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Wednesday, June 22, 2011 | 8 a.m.
Jon Huntsman
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who said this week he prefers Jon Huntsman to Mitt Romney in the GOP Mormon presidential primary, has taken a lot of money from the Huntsman family, and the former Utah governor appointed Reid’s son, Josh, to Utah’s Board of Regents.
So no wonder Reid said Tuesday, “If I had a choice in that race, I’d choose Huntsman over Romney.”
And if they had a choice – and they did – many members of the newly minted presidential candidate’s family, including his parents, chose Reid in the most important U.S. Senate race in the country last cycle. Indeed, the Huntsmans have long been Reid supporters, although the former governor, who is scheduled to be be in Nevada on Friday, has never given directly to Reid's Senate campaigns.
But his parents and a couple of his brothers (Peter, James) and some in-laws have. And his Dad even helped the Nevada Democratic Party ($5,000) in 2008. I’m told Reid has known the senior Huntsman since the 1990s and is friendly with the son, too.
Here’s a list of the donations from the GOP candidate’s family to Reid (with help from CQ MoneyLine):
Jon Huntsman, Sr., Karen Huntsman $9,600 (2/4/09)
Peter, Brynn Huntsman $9,600 (12/31/09)
James, Marianne Huntsman $4,600 (11/30/09)
Jon Huntsman, Sr. $2,000 (11/2/04)
UPDATE: Huntsman responded on twitter to this report: "I've never donated a dime to @HarryReid and wouldn't. My record in Utah balancing budgets very different from his."
Guess Mom and Dad were fine with Reid's putative budget-balancing failures, eh?
He is just a plant.
He is suppose to split the moderate pool of votes to prevent Romney from winning the nonimation.
Obama wants to run against a conservative.
thats all it cost to buy reid ?
This is great, if Obama isn't re-elected we will have Huntsman, who will work to destroy America as well, and turn it into a socialistic state. HA HA Glen Beck, you lose.
Even Harry Reid like Huntsman,
Harry Ried is just doing what he does best. Which is saying whatever he is paid to say.
anyone remember prostitution????
anyone remember the mexican????
Huntsman will be the new media darling like McCain was. They will do everything they can to get him in as the republican nominee, and then destroy him after the primary.
Looks like Senator Reid just showed us who he really is.
And he had the cojones last year to publicly criticize other forms of prostitution in his state!
"No one is innocent after the experience of governing." -- the late Senator Pat Moynihan, 1973 "The Politics of a Guaranteed Income"
I agree with SgtRock. Plant by the Obama campaign to take votes away from Romney, so that some far-right winger like Bachmann wins. Obama learned from Reid that it's easy to win against an extreme right winger.
Sleazy politics.
Mr. Reid claims he can be bipartisan, reaching across party lines.
Nice to know at least one politician was telling the truth about something.
Theres a reason he is throwing support behind huntsman, he knows that Romney has the best chance to blow the president out of the water in the election. Since when do Republicans care what opinion the of Mr. Reid anyways? This isnt Bipartisan, its only a way to divide the voters of the faith he spits at everytime he fails to stand up for his beleifs because it would effect his political stance. Mr Reid do us all a favor and retire, or at least refrain from speaking about a vote you will have no part in.
JON, SORRY, THAT YOU AND MITT ARE BEING BEAT TO DEATH BECAUSE YOU ARE MORMONS AND THE WORLD HAS NO IDEA HARRY REID IS A MORMON MAKES ME SICK.
BUT THE BIGGER POINT IS THAT I WOULD NEVER, EVER ON THIS PLANET GIVE ONE NICKEL OR MY VOTE TO ANYONE THAT THOUGHT HARRY REID WAS GOOD FOR THIS COUNTRY.....
THAT ENDS YOUR POLITICAL AIMS TODAY--YOUR AIDS WON'T BE HONEST AND PEOPLE WILL BE AFRAID TO SAY IT - BUT PAYING FOR REID ENDS IT - SAVE YOUR MONEY FOR NEXT TIME
..........YOU DON'T REALIZE IT BUT YOU WILL NEVER GET A ERPUBLICAN NOMINATION IF YOU THOUGHT THAT FREAK DESERVED A NICKEL......
YOU GUYS AT THE TOP DON'T UNDERSTAND THE RULES HAVE CHANGED.........I MEAN REALLY CHANGED......
BLEED OUT AND WASTE YOUR MONEY, BUT BY CHRISTMAS YOUR CANDIDACY WILL HAVE LOST EVERYTHING.......
AND I SO LOVE YOUR FATHER, BUT ANYONE THAT HELPS REID WITH THE DESTRUCTION, THE UTTER DESTRUCTION HE PUT ON US WILL NEVER HOLD OFFICE.
BARRY IS WIPING THE DEMOCRAT PARTY OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH AND 2 MILLION A MONTH ARE MARCHED INTO UNEMPLOYMENT CAMPS FOR 3 YEARS NOW............
YOU DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND A THING ABOUT THE COUNTRY YOU ARE ASKING TO LEAD............SORRY ABOUT THAT, PAY ATTENTION FOR 4 YEARS AND WE MIGHT GIVE YOU ANOTHER CHANCE, AGAIN WE LOVE YOUR FATHER........
