Sunday, August 21, 2011

Huntsman: GOP Cannot Become the "Anti-science" Party

Given that he's the only GOP presidential contender who is brave/honest enough to say that he believes in evolution and science, Jon Huntsman likely has a snow ball's chance in Hell of winning any primary contests where the GOP electorate is dominated by ignorance embracing Christianists. But it's refreshing that Huntsman will nonetheless speak the truth on this issue. It's also ironic that it's a Mormon who now is the standard bearer for rationality and science in a political party that has gone increasingly insane as if it were infected with a form of rabies. Politico has a story that looks at Huntsman's break from the party of ignorance of denial of scientific knowledge:

Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s denial of global warming poses a “serious problem” for Republicans trying to take back the White House in 2012, presidential rival Jon Huntsman says.

The minute that the Republican Party becomes the party – the anti-science party, we have a huge problem. We lose a whole lot of people who would otherwise allow us to win the election in 2012,” the former Utah governor said in an interview aired Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”

“When we take a position that isn't willing to embrace evolution, when we take a position that basically runs counter to what 98 of 100 climate scientists have said, with the National Academy of Science has said about what is causing climate change and man's contribution to it,” he said, “I think we find ourselves on the wrong side of science, and, therefore, in a losing position.”

Huntsman’s latest comments furthered his efforts to portray himself as the centrist alternative to tea party favorites like Perry and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.).

“Right now, this country is crying out for a sensible middle ground. This is a center-right country. I am a center-right candidate,” Huntsman said. “Right now, we've got people on the fringes. President Obama is too far to the left. We've got people on the Republican side who are too far to the right and we have zero substance.”

When asked if Perry could defeat President Barack Obama should he win the nomination, Huntsman replied: "I think when you find yourself at an extreme end of the Republican Party, you make yourself unelectable."

At this point, Huntsman is the only GOP candidate that I can see myself even possible voting for. He needs to be flushed out more on his stance on LGBT issues before I can decide if I could hold my nose and vote for him rather that the Follower-in-Chief. The nation needs a leader and Obama has failed miserably in that capacity.

No comments: