Washington (CNN) – Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman seems to think President Obama is handling the debt ceiling all wrong.
The contender for the 2012 GOP nomination for president told CNN's "The Situation Room" anchor Wolf Blitzer that if it were up to him, he'd use the "bully pulpit" as president "in ways that speak to clear, cut, and defined goals that the people of this country want to achieve."
"The one thing that's missing in this whole debate is presidential leadership," Huntsman said Friday. He defined action as, "Using the weight and the power of the presidency to define in specific terms where this whole debt ceiling issue goes."
The former U.S. ambassador to China asserted, "We're the most significant financial services country in the world" that needs to meet "our obligations."
And he called debt a "cancer in this country," that needs to be "radiated," "excised," and "cut out."
"First and foremost there's got to be serious cuts associated with whatever we do with the debt ceiling," Huntsman said.
And if he were in Obama's seat, Huntsman stated he'd, "Use the bully pulpit for things other than DNC talking points...Get very specific about where you want to take this debate, and then you got to work both Houses of Congress."
And for Huntsman, who has been polling in low single digits of support, extending the debt ceiling until 2012 is a political ploy. Because he believes the country "needs this debate," Huntsman affirmed it is healthy for dialogue to continue during the 2012 election cycle.
"I think that's not a bad thing at all for the people to be part of continuing deliberation about the most important policy issue of our time," he said.
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Earth to Huntsman, Earth to Huntsman: President Obama has been told the Executive branch what they need to do. He's done it in a statesman-like demeanor. I appreciate that. It's called manners. And besides, with recent events of violence, resorting to the kind of rhetoric you're using, "bully pulpit' and the like, is exactly what we DON'T want nor need. Your party leaders, Mr. Boehner and Mr. McConnell, are showing deference to the extreme right wingers.
The question I want answered is this: Is the Republican-controlled House of Representatives going to let the country default on its debts just to score political points?
No thanks, Huntsman. My preference is for a statesman–not a friggin' bully. Have a nice weekend, bloggers.
FOOL. What the heck do you think he's been doing?
He a millionaire sure he like John Boehner Plan. Did you expect any thing else. The Republican are just playing Politic.
Catmom-YES YES YES the american people are that stupid. Do u remember 2010 elections that put these wack jobs into the house? All repub did when dems had majority n senate & house was 2 filibuster anything dems tried 2 do with everything. Ya americans are that stupid. Wouldnt put it past amerian citizens to keep screwing themselves & fellow americans b cuz they are ignorate uneducated people. Just wait, we will have even more with the defunding of education. Will b a privilege only for the privileged! Lmao at stupid americans!
uh..duh, what do you think he been doing for the past several weeks. files this under clueless!! LOL
Catmom-YES YES YES the american people are that stupid. Do u remember 2010 elections that put these wack jobs into the house? All repub did when dems had majority n senate & house was 2 filibuster anything dems tried 2 do with everything. Ya americans are that stupid. Wouldnt put it past amerian citizens to keep scr..ing themselves & fellow americans b cuz they are ignorate uneducated people. Just wait, we will have even more with the defunding of education. Will b a privilege only for the privileged! Lmao at stupid americans!
In baracks case it's called the o-blame-o pulpit.
GOP = Get Obama Party
Disgusting........
Huntsman's TV must be broke.
@ Rickster, you are absent logic, intellect or sanity. You only have disparaging remarks for the President. I've read your posts over these past two (2) years and it never changes. The same stupid remarks. Grow-up, learn something and quit parroting Sean Panties aka Hannity of Faux news. Just saying....If you really cared about spending and the debt, you would have been all for the President's plan for reducing the debt by $4 trillion.