Steve Benen on Jon Huntsman: Flip-flopping is bad; lying is worse

[flpoljunkie]

May 21, 2011 11:10 AM

Flip-flopping is bad; lying is worse

Jon Huntsman’s health care problem is likely to be challenging enough as it is. By some accounts, Huntsman expressed support for the Affordable Care Act while it was pending in Congress, only to change his mind once he hit the presidential campaign trail. Yesterday, Huntsman went so far as to say, “If I had a chance to repeal it, I would.”

As it turns out, though, Huntsman has another health care problem, and this one is arguably worse.

Team Huntsman would have voters believe that the former Utah governor, unlike President Obama and Mitt Romney, has no use for individual health care mandates, as reflected by his 2008 reform measure at the state level. But as the Huffington Post reports, there’s reason to believe Huntsman may be playing fast and loose with the facts.

more...

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/index.php

[flpoljunkie]

1. More on this from Politico's Mike Allen...

Sabotaging Huntsman

Mike Allen:

--FLY IN THE OINTMENT: When President Obama visited China in 2009, Huntsman told at least three top White House officials that he supported what the administration was doing domestically, including health reform, according to a person who was there. Opposition to “Obamacare” is one of the most potent issues among GOP primary voters, making this stance quite problematic. The strategist contends that as Utah governor, Huntsman championed “a free-market health-care plan, and is in line with the vast majority of Republicans and independents.”

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0311/Sabotaging_Huntsman.html

[Tarheel_Dem]

2. I'm sorry, but Mr. Huntsman is done before he even starts. Is this really the first string lineup?

:shrug:

[flpoljunkie]

3. However, the media loves Huntsman, who was also McCain's national chairman in 2008

Huntsman's campaign now has ties to some of McCain's people--including John Weaver.

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. Huntsman has one problem that McCain didn't, he never worked for Obama.

There are soundbites, and pictures of Huntsman and Obama together. Remember, Huntsman has to meet up with the dreaded Tea Party primary voters. He can try to be brand new if he likes, but they are very unforgiving. Huntsman and Romney have the same problem, they've both been traitors to ultra rightwing ideology, in the past.

[flpoljunkie]

5. Some Republicans will definitely have a problem with Huntsman's working for Obama.

Although Huntsman's explanation of why he did so reportedly was well received by New Hampshire voters these past few days. We will see.

[Tarheel_Dem]

6. Let's see how his "explanation" plays in South Carolina. You know his

primary opponents are going to go after his association with the Obama Administration. I'm not saying he won't be a formidable opponent, but the activists who dominate the Repuke primaries are
nuts.

[AlinPA]

7. The teabagger base will have trouble with his having a degree from an Ivy League school and being a

Mormon. He's not stupid enough for them