http://www.utah.gov/governor/news_media ... ticle=2523

Governor Huntsman Tapped as US Ambassador to China

May 16, 2009
Salt Lake City - Utah Governor Jon Huntsman issued the following statement today:

"When I had the honor of asking Utahns for their vote as Governor of the greatest state in America, I did so as a public servant. We set out, as a family, willing and able to do our very best. That dedication to service and to the success of our state and country has influenced our every step.

"It is in the spirit of placing country before self or politics that I have accepted the request and nomination by President Obama, and with the consent of the United States Senate, to serve as United States Ambassador to China.

"Mary Kaye and I are equally humbled and conflicted by this decision, understanding that the U.S. - China relationship is among our nation's most critical. We are honored by the President's confidence and trust in our ability to contribute meaningfully, yet conflicted by leaving a state, people and job we love deeply. But when the President asks you to step up to serve your nation in such a capacity and at such an important time in world history, it is the end of the conversation and the beginning of an obligation.

"We have accomplished much with an excellent staff, cabinet and a dedicated legislature. I am proud of our work together which has resulted in Utah being recognized as the best managed state in the nation - with an economy second to none. Our journey has covered everything from comprehensive tax reform, the Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR), and improving our state's competitiveness to bolstering education and increasing teacher salaries, advancing healthcare reform and retooling our energy needs based upon a more sustainable future. Utah is positioned like few other states nationally to endure the challenging times, but indeed to exceed our expectations going forward.

Lt. Governor Gary Herbert has been an effective and loyal supporter of this Administration's goals. I thank him for his service and have great confidence in his ability to govern the State.

"Serving as Utah's 16th Governor truly has been our family's greatest honor. Mary Kaye and I thank all Utahns for their friendship, support and trust, and ask for continued confidence as we begin this new chapter."

A specific timeline of the transition between Governor Huntsman and Lt. Governor Herbert will be announced on Monday.

I just read an article about how he and some other Repubs in Utah are trying to bring the party away from the extreme right, saying favorable things about civil unions and loosening the liquor laws, etc. I hope the person replacing him continues with that.

But yeah, seems like he's shaping up for a run in '16 and getting his foreign policy cred with this move.

Huntsman got the crap ripped out of him in the local press when he came out in support of civil unions, and many people speculated that was just a political move to the center (since he had pledged not to run for Governor again) to do what bart suggested, get ready for a presidential run in '12 or '16.

Honestly, this hell hole could use a few moves to the center whether they're purely politial or not, so in that sense I'm sad to see Huntsman go. I never voted for the guy, but he's been a pretty good governor. I followed his policies closely even after I moved to Florida.

Another good thing he did was begin to reform the absolutely whacky liquor laws here, which I didn't think ANYBODY could pull off. He really moved some mountains on that one.

I probably wouldn't vote for him for president either, but I just wonder if he'll be able to overcome the Mormon thing. Mitt Romney couldn't. I'm not an expert on Republican politics at all, but it seemed that worked against Romney with the Conservative base. So I just wonder if Huntsman is hedging his bet that the Republicans will be forced to come more to the center than the Palin's of the world, and that by that point his faith won't be that big of a deal.

He's one of the few politicians here in Utah that I've actually respected, and I hope he does well in his new appointment. I think Obama picked a good man for the job.

The Mormon thing wasn't really a deciding factor in Romney's loss as far as I remember

I don't think a Mormon can win a GOP primary in the Bible Belt.

I mean, I'm not Mormon, so it doesn't really matter to me all that much, but I think I agree with PD here. Twice a year we watch a whole hurd of folks, many from various Southern Baptist churches, show up here in Utah, stand outside the conference center in SLC and "protest" the LDS General Conference. By protest I mean burn Mormon garments, tell them they're going to hell, and call them various names. They're particularly fond of calling Mormon women whores.

Plus, after living in the south for awhile and having people look at me like I had lobsters crawling out of my ears everytime I mentioned I was from Utah, it furthers my image. Once you tell folks you're not Mormon, they proceed to ask all kinds of questions about them.

So after these observations, I do believe Romney's faith was at the very lest a minor negative for him. I'm not trying to say it was the only reason he lost, I'm not a conservative and don't follow the Republican side of things all that well beyond the daily headlines.

I might be wrong, but to me it seems like the impression of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by much of the rest of America, particularly those of the Evangelical Right, is that the LDS Church is at best a weird, slightly backward twist on traditional Christianity and at worst a Cult on par with Heaven's Gate and David Koresh's folks in Waco. Some of these pictures, taken at the 2002 conference protests, illustrate the latter attitude.

http://www.fairlds.org/Anti-Mormons/200 ... rence.html

Like I said, I'm not Mormon, so I don't care that much. However, I do believe Romney's fath was a net negative for him as I believe it will be Huntsman, if and when he decides to run. I honestly can't see either one of them winning the Bible belt primaries either.

I've been in SLC a couple of times during the LDS General Conference, and I witnessed that as well. It was pretty shocking the first time.

Mormons aren't considered some twisted version of Christianity, they are officially heretics according to the Catholic Church, along with Jehovah's Witnesses and Unitarians. You learn a lot when you've been targeted by multiple sets of missionaries.

This is never fun.

The LT Governor here is an ultra conservative where Huntsman was more of a moderate, it will be interesting to see what parts of Huntsman's policies he decides to dial back, if any. Interesting, I didn't know Huntsman spoke Mandarin Chinese.

LOL at evangelical Christians holding signs that say "CULT".