Jon Huntsman

[[File:Jon_Huntsman_Jr._official_photo.jpg|thumb|165px|His official portrait.]]
{{uspolitics}}
'''Jon Huntsman Jr.''' {{lived|1960}} is the former governor of [[Utah]], former [[United States]] ambassador to [[Russia]]<ref>McCormick, J. (2017, March 8). Trump Chooses Jon Huntsman for Ambassador to Russia, Official Says. ''Bloomberg Politics.'' Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-09/trump-said-to-choose-jon-huntsman-for-ambassador-to-russia</ref> (working in [[Singapore]]<ref>Huntsman Jr. Tapped as Envoy to Singapore. (1992, June 18). ''Deseret News.''</ref> and [[China]]<ref>Cillizza, M. D. (2009, May 17). Utah's Republican governor tapped as ambassador to China ; Is an 'unstinting advocate for US interests in Asia. ''The Boston Globe (Boston, MA).'' Retrieved from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-20275107.html?refid=easy_hf</ref> before that), and a [[POTUS|presidential]] candidate in the [[2012 U.S. presidential election]]'s [[Republican Party]] primaries.<ref>Haberman, M. (2011, June 14). Huntsman's in. ''Politico.'' Retrieved from http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56928.html</ref> A question arose about his ambassadorial appointment: what kind of [[Donald Trump|insane person]] appoints someone proficient in Chinese but without Russian language skills to be ambassador to Russia?<ref>[https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/03/donald-trump-jon-huntsman-russia-214902 Will Jon Huntsman Go Rogue in Moscow? Huntsman was smart and savvy as Obama's ambassador to China—but his lack of local knowledge could be crippling in Russia, foreign policy hands say.] by Melissa K. Chan (March 13, 2017) ''Politico''.</ref>

Despite [[Mike Lee|some]] [[Orrin Hatch|other]] [[Mormonism|things]] from his state being known for [[woo]] and [[fundamentalism]], he is actually quite [[moderate]] in regards to social issues and has gone against the anti-[[science]] sentiments in the Republican Party, supporting the [[scientific consensus]] on [[evolution]] and [[global warming]].<ref name="wapo">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/jon-huntsman-believes-in-evolution-and-global-warming-but-can-he-win-a-republican-primary/2011/08/18/gIQAIyuBOJ_blog.html Jon Huntsman believes in evolution and global warming, so can he win a Republican primary?] by Aaron Blake (2011, August 18) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> He has been accused of being a [[RINO]] because he is not a [[Teabagger]].<ref>[https://fellowshipoftheminds.com/2011/07/10/democrats-plotting-to-support-rino-jon-huntsman-in-2012/ Enter at your own risk.]</ref>

==Opinions==
===Economy===
His [[tax]] policies have been praised by the [[Cato Institute]],<ref>Edwards, C. (2008, October 20). ''Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 2008'' (Rep. No. 624). Retrieved https://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa-624.pdf</ref> which is not a good sign. He has described his tax plan as "business-friendly,"<ref name="On the Issues">Jon Huntsman on the Issues. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ontheissues.org/Jon_Huntsman.htm</ref> which was a bit of an understatement — in 2012, he wanted to decrease the corporate tax rate by 10% and remove the tax on income earned overseas.<ref name="WP">See the Wikipedia article on [[wp:Jon Huntsman Jr.#Fiscal policy|Jon Huntsman]].</ref> Huntsman has additionally called for removing tax deductions altogether.<ref>Parker, A. (2011, August 31). Huntsman Urges Stripping Deductions From Tax Code. ''[[The New York Times]].'' Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/us/politics/01huntsman.html</ref>

===Science===
{{cquote|To be clear. I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy.|4=Huntsman on [[Twitter]]<ref>https://twitter.com/jonhuntsman/status/104250677051654144</ref> in reaction to comments made by [[Rick Perry]]}}
Huntsman was one of the most pro-science Republican candidates in the 2012 election, believing in the theory of evolution and global warming;<ref name="wapo"/> however, he has flip-flopped on the issue of regulating businesses' greenhouse gas emissions. In 2007, he worked with other Western states to reduce emissions and advocated for nationwide action regarding the issue of climate change<ref>Struglinkski, S. (2007, November 16). Huntsman appears in climate ad. ''Deseret News.'' Retrieved from https://www.deseretnews.com/article/695228198/Huntsman-appears-in-climate-ad.html</ref> but later backtracked due to the [[Great Recession]], saying that regulations would make it harder for the economy to recover.<ref>Cappiello, D. (2011, May 27). GOP hopefuls once hot, now cold on global warming. ''The Oakland Press.'' Retrieved from http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20110527/gop-hopefuls-once-hot-now-cold-on-global-warming?viewmode=fullstory</ref>

===Social issues===
Huntsman has expressed support for [[civil union]]s for [[homosexuality|same-sex couples]] and later expanded his support to include [[same-sex marriage]].<ref>Gehrke, R. (2011, May 12). Huntsman's civil-union stance may prove political liability. ''The Salt Lake Tribune.'' Retrieved from http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=51795519&itype=CMSID</ref><ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/21/jon-huntsman-gay-marriage_n_2734444.html Jon Huntsman Backs Gay Marriage] by L. Johnson (2013, February 21) ''Huffington Post''.</ref> He is less liberal on [[abortion]], saying that ignoring abortion and focusing on economic issues would be "a deficit of the heart and of the soul" and has signed a bill to make abortions illegal during the second trimester.<ref>http://www.issues2000.org/2012/Jon_Huntsman_Abortion.htm</ref>

==See also==
* [[John Kasich]]
* [[Mitt Romney]]

==References==
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[[Category:Mormons]]
[[Category:United States politicians]]
[[Category:Conservatism]]
[[Category:Trump administration]]
[[Category:Moderate Republicans]]
[[Category:United States presidential candidates]]
[[Category:Former United States Governors]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Categories: Mormons, United States politicians, Conservatism, Trump administration, Moderate Republicans, United States presidential candidates, Former United States Governors, Living people