Posted on 03/02/2009 7:47:36 AM PST by greyfoxx39
There was at least one 2012 presidential contender missing from the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington this weekend, traditionally a testing ground for any Republican even remotely considering a White House bid.
That could be in part because Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. risked getting booed off the stage for some of his views.
-SNIP
After running for governor in 2004 as a supporter of a ballot measure that year that not only banned gay marriage but also civil unions, Huntsman made national news earlier this month by saying that he had changed his mind on civil unions.
Largely under the radar of the national media and even out of sight of many in his own party, Huntsman, 48, is emerging as an articulate, unapologetic and unlikely spokesman for a new brand of Republicanism, one that seems out of vogue at a time when many in the GOP attribute their fall from power to a deviation from right-wing orthodoxy.
Huntsman thinks the party's challenge is more profound, owing less to its excessive spending practices during the Bush era than to sweeping demographic and political changes that threaten to consign Republicans to a long-term minority status and confine their appeal to narrow sections of the country.
The party needs to be more intellectually rigorous, and to compete for the votes of the young, the elites and minorities, he said in an interview with POLITICO. To do so, the GOP needs to tack toward the middle on environment, gay rights and immigration. And, yes, Ronald Reagan is to be admired but as much for his oft-overlooked pragmatism as for his conservative principles.
Its a view that places him out of step with the prevailing conservative sentiment among most members of the GOP base, but its also one that makes Huntsman, a wealthy Mormon scion, the first 2012 Republican primary prospect to unabashedly embrace a middle ground somewhere between moderate Northeastern Republicanism and Sun Belt conservatism.
-SNIP
To become viable again to the 40-and-under bloc that went overwhelmingly for President Obama and will comprise the future voting majority in the country, Huntsman argued the GOP must shift on two issues as generational as they are political: gay rights and the environment.
-SNIP
Compounding his challenge, though, is Huntsmans religion he hails from a rich and powerful Latter Day Saints family with deep roots in Utah.
As Mitt Romney showed in 2008, a Mormon background can be a hindrance in running in evangelical-dominated early primary states such as Iowa and South Carolina.
You're assuming that these beliefs will remain static as young people age. My own personal experience says this is often not the case.
Thank you I am please that the Holy Ghost is able talk to those who Keep the Lords Commandments
ROTFLMBO!
BTW, this thread is NOT in the religion forum. Please refrain from trying to turn it into a religious thread. Thank you.
I’m not hearing Huntsman is overly popular in Utah. People told me when he was re-elected Governor that he is a liberal enviro, Arnie-type.
Health care benefits covered too! :-P
I think his entrance into the race will further dilute the RINO slate in the primary, with a better chance of a conservative like Palin ending up on top.
If he doesn't appeal to the Utah voters, he will still garner votes from some of the so-called "moderate" republicans IMO.
Coerced, or voluntary? ;)
More commie propaganda.
Yes I am. And, it's an assumption that is backed by much research and the resulting empirical evidence, which is voluminous on the topic. Incidentally, it's not just a phenomenon here in the US, but is common in other developed and matured democracies as well.
A great book on this subject is "The American Author". It is a detailed examination of voter behavior through the '50's, '60's and '70's. On Page 86 of "The American Voter" the authors say this...
"It is apparent from these various pieces of evidence that identification with political parties, once established, is an attachment which is not easily changed.
There's an updated book from the same publishing house (University of Michigan Press) that confirm many of the same conclusions reached in the early '80's.
Regardless of what anecdotal evidence may exist, the empirical evidence is clear - When a party captures a voter early on, they overwhelmingly tend to retain that voter throughout their lifetime.
Then by all means, pander to the oh-so-hip-young people who can't bother to mature.
Come on, Kessler, don’t leave us without the rest of the joke!!!
Your ignorance reminds me of Balaam his ass!
Only fools like you laugh because you know no better!
Truce!:)
Say "UNCLE!" or be prepared for NOOGIES!
