Jon M. Hunstman Jr., who?

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/12/03/us/politics/100000001205505/on-the-trail-with-jon-huntsman.html

(WATCH THE VIDEO)

When I say huntsman, you say … cricket… We have heard a great deal about the leading Republican candidates like Perry, Romney, Bachmann, Gingrich, Cain, etc. (in no particular order) but we have not heard much about former Governor of Utah, Jon M. Huntsman Jr. Why exactly haven’t we heard of him? Jim Rutenberg of the New York Times gives us a simple answer: Money. Unfortunately for Mr. Huntsman, it takes a lot of money to keep up with this political process, all of which he doesn’t have. What he does have though is the drive to go door to door in seek of votes and this just in… some help from his billionaire industrialist father.

Rutenberg writes that we are beginning to see Huntsman in a newly released commercial which states “no one has shown up we can trust as conservative.” And then proceeds to answer with, “the presidential candidate they are searching for, is Jon M. Huntsman Jr. The commercial apparently isn’t being financed by Huntsman’s campaign but rather a group called Our Destiny PAC. Remember I discussed PAC’s in earlier posts? Well, if not, it’s still there so feel free to take a look!

Our Destiny PAC is a group that (financed by none other than his billionaire father) has most definitely given Huntsman a good pull up because he was beginning to flunk. This must be really hard for a man who had previously said that any credible campaign has to be able to raise its own money. Well Mr. Huntsman, what do you have to say about that now? I guess it is important that our candidates take a step back and refrain from some of the things they say. It is possible to speak TOO soon.

Rutenberg writes “Since the Our Destiny advertisements began running two weeks ago, officials at the PAC noted that the candidate’s poll numbers had crept up into the double digits. He remains far behind Mitt Romney, and now Newt Gingrich. But he seems to be picking up some support from voters abandoning Gov. Rick Perry and Herman Cain after their recent stumbles, and those who are now presumably seeking a new candidate given Mr. Cain’s campaign suspension.” Although this may be true, it is said that those close to Huntsman have said that he doesn’t want things to be handed to him as a result of his father’s wealth. That is most definitely respectable because ”when asked during an interview on Thursday night if he would call for more help from his father, Mr. Huntsman said: “We don’t operate that way. We’re all pretty pragmatic in my family. We might help a little, but the marketplace ultimately is the greatest judge of whether or not you’ve got the winning formula.”

It’s clear that Huntsman wants to take the election head on strictly based on his credentials, rather than money. “Mr. Huntsman said that for now he intended to continue with his almost exclusively face-to-face campaign here. His campaign reports that he has made 114 visits to town-hall-style meetings and house parties, where groups of two dozen or so Republicans, independents and sometimes even Democrats come to hear him speak. While others have been able to gain free publicity on cable news, Mr. Huntsman does not have the bombast or the poll numbers to draw the sort of media attention that others like Mr. Cain and Mr. Gingrich have received.” (Rutenberg).  

Mr. Huntsman specifically said, “While it may not manifest itself immediately in polls today, I think come Jan. 10, the work on the ground — and at least being recognized as the candidate willing to put in some sweat equity — will pay off,” Mr. Huntsman said. Although this could all be just a political show he’s putting on for us, I think there’s a great amount of integrity and willingness coming from this man. He’s not the ordinary candidate that’s strung up on money because he’s more interested in what’s important; the people.

“What his team did not expect was that they would be so cash-poor at this stage of the race. Part of the problem, people close to Mr. Huntsman said, is that as someone born to a rich father who raised him with a strict work ethic, putting his hand out for money from strangers — or even friends and friends of friends — has not come easily” (Rutenberg).

Although I don’t necessarily know too much about his stance on politics, what I DO know is that this man is doing what he can the best way he knows how. He is in a position that none of the other candidates are in and he seems to be doing well for himself. It says a lot about his character and commitment to his work. I’m really interested in seeing what’s to come out of this man, because something tells me he’s worth a shot (at least more than most of the other candidates). 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/us/politics/jon-huntsmans-cash-poor-campaign-gets-help-from-father.html?pagewanted=2&ref=politics

Kajillion, WHAT?

So for some funny news, Cain appeared on national television giving a speech about his resignation… sorry, what I meant was suspension * (aka, it’s over) as a Republican presidential candidate and used the word “KAJILLION”. What he said was, “I didn’t fit the usual description of somebody that ought to be running for president. I had never held public office before. I didn’t have high name I.D., and I didn’t have a KAJILLION dollars.” Right, and he also doesn’t have what it takes to give a formal speech where the non-existent word “kajillion” is used. I just thought that was completely ridiculous and a bit disturbing because it’s national television.

I can imagine how the outside world perceives America after watching this man that was once a respected presidential candidate (for some). This “kajillion” ordeal was trending so much on my twitter newsfeed that I don’t think he’ll hear the end of it for a while. It’s about time that he back off because I’m also getting tired of talking about him and hearing other people or (myself) mistakenly refer to him as “McCain” instead of “Cain”… and then getting confused.

So let’s talk a little bit about Cain’s suspension of his campaign. It’s been quite obvious that his numbers in the polls have fallen drastically over the course of the last few months and Cain is no stranger to that. In fact, David Goldstein of The Nation of Change writes, “a new De Moines Register poll showed that Cain’s support in Iowa, where the first voting of the election season will take place Jan. 3, had dwindled to just 8 percent down from 23 percent a month ago, when he briefly led the pack.” On Saturday he stated,"I am suspending my presidential campaign because of the continued distraction, the continued hurt caused on me and my family not because we are not fighters, not because I'm not a fighter.”

Goldstein writes, “His decision likely caused the party hierarchy to relax a little as well. Cain’s personal drama had become a distraction, drawing attention away from the rest of the GOP field. Many in the Republican establishment also never thought Cain was a serious candidate to begin with, despite his ability to draw up support. He had little in the way of ground organization in key early states, and his travel scheduled sometimes seemed to indicate more of an interest in selling his book than his candidacy.”

Although I do have to agree that yes, Cain’s allegations were a major distraction, I think that it was a positive thing for the other candidates. His allegations resulted in more positive perceptions of the rest of the candidates. At this point it had become, “anyone but Cain”. He’s pretty much gone now, so I guess we can get back to some REAL politics.

Cain’s last straw was the allegations made by Ginger White, about their alleged 13-year affair, in which she stated he even gave her money. Situations like this make me really question America’s politics. We take “political correctness” to the next level. IF (not saying he is) Cain were a serious politician with real potential to be our next leader, why should this frenzy on the media create such a huge wedge between the people and him? Those are very personal things that should be taken care of on a personal level between him and his family.

http://www.nationofchange.org/cain-ends-embattled-campaign-saying-he-s-peace-1323011546