Steve Benen: Political whiplash: Huntsman scrambles to the right

flpoljunkie

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Fri May-20-11 08:42 AM
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Steve Benen: Political whiplash: Huntsman scrambles to the right

Political Animal

May 20, 2011
Political whiplash: Huntsman scrambles to the right

By Steve Benen

Jon Huntsman is no doubt aware of his predicament. He�s running for president, as a Republican, despite having been a member of the Obama administration. He also has to impress a far-right GOP base, despite taking center-left positions on a range of issues � climate, gays, immigration, economic stimulus, health care, the TARP bank bailout � important to his party.

What�s his solution? In effect, Huntsman has two choices. He can (a) run as a moderate statesman, hope centrist Republicans still exist, and watch the rest of the GOP field to knock each other out competing for the same right-wing votes; or (b) Huntsman can abandon his moderation and scurry to the right just as fast as he can.

As of this morning, Huntsman appears to prefer the latter.

In an interview with ABC�s George Stephanopoulos on �Good Morning America,� the former U.S. ambassador to China maintained a level-headed tone, but nevertheless moved sharply to the right on a range of domestic issues.

more...

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_05/political_whiplash_huntsman_sc029709.php

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flpoljunkie

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Fri May-20-11 08:46 AM
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1. Huntsman interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos

http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2011/05/jon-huntsman-on-being-president-obamas-ambassador-to-china-id-serve-again.html

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The Velveteen Ocelot

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Fri May-20-11 08:48 AM
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2. What a surprise.

I suppose he figures he's got to get the stench of the Obama administration off him, or the teabaggers won't like him.

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Kind of Blue

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Fri May-20-11 08:49 AM
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3. It was just a matter of time. I've been waiting for

this. Haven't watched the interview yet and thanks a lot for posting. Now the fun begins :popcorn:
KnR.

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emulatorloo

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Fri May-20-11 09:44 AM
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4. Thanks for posting. Doesn't surprise me one bit. n/t

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ClarkUSA

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Fri May-20-11 09:47 AM
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5. Romney and Huntsman are both shameless flip-floppers. They are caricatures of integrity.

Edited on Fri May-20-11 09:50 AM by ClarkUSA

I'm disappointed in Huntsman but I guess his ambition is greater than his integrity.

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center rising

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Fri May-20-11 09:59 AM
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6. Huntsman knows he has to go far right

To placate the crazies in the Republican party. You look at his record, it is not a far right one, and that's his problem. If he somehow won the nomination, he would be a formidable challenge for Obama, but he's not going to win, so the point is moot.

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Ramulux

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Fri May-20-11 04:42 PM
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7. No one should take him seriously

He is on the record as saying that he is more "spiritual than religious". Repubs would probably be willing to overlook a practicing devoted Mormon like Romney, but they aren't going to go for an ex-Mormon who no longer practices any religion.

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Wednesdays

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Fri May-20-11 07:24 PM
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8. Jon who?

:shrug:

I wager he'll be back to obscurity months before Iowa.

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Thrill

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Fri May-20-11 07:39 PM
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9. He's not a serious candidate. They couldn't even get him to

say anything bad about Pres Obama yesterday. He is setting himself up to run the next time

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struggle4progress

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Fri May-20-11 11:16 PM
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10. I don't think the rightwing of the Republican party will support him -- and this is an era

in which the GOP kowtows to its rightwing. That, of course, is why he's running to the right: but it really won't help him with the fundamentalist branch of the GOP, since the center of gravity on that side seems to be the Southern Baptist Convention, who probably regard Mormons with some suspicion and dislike civil unions -- and running to the far right now will hurt him in the general election

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