GOP Gov. Is Obama's Pick As China Envoy

President Chooses Utah's Huntsman, Former Mormon Missionary (And Potential 2012 Rival), For Ambassador

(AP)  President Barack Obama reached across the political divide Saturday and named Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, a possible Republican presidential contender, to the sensitive diplomatic post of U.S. ambassador to China.

With the selection, Obama may have sidelined a potentially formidable moderate Republican from the 2012 presidential field. For Huntsman, it's a chance to burnish his credentials and position himself as a viable hopeful - perhaps for 2016 if Obama is seen as a strong candidate for a second term in 2012.

Fluent in Mandarin Chinese from his days as a Mormon missionary in Taiwan, the 49-year-old Huntsman is a popular two-term governor who served in both Bush administrations and was national co-chairman of Arizona Sen. John McCain's campaign against Mr. Obama last year. Huntsman has made a name for himself advocating a moderate agenda in one of the most conservative U.S. states.

With Huntsman at his side, President Obama said in brief remarks in the White House Diplomatic Reception Room that he made the appointment "mindful of its extraordinary significance."

"Given the breadth of issues at stake in our relationship with China, this ambassadorship is as important as any in the world because the United States will best be able to deal effectively with global challenges in the 21st century by working in concert with China," President Obama said.

Huntsman recently made headlines for encouraging his party to swing in a more moderate direction if it wants to bounce back from the 2008 elections, angering some conservatives.

"I knew that because Jon is not only a Republican, but a Republican who co-chaired my opponent's campaign for the presidency this wouldn't be the easiest decision to explain to some members of his party," Mr. Obama said. "But here is what I also know: I know Jon is the kind of leader who always puts country ahead of party."

Huntsman said he never expected "to be called into action by the person who beat us. But I grew up understanding that the most basic responsibility one has is service to country. When the president of the United States asks you to step up and serve in a capacity like this, that to me is the end of the conversation and the beginning of the obligation to rise to the challenge. I stand here in my final term as governor with plenty to do. I wasn't looking for a new job in life, but a call from the president changed that."

Huntsman ended his remarks with his favorite Chinese saying, speaking in Mandarin: "Together we work, together we progress."

Mr. Obama's 2008 campaign manager, David Plouffe, said Huntsman is a Republican who "seems to understand the party has to adjust - not stubbornly believe that everything is OK and it is the country that has to change."

Huntsman's positions on the environment and other issues have led some to consider him a potential contender for president in 2012. He signed an initiative that would set a regional cap-and-trade effort to reduce global warming. In a 2006 speech at Shanghai Normal University, Huntsman spoke of the need for China and the U.S. to work together on environmental issues.

"The United States and China must be good examples and stewards of the Earth. We must match economic progress with environmental stewardship. The effects of industrialization are felt worldwide," Huntsman said then.

He has drawn the most attention for stating he favors civil unions for gay couples even though he backed a state constitutional amendment passed in 2004 that prohibited same-sex marriage.

Huntsman's comments on civil unions drew the ire of conservatives in Utah and elsewhere. Officials in Michigan last month canceled a Republican county fundraiser where Huntsman was to speak, saying he had abandoned important party principles.

Huntsman's career began as a staff assistant in the Reagan administration. He also was ambassador to Singapore under President George H.W. Bush and deputy U.S. trade representative and U.S. trade ambassador under President George W. Bush.

Before becoming governor in 2005, Huntsman made millions as chairman and chief executive of his family business, Huntsman Corp., a global chemical manufacturer with more than 12,000 employees worldwide. Revenues last year exceeded $10 billion.

Huntsman and his wife, Mary Kaye, have seven children, including adopted daughters from China and India. He dropped out of high school to play in a rock band, and spends his spare time playing in a band and mountain biking. He also rides a motorcycle and is a fan of motocross.

If confirmed by the Senate, Huntsman will succeed Clark Randt.

Randt, a classmate of former President George W. Bush at Yale University, served as Washington's top envoy to Beijing from July 2001 until January, making him the longest-serving U.S. ambassador to China since the two nations established diplomatic ties.

Utah Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert would become governor until a special election in 2010.

[ozilot]

No I don't think Obama expects to get a liberal governor in Utah...that would be a mistake on his part.

