Jon Huntsman Announces Candidacy: “This Is The Hour When We Choose Our Future”

by Josh Feldman | 12:44 pm, June 21st, 2011

» 22 comments

Former Utah Governor and U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman officially announced his presidential candidacy in Liberty State Park, New Jersey this morning, the same place Ronald Reagan kicked off his 1980 presidential campaign.

As he stood outside to make his candidacy official, Huntsman credited the late president, saying “I stand in his shadow.” Most of his speech contained the same rhetoric Reagan used about the greatness of America and the economic challenges the country faces.

With the Statue of Liberty and two American flags behind him, Huntsman announced, “Today, I’m a candidate for the office of President of the United States of America.” When the applause died down, he immediately quipped, “My kids can’t believe I said that.”

Huntsman said he was worried about the lack of economic opportunities for this generation of young people, and declared it was “totally un-American” to leave the next generation with less than their parents were given. Despite the nation’s current financial crisis, Huntsman still played up America as a beacon of freedom for other nations. “The view of America from ten thousand miles away is a picture of liberty, opportunity, and justice.”

He called for stronger, more trustworthy leadership “that looks to local solutions from our cities, towns, and states.” As Huntsman told the crowd of his experience in state government, he said one thing he learned was that “for most American families, there is nothing more important that a job.”

Huntsman laid out the challenges he would have to take on if he defeated President Obama in the election.

“We must make hard decisions that are necessary to avert disaster. If we don’t, in less than a decade, every dollar in federal revenue will go to cover the costs of Medicare, Social Security, and interest payments on our debt. Meanwhile, we’ll sink deeper into debt for everything else from national security to disaster relief. Our country will fall behind the productivity of other countries; our influence in the world will wane. Our security will grow ever more precarious, and the 21st century will then be known as the end of the American century. We can’t accept this and we won’t.”

On the subject of civility, Huntsman expressed his concern that “civility, humanity, and respect are sometimes lost in our interactions as Americans. Our political debates are corrosive.” He promised to run his campaign “on the high road” and not unfairly go after his political opponents.

“Of course we’ll have our disagreements, that’s what campaigns are all about. But I want you to know that I respect my fellow Republican candidates, and I respect the President of the United States. He and I have a difference of opinion on how to help a country we both love.”

But ultimately, Huntsman said, the race boils down to who would make a better president, not who is the better American.

You can watch his announcement below, courtesy of Gamut News:

2012, barack obama, Jon Huntsman, Liberty State Park, Ronald Reagan

skyfet

Is the future Chinese?
The Lantern of Truth

From the White House website :

“…As a consequence of that swift, decisive, and sometimes difficult period, we were able to take an economy that was shrinking by about 6 percent and create an economy that is now growing, and has grown steadily now over many consecutive quarters. Over the last 15 months we’ve created over 2.1 million private sector jobs. (Laughter.) We have an auto industry …”

Look where the laughter is . Anyone would be a better President than Obama .
A.R.

the media’s republican candidate
zombietimeshare

Huntsman announces and, face it, no one cares.
WCinWI

“If the marketplace works, if something is there, if it’s viable, if there’s a marketplace there for what we’ve done and our basic approach, then let’s see where it goes.”– Jon Hunstman

Will the media attack this word salad answer like they would if it were Palin?
GuessWhoSuka

hehehe….

Can’t wait for his next TV ad……heard it’s a fat guy bungy jumping with the quote “never been kissed”….huh?

hahahaha…..
http://www.facebook.com/people/Charles-Prather/100000453933554 Bone Daddy

John Huntsman is a firm believer in Global Baloney, and liberals to include the democrat media love him.

Huntsman, it’s over before it begins.

Give me “Failed Presidential Candidates in ’12″ for $400 Alex!
GuessWhoSuka

hehehehe….

“The view of America from ten thousand miles away is a picture of liberty, opportunity, and justice.”

liberty…check.
opportunity…check.

The key word here is “justice”….remember that one Con Jobs, when you vote for the guys who want to cut on your basic human rights to give more tax breaks to Corporations….

You’re welcome.
GoneFishing

So Huntsman announces, and still no one cares. Huntsman is a media creation…He’s Obama in white-face and clown shoes.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Charles-Prather/100000453933554 Bone Daddy

In the last election, the liberal media picked John McCain for the Republican Party.

