the LDS is wrong, because everything I cite is from your sources, from his lips, just like his sermon above that I quoted.
And as a Christian, I have found peace…with the truth.
Don’t ignore your history, you have many great people who have done great things…but don’t worship someone like Smith or Young. Look at your history, look at your real history, and you will see.
Look for real archaeological evidence, the Smithsonian has never found any, National Geographic attempted, so many none have found.
Be content that your religion has created some wonderful faithful people, but don’t be blinded into following “living prophets”.
And blessing to you, as you do further research into your history…but don’t do it if you want to know the truth, just rely on your “bosom”.
right2bright on May 17, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Of course not. Have you ever heard of hyperbole?
Did you read the first part of the sentence?
Geez.
hillbillyjim on May 17, 2009 at 2:41 PM
hillbillyjim on May 17, 2009 at 2:41 PM
fair enough
right2bright on May 17, 2009 at 2:41 PM
please read the bible, you might find similar language from prophets and Peter and Paul, and not consider it full of hate. Strong and bold doesn’t mean hate, anymore is it hate to say marriage is between a man and a woman.
Conservative Voice on May 17, 2009 at 2:45 PM
right2bright on May 17, 2009 at 2:41 PM
and for the archaeological, like with any science…global warming, evolution…etc, science can only go so far…
First fallacy…lack of evidence doesn’t prove anything.
Second thing, archeology…like any science, is prone to politics. They are still stuck on the idea that all Native Americans came over from Russia to Alaska, even though there is plenty of evidence that says otherwise.
Lastly, there are many archaeological finds that are untouched, because the Native Americans do not want them to be disturbed.
Conservative Voice on May 17, 2009 at 2:51 PM
I wasn’t offended by your post. I think that “hate” was the wrong word, though. I am, clearly, vehemently opposed to The Precedent and think that his policies are directed at the destruction of our nation. These are not normal times and our nation is in a very weakened and vulnerable state. The pain that The Precedent is going to bring to Americans will be something that hasn’t been seen in over 100 years. People don’t realize where we are really headed. It is not towards socialism or communism. It is towards ruin, and that is far more painful and dangerous than most are able to comprehend. He is also setting Israel up for destruction (just 6 million Jewish lives to be flushed down the toilet, there) which will put the whole middle east in flames, while releasing the arabs and persians to fully pursue their wars against the West, once Israel is out of the way.
There is a seriousness to our situation now – something that we all felt back in October for a few days, but almost all have since forgotten/repressed – because we are now in the eye of the storm. It is a terrible mistake to dismiss this or to underestimate the fragility of our governmental and economic structures. Collapsing currencies have never led to anything good, and a collapse of the world’s trade and reserve currency would be something that this world has never seen. The Precedent’s policies are directed towards this collapse. He even admitted it, himself, with his “unsustainable” comment. Of course, he thinks that he can take care of that with some wholesale confiscation of wealth, but even that won’t be enough if he keeps doing what he’s doing, with his anti-growth, anti-competitive, centrally planned policies that will make everything orders of magnitude worse just at a time when we MUST have growth as the only possible solution. He knows that. I know that. And a few others do, too.
I understand this situation and have been warning about its fast approach ever since the credit crisis hit us and McCain refused to explain to America what risks our nation was now subject to. McCain, unfortunately, went in the opposite direction. No real surprise, sadly.
If you grasped the threats that our nation really faces you would probably call me “mild”.
progressoverpeace on May 17, 2009 at 2:52 PM
What’s really odd about this story is that this guy was considered a front-runner, and I never even heard about him until this story.
That sort of says it all.
Talent?
AnninCA on May 17, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Which is why Prophet Hinkley told us to plant gardens, and have plenty of food storage. Also, we believe the Constitution to be divinely inspired. Some hold it to the same value as scripture.
right not so bright: you failed to put in the whole quote leaving everyone with the impression that Pres Hinckley told us how to vote and for whom to vote. No one in The Church has told us, in any way, who to vote for. Of course we believe in things that more closely align with the conservative approach. You also didn’t read my post above that said dirty harry (reid) is a Mormon. Not my favorite person…
By the way, we have always been instructed to take care of ourselves and prepare for any emergency, such as a loss of jobs, a death, an earth quake, a flood, any kind of emergency. Is that so strange?
We also don’t shout and talk about other religions in our worship service or any where else in our services. We believe in being reverent and listening to the spirit.
Good luck with your lesson, Petunia. My block is 9:00 and it was really a great lesson.
Bambi on May 17, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Very talented, and moderate politically. A true threat to the Dems cause they can’t match his skills and can’t demonize his politics.
He will be more of a known quantity by ’16 when he runs.
trailboss on May 17, 2009 at 4:00 PM
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