TIME interviews the pro-gay-rights and global warming believer GOP candidate for President

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Interviews

Q&A: Jon Huntsman

By Melinda Henneberger

Monday, May 16, 2011

TIME talked to former ambassador to China and Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman for a profile running in the May 23, 2011, issue of the magazine.

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Q: Every time I hear someone say they sure wished government was run more like a business, I think really, more like the financial industry or the auto companies we had to bail out? Is that really such a great thing to wish on government, or has that argument lost some of its…

A: The free market system is fragile; there is risk built in. Massive debt-equity ratios and the financial instruments made available by Wall Street got many businesses big and small into trouble, but we learn; Wall Street is learning from their own mistakes about what leverage can do. Everybody is learning how leverage can hurt you, and lots of forces are at work, on Capitol Hill and elsewhere, trying to lead us back to financial health. Ultimately I hope we’ll balance the budget and deal with entitlements and the defense budget. And the states need to play stepped-up roles in health and education.

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Can you talk a little bit about how you came to favor civil unions for gay couples?

I’ve always been in favor of traditional marriage and thinking that you open Pandora’s Box when you start to redefine it. But we’ve had friends who are gay and we’ve heard horror stories [about hospital visitation and legal rights], and I thought it was an appropriate time.

You also believe in climate change, right?

This is an issue that ought to be answered by the scientific community; I’m not a meteorologist. All I know is 90 percent of the scientists say climate change is occurring. If 90 percent of the oncological community said something was causing cancer we’d listen to them. I respect science and the professionals behind the science so I tend to think it’s better left to the science community – though we can debate what that means for the energy and transportation sectors.

Matt [David, Huntsman’s communications director,] says you’ve changed your mind about cap-and-trade.

Cap-and-trade ideas aren’t working; it hasn’t worked, and our economy’s in a different place than five years ago. Much of this discussion happened before the bottom fell out of the economy, and until it comes back, this isn’t the moment.

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What don’t Americans understand about China?

The underlying fragility of the system, economic and social. It’s seen as this juggernaut but there are underlying fissures that could be quite debilitating; you see what inflation has done and the United States has a huge opportunity [to exploit that.]

Are Americans ready to elect a Mormon?

I think it’s a non-issue; it’s a religion that’s surprisingly heterogeneous. And let me say, I’m a very spiritual person; I can’t walk into a church or synagogue without getting a little emotional…

http://swampland.time.com/2011/05/16/qa-jon-huntsman-on-the-presidents-hes-worked-with-and-his-own-prospects-of-joining-their-ranks/

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Pro gay rights and pro science? A non-starter in the GOP.

Next.

[scandal 951]

You also believe in climate change, right?

This is an issue that ought to be answered by the scientific community; I’m not a meteorologist. All I know is 90 percent of the scientists say climate change is occurring. If 90 percent of the oncological community said something was causing cancer we’d listen to them. I respect science and the professionals behind the science so I tend to think it’s better left to the science community – though we can debate what that means for the energy and transportation sectors.

Such naivete. Wait till the rabid right gets hold of the oncologist's "agenda", then they won't be believed either.