Republican Gov. Huntsman says GOP leaders opposing recovery are engaging in ‘gratuitous political griping.’
Republican Gov. Huntsman says GOP leaders opposing recovery are engaging in ‘gratuitous political griping.’
Gov. John Huntsman (R-UT) has broken with his GOP colleagues and will accept all of the federal recovery funds for his state. In an interview with MSNBC today, Huntsman took a swipe at his colleagues who oppose the recovery, saying they were simply engaging in “gratuitous political griping”:
Q: So why don’t you do what Gov. Jindal is doing and refuse the money that has to do with unemployment benefits? [...]
HUNTSMAN: As far as I’m concerned, the debate has been had, the vote has been taken, the money is being sent. … It’s about bold solutions and pragmatic approaches that make us [Republicans] pre-eminent as opposed to kind of gratuitous political griping. We’re taking it because we have some holes to fill in our budget.
When pressed by Norah O’Donnell, Huntsman tried to walk back his statement. “Bobby Jindal is great,” he said, claiming he was trying to “refer generally to Republican responses to issues of the day.” Watch it:
Republican Govs. Bobby Jindal (LA), Mark Sanford (SC), Butch Otter (ID), Sarah Palin (AK), Sonny Perdue (GA), Rick Perry (TX), and Bob Riley (AL) have also suggested they may turn down some recovery funds.
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Uh-oh – How did a raving communist homosexual take over Utah?
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:25 pmAlert Buttars immediately!!
Condition Zebra!! All hands on Deck!!!…
Where’s Bert Convy and his gonzo militia of Red Dawn Freedom Fighters!?!!?
Utah needs you Bert!!
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:26 pmHuntsman is also a possible 2012 candidate. Unlike Jindal, he’s moving to the center rather than to the right (think McCain in 2000). He announced support for civil unions in Utah, which means jackshit since he’s not running for re-election.
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:29 pmI read that as “gratuitous political gripping” and wondered where the hell is Larry Craig.
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:33 pmSo basically, he slipped up and told everyone what the GOP was really doing. Thanks John, we already knew what the deal was but it helps to have some more clarification. :)
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:34 pmand this from one of the reddest of the red states…
There is going to be hell to pay if the other R-govs don’t give in. They must be shaking in their boots…
Maybe this time they’ll learn the difference between being principled and being ideological…
Nah…
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:44 pm“Huntsman is also a possible 2012 candidate.”
yup. and the prop 8 battle was a test for the mormon gotv in california (with the idea that he wins cali, he wins the presidency).
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:52 pmThat man needs to find another party to belong to?
He makes too much sense.
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:53 pmHoly crap, I’m proud of a Republican politician from Utah. Never thought I’d see the day.
If the Republicans want to get some power back, they could sure look towards those like Huntsman to see the way. But thankfully, Jindal and Steele are the ‘leaders’ the Republicans are moving towards. Young faces, old ideas.
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:54 pmDid this guy have a role in Snow White?
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:56 pmAt least Huntsman is offering more than just a prayer.
He is a realist and he knows that others of his own party are playing politics with this issue.
February 23rd, 2009 at 6:17 pmNoron immediately became the RePugniScum enforcer. She made sure that Huntsman got in line. Ask yourself why Jindal? Why not one of the other RePugniScums from the south?
Why?
Jindal is now the official next golden boy of the RePugniScums as divined by the MSM which Noron is a member.
More proof the RePugniScum party is a bunch of gangsta’s!! And the MSM is there to enforce the party line.
February 23rd, 2009 at 6:30 pmThese GOOPer Govs are acting like the congressional Dems. Make a big fuss, get red in the face, bluster and prance, then fold like a cheap suit after trying to make their point.
Um, Conyers, I’m thinking of you and Leahy with respect to that pig-eyed sack of shit Rove and the apparently “optional” subpoena.
PEACE
February 23rd, 2009 at 6:44 pmbetter watch whatch what you say about telling the truth about the rethugs…oxylush limpballs will say mean things about youand have all his dimwit heads be mean to you too
February 23rd, 2009 at 6:50 pmThe day Sarah Palin turns down a dollar, I will eat dirt.
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:17 pmFirst the Utah legislature slaps down Rep. Buttars for his homophobic rant, now the Utah governor stands up to his Republiscum buddies, I smell a rat.
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:51 pmThe Mormons may try to emerge as the saviors with common sense who will redeem the party.
Ah, Nevar, you could be on to something! Are they moving to the center in an effort to make Mittens palatable in a few years? If the economy is still in dire trouble, I could see them flying the Mittens flag. Frankly, if Romney had been on the ballot instead of McSmear, this election may have been a whole lot closer.
PEACE
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:59 pmDems will have no fear of Huntsman in ‘12. He’ll be toeing the Limbaugh Party line by then, or, he’ll be toast. He’ll get absolutely no support from the RNC, because he’s not doing the Pimp Daddy Steele traditional values hip-hop.
February 24th, 2009 at 1:34 am