Posted on 02/24/2009 10:26:24 AM PST by Jim Robinson
The Republican governor of Utah on Monday said his party is blighted by leaders in Congress whose lack of new ideas renders them so "inconsequential" that he doesn't even bother to talk to them.
"I don't even know the congressional leadership," Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. told editors and reporters at The Washington Times, shrugging off questions about top congressional Republicans, including House Minority Leader John A. Boehner of Ohio and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. "I have not met them. I don't listen or read whatever it is they say because it is inconsequential - completely."
In a separate interview at The Times, House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence, one of the party's chief message makers, said that Republican lawmakers have improved their standing with voters by attacking waste in the economic stimulus package even if rank-and-file Republicans can't agree to forgo earmarks - the pork-barrel spending projects despised by the electorate. Mr. Pence said such a move would benefit Americans and his party.
The back-and-forth underscored the leadership debate within their party. Mr. Huntsman called on national Republican leaders to show that they have alternatives and solutions, and Mr. Pence argued that congressional Republicans aren't as incompetent as they might appear.
"Is my party in Congress as far along as I would like to see us be? Probably not. But the contrast between our party that is having a thorough debate over how to change the way we spend the people's money and the other party, which is going on a spending spree and engaging in earmarking as usual, I think is the stark contrast," Mr. Pence said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Distance himself ? Huntsman is a CLONE of Slick Willard.
The Giuliani supporters are hoping Huntsman will run for President in 2012. They think having a RINO in a deep red state will keep the SoCons in line while the RINO goes fishing for votes in New England.
I’m not a big Romney fan but they differ quite a bit. Huntsman would make Romney look like a slobbering right-wing nut.
I wouldn’t go that far but he does seem like an even bigger as*.
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