Like every other 2012er, Huntsman said he'd veto a deficit reduction bill
even if it had 10-to-1 ratio of spending cuts to tax hikes
Jon Huntsman to PBS
on Thursday:
HUNTSMAN: As president, I wouldn’t hesitate to call on a sacrifice from all of our people, even those at the very highest end of the income spectrum.
Whoa! Sounds like he he's getting ready to smack Grover Norquist around, right? But:
PBS NEWSHOUR: Higher taxes for those at the higher end?
HUNTSMAN: Well, I'm not saying higher taxes.
Well, what are you saying, then?
HUNTSMAN: I'm saying there's contributions they can make too. As president, when you look at the full spectrum of options, of where this country is, and what we need to deliver a truly competitive economy for our people, we're going to have to ask for sacrifice, and I'm not going to hesitate to do that.
PBS NEWSHOUR: What does that mean though?
HUNTSMAN: Over time, we're going to figure that out.
Excuse me, but isn't punting on that question pretty much the definition of hesitating? And how can you be taken seriously if you simultaneously rule out tax increases?
Sure, Huntsman talks a good game, and he's great at delivering "adult in the room" soundbites, but when comes down to it, on the most important issues, he's every bit as big a baby as every other Republican in the field.
To be fair, however, he's not as enthusiastic as they are about admitting it.