IDA Caucus Countdown #7: Jon Huntsman, Jr.
December 21, 2011
by Al Bregar
I want to apologize yet again for a lack in consistency in publishing articles. I have been quite busy with life in general. I have also been working behind the scenes to help one candidate for the Iowa House of Representatives, Strong America Now, and a Presidential candidate. But with less than two weeks to go until the Iowa Caucus I felt that I should at the very least publish a series of articles about the candidates vying for the Republican nomination for the Presidency. The format that I am intending to use will start with the candidate I find myself least likely to vote for and culminating in my choice for the GOP nomination. I know that some of you out there are already aware of my choice so I will beg you not to spoil the surprise for the rest of my readers. Please keep in mind that these descriptions are totally subjective with very few pieces real criteria to measure the candidates by. To start this Countdown to the Caucus off we have former Governor of Utah, Jon Huntsman.
On the face of it, Governor Jon Huntsman seemed like he would be a strong candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination. He was twice elected to serve as the Governor of the State of Utah. He resigned during his second term when he was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the United States Ambassador to China. He continued to serve in that position until early 2011 when he resigned from that position. Shortly thereafter Governor Huntsman announced his intention to run for the GOP Presidential nomination.
Early during his campaign Governor Huntsman made what may prove to be a fatal mistake. During a campaign stop in New Hampshire he declared that he was not going to compete in the Iowa Caucus. It remains to be seen the reasoning behind this decision, however his stated reason was that he believed he did not have a chance at winning the caucus because of his stance on agricultural subsidies. This statement clearly demonstrated that he does not have a clear understanding of Iowa. In recent years more and more Iowans have become increasingly frustrated with the sheer number of subsidies doled out nationwide. Many of us have openly called for the elimination of all subsidies as we believe that they create an unfair advantage. We ultimately believe that subsidies of all kinds are essentially the government picking winners and losers. Of course Governor Huntsman would have found that out for himself if he had the courage to wade into the middle of the Iowa Caucus.
It is entirely possible that Governor Huntsman could have come into Iowa and became the frontrunner in the race for the nomination. However, because he fell prey to a false stereotype of Iowa voters that will never happen.
One of the criteria that I used to determine the candidate that I would support for the Iowa Caucus is that the candidate in question had to have campaigned within the State of Iowa. As I pointed out above, Governor Huntsman has refused to do just that and as a result is disqualified from receiving my support.
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IDA Caucus Countdown #7: Jon Huntsman, Jr.
December 21, 2011 by Al Bregar Leave a comment
On the face of it, Governor Jon Huntsman seemed like he would be a strong candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination. He was twice elected to serve as the Governor of the State of Utah. He resigned during his second term when he was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the United States Ambassador to China. He continued to serve in that position until early 2011 when he resigned from that position. Shortly thereafter Governor Huntsman announced his intention to run for the GOP Presidential nomination.
Early during his campaign Governor Huntsman made what may prove to be a fatal mistake. During a campaign stop in New Hampshire he declared that he was not going to compete in the Iowa Caucus. It remains to be seen the reasoning behind this decision, however his stated reason was that he believed he did not have a chance at winning the caucus because of his stance on agricultural subsidies. This statement clearly demonstrated that he does not have a clear understanding of Iowa. In recent years more and more Iowans have become increasingly frustrated with the sheer number of subsidies doled out nationwide. Many of us have openly called for the elimination of all subsidies as we believe that they create an unfair advantage. We ultimately believe that subsidies of all kinds are essentially the government picking winners and losers. Of course Governor Huntsman would have found that out for himself if he had the courage to wade into the middle of the Iowa Caucus.
It is entirely possible that Governor Huntsman could have come into Iowa and became the frontrunner in the race for the nomination. However, because he fell prey to a false stereotype of Iowa voters that will never happen.
One of the criteria that I used to determine the candidate that I would support for the Iowa Caucus is that the candidate in question had to have campaigned within the State of Iowa. As I pointed out above, Governor Huntsman has refused to do just that and as a result is disqualified from receiving my support.
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Filed under Commentary, Iowa Caucus, Politics Tagged with GOP, governor, Iowa Caucus, Jon Huntson, New Hampshire, Republican Presidential nomination, State of Iowa, State of Utah