WASHINGTON (CNN) – President Obama announced Saturday that his choice for U.S. ambassador to China is moderate Republican Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who expressed some surprise at the appointment.
A national co-chairman of Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, Huntsman said he didn't expected "to be called into action by the person who beat us.
"But I grew up understanding that the most basic responsibility one has is service to country," the 49-year-old governor said at the White House, just after Obama's announcement.
"When the president of the United States asks you to step up and serve in a capacity like this, that to me is the end of the conversation and the beginning of the obligation to rise to the challenge."
The Senate must confirm his appointment.
Huntsman, who is in his final term as Utah's governor, is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and is a former trade representative and ambassador to Singapore.
His family has an adopted daughter from China. The Salt Lake Tribune newspaper has reported that Huntsman has performed Mormon missionary work in Taiwan.
From CNN Politics
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Oh yeah, get this guy as far from the US as possible, so he can't be a threat.
Let us hear the GOP find fault with this appointment.
This Republican will bring badly needed credibility to the Obama-Pelosi-Frank government.
We are listening. GOP...are you out there?
Dick Cheney will announce that Huntsman is no longer welcome in the GOP. Limbaugh will call him a couple of names.
2012 is going to be a loss for the Republicans, and whichever candidate they put up will be a sacrificial lamb. If Huntsman waits for 2016, however, he's got a pretty good chance of being president. And he is an excellent choice for China.
Better check with RUH.. boy on this.. this dude is a moderate.. or maybe old RUSH is glad to get him out of the country. ...too bad republicans... a moderate someday against.,,,,,, old RUSH......
How many potential rivals does CNN have for President Obama? Has Huntsman ever said that? Why would a seemingly very intelligent, accomplished man set himself for the hate and characterization of the Rush base and the media??
Why not use the article to give more details about the qualifications of the man like that he speaks Mandarin?
For the first time in my voting life I can honestly say we have a true leader as President. How many examples of "transcending the pettiness of politics" is he going to have to accomplish, before his opposition (which continues to self destruct) figures out what makes this individual special? Keep supporting him, majority of you voters. He certainly deserves our support.
So now bo has eliminated hillary and another potential for 2012 and he still hasn't come off the campaign trail! Most of us are getting a little tired of all the campaigning and all the ignorant spending! Even bo said you can't borrowing from china. That came out of one side of his mouth while the other side of his mount was saying give me more china borrowed money to spend on pork barrell projects!
The governor should decline. Obama's envoys are there to carry the white flag, nothing more.
Huntsman is the type of moderate, sensible Republican that GOP leaders like Limbaugh, Cheney, Gingrich are trying to chase out of the party.
Huntsman, like Colin Powell, has opted to serve in foriegn affairs rather than fight against partisan idealogues in his own party.
He'll be the 2016 Democratic nominee at this rate.
Great move, Mr. President!
And, let see what repugs will say on this!
If he can do the job, why not!! Our relationship with other nations should go beyond policitcal affilication.
Obama is paying lawyers to hide his birth certificate. We know that fact because his lawyers answers to suits all over the country are public record. There’s nothing crazier than a President hiding his birth certificate. People need to know that fact.".
Great pick based on this man qualifications to speak Mandarin Chinese which is very respectful to the Chinese people.
Go ahead, folks. Tell us more about how Obama can't reach across the aisle.
Paula wrote:
Obama is paying lawyers to hide his birth certificate. We know that fact because his lawyers answers to suits all over the country are public record. There’s nothing crazier than a President hiding his birth certificate. People need to know that fact.".
____________________________________________________
Will people like you ever give this a rest. The President has been in office 3 months now and you still come up with the same old tired useless statements. Will you say this for the next four years. No matter what he does people like you will come up with something. He can't even put mustard on his hamburger and there's an issue.
I am so proud of our President!!! Not since Lincoln have we seen a US president try to reach out across the aisle with such persistence. Please Republicans, cut President Obama some slack and start being less hostile.
Very smart, he will be so busy in China that he will have no time to even think about running against such a popular and successful president.
he's probably the only politician that can speak fluent Chinese;
most can't even speak fluent English
Nice move. I wonder what the hateful republicans will spew about it. I guess I will have to watch Hannity Insanity hour to find out what they will all regurgitate about this.
Terrific pick......... Qualified people should represent the US....not do for me as I do for you mentality. Go Huntsman!
To Paula May 16th, 2009 11:20 am ET
Are you serious? I think you missed some of your morning meds dear. I also think you should be on the DHS list to be watched because you are WAY to paranoid and obviously delusional. Watch out the sky is falling!!!!
Gov Hunstman is an excellent pick, and has shown himself to be a true statesman. I hope he'll consider running for President someday.
By the way, Paula and Annie are idiots.