If you were a rival of Jon Huntsman and you wanted to make sure conservatives voting in the New Hampshire primary opposed him, you would emphasize his belief in global warming and since-renounced support for cap-and-trade. You would emphasize that as governor of Utah, he accepted stimulus funds. You would argue that his immigration plan is the sort that media elites call nuanced and sophisticated.
Of course, all of these points are emphasized in the Boston Globe editorial endorsing him.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the Boston Globe editorial board looks out their office windows and sees “dissatisfaction with the economy, expressed in spasms of anger toward Wall Street and Washington; the dashed hopes of many who believed that Barack Obama’s election would create a new spirit of unity; and genuine uncertainty about Democratic health care reform.” Remember that when they endorse Obama in the fall.
I am surprised that Huntsman’s “replacing a graduated state income tax with a flat tax” and “sweeping school choice plan” are not mentioned as criticisms.
The editors write, “while he endorsed the notion of a federal stimulus, he also offered a credible critique of the way the Democratic Congress had structured the plan”; I didn’t know that they believed there were any credible critiques of the stimulus.
Of course, conservatives voting in the New Hampshire primary probably never looked to the Globe’s editorial board for guidance on their selection.
UPDATE: One of those rare conservatives in Massachusetts writes in:
Delighted to see Huntsman endorsed by Globe. Absolute kiss of death up here. Now, if we can only get Barney Frank and Joe Kennedy to campaign a little for Huntsman. Look for Romney to bring up the endorsement before Huntsman does.
You were also spot on about allowing a hint of criticism of Obama into a Globe editorial. The first and last time you will ever see that.
I'm a conservative in NH and plan on voting for Huntsman. But can't say that I didn't cringe when I got an email from the Huntsman campaign announcing the "important" endorsement from the Boston Globe. Every time I think of the paper, I call it "Boston Globe Democrat".
Still going to vote for Huntsman though, because I do think he is a strong conservative. The WSJ endorsed his economic plan. His foreign policy is common sense.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis endorsement, and Huntman's reaction to it, encapsulates everything that 's wrong with his candidacy. I said from the very start the media is going to use him as a staking horse. To say “Look, he's the only non-stupid person in the whole Republican party.”
And he's done nothing to counter this. Instead he encourages it, both himself and his ad visors, the chief one was also McCain's campaign manager for his disastrous 2008 presidential campaign. Their message has been “Vote for me or you're stupid, like the rest of this party.”
And it's not a matter of his positions. Rudy Giuliani is far less conservative than Huntsman. But the left hates him. Why? Because he gives them both barrels whenever possible. He doesn't try to kiss up to the media, he defends his party and fellow Republicans.
He and or his advisors must think that kissing up to the media is the only way to keep himself in the spotlight, as they will always highlight a Republican who spends most of his time running down his own party. And that maybe if he wins the nomination they'll go easy on him. But it's a fool's bargain.
Look at what the media did to McCain. They loved him when he would say how stupid he thought Republicans were. Maverick, straight shooter, the only good candidate out there (even NYT approved). Then he gets the nomination and he's an old, senile, evil warmonger, who may be crazy from being a POW. The minute Hutsmans got the nomination he'd be a traitorous turncoat who abandoned his important overseas post to run for office, and a rich daddy's boy.
If Hutsman had any sense he hold a press conference to reject the Globe's endorsement, saying they were in the tank for Barry, and their opinion meant nothing. Instead I expect him to trumpet it, all the way to 4th place in the primary.
Plus, personally I don't trust this guy. When he doesn't get the nomination, if the election is a certain deal for Barry I fully expect him to do a Colin Powell, the Amazing Human Weather Vane, and endorse Obama, in return for eternal media gratitude and perhaps another ambassador’s job.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTalking about Republicans the left can stand, guess who got the Mark of the Beast today?
Sorry, I could not resist.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJoke of the day!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI think Mitt Romney should have this endorsement quoted in his own ad, with something along the following lines:
Announcer: “The Boston Globe has endorsed every Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter. What does the Globe say about Mitt Romney? ‘Attacks on Obama … he vows to get rid of ObamaCare … forceful denunciations of Chinese currency manipulation … unyielding support for Israel … ambitious expansion of the Navy.’ Mitt Romney — NOT endorsed by the Boston Globe.”
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMitt: “I’m Mitt Romney, and I approve this message.”