Huntsman fires back at Romney for knocking his service as ambassador to China

By: Kevin Hechtkopf
Topics: Campaign 2012

(Credit: AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman again defended his service as an ambassador to China in the Obama administration in a Sunday morning debate, saying that he put "country first" and that the criticism he has sustained reflected attitudes which divide the country.

"I was criticized last night by Governor Romney for putting my country first," Huntsman said in the NBC/Facebook debate from New Hampshire. "He criticized 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. They're not asking who -- what political affiliation the president is. I want to be very clear with the people here in New Hampshire and this country: I will always put my country first. And I think that's important to them."

Huntsman, the former governor of Utah, served as U.S. ambassador to China from 2009 until April of 2011 -- service in the Obama administration which has drawn criticism from Republicans and hampered his presidential campaign. At last night's ABC debate, Romney hit at Huntsman for his work on behalf of the president.

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"I'm sorry, governor, you were, the last two years, implementing the policies of this administration in China," Romney said. "The rest of us on this stage were doing our best to get Republicans elected across the country and stop the policies of this president from being put forward."

Romney continued to criticize Huntsman when it was brought up again this morning.

"I think we serve our country first by standing for people who believe in conservative principles and doing everything in our power to promote an agenda that does not include President Obama's agenda," Romney said. "I think the decision to go and work for President Obama is one which you took. I don't disrespect your decision to do that. I just think it's most likely that the person who should represent our party running against President Obama is not someone who called him a remarkable leader and went to be his ambassador in China."

Huntsman then said that attitude was was U.S. was divided.

"This nation is divided... because of attitudes like that," Huntsman said. "The American people are tired of the partisan division. They have had enough. There is no trust left among the American people and the institutions of power and among the American people and our elected officials. And I say, we've had enough, and we have to change our direction in terms of coming together as Americans first and foremost and finding solutions to our problems."

Huntsman's remarks crystalize the message he has taken on the road in New Hampshire, where he's staked his entire campaign. In the days leading up to the January 10 New Hampshire primary, Huntsman has embarked in a "Restoring Trust" tour across the state. After starting out as a blip in the polls, he now sits at 11 percent in New Hampshire, according to the latest Suffolk two-day tracking poll, putting him in third place.

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Kevin Hechtkopf
Kevin Hechtkopf is CBSNews.com's politics editor.
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by silvereagle2718 January 9, 2012 1:34 PM EST: Well, I'm inclined to favor Huntsman, and Romney hasn't impressed me, at least not yet. But 4 years is not much time for a politician to restore trust, and I'm not sure it is part of the job description. Destroying trust? That is easy, to the extent that there ever was any. The wolves are waiting.

What did his sons do? Don't have any and I don't care. Does he speak Chinese? Don't care. What are the candidate's priorities and what sorts of decisions will he make (and why)? That is what the election is about. Foreign policy is an important part of the President's job.

Voted for Obama in the primary and against him in the general election--a path I would repeat. Interesting. He may turn out to be the first Democrat I vote for in a Presidential general election. Is it possible for the Democrats to field an executive branch of the federal government that does not include the Clintons? Reportedly, there are 300 million of us.; Reply to this comment


by JEB726 January 9, 2012 12:36 PM EST: Finally, someone that makes sense is out there for the country. I hope that the media would gives Jon Huntsman more coverage so that he can get his message across instead of the other mediocre and shallow candidates that are only good for ratings, amusements and insulting the intelligence of the american public.; Reply to this comment


by WooHoooman January 9, 2012 12:48 AM EST: LEAVE ROMNEY ALONE!

He advocates for higher taxes!

He embraces BIG GOVERNMENT SPENDING!

He is SOFT on Illegal Immigration!

He supports GUN CONTROL!

Criminals love him! He gets more money from bankers than anybody!

He supports the unconstitutional TSA!

He wants a BIGGER Homeland security!

He is a flip-flopper when convenient!

He has kept quiet on the NDAA law for indefinite detention and torture of citizens.

He is pro CAP and TRADE giant global TAX!

We could CALL HIM OBOMNEY!...and leave him alone; Reply to this comment


by Thinkbeforeyouwrite January 8, 2012 9:18 PM EST: I have no use for Romney principally due to his work at Bain. This idea of his that Huntsman should not serve his country because Obama is president is another strike against him. It is just part of the whole GOP agenda and that is to stand in the way of the President. I have lived through 11 administrations and it has never been like this. Sure, opposition at times from the other party but not to the point of standing in the way e.g. the fight over raising the debt ceiling. There is a need to cut the debit but that was not the time to draw a line.; Reply to this comment

by ruffiannd January 8, 2012 3:54 PM EST

Romney's a mormon. I don't want a president to have more than one wife. I am voting democrat this time.

Reply to this comment


by shockerpsl January 8, 2012 4:20 PM EST: I would not wish more than one wife on anyone!!!


by RosieWho48 January 8, 2012 3:38 PM EST: I'm a middle of the road person and Huntsman is the first Republican I could even think about voting for. Of course, this could change depending on how much more we hear from him. The media has been ignoring him in favor of the crazies and I really want to know more about his policies and plans. The rest of the possible candidates are pretty tiring and so out of touch.; Reply to this comment


by Olde_Geek January 8, 2012 3:10 PM EST: As a Democrat I applaud ANYONE who serves MY Country. Doesn't matter if they tote a gun or not. Doesn't matter what their job. I like an Ambassador that speaks Mandarin, I remember from the Olympics that,
the Quote of the day was "tha the only foreigner to fear was one that spoke Mandarin"(Sorry I has to paraphrase here). He gave up a Governorship to do his DUTY to MY Country.

THANKYOU John,; Reply to this comment


by LeeMcD22 January 8, 2012 3:08 PM EST: Important to consider Mitt Romney's role in the Leveraged Buyout of America --LBOs vs jobs --Wall St Banks and private Equity firms like Romney's Bain Capital, KKR, and Goldman Sachs
that enacted a large scale Leveraged Buyout of America and the pending LBO credit crash and its imminent impact on the US economy...then join those standing up for you and genuine
capitalism--not rigged capitalism and all this cheating and looting of our economy for short term gain.. See Lady Gaga Does LBOs [short]...

http://www.youtube.com/user/BaitAndSwitchTV?feature=mhee#p/u/6/393CuT6ypYA

See Ron Paul in...Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Bank?: An Uncensored Investigation of the US Federal Reserve Banking Cartel--one of the most controversial institutions of our time...(Self-Serving its Country Since 1913).

http://www.youtube.com/user/BaitAndSwitchTV?feature=mhee#p/u/12/_M_Rh_fgKEQ; Reply to this comment


by larrylinn1 January 8, 2012 2:52 PM EST: Jon Huntsman is a patriotic American, whom served to represent the interests of the United States with China. He served as an American, not as a Democrat or a Republican.; Reply to this comment


by macbystander January 8, 2012 2:51 PM EST: Thanks for writing this story. I was beginning to think, I was the only one who noticed.
Tell me again, who are the great dividers?

Nematoda2, I agree whole-heartedly.; Reply to this comment