utah

As the party struggles to find its way, is Jon Huntsman, the Utah governor, something new?

From Jonathan Martin's profile in March 1's Politico:

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.

And then Huntsman went out and did this on February 9:

Here is a sentence you probably never expected to read: Utah's governor supports civil unions.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., a spokeswoman said Monday, backs Equality Utah's Common Ground Initiative, a legislative effort that would provide some rights to gay and transgender Utahns. Even more, the Republican governor favors civil unions.

It's a position that runs counter to his political party and against the majority of Utahns -- 70 percent of whom oppose civil unions, according to a recent Salt Lake Tribune poll.

"He's long supported many of the ideas that are presented within the Common Ground Initiative," said Lisa Roskelley, the governor's spokeswoman, noting her boss waits to endorse specific bills officially until presented to him in final form. "He supports civil unions."

Other soures worth a read:

• Politico, February 24: The Politico Interview: John Huntsman
   
• U.S. News & World Report, May 22, 2008: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Jon Huntsman Jr.
   
• Washington Times, February 24: GOP governor: Congressional leadership 'inconsequential' (VIDEO)

The future of our party will be based on what happens in the laboratories and incubators of democracy. Make no mistake about it. If we build real solutions, based on real ideas, that are deliverable to the people, who then register their satisfaction -- good for the state, good for the country, good for the party. That's not gratuitous rhetoric; that's delivering something tangible to the voters.

Huntsman went to Utah and the Wharton School. He served his LDS mission in Taiwan and speaks Mandarin. He ran his family's business interests, and was the elder George Bush's ambassador to Singapore.

Huntsman won two statewide elections with 57% and 77% of the vote in our most conservative state. There aren't many better conservative bonafides than being the LDS governor of Utah. If you do that, you're probably pretty conservative.

And according to Wikipedia:

Huntsman is also a self-proclaimed fan of the progressive rock genre and on July 30, 2007, attended a concert by progressive metal band Dream Theater...Huntsman also joined REO Speedwagon on the piano for two songs during their concert at the Utah State Fair on September 16, 2005.

What do we think?