Jon Huntsman formally launched his presidential campaign on Tuesday in a speech emphasizing his foreign policy and global economic credentials, and echoing with the themes of Ronald Reagan.
With the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop, Huntsman introduced himself as “a governor of the great state of Utah, a businessman, and a diplomat” and outlined a campaign that will steer clear of attacks of both the other seven GOP contenders and his former boss, Barack Obama.
“I don’t think you need to run down anyone’s reputation to run for president,” Huntsman told the crowd of 100 gathered at a pavilion jutting out into the Hudson River. “I respect my fellow Republican candidates. And I respect the president. He and I have a difference of opinion on how to help the country we both love.”
“But the question each of us wants the voters to answer is who will be the better president, not who’s the better American,” Huntsman said.
But the campaign did kick off with Huntsman setting himself apart from the field: As he and his family walked more than 400 feet across the lawn leading up to the podium where he spoke, an introductory video of a motorcross biker with “Huntsman” printed on the back of his jacket introduced the candidate as “the ultimate conservative” who is “no mainstream politician.”
Huntsman cast the recession as fundamental change in the American story.
“For the first time in history, we are passing down to the next generation a country that is less powerful, less compassionate, less competitve and less confident than the one we got. This, ladies and gent, is totally unacceptable and it is totally un-American,” he said. “It need not, must not, will not be our permanent condition. We will not be the first American generation that lets down the next generation.
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
5 Responses
The more the merrier. It’s important that there be a credible candidate who is neither an isolationist nor a nativist, but who is strong fiscal conservative.
He is an excellent candidate. There’s a reason why he’s the one the Democrats are the most scared of.
He’s my candidate: strong background in business, state government, and foreign policy. Also perhaps the only moderate Republican running.
They all start this way, then the lobbying groups come with their bags of cash and integrity is thrown out the window.
By December he will look no different then any other bored governor or opportunistic senator.
I was born in 1983 so I dont think I’m old enough to remember leaders like Regan,Goldwater,Ford, and Truman who seemed to really have the countries best interest at heart.
*sigh*
I really wish we could elect Ron Paul, he is the only one making sense these days.
He echoed NOTHING of Ronald Reagan!!! This is a bunch of liberal malarky! They want YOU to fall for him so Obama could CHAS V’SHOLOM win again!!
Here is Reagan’s speech at Liberty State Park:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbroTjVm8Bw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lUZu9xhMqc
Huntsman wants to play nice nice with Obama when that CANNOT be done. If he wants to play nice let him go home and play with his dolls. The country is at stake. We need someone with guts to stand up and tell the USA what Obama has done to this economy and what he continues to do so that it stays bad. Almost TWENTY PERCENT of the workforce is either unemployed or underemployed. This means that of 5 of you reading this post, at least one falls in that category.
I remember Reagan. I studied Reagan. HE IS NOT RONALD REAGAN!! Reagan had the intestinal fortitude to fight for what he believed in. Huntsman wants to play nice. GET OUT OF HERE!! All he is, is McCain light and we had enough of that in 2008.
Moderate Republicans (aka Democrat Lite) dont win. This has been shown over and over. You want four more horrible years of Obama and his continuous attack on everything sacred about the USA? Nominate a wuss.
VOTE FOR A STRONG CONSERVATIVE!!