But I do think Obama, by naming Huntsman, is saving the GOP from itself by sending this moderate GOP (truly an endangered species if ever there was one) to the safety of China...of course assuming the GOP survives its suicide death march to regligious-wing-nut oblivion!

[hwy71so]

Does he think he'll get a lib gov over there?

[cbsantispin]

U.S. President Barack Obama is enjoying a long honeymoon because Americans are more concerned about the U.S. Economy more than anything else and want it fixed and don't want the distractions of other probably equally important issues to interfere or be used as an excuse for the U.S. Economy not to have a complete recovery. I would not be as harsh with Pres. Obama as you were, but one thing is clear, this is not the same Barack Obama that ran in the Presidential Primary, again and again he is backtracking and retreating on the platform he ran on using one excuse or another with the end result being not delivering on what he ran on. No matter how much you like or support "now" Pres. Obama, his reversals have to be a disappointment and it remains to be seen if he will pay a political price for them. But despite all of what you said and I said here, he is still better than what we had before, even with the reversals and that's sad and demonstrates just how bad things were.

[taryder]

THIS! is all we need.......An ex-MISSIONARY at our Embassy in China!! All I have to say is GAWD!!! what is WRONG with Obama?!!! Just what we said during the run-up to the presdency. Could someone please give us back the Democratic Party, and the sooner Pelosi, Reid etc are out the Democratic Party, the better! Obama is nothing more than the SAME as GWB! What a SHAM! EVERYTHING he said in the run-up was!

[cbsantispin]

Don't leave out the possibility that Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman might switch Party's and become a Democrat like Sen. Specter! Nothing is locked in stone in Politics! Few like being associated with sore losers.

[cbsantispin]

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman serving as U.S. Ambassador to China does not prevent him from running against Pres. Obama in 2012! Where is that written? What Law prevents it? Gov. Jon Huntsman can still run against Pres. Obama in 2012 if he wants to.
Posted by cbsantispin

I guess he will have a lot of time in campaigning in china, wait, china is half a world away and their citizens can't vote here. How can he campaign while doing his job? he can't. law doesn't prevent this, logistics does.

Posted by mrzerato at 9:22 PM : May 16, 2009

You would think that would be the case, but since when does a Politicians current position prevent them from running for another office while still holding down their current office? The recent Presidential campaign lasted a record 2 years! None of the Presidential Candidates seemed to have any problems doing their current job and running for President. Being the Ambassador to China will not hinder Jon Huntsman if he decides to run for President, trust me! LOL

[nextgenman09]

Posted by Vua-Quan-Nhan at 2:47 AM : May 17, 2009
-------

You screech. Nobody takes you seriously. You are just as bad as the "Republicans" who screech. America has moved on. We shun those who screech now on BOTH sides of the aisle.

[MohatmaJeebus]

He is too cool. We don't need to worry about petty things like the ECONOMY...
Obamanation

Postlibs at 9:51 PM : May 16, 2009

And you gathered your tardo point of view from his pick for the US Ambassador to China? And funny how quiet you were as Bush destroyed our economy over the past 8 years. Moron.

[pugster]

It doesn't matter whether he knows mandarin or has adopted a Chinese daughter. The big problem is that he used to be a Latter day Saints member working in Taiwan. He has little relations working in mainland China itself, making him more like a liability than a diplomat.

[alphaa10]

AMERICAN PATRIOTISM KNOWS NO PARTY

hungry1968-15 said, "They have a real shot, at effecting some REAL CHANGE for the
better..."
---

Obama, the Post-Partisan President--
The one Obama trait puzzling many in Congress is his "post-partisan" behavior-- as Obama
aides explain it, his steadfast refusal to see issues through an ideological filter. In his first days in office, Obama asked NH Sen. Judd Gregg (R) to be his Secretary of Commerce, even to the extent of conceding Gregg's replacement could also be a Republican. This confirmed Obama's interest lay with Gregg.

To Obama, there should be no political correctness. In his view, ideology too often gets
in the way. During his inauguration, Obama said, "The question we ask today is not
whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works."


Why Post-Partisan Politics Could Be Important--
The post-partisan approach seems very useful to any president succeeding George
Bush. In his final years of office, trench warfare between the GOP and Democratic party
established full-blown gridlock from 2007-2008.

