Jon Huntsman Momentarily Forgets He Endorsed Mitt Romney, Calls For Third-Party Entrant

Former presidential candidate Jon Huntsman really wants voters to consider supporting a third-party candidate. Which is strange, because just over a month ago, Jon Huntsman really wanted voters to consider supporting Mitt Romney.

He also wants people to know that, in his opinion, the GOP in general is a party bereft of big, bold ideas. That is also strange, considering that a month ago, Huntsman was calling for "GOP unity." What's going on? I'm guessing that Huntsman just missed having teevee cameras pointed at him.

No worries, then, because today Huntsman appeared on "Morning Joe," where he revised and updated all of his previous opinions on these matters. The Hill's Justin Sink provides a good blow-by-blow:

"Gone are the days when the Republican Party used to put forward big, bold, visionary stuff," Huntsman said during an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

"I see zero evidence of people getting out there and addressing the economic deficit -- which is a national-security problem, for heaven's sake," he said. “I think we're going to have problems politically until we get some sort of third-party movement or some alternative voice out there that can put forward new ideas."

Okay, but: "It's now time for our party to unite around the candidate best equipped to beat Barack Obama ... Despite our differences ... that candidate is Gov. Mitt Romney." What happened to that?

And if you're wondering to yourself, "Hey, is this some attempt to get himself anointed as the third-party banner-waver," worry no more. "That ain't gonna be me, by the way; I know the next question. I'm not interested in that," said Huntsman, placing a dagger squarely in the heart of Americans Elect.

But again, didn't this guy endorse Romney?

"I’m not a surrogate for anybody," said Huntsman.

Okay, so Romney would not necessarily be the ideal choice in this election, then, considering his lack of "big, bold, visionary stuff," right?

"I think Mitt Romney’s the best person to handle the economic side," said Huntsman.

Honestly, this is about as much sense as Huntsman ever makes.

[Would you like to follow me on Twitter? Because why not?]

Related on HuffPost:

 

 

Comments

[BillFreeze]

06:50 AM on 02/26/2012

Huntsman is a light weight. When he was Govenor he was all over the place, but he never did the heavy lifting. He left that to his Lt. Governor Gary Herbert....while Jon boy would show up for the phot opts. Any weak sister could have been the Governor while Utah was booming....the big suceess has been done the last 4 years in a very tough econony by Governor Gary Herbert. Huntsman=soundbite.....Herbert....=LEADERSHIP!

[centaur927]

05:56 AM on 02/26/2012

The Iowa caucus miscount on January 4 sank Huntsman. Romney's well-funded campaign was rolling toward a 3-state sweep and with growing debt and minus the traction he expected due to the Cain scandals and other media distractions last summer, Huntsman made an appeal for GOP unity around the likely frontrunner on January 15. Then on the 19th, Iowa was revised in Santorum's favor. Then Gingrich pulled an upset in SC and Romney's 3-for-3 became 1-for-3. If not for this miscount, Huntsman would have stayed in. He had been endorsed by SC's biggest newspaper and was ready to run his Country First ad. Shame - he had the best shot at the swing vote, the best tax plan and, far and away, the best qualifications to be President.

[senatortruth]

11:43 PM on 02/24/2012

"uh, wha..?

I endorsed THAT guy?"

[l78lancer]

04:20 PM on 02/24/2012

I sounds like Huntsman is having buyer's remorse because it has occurred to him that he really was the smartest kid in the class (his support of the Ryan Plan, not withstanding), but unfortunately he wasn't the most popular.

So now it boils down to the prom king, the class clown, the bully, and eternal student.

No one in the rest of the school likes any of those choices.

[argved]

02:25 PM on 02/24/2012

To all the people that thought Huntsman was some sort of sane moderate, what were you thinking?

[airforcevet43]

02:19 PM on 02/24/2012

He's just playing his role like far too many re.th.ugs do.....I use to say it was all politicians who did it but re.th.ugs have broken the mold.

They tell you anything, absolutely anything to get into office then they spring their id iotic trap on unsuspecting Americans.

Want Proof?...They did it in Virginia, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, in the House race, in the Senate race, in the race for Speaker, etc, etc. etc.

The object is to play a role much like an actor then unleash their inner conservabagger to everyones surprise.....kinda like "How ya like me Now"?

[centsable]

01:00 PM on 02/24/2012

And here we thought he was the sane one...back to the drawing board.

[givemlharry]

11:09 AM on 02/24/2012

I would like to see Huntsman start a 3rd Party now or in 2016. It's time we had a Party that hasn't sold itself to the special interests. Obama is nothing more than a turncoat to progressive ideas and GOPers are just total flakes. I think Huntsman may be the man to do it.

[bronceye]

11:00 AM on 02/24/2012

You gotta feel sorry for Huntsman. He tries to make sense then remembers that he must serve the GOP and LDS so his good sense is forced to wither on the vine as he already has two masters to serve. Such a pity.

[datenutloaf]

10:56 AM on 02/24/2012

.....whatever...........

[Leigh49]

10:46 AM on 02/24/2012

I never liked that he bailed on the President just to make his own headlines. Now he needs to go away and enjoy his billions.

[VinAZ]

01:47 PM on 02/24/2012

Agreed. And it appears Mr Huntsmann just bailed on Romney too.
The guy should have stayed in and he realizes it now. His presence may be felt at their
convention.

[Mama Bee]

10:20 AM on 02/24/2012

"Honestly, this is about as much sense as Huntsman ever makes."

Honestly, Jason, Huntsman is the only one of the Republican pack that did make any sense. He may have lacked "stage presense", but he was the only coherent one. (by the wa y I"m a De)

[Leigh49]

10:43 AM on 02/24/2012

You must have only been listening part of the time, because Huntsman has many of the same screwy ideas that all the GOP candidates have.

[profmsf]

10:17 AM on 02/24/2012

Did he drop out of the race to act in the new Ricky Gervais movie "Life's Too Short" ?

[Jillianw]

09:51 AM on 02/24/2012

Too bad Huntsman had to drop out.
I am a die-hard Liberal but we need two political parties to debate each other.
Huntsman could actually discuss and debate real issues with knowledge behind him.

The Gopers that remain are only capable of bashing Obama. They offer no plans for the future.
And their economic plans will put us even more in debt. All I hear from Newt, Mitt and Ricky is hate and fear.

[efell]

08:30 AM on 02/24/2012

Forgetting Mitt Romney. Kinda' what the the American public will be doing on November the 7th.