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Jon Huntsman May Have Some Explaining To Do On Climate Change Issue

Jon Huntsman Climate Change

First Posted: 05/20/11 10:58 AM ET Updated: 07/20/11 06:12 AM ET

Mother Jones:

Jon Huntsman is gaining traction as the notably less-unelectable potential GOP presidential candidate. So far, he hasn't said or done anything (ahem, Gingrich) that hurts his prospects. Unless, that is, you count his remarkably sane comments on climate change.

Read the whole story: Mother Jones

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Jon Huntsman is gaining traction as the notably less-unelectable potential GOP presidential candidate. So far, he hasn't said or done anything (ahem, Gingrich) that hurts his prospects. Unless, that i...
Jon Huntsman is gaining traction as the notably less-unelectable potential GOP presidential candidate. So far, he hasn't said or done anything (ahem, Gingrich) that hurts his prospects. Unless, that i...
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Totto
Not "noises", One-Round, *music*!
06:12 PM on 05/21/2011
Jon Huntsman: GOP flavor of the week.
Javalation
Laughing in a Daydream
05:53 PM on 05/21/2011
It shouldn't be a problem. All he needs to do is explain to the Republican base that whatever Democrats favor he opposes, just like all of the other potential candidates. Surely they'll understand, they feel exactly the same.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Bogstomper2
A secular conservative
09:29 AM on 05/21/2011
Huntsman apparently has some common sense about science. The question is, does he have enough moral courage to stick to his guns? Will he cave in to pressure and apologize for offending the talk radio conservatives? Or will he stand up for what's right?

Right now, science denial is official Republican policy. It's time for some Republican with national standing to point out that this policy is a corruption of the party platform, not an affirmation.

Come on, Huntsman. Show some spine. You've already told the deniers that they're wrong. Don't wimp out now...
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dayzee10
Get busy living or get busy dying! Damn right
10:36 AM on 05/22/2011
Jellyfish have no spine.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mummblemouth
09:04 AM on 05/21/2011
He's just a Pander-bear who - like the rest of the cons - thinks the US should be more like China.
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Dan1902
United we bargain,divided we beg!
02:07 AM on 05/21/2011
Billionaire Boy is running on a blurred message to confuse the gullible that's all. Old GOP Tactic
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Hooponopono
From Maine to Hawaii
10:46 PM on 05/20/2011
I have a question for you on climate change due to global warming.......Forget science and anti-science. Just drag out your commen sense. We convert 760 million barrels of oil to permanent air pollution year after year after year. Can we possibly do this indefinitely and NOT affect the climate??? I'm specifically directing this to global warming deniers. CAN WE???
Karma2U
Blessed are the Peacemakers
02:16 PM on 05/21/2011
Dear Hooponopono, there is physical proof that we cannot - just take a look at Galveston Texas, Beijing China and many other industrialized cities - you can see the air ! But hey,big pharma is making a lot of profit in these cities selling asthma drugs etc.
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thepoliticalcat
Eradicate your microbioflora
06:45 PM on 05/20/2011
He just annouced that he is FOR the Ryan budget, especially the elimination of Medicare. I believe that's the shot in the foot that his campaign needed.

I'm actually bitterly disappointed. I was hoping he would prove to be a *real* candidate, and not just another pandering huckster.
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Hooponopono
From Maine to Hawaii
10:49 PM on 05/20/2011
He forgot the cardinal rule regarding foot in mouth. If you are going to shoot yourself in the foot, remove it from the mouth first.
04:24 PM on 05/20/2011
It is a simple equation for Republican candidates

Admit that one thing, at one time, done by a one Democrat in the history of America was right..... therefore getting the attention and possible votes of some Independents and Democrats in the Presidential Election.

Dont do this .......and lose the Presidential Election.
Karma2U
Blessed are the Peacemakers
02:21 PM on 05/21/2011
Presidents who have had a positive effect on the economy ---- T. Roosevelt (R), FDR (D), Clinton (D) .......

Presidents who have ruined the economy --- Hoover(R), Carter(D), Reagan(R), G.W. Bush(R)...
02:21 PM on 05/20/2011
Just wait until the the voters hear Jon's flip flop on Ryan's budget and medicare. The next sound you'll be hearing is the sound of a vacuum as all of the money dries up.
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Jacquie Hamilton
Love my Mollster
01:21 PM on 05/20/2011
A Republican that believes in climate change and gay rights? I didn't think it was possible. I assume that these positions will be changing soon.
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SunnyDaySam
To Err is Human, to Forgive is Canine
03:51 PM on 05/20/2011
He didn't get the TP/Koch memo yet. He will.
Karma2U
Blessed are the Peacemakers
02:25 PM on 05/21/2011
He will also get calls from Ryan, Cantor, Walker, and the other crooks in FL, NJ,IN, etc. etc. Maybe we can't prove a vast right wing conspiracy,but the collusion is blatant.
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Bogstomper2
A secular conservative
09:39 AM on 05/21/2011
"A Republican that believes in climate change and gay rights?"

People who follow genuine conservative principles, like I do, understand the threat posed by anthropogenic global warming. That's because one of the pillars of conservative thought is the idea that we should be careful about the consequences of our actions.

The science deniers, on the other hand, say that there are no consequences to our actions. It's the most un-conservative stance imaginable, yet too many of my conservative compadres think that's the way they should behave.

Maybe Huntsman's comments will make them think for a change...
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diversityreport
Editor American Diversity Report
05:53 AM on 05/23/2011
More likely, they'll shoot the messenger.
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gditty
My micro-bio is updated and pending approval
01:12 PM on 05/20/2011
Mr. Huntsman, where do you stand on the Paul Ryan Medicare plan?

Be careful.....it's a gotcha question.
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larmarch5
01:51 PM on 05/20/2011
George Stephanopoulos: How about Congressman Paul Ryan and (the) budget? Former Speaker Gingrich had some trouble talking about that this week. If you were in Congress, would you have voted for it?
Jon Huntsman: I would’ve voted for it.


Read more: http://swampland.time.com/2011/05/20/huntsman-the-moderate-endorses-ryan-medicare-plan/#ixzz1MurpZZ6Q
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gditty
My micro-bio is updated and pending approval
02:14 PM on 05/20/2011
Mitt Romney is smart to skirt this question because he knows the moderates and independants will run from him. Huntsman is trying to make a name for himself, he needs support from the base.
10:47 AM on 05/20/2011
You're kidding, right? Republicans wear hypocricy and contradiction of their sleeves like badges of honor. Please, Mother, pay more attention.
10:38 AM on 05/20/2011
But he's pretty much a clean slate, which is not great for democrats. I think he's the one to worry about.
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msblynne
doesn't hate or fear science
11:22 AM on 05/20/2011
I think you are right. Fortunately, there is that You Tube clip of him introducing Palin at the 2008 convention. That needs to get noticed. Also, his embrace of Ryan's CatFoodMedicare Plan is good for Dems. Still, he is probably the least insane of the GOP bunch, and, as such, a bit of a concern.
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Gray Mouser
Former Republican
03:43 PM on 05/20/2011
Not really. If he comes out for Ryan's budget (which it appears he initially has), he is toast with the majority of Americans and unelectable in the general election. If he comes out not fully in support of it, he can't get nominated.

All Republicans and Teapotters have this same dilemma thanks to Ryan and then further amplified by Gingrich calling it radical social engineering.

too bad for them, eh? I won't be losing any sleep over it.
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tangelan
"We don't believe you!" Alright, alright.
10:30 AM on 05/20/2011
Not one of them can run without back tracking on previously held positions. That says something about the candidates and the base they're trying to court.