Having noted that Dick Harpootlian had singled him out for abuse, I thought I’d check out one of Jon Huntsman’s appearances in Columbia today. (Here’s what he said at an earlier appearance.) I thought, “I hear the Republicans have this nice new building, and that would be better than going to a barbecue.” I had reckoned without the event being outside the building. In case you wondered, a seersucker suit does not keep you cool standing in the sun on a day like today. The things I put up with for y’all…
This was my first actual official 2012 presidential event. I’m hoping they don’t have any more until October. Or have them inside. Or in England.
Anyway, I’m uploading some video to YouTube now, which may or may not be ready by the time I finish typing this.
When it’s up, you will see the following people standing up with Huntsman and his wife and (some of their) kids: Mike Campbell, John Courson, and the inimitable Henry McMaster. Henry played master of ceremonies, as he did so often four years ago for John McCain. That got me to thinking about something. I asked Henry, after the Huntsman speech, how many of the presidential candidates he had personally backed had won their SC primaries. I said I couldn’t remember him NOT having backed the eventual winner. He thought for moment, standing there sweltering, and said he wasn’t sure, but he wouldn’t to my saying that. So I just did.
This provides an interesting perspective. Jon Huntsman may seem to some like a bit of an outlier in the GOP — at least at the moment. But here we had him with the GOP establishment in SC, just about anyway you slice it. A Campbell. Two of South Carolina’s most ardent Reaganites, McMaster and Courson. He’s got Richard Quinn in his corner, too.
Now you may say that those guys are the OLD establishment, that not it’s about the Nikki Haleys (who swamped Henry and every other establishment type back in the Year of the Tea Party) and the Mark Sanfords. Well, Huntsman has Joel Sawyer running his campaign. And I thought I saw Rob Godfrey posing for a picture with the candidate, but I could have been mistaken.
And indeed, many of the folks there were just there out of curiosity, or to be polite because they were invited — such as Eric Davis, who as chair of the Richland County GOP was sort of there ex-officio. Among those I spotted, but did not get around to asking why they were there, were Frank Barron, Katrina Shealy, Kelly Payne, Mike Green, Adam Piper, Andrew Williams and our own sometime commenter Walter Durst. You may see others on the video. I did not look at it closely because I was in a hurry to upload it. It’s raw, and unedited. Enjoy.
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This sometime commentator was there, too, Brad. And it was good to see you! You look rested and happy. Gov. Huntsman is a nice and likeable man, and isn’t a polarizing person. He’s already demonstrated his ability and willingness to put country ahead of party by serving as President Obama’s Ambassador to China while maintaining his great fiscally conservative record as two-term Governor of Utah. He’s not going after cheap points by just bashing the President, but offering a rational alternative.
I just added you — with a photo link, to a picture that reminded me that Kelly Payne was there.
Whom am I forgetting?
Wasn’t Jake Knotts there too?
No. I told you, Katrina Shealy was there. Like matter and antimatter…
She got on my case, too. Started calling me “Jake’s buddy,” or something like that. That’s alright; she’s entitled…
Sorry, Brad. That may have been my fault. I was standing there with you both at the time her statement occurred…with you and Katrina, who is a good and loyal friend of mine. Anyway, I may have accidentally stirred that up, because I mentioned to her, while standing next to you, how much I enjoy your/this blog, and she stated that you support Jake. (I diosputed that, because I have never noticed you doing that on here.) That is when she stated you “were his buddy.” I have never thought of you as “Jake’s buddy.” So, I am sorry for stirring that all up.
**disputed (sorry)
Crazy Republicans don’t got sense to come in out of the heat! That’s why they deny there’s any global warming–they obviously have broken internal temperature sensors.
No, Andrew, don’t concern yourself — like I say, she’s entitled.
I mean, all those years, I only endorsed Jake ONCE (in fact, that was the only time I came within light years of endorsing Jake), and it was the time he was running against her.
So she’s entitled to feel that way. Perfectly understandable.
Brad, I was there to make sure you received your t-shirt!
I can understand why Huntsman, McMaster and Courson are wearing a jackets on a sweltering hot day in Columbia SC. Republicans are so stuffy formal that no matter how ridiculous they need to put on a good appearance. But why is the little girl wearing a jacket? Is there no sense of rational thought among Republicans. Jeez no one would object if the little girl had on a pair of shorts and a cute, cool shirt of some sort.
…..and I once waved at Ronald Reagan across a crowded room, and I endorse….
You gotta love Henry’s hair.
It’s going to be a long 16 months.
Henry does a great impression of Foghorn Leghorn without meaning to. I was there as a favor to DeLinda Rawlings, but I am also a political junkie. Huntsman will not win SC, but he could do well nationally if given the chance.
I meant DeLinda Ridings. When you get old, your mind is the first to go.
Why do we even discuss the GOP “cult” as a serious institution for conducting the nation’s business? Huntsman my be a nice guy on a number of levels but afterall he’s trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator in the Republican party, something that is very low indeed. Here’s Mitch McConnell admitting that his party is playing partisan politics over the Libyan issue:
McConnell admitted that his party is divided over President Obama’s military action in Libya, but that you’re only hearing about it because Obama’s a Democrat. Many of these same divisions, he said, existed under President Bush, but party loyalty “muted” the dissent.
@bud
“Why do we even discuss the GOP “cult” as a serious institution for conducting the nation’s business? ”
Uh, because they control the House of Representatives for the next two years (and probably longer)? And may end up controlling the Senate before long… i.e. they are winning elections because more people favor the Republican platform these days.
The “cult” also owns South Carolina politics… no matter how many clever emails Dick Harpootlian sends out. He’s like the football coach at South Carolina State telling his players “We can’t beat those Gamecocks!”
Yeah, I sort of think Bud’s view of the GOP is somewhat atypical — around here, anyway…
By the way… in case Steven is wondering why all of a sudden a bunch of his comments are not getting approved…
Well, I’m wondering why all of a sudden he’s on one of his unrelenting negativity kicks, trying over and over to bait and insult.
He does this. For awhile he’s fine, and seems to get the idea that opinions are great, but let’s try to be civil in expressing them. It’s OK to argue, but lashing out in comment after comment gets tired.
Nobody wants to read stuff with that constant negative tone.
I feel like Steven knows this. He may hold the record for having been banned from the blog under various aliases. He knows how to get barred, and he knows how to make a comeback by expressing himself in a civil manner — disagreeing with me and whoever all he wants, but without the vitriol.
So I don’t get why he gets on these kicks where he seems to forget…
Nate Silver (of 538 Fame) is starting to handicap the GOP field. Like me he has Romney as the favorite, although not by as much (Silver has him 3-2, bud 2-3). He has TPaw second which I don’t agree with. Nate is very, very good at what he does but in this case I don’t think he gives enough weight to Pawlenty’s complete lack of charisma. Perry is third and Bachmann fourth on Silver’s list. The other candidates, including Mr. Huntsman, are all considered long-shots. I think Silver is overlooking Mr. Huntsman’s strengths and he should be at least in the second tier with Pawlenty, Perry and Bachmann, after Romney.
It’s a long way to go but it seems as though the Republicans are starting to coalesce around Mr. Romney. It will be decided very quickly this time around, probably by the South Carolina primary. I just don’t see much excitment right now and that should play into Romney’s hands. Time will tell.
The Tea Partyers are already putting out rumors that Huntsman gave money to Harry Reid’s campaign. I guess the Bachmann camp is scared?