Obama, himself, demonstrates what post-partisan can mean in practice. Obama has a history of working with disparate groups toward common goals. As an Illinois senator, Obama introduced a measure to require all police departments in his state to videotape the entire interrogation, not simply the suspect giving his statement. Obama passed his measure, gathering by personal charm and persuasion critical support from left and right, from people who normally never speak to each other, much less co-sponsor such a measure.

But is this merely "bi-partisan", rather than post-partisan? A closer definition may help-- post-partisan focuses on process, not necessarily on the end-product. Post-partisan politics organically integrates competing interests, and is not simply a composite of strategic nods and concessions, or a layer-cake of interests which early lost its original focus, intent and value.

Post-partisan politics, in fact, has a history, traceable to Thomas Jefferson's vision of democracy in the newly-formed United States of America. Rather than a permanent Democratic or Republican establishment, Jefferson's approach was that of competing ideas serving the common good-- not clashing personalities and narrowly-defined interests. In and out of a post-partisan committee, the evolution of policy incorporates differences naturally, if with occasional smoke and fire.


Implications for US Politics--
Two centuries of partisan warfare created a congress structured for partisan bickering. This makes post-partisan politics truly subversive to ideologues of all persuasions. To most of these, post-partisan methods are to be killed in the cradle and regarded with deep suspicion as betrayal of the majority party and its constituents. As Richard Cheney once put the concept of absolute GOP congressional control, "This is our due."

In poll after poll, however, actual constituents seethe with frustration about the need for change, and the fact nothing ever seems to happen. Many would favor a system more devoted to results than party platforms and pledges (although not mutually exclusive).

For those engaged in post-partisan process, there are indeed no promises or
pre-ordained outcomes-- only assurance of an unprecedented convergence of thoughtfully collaborative effort. As most students of group process easily understand, intensive collective effort leaves most labels and pre-conceived doctrines behind.

By the same token, conservative policy makers are now inclined to give post-partisanship
a closer look, because it offers the GOP full access to process it lost in the last election. From Hoover to Cato institutes, conservative students of American government, market and the political process are busy rethinking the rancor of past years, glimpsing expansive new possibilities in collaboration with unwashed liberals.

In the ultimate irony, the GOP-- the party that announced a "conservative revolution" with fanfare in 1994, and the party whose high priests nurtured visions of a permanent Republican majority-- now becomes a key player in subverting partisan approaches.

For the US House and Senate, a truly post-partisan politics redefines collegiality as a
working partnership of all representatives of the American people, a concept surprisingly close to the hopes of the Founding Fathers.

Ten Post-Partisan Principles--

1. Relationships are as important as convictions.
2. Criticism needs to be well-balanced by self-criticism.
3. There must be an overriding commitment to dialogue and deliberation.
4. There must be an overriding commitment to diversity of opinions and perspectives.
5. Compromise is not the only endgame.
6. Be simultaneously creative and practical.
7. Demonstrate a penchant for big ideas.
8. Support a bias for action.
9. Demonstrate concern with values and principles.
10. Have a long-term vision.

[mrzerato]

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman serving as U.S. Ambassador to China does not prevent him from running against Pres. Obama in 2012! Where is that written? What Law prevents it? Gov. Jon Huntsman can still run against Pres. Obama in 2012 if he wants to.
Posted by cbsantispin

I guess he will have a lot of time in campaigning in china, wait, china is half a world away and their citizens can't vote here. How can he campaign while doing his job? he can't. law doesn't prevent this, logistics does.

[despido]

I am definitly not an Obama supporter, but I have met Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman several times; and I believe Obama has made a good choice. Huntsman is well repected, very successful and extremely intellegent.

[armyoftwelve]

I think before his term is over Obama will become a Republican
Posted by cattiej at 7:55 PM

Don't be such a cynic, he won't junp parties. He was never the man you thought he was. Did you ever read "Audacity of Hope"--notice how he distanced himself from his mother's worldview?? He is more like a southern "blue dog" democrat than the california or new england weenie than most people realize.

Sorry to break the news to ya!