A shining example of why the new Conservative movement will take place under a new name. If this POS, and others like him, need the ‘Republican’ party, so be it. We’ll find a new name; probably best that we do, anyway.
There are two different things you are floating here. Which do you actually mean to say? Are you arguing about party affiliation or ideals? I would not worry so much about party affiliation because for the most part these kids see problems with both parties. There is not an overabundance of democrats over republicans. There is pretty much a three way split between democrats, republicans, and independents.
As a conservative on a conservative site, I am concerned with conveying conservative principles and ideals. If we concentrate on those, then these same children will be exposed to them, will hear about them as they grow up. Then, more adults will be familiar with them and will be able defend them so that we won’t have so many people on a conservative site trying to figure out how to out liberal the liberals or out dem the dems in order to win.
Someone did a comparison video of Ronald Reagan versus Obama. It was their words, ideals, principles one after another. What Reagan said may have been twenty or more years old, but they still rang true. They were like a cool drink to a desert dweller. They exposed Obama’s words and solutions as empty and meaningless. Reagan stated conservative principles and backed them up with reason and common sense that anyone could understand. What he said was simple and made so much sense it is a wonder other people aren’t doing and saying the same thing today.
There is a reason why society does not support gay marriage or civil union. There is a societal benefit from traditional marriage that does not exist with gay marriage or civil union. To fall into the civil union trap — it is just a pushing of the envelope, an attempt to make the world celebrate gay sex, and since gays don’t really want civil unions, this buys into a pretense that their side is honestly being discriminated against.
There is a reason why conservatives don’t believe in adding any extra level of government control or government interference. It is not the government’s, especially the federal government’s job. It takes a conservative mind to remind people of such things. Today too many liberals have infiltrated even conservative organizations trying to spread their nonsense.
We don’t win by becoming them. We win when we return to our own ideals and repeatedly remind the world that the liberal way isn’t the only way in existence.
Bwahahahahaha ... I forget, how many times has Resty told us that calling someone a fool puts us in danger of damnation?
That certainly a nice sentiment, however it's not factually accurate. The GOP wins by convincing a plurality, perhaps even a majority of voters that their ideas to govern the country are better than the opposition.
What I was pointing out, is that there a handful of issues that are keeping people from even listening to Republicans or conservatives. And, these issues are most important to the young and minority voter. Additionally, just like Reagan built tremendous support amongst college Republicans in the '80's ( I know, I was one), Obama has done today - only to a much, much greater level. And, just like those college republicans buoyed the GOP throughout the 90's, Obama's army of youth will bouy him and the DNC for another generation. This isn't an opinion. It's well-documented political science.
Just as one example, although there are many more, you're right that a majority of Americans don't want Gay Marriage, but an equal majority wants civil unions. And, that trend is increasing, not decreasing. If the GOP continues to oppose this on principle, that's fine. Principle is a fine character trait. But, you must recognize that position will be viewed negatively by a majority of Americans.
To cling to a belief that we'll get back the majority by rehashing the talking points of a guy who was first elected over 28 years ago, is not supported by historical precedent. The country is so remarkably different today, with remarkably different problems and issues. Simply put, what was vital to voters in 1980 is no longer relevant to voters in 2009. Right, wrong or indifferent, America would in many ways be unrecognizable to Ronald Reagan.
This is not a GOP site. Check the front page. If you are looking for GOP answers, go to the GOP. This is a conservative website. The reason the number of liberals and their ideas are increasing is because the liberal republicans would rather switch than fight. They are called RINOs. They stand for nothing and they do nothing but spend and pile on governmental regulation like a democrat.
Instead of caving to the problem we need to solve it. We solve it by standing up for what is right, reiterating the truth, and showing people the commonsense behind it. Give up if you want to, but then go play with your libby pals at DU. Conservative is obviously a language you don’t speak, and sorry, I don’t speak RINO.
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