This seems to put Huntsman's run for president to rest.
There is no way anyone who backs Harry can or should be elected as a conservative ticket.
Huntsman is a RINO and it appears he is trying to pull the wool over our eyes. No wonder Obama picked him for one of his ambassador posts. Harry endorsed and Obama approved.
That is a NO VOTE for Huntsman.
Huntsman (like Bachmann) supports the mis-named 'Patriot Act' which is yet another violation of our rights. Add it to the list of gov't violations of our rights:
They violate the 1st Amendment by placing protesters in cages, banning books like "America Deceived II" and censoring the internet.
They violate the 2nd Amendment by confiscating guns.
They violate the 4th and 5th Amendment by molesting airline passengers.
They violate the entire Constitution by starting undeclared wars for foreign countries.
Impeach Obama, vote for Ron Paul.
(Last link of Banned Book):
http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookD...
Huntsman is an OhBummer tool pleading that we should not judge the contestants --- only their policies and ideas. No one is seperable from the ideas that they espouse, however, nor from judgements of their probable motivations.
"He is just a plant."
-------------------------
Like Sharron Angle? Ohh! Those democrats are so clever, you betcha.
Though Harry Reid may be liked and respected in the Las Vegas community. He isn't liked or respected in my community we certainly do not wish him harm, we just wish he would stop harming the rest of the country. Whom he chooses to endorse will never shine a positive light on the endorsee in my eyes. So Mr. Huntsman do not quit your day job just yet this president thing will probably not work out the way you plan with harry in your corner.
This clown is a liberal piece of crap, do not buy his BS.
Markey, do you not believe that Reid had something to do with Angle being nominated over Sue Lowden? I'm independent, so I think you're all suckers, but I know members of Reid's campaign team that have acknowledged some of their tactics. I think there was even a story about it in the Sun, which was essentially a branch of the Reid campaign.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/jun....
Not saying for sure that Huntsman is a "plant", but it certainly wouldn't surprise me if he was "encouraged" to run by the DNC or Obama campaign. Doing everything possible to ensure that the weaker candidate gets nominated is certainly a key part of the political playbook.
Well Mr. Huntsman certainly shot himself in the foot by giving to Harry Reid's re-election. He might as well withdraw right now as he's done!
I'm just learning who Huntsman is, but it looks like he is a RINO (Republican in Name Only). Too bad; I think the Republicans are looking for a conservative this time around.
Huntsman is not the Go to man in these troubled times. He will fold and roll over. We need a someone who will take charge and lead. Not roll over and play dead. No way I'll vote for this wimp
Whisperin Harry busy cashin checks and payin back his buddies. Wasn't long ago he was goin off about LEGAL prostitution in Nevada,...which is odd since he's in the same line of work. He doesn't have quite the same sort of fun, keeps his clothes on, but he can have it standing up
Rino Alert! Rino Alert!
AAAA-OOOOOOOOOOO-GAAAAAAAAAA
AAAA-OOOOOOOOOOO-GAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Huntsman is "OUTED"!
Looks like Drudge posted a link to this story...Now all the loons will fill this space.
The only chance Republicans have at winning is by nominating a moderate. A far right social conservative has no chance of winning.
We dont want him here!
Any connection Harry will not get my vote.
Huntsman is part of the Democratic party dirty trick department. He will probably end up running an independent candidancy to take Mormon votes and money from Romney, and try to give the election to Obama. His function is to play a Ross Perot role and split the republican and independent vote. It is all from the Bill clinton playbook.
LynnJohnson....wrong...this is where liberals fail to see the truth...
True conservatives win, and have won big, in almost every national election ever held...the only way Republicans are defeated is because they nominate a moderate. Liberals want to see a moderate nominated so they have a chance to win, and that is the only way they do win..
The relationship has nothing to do with politics. With these people, it is all about the brotherhood.
Keep thinking that, dkmaguire, and independents like me will never vote for your candidate. There's no way in hell I'd vote for Sharon Angle or Sarah Palin. Repubs should counter and convince Palin to run, so that she and Bachmann can split the crazy vote. It might offset the moderate split between Huntsman and Romney.
With all due respect Mr. Huntsman, you seem like a very knowledgeable and compassionate individual that is sorely lacking with this current administration. However, rest assured that with most independents and republicans, any republican such as yourself allows being subject to the MSM freak show attempt at reverse psychology in selecting you or as some say you being Obama's worst nightmare in the General is an insulting joke. If you think the endorsement of MSNBC, Harry Reid et al., helps you in this campaign with a center left moderate independent like me then please allow me to be blunt. Save the money Honey.
Also to Lynn Johnson; I voted for Obama, Obama lied to me; hence Obama will not get my vote again. You are still in denial as to the socio-political realties here Lynn. Let me help you out here if I may because as a 5th generation democrat, my family has just navigated through the metamorphoses of re-registering independent. We have come to terms by way of Obama's complete and unequivocal failure as our leader coupled with not one promise coming to pass that my happiness is directly predicated upon my ability to adapt to living my life under the light of a conservative moon because it is going to happen and after the last two years of Obama I embrace it. Bush was a slow motion car crash; Obama is multiple slow motion car crashes. So please don't make me, one who campaigned for three years to make Obama happen, laugh as my lips are chapped.
