Huntsman says Romney would be a Bankster enabler if elected

[marmar]

LEBANON, N.H. -- Hoping to establish a competitive position once the Republican presidential primary contest shifts its focus from Iowa to New Hampshire, Jon Huntsman sharply criticized Mitt Romney on Tuesday, saying the frontrunner would be an agent for Wall Street and protector of the status quo if elected.

In an exclusive interview with The Huffington Post, the former Utah governor challenged Romney to prove his independence from the financial sector's biggest players.

"It is not necessarily about the history of his involvement on Wall Street," Huntsman said, shortly after addressing a room full of doctors and other medical employees at Dartmouth Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. "It is the fact that he has raised so much money from the large banks, the banks that need to be right-sized. If you are the largest recipient of funds from Wall Street, and in particular the large banks, you are not going to be inclined to want to change that model. Because those who run those banks want no change, they profit off the status quo and clearly they are not going to be inclined to want to bring about any change."

Aides to Romney declined to respond to the charge, underscoring the extent to which they feel unthreatened by Huntsman's current position in the polls. They also appear to be confident that voters are not bothered by the composition of Romney's donor base -- and perhaps with good reason. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Romney has raised $7.8 million from the finance, insurance, and real estate industries, or 24 percent of the $32 million he has raised in the first three quarters of 2011. Huntsman, meanwhile, received $467,000 from finance, insurance, and real estate donors. While that figure is far smaller than the amount Romney received, it also represents 21 percent of the total donations Huntsman raked in during that time period. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/03/jon-huntsman-mitt-romney-wall-street-banks_n_1182005.html

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

1. Were it not for his backstabbing ways, I could go for Jon Huntsman. He's telling the unvarnished

T-R-U-T-H!!!!

[Poll_Blind]

6. I'll give you that Huntsman is right about Mitt, but he's even more of a corporatist than Obama.

I can't say I dislike the guy, personally although I find him just a bit creepy in a way I can't quite put my finger on.

PB

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

8. You're right. And I could never vote for a Republican, but of ALL of the candidates, he's the least

crazy right now.

[Poll_Blind]

10. Agreed. I mean, he was appointed by Obama himself to be the ambassador to China and...

...I've heard him speak- he's clearly an intelligent, thoughtful individual. I just strongly disagree with the solutions he offers. But he does strike me as a real conservative candidate as opposed to the bizarro popularity contest among Renfields which make up the rest of the pack.

PB

[SixthSense]

2. says the point man

for shipping industry and technology to China

What Huntsman doesn't say is that he also would be a bankster enabler if elected.

[TheKentuckian]

5. Exactly right

[Poll_Blind]

7. +1 Exactly right. And if you've ever seen him speak on the topic he...

...assumes this sort of verve about the position I find a little creepy.

PB

[DJ13]

3. His truthiness precludes consideration by the morons in the GOP

[jenmito]

4. He ALSO said he'd reject a 10-1 deal in spending cuts to tax hikes. Don't let him fool you. n/t

[Dawson Leery]

9. Huntsman wants a war with Iran.