- Will Civility Play?
In January, the nation recoiled in horror at the senseless violence visited upon Representative Gabrielle Giffords.
The attack prompted a short time-out in our national conversation as we considered the rough and tumble of our public square, and wondered again whether we could disagree without being disagreeable.
The presidential candidacy of Jon Huntsman is going to answer that question.
Standing on Republican “hallowed ground” at Liberty Park yesterday (the location that candidate Reagan picked to launch his general election bid in 1980), former Governor Huntsman officially declared his intention to seek the presidency.
Equally newsworthy, however, was Huntsman’s pledge regarding how he would seek the presidency.
” I want you to know that I respect my fellow Republican candidates. And I respect the president of the United States. He and I have a difference of opinion on how to help a country we both love. But the question each of us wants the voters to answer is who will be the better president, not who’s the better American.”
In our red meat, brass knuckles, lowest-common-denominator political culture, are we ready for someone prepared to play nice?
At least at the onset, Huntsman’s respectful bearing and soft voice obscures an otherwise impressive record of accomplishment with hands-on service in the public and private sectors that is directly relevant to our national woes today.
As we remain mired in an economic slump, Huntsman has years of experience running a large multinational enterprise.
Through his professional career, Huntsman has been an integral part of the family business- the Huntsman Corporation – a large, international chemical concern. Between his stints in public service, Huntsman returned to work for company.
In 1985, when the company was in financial trouble, Huntsman returned and helped restore the firm to sustained growth. At other periods, he was instrumental in the corporation’s international expansion. Huntsman climbed the ladder at the family business, eventually rising to Vice Chairman of the company in 1993.
As a result,the former governor has very credible private sector experience, dealing in turn-around situations and globalization.
Added to that is Huntsman’s distinguished and formidable record in public service.
After a stint in the Reagan White House and then the Commerce Department under Bush 41, Huntsman became the youngest US Ambassador in a century, when he was appointed to represent the US to Singapore at the age of 32.
In 2001, Huntsman was appointed as the #2 at the US Trade Representative’s office, working to improve American access to international markets and promote US exports.
In 2004 Huntsman left USTR and ran for governor of Utah, and won.
In his five years on the job, Huntsman can take credit for the largest tax cut in Utah history and a market based health care reform program, whose guiding principles are poles apart from the government-down approach of Obamacare and Romneycare.
Huntsman’s policies made Utah a business friendly state, which attracted businesses from around the region, and a jobs engine, something sorely needed at the federal level now. Indeed, speaking to Huntsman’s leadership, the Pew Center on the States rated Utah as one of the best managed states in the Union.
Only months into his second term, Huntsman surprised many by accepting President Obama’s offer to become US Ambassador to China. But given his fluency in Mandarin and deep knowledge of oriental culture, Huntsman was a credible choice and effective representative for the US, domestic political considerations aside.
Partisans may scowl at a presidential candidate running against his former boss, but it is beyond argument that the most important international relationship for the US today is that with China. As Ambassador, Huntsman had a first hand view and major role in managing that relationship for three years which provided a priceless window into the inner workings of the Chinese government and its leadership.
That is an extraordinary asset for a future US president.
But Huntsman’s record is not all cherries and cream for Republican primary voters.
While Huntsman is opposed to gay marriage, as governor, he signed into law the first “civil unions” legislation for Utah, something that will inflame social conservatives.
Also, Huntsman has accepted the gospel on climate change, saying that 90% of scientists can’t be wrong. Inded, as governor, Huntsman was a supporter of Cap and Trade legislation, though he has now backtracked, stating that the new economic conditions in the US render Cap and Trade less feasible as a solution.
So there are policy challenges ahead.
And watching Huntsman in Liberty Park yesterday, it is clear that the newly national candidate has growing pains. The text of his announcement was meaty but rhetorically flat. It lacked a compelling narrative or inspiration. Indeed, it didn’t specifically spell out why Huntsman is in the race, or how he will make a difference.
But there’s time. By autumn, no one will remember this speech. And every candidate improves on stump with time.
The question for Huntsman in the longer haul will be whether he has the stomach for the indignities all candidates must suffer in running for President. Huntsman is very smart and experienced, and he projects an unusually strong sense of dignity.
In that context, it is hard to see Huntsman comfortable eating deep friend Snickers bars at a county fair or flipping meat at a steak fry without bursting into laughter at how preposterous he looks.
Those issues aside, Huntsman brings a welcome set of qualities and experience to the GOP field that seems lost in mediocrity and humdrum. And perhaps in the process, we will find out whether ‘civility” is a partisan talking point, or a genuine national longing.