Well, that is all I needed to know...anyone in my family who would have supported Harry could be expected to try and influence me in the office of President also, so Huntsman is OUT. No one with scruples could ever support a Harry Reid!! Sorry, but I and my family will support no one BUT a conservative Republican after the last two years of Democratitis.
This also shows me Mormon's are Mormon's first and American's second so sorry about this one Mitt, your off my radar as well.
As usual the comments above are at best are misinformed.
Huntsman, if he plays his cards right, has an excellent chance of taking the Presidency in 2012. Yes he's a Mormon and yes he has conservative values but he also has common sense and knows that bashing on social issues and rambling about the constitution and the "Founding Fathers" is not a way to win a general election. Substance and common sense are the only things that will take us forward.
As a former Obama appointee he's already proven himself to be capable of working with both parties and THIS is the thing that wins presidential elections.
Sure giving money to Reid may have much to do with Mormon loyalties but it also shows that Huntsman is pragmatic and is looking to do what makes sense instead of what might be popular. No one, and I do mean no one, who actually believes in fixing America's problems and moving forward would support an Angle. Huntsman clearly saw the writing on the wall and gave his financial support to Reid.
I really don't see what's so puzzling or inflammatory about that...but then I tend to use my brain.
All politicians accept money for their campaigns. How many begging emails have you received already from candidates in the upcoming elections. Unhappily, it takes money to run a campaign. What this article shows is that Huntsman is going to have a difficult time convincing Republican voters that he's a true Republican - worked for Obama, family very friendly with Reid. That's not going to go over too well with those arch Conservatives in his presumed party. Huntsman seems like a nice man, but he doesn't have a chance. Go Dems.!
Up to this point I was ready to vote for him.But after this any friend of Rieds will not get my vote.At this rate neither will I vote for Romney.Hunstman talks Repub.but leans Demoleft.He likes Obummer.A vote for Hunstman is a vote for Obummer
I am a Republican I would never vote for Huntsman. Anyway he sounds gay and supports gay rights so he would not get my vote.
I don't favor Huntsman because I don't think he has the name recognition, but did anybody actually read the article?
I'm guessing most just read the headline and decided to post from ignorance.
John Huntsman, Sr. (who gave the political money to Harry Reid) is his FATHER. He is John Hunstman, Jr. The article actually states that he has never given money to Harry Reid's campaign. The money came from his father on 2 occasions and from his relatives on a couple occasions. He never gave money. I think the article attempts to link the two politicians, which I guess it has succeeded even if there is no evidence of a connection.
John Huntsman, Jr. was a great Governor for 5 years. You can look at his record for more information. He is pretty conservative on most issues, not all, but most.
Huntsman is a spoiler. He won't get elected and will only get a few votes. The conservatives don't trust him for working for the Obama administration. Now that Dingy Harry has said nice things about him, he is toast! Like Newt he is done before he gets started!
For anyone not sure of Gov. Huntsman, google LDS illuminati. The man is both less (good) and more (bad) than he seems.
The best answers to our economic problems:
1. Bring all our overseas troops home (except for Diega Garcia). Our air force and navy can handle any overseas threat. What I can't handle to see any more maimed and killed young people.
2. De fund all "czars", the EPA, the Education Dept., TSA, and the NLB.
3. End the damn Federal Reserve. This will be hard because they can print all the money they want and give us the best congress that money can buy.
4. Cut ties to the IMF, NATO, UN, GATT, NAFTA, and end all foreign aid. To everybody.
His family might like Reid but he doesn't and hasn't donated to him. Ronald Reagan's wife Nancy was a lib a and probably donated to a ton of lib causes, did that somehow suggest Ronald was a lib?
I get it, Huntsman's a Mormon and his family likes Harry who is also a Mormon. However, most Mormons don't like Harry and prefer Ron Paul to either Hunstsman or Romney anyway because if Mormons are one thing, it's conservative and Constitutionalists. All in my humble opinion, I'm not Mormon but I've know one or two growing up in Vegas.
Huntsman has no chance.
It doesn't matter.
NO REPUBLICAN CAN OR WILL BEAT PRESIDENT OBAMA.
President Obama is saving us from the
BUSH/REPUBLICAN DEPRESSION.
PRESIDENT OBAMA GOT BIN LADEN.
IT'S ALREADY OVER FOR GREEDY, HEARTLESS
REPUBLICANS.
PRESIDENT OBAMA IS THE MAN.
Harry Haters...
They never cease to amaze me.
Some of you folks are in serious need of therapy..or something.
About $50 million was spent in the Reid/Angle contest.
So the Huntsman family threw a few Shekels Harry's way... OMG!!!
People like "CATHERINE1000 are flat-out NUTS.
Is it something in the water supply?
So Huntsman split up his family's payments to Reid kinda like the way Ensign's parents split up their "gifts" (eight checks of $12,000 each) to the Hampton family?
Is there a politician alive today who isn't a sleazebag?