[cattiej]

I think before his term is over Obama will become a Republican. I think it is time to get rid of the two party system in our country. It's the them and us attitude that got the United States to be Un-united. The politicans are giving away, selling away and trading away our country. We have ceased to make our own goods and products. We depend on China, India, Mexico and various other countries to keep us feed, clothed and on the move in our cars..no wonder our country is going to heck in a handbasket. We here in the St. Louis, Mo area already have a Chinese Hub for freight being brought in directly from China. They are landing at the St. Louis airport and at MidAmerica airport, which is right next to Scott Air Force base..now don't you all feel more secure tonight?

[cbsantispin]

Get used to it. Obama is all about "in your face" politicing.
Posted by curb_global_warming_now at 11:26 AM : May 16, 2009

Exactly. NOTHING is done because of facts and logic and "he's the best man for the job because he speaks Chinese." LOL!

Posted by weedapoopl at 7:21 PM : May 16, 2009

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman serving as U.S. Ambassador to China does not prevent him from running against Pres. Obama in 2012! Where is that written? What Law prevents it? Gov. Jon Huntsman can still run against Pres. Obama in 2012 if he wants to.

[cattiej]

Obama picked a Republican because he wants to show that he will pick who ever he wants for leadership roles, regardless it they will probably stab him in the back later during the next election. I could care less who the China envoy is, our family have sworn to not buy crap from China unless it is absolutely necessary. We certainly won't buy one of the cars they are making in Mexico that are set to come into the U.S. later this year..that is after Obama gets done putting Chrysler and GM out of business. I think this is being done so more Chinese cars can be sold in our country. This whole mess isn't about caring for you and me, it's about money and being King of the Hill. Next country to infiltrate our car market...India....meanwhile millions of American workers out out of a job. All you idiots who bought foreign cars, if you go hungry, eat your foreign car....

[weedapoopl]

Get used to it. Obama is all about "in your face" politicing.
Posted by curb_global_warming_now at 11:26 AM : May 16, 2009

Exactly. NOTHING is done because of facts and logic and "he's the best man for the job because he speaks Chinese." LOL!

[mrzerato]

He picks the best people for the job, consistently, regardless of political affiliation.

Kudos to him for that.
Posted by hungry1968-15

I would not consider him the best for the post. I think he is well qualified. But I would not consider him the best.

Obama did this for political reasons. He wanted to negate a political rival in 2012. It was in Huntsman's choice to take the job. Huntsman adds to his foreign policy bona fides. It also shows he can work in a bipartisan manner. Huntsman will not run in 2012 but with the added foreign policy experience with his administrative experience, he would be a formidable republican candidate in 2016.

So I say again, why not appoint a democrat to the job

[cbsantispin]

Dems are so stupid on this forum, that it never even occurred to them(as it did to the actul CBS editors) that Obama only picked this man so he could get him out of the way as a future rival. Also, it's a pretty non-partisan assignment, so Obama just wants to appear like he's throwing the GOP a bone, while actually doing nothing of the sort. As if anyone in American ever even knows who the ambassador to China is.
Posted by TonySerts41 at 3:41 PM : May 16, 2009

Even the opposition admits Pres. Obama is smart as well as enormously popular whether you agree with his Policies or not. It takes a lot for Newt to praise someone and even he praises Pres. Obama. Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman is the best person for this job and will hit the ground running because of his Chinese background and connections. Finally, Pres. Obama is just not that shallow to pick Gov. Jon Huntsman to remove an opponent who could not defeat him anyway, no Republican stands a prayer to defeat any Democrat in a Presidential race in 2012, not in the immediate future either. Republicans are in the Dog House, and that Dog House is located in Gitmo, Cuba!

[MohatmaJeebus]

...Obama only picked this man so he could get him out of the way as a future rival. Also, it's a pretty non-partisan assignment, so Obama just wants to appear like he's throwing the GOP a bone, while actually doing nothing of the sort...

Posted by TonySerts41 at 3:41 PM : May 16, 2009

Yeah! It has nothing to do with the fact that the guy speaks Chinese fluently, lived in Taiwan for years, and even adopted his children from China - it's just to get him out of the way! LOL Are you really that desperate? Do you not think this guy is a qualified pick for the job? And if he doesn't want the post, he's free to decline.