SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Did Utah Governor Jon Huntsman distance himself from the LDS Church in order to win the presidency?
Well, that's what a new, national magazine article claims.
The article is in the New Republic Magazine and may be one of the most revealing ever written about Utah's Governor.
Not only does it suggest Jon Huntsman may have been appointed China Ambassador for political reasons, but also that he has been distancing himself from the LDS Church in order to become president.
The article claims Huntsman learned several lessons from Mitt Romney’s failed presidential run.
Perhaps, the chief being that, "a Mormon, no matter how conservative, cannot win amongst the right wing of the party - particularly evangelicals."
The article also makes very clear that Huntsman wanted to run for president.
Given that, the New Republic piece continues, "Huntsman...actively worked to distance himself from the LDS Church in recent months."
Specifically, the article points to the governor's recent decision to support same sex civil unions.
Also, Huntsman's successful efforts to liberalize Utah's liquor laws.
And, finally, his decision to endorse John McCain and not fellow Mormon Romney.
But according to the article, Huntsman concluded he was too moderate to win the nomination of his still quite conservative Republican Party.
So, he gave up his 2012 presidential bid.
And when asked if political motivations were behind Jon Huntsman's appointment as Ambassador to China, a state department source is quoted as saying, "everybody here thinks so."
Governor’s Huntsman’s office had no comment on The New Republic article.
To read the entire article, go to:
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=bf9098d4-6b65-480f-b5dc-0ffb56844eb1&p=3
