Huntsman’s crocodile tears
By Ken Falkenstein | Monday, January 9th, 2012 | Politics
Jon Huntsman’s a new ad, “Country First,” attacks Mitt Romney for criticizing him for serving as Barack Obama’s ambassador to China. Here’s the transcript of Huntsman’s obviously well-rehearsed lines from Sunday’s debate, which are accompanied in the ad by melodramatic background music to show just how inspirational Huntsman is:
A lot of people were tuning in this morning. And I’m sure they’re terribly confused after watching all this political spin out here. I was criticized last night by Governor Romney for putting my country first, and I just want to remind the people here in New Hampshire and throughout the United States that I think, criticize me while he was out raising money, for serving my country in China – yes under a Democrat, like my two sons are doing in the United States Navy, that aren’t asking what political affiliation the president is. I wanna be very clear with the people here in New Hampshire and this country – I will always put my country first.
What a load of crap.
Let’s cut through the melodramatic background music and pseudo-patriotic pap and tell the truth: Mitt Romney did not criticize Huntsman for engaging in public service. He criticized how Huntsman chose to engage in such service. Specifically, he criticized Huntsman for choosing to serve in the administration of Barack Obama, .
The fact that a candidate for the Republican nomination was serving in the administration of one of the most radical leftist Democrat presidents in American history just last year is a legitimate issue for an opponent to raise. And for Jon Huntsman to state that Romney was unpatriotic for raising it – and was unpatriotic for not himself serving in that radical left administration – says a lot more about Jon Huntsman’s character than Mitt Romney’s.
And for Huntsman to compare his decision to take a lucrative political appointment from a radical leftist president with the non-political service of the members of our Armed Services, who literally put their lives in jeopardy every day to protect Huntsman’s right to spew this kind of nonsense, is disgraceful.
Until today, I thought Huntsman was one of the adults in this race. This ad proves otherwise.
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About the author
Ken Falkenstein has been a staffer in the United States Senate and the Virginia House of Delegates. He has managed political campaigns. He was a military intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army in West Germany during the Cold War. He is currently the Vice President of the Down Syndrome Association of Hampton Roads and practices as a civil litigation attorney with the law firm of Poole Mahoney PC in Virginia Beach. His concern for his kids' future is what most informs his writing.
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6 Responses to "Huntsman’s crocodile tears"
Ken, with all due respect, you and I will have to agree to disagree on this one. I wonder who said only Democrats can serve under Democrats and only Republicans can serve under Republicans? Maybe at my age I shouldn’t be naive but it is a sign of strength to invite opposing parties to work with you.
This is real history on Presidents having members of the opposition to have real jobs. I’m sure more but this is all I can find in my limited time.
George W. Bush: Democrat Norman Mineta, transportation secretary.
Bill Clinton: Republican William Cohen, defense secretary.
Ronald Reagan: William Bennett was a Democrat when appointed as education secretary in 1985, but the following year, he became a Republican and has remained a conservative Republican voice ever since.
Jimmy Carter: Republican James Schlesinger, who served as defense secretary under Republican presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, was tapped by Carter as America’s first energy secretary.
Richard Nixon: Daniel Patrick Moynihan served as ambassador to the United Nations, which at the time was not a Cabinet-level position.
John F. Kennedy: Republicans C. Douglas Dillon as treasury secretary and Robert McNamara as defense secretary. McNamara wasn’t such a stretch though, as Time m agazine pointed out at the time, “In politics, McNamara is a lukewarm, liberal Republican who often contributes to Democratic candidates. This year he voted for Kennedy.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower: Democrat and Labor Secretary Martin Patrick Durkin, the “plumber” among Eisenhower’s so called “Nine Millionaires and a Plumber” Cabinet. Durkin was replaced in 1953 by fellow Democrat James P. Mitchell, a so-called “Democrat-for-Eisenhower.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt: Republicans Frank Knox as secretary of the Navy and Henry Stimson, secretary of war.
Kathy- Go back and read my post. I never criticized Huntsman for serving in the Obama administration. I said that it was a legitimate issue, and it is. People can form their own opinions. But I stand by my position that it is categorically wrong for Huntsman to attack Romney as unpatriotic for criticizing Huntsman’s decision to serve under Obama. And I also stand by my statement that it is disgraceful for Huntsman to compare his political appointment to the service of our armed forces.
Ken, you should know by now I am a Veteran of the United States Air Force, I have a son in the Navy, my father served in the Navy and so did my Grandmother. Service to one’s country is service to one’s country. No matter how big, or small. As a matter of fact, if one wants to serve their country, they don’t have to get appointed or sign up, all they have to do is serve a serviceman or woman.
http://www.dogsondeployment.com/
On this I think Romney is the one being petty. Politics can divide the best of people. Romney’s wrong to attack Huntsman on this and by the way, I am not a Huntsman fan. I wouldn’t vote for him even if he was on the Virginia Ballot.
I do think he’s a good person, just not ready to run our country.
Ken, Had Romney not marched in support of war in vietnam AND dodged the draft via deferment then maybe I might cut him some slack. While American treasure was spread thin in south east asia Romney was living in high cotton at some french estate. Romney slipe here and there exposing his lack of feeling for the working class and the people who serve this country for so little in return.
Capitalists like Romney have some serious flaws for Obama to exploit and exploit he will. Mitt is a corporatist socialist organizers opportunity.
http://politicalaffairs.net/lenin-and-democracy-in-america/
I don’t recall “Country First” being a winning slogan for the last candidate to use it.
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