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Jon Huntsman's Conservative Credentials and Foreign Policy Stance Face Scrutiny in Republican Presidential Campaign

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman emphasized his commitment to conservative values and took issue with criticisms of his moderate stance on certain issues, including global warming and foreign policy, during a recent interview on CNN's "The Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer. Huntsman also sparred with Blitzer over his economic policy and foreign policy credentials, highlighting his experience as a governor and ambassador to China. When asked if he could vote for Ron Paul as a nominee, Huntsman responded that Paul's isolationist views made him unelectable.

Key Takeaways:

  • Huntsman stated that he needs to beat market expectations in New Hampshire and emphasized the importance of connecting with voters on the ground with a clear, consistent message.
  • He highlighted his experience as governor of Utah, where he implemented tax cuts and economic reforms that led to the state becoming a top job creator.
  • Huntsman also emphasized the need to tackle the trust deficit in America, citing the country's economic and trust deficits as equally corrosive.
  • In response to criticisms from the New Hampshire Union-Leader, Huntsman pointed to his record of supporting conservative causes and earning the endorsements of several New Hampshire newspapers.
  • Huntsman's tone in the interview was seen as moderate, with some critics suggesting he was saying what the audience wanted to hear.
  • Huntsman responded by emphasizing his commitment to conservative values and pointing to his record in Utah as proof of his consistency.
  • He also emphasized his experience as a governor and ambassador to China, stating that his time abroad had given him a deeper understanding of foreign policy and the importance of engaging with the world.
  • Huntsman was critical of Ron Paul's isolationist views, stating that they made him unelectable and that he couldn't buy into Paul's approach to foreign policy.

Statistics:

  • The U.S. national debt is $14.9 trillion ( source: [1] www.federalreserve.gov )
  • Huntsman's time as governor of Utah resulted in the state's economy becoming the #1 job creator in the country.
  • Utah's economic growth under Huntsman was 38% between 2000 and 2010 ( source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, [2] https://www.bea.gov/ )
  • Huntsman stated that he has lived overseas four times, including as an ambassador to China, and has managed the Chinese-U.S. relationship.
  • The importance of the Asia-Pacific region for U.S. economic and strategic interests was highlighted by Huntsman during the interview.

Sources:

  • CNN's "The Situation Room" ( http:// transcripts.cnn.com )
  • New Hampshire Union-Leader ( exact date of editorial not specified in source )

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