How did that work out?
Bill Huggins

LOL! You guys are too much!
ModerateMan

Jon Huntsman would make a great candidate for the Democratic primary.

BTW- where is the snark and negativity towards Huntsman that every other Republican candidate gets from the media? Is it because he is a defacto liberal RINO?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Charles-Prather/100000453933554 Bone Daddy

Oh, this is just so fantastic. Huntsman is running as a RINO against the generic republican.

Yea Jon, that’s a winning ticket, and even with daddy’s money, you can’t buy a vowel.

It’s over Jon, time to clean the cages and take down the tents, the clown show is over.
mlb

GuessWhoSuka said:
hehehehe….

“The view of America from ten thousand miles away is a picture of liberty, opportunity, and justice.”

liberty…check.
opportunity…check.

The key word here is “justice”….remember that one Con Jobs, when you vote for the guys who want to cut on your basic human rights to give more tax breaks to Corporations….

What exactly do you consider a basic human rights? Where exactly is the link between human rights and big corporate tax breaks, are you talking about healthcare?
Obama has given plenty of ‘breaks’ to Wall Street and large Pharma corporations… not to mention thousands of ‘waivers’ to large unionized companies from Obamacare from Congress.

How about the right to a fair trial or recognition under the law, as the a reference to what Huntsman is referring to Justice. We don’t stone gay people and women, or chop off the hands of thieves, or tolerate slavery and human trafficking as legit source of income, we don’t condone random acts of violence as acceptable. Hmmm, I don’t think the rest of the world views ‘human rights’ the way you do: Human rights vs. tax breaks. Travel outside of the US, and you will change your definition of “basic human rights” or how about just any human rights.

You’re welcome.
catfishjuggling show

ModerateMan said:
Jon Huntsman would make a great candidate for the Democratic primary. BTW- where is the snark and negativity towards Huntsman that every other Republican candidate gets from the media? Is it because he is a defacto liberal RINO?

Or maybe just a serious person?
Yoda002

WCinWI said:
“If the marketplace works, if something is there, if it’s viable, if there’s a marketplace there for what we’ve done and our basic approach, then let’s see where it goes.”– Jon Hunstman

Will the media attack this word salad answer like they would if it were Palin?

You still mad Palin is not running?
THE REAL ROYAL KING

WCinWI said:
“If the marketplace works, if something is there, if it’s viable, if there’s a marketplace there for what we’ve done and our basic approach, then let’s see where it goes.”– Jon Hunstman

Will the media attack this word salad answer like they would if it were Palin?

It really doesn’t say anything, does it?
THE REAL ROYAL KING

Bone Daddy said:
In the last election, the liberal media picked John McCain for the Republican Party.

How did that work out?

No, the Republican primary process did that. I suspect the LSM was as surprised as Ms. McCain was.
bitterclinger

I wouldn’t vote for any of the clowns the “conservative”party has paraded on stage if my life depended on it. Of course, I wouldn’t vote for Barry Soetoro either. I have come to the conclusion that Americans have been brainwashed into believing that they have a “choice”when it comes to elections. We have been playing this game for a long time, and now look at where we are at….. BANKRUPT.

I think we need to do what the Declaration of Independence states should be done if/when our government ever becomes oppressive….. ABOLISH IT and start from scratch. Just MHO
BFD

It’s nice to see a candidate who says he will be a better president than Obama instead of a better American.
X-3

Nice words Mr. Huntsman but no clear statement of your intent.
X-3

bitterclinger said:
I wouldn’t vote for any of the clowns the “conservative”party has paraded on stage if my life depended on it. Of course, I wouldn’t vote for Barry Soetoro either. I have come to the conclusion that Americans have been brainwashed into believing that they have a “choice”when it comes to elections. We have been playing this game for a long time, and now look at where we are at….. BANKRUPT.

I think we need to do what the Declaration of Independence states should be done if/when our government ever becomes oppressive….. ABOLISH IT and start from scratch. Just MHO

Must admit it’s getting close to time to do that–the RNC has given us their choices (not ours) since Reagan. Unless a true Constitutional conservative is nominated to run in 2012, it will be time for the revolution to begin. Given that our rights under the 2nd Amendment have been neutralized though, I guess we’ll have to fight with spitballs.