My first presidential debate… the first thing that hit my mind was, the barriers to entry in this game are pretty damn low.
— Jon Huntsman
Where does Jon Huntsman stand on the issues?
Part four of Decoder’s CNBC Debate pregame scorecard. All information from excellent Associated Press wrap of the candidate’s stances here. For information on all the other candidates, see Decoder’s complete list of candidate profiles here.
Debt: Only candidate to endorse the deal that averted a default on U.S. debt payments, “a positive step toward cutting our nation’s crippling debt.”
Economy: End corporate subsidies, cut regulations, lower taxes, spur jobs through energy development, seek repeal of Obama’s health care law.
Taxes: Favors lower income tax rates coupled with the elimination of deductions and loopholes. Cut corporate tax to 25 percent from a maximum 35 percent, and phase out all subsidies.
Energy: Used tax credits to promote clean energy in Utah but says he has learned that “subsidies don’t work and that we can no longer afford them.” Favors phasing out all energy subsidies and cutting regulatory obstacles to drilling and production. Says nation’s fuel distribution network should be subject to Federal Trade Commission and Senate Judiciary Committee review because it gives oil an unfair advantage over natural gas. “We need to break oil’s monopoly as a transportation fuel, and create a truly level playing field for competing fuels.”
Jon Huntsman, cracking wise: “Pennsylvania isn’t the gas capitol of the country, Washington D.C. is the gas capitol of the country!”
He invents the monsters under your bed.: I want a fic →
In which Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman accidentally meet at a bar
And they pretend not to recognise each other, staying silent and drinking solo until Jon (always the friendlier one), opens the conversation with a short, gruff and witty greeting that he’s had the last 10 minutes of awkward silence…
From a debate in New Hampshire moderated by David Gregory:
JON HUNTSMAN: I was criticized last night, by Governor Romney, for putting my country first…Yes, under a Democrat, like my two sons are doing in the United States Navy. They’re not asking who or what political affiliation the President is. I want to be very clear with the people here in New Hampshire and this country; I will always put my country first.
MITT ROMNEY: (in response) I think we serve out country first by standing for people who believe in conservative principles, and doing everything in our power to promote an agenda that does not include President Obama’s agenda. I don’t disrespect your decision to go and work for President Obama. I just think that it’s most likely that the person who should represent our party, running against President Obama is not someone who called him a “remarkable leader” and went to be his ambassador to China.
JON HUNTSMAN: This nation is divided, David, because of attitudes like that. (points to Romney.)
“This is how you know you worked for an incredible candidate. Out with former Jon Huntsman staffers and all we can talk about is how incredible he is.”
Politico: "Angry Huntsman vendors threaten lawsuit" →
Multiple former advisers to Jon Huntsman’s 2012 campaign are now considering legal action against the failed presidential candidate after the Utahn has gone silent about how he plans to pay off over $1 million in campaign debt.
More than a dozen Huntsman vendors and campaign alums confirmed to POLITICO that they are unnerved by the slow pace of the wealthy Republican’s debt-retirement efforts and his lack of communication with them. Huntsman has not made clear to the creditors how he intends to retire his campaign debt and has not responded to personal emails from several operatives to whom he owes many thousands of dollars.
I know this particular picture makes him look like a Bond villain, but we need rationality and pragmatism again. And this Bond villain had it in spades.
Huntsman 2016.
![[Jon Huntsman's official photo as Ambassador to China]](http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqv20imLBv1qli1fso1_400.jpg)
