(CNN) – Former GOP White House contender Jon Huntsman on Monday explained the comparison he made between the Republican Party and Communist Party of China the night before as "waxing philosophical" on the state of politics.
On Sunday night Huntsman equated being disinvited by the Republican Party from a Florida fundraiser in March after he floated the idea of a third party to "what they do in China on party matters if you talk off script," according to political blog BuzzFeed.
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On Monday the former Utah governor, who served as U.S. ambassador to China under President Barack Obama, blamed blogs for taking a sentence out of context, but repeated the sentiment.
"Last night I said, you know if you're not on script and you get knocked out of an event like that the party's supposed to be big tent, you're supposed to bring in all ideas and I said, I thought for a moment about what they do in China if you're off script. The party, they knock you out," Huntsman said on MSNBC. "We shouldn't be doing that here. We should be accommodating all voices."
He also called on the Republican Party to provide bold solutions to the American people, adding that a failure to do so could result in an "alternative voice or a separate angle of attack that's going to knock it down," an apparent reference to a third party.
Huntsman suspended his presidential bid in January after a third place finish in the New Hampshire primary and endorsed frontrunner Mitt Romney for the nomination.
"This is a time to go big and go bold and go visionary," Huntsman said. "The people of this country are waiting for it and the world is waiting for it too, we have a huge opening."
From CNN Politics
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We've got to stop name calling if we are ever going to have a civil dialogue in this country. Whether it is a GOPer calling the GOP for their "lock step mentality" ala this "communist china charge" or the GOP calling Obama "socialist" and communist too (they never have to explain what they mean they just say it). At least Huntsman is trying to explain his meaning albeit after the name calling. Or the DEM's calling the GOP names (though I can't think of too many offensive name calling by many DEMs, maybe "warmonger" or "1% er" . Oh, and let's not forget greedy and mean. My point is let's stop name calling and actually recognize that "we the people" means everyone and we've got to find some solutions soon or ,...
I am a republican, but liked Hunstman from the start but he is out of the mainstream of the party that has moved so far to the right. it was a long shot for him. Now i think there are those in the Republican party that don't want him anymore.
I would equate the pubs to nazi's before communist.
Let's hope Huntsman really does manage to create a credible 3rd party (long shot, I know). We've needed one for decades now. Both parties are far too divisive and full of incompetence. An intelligent 3rd party candidate who is willing to reason and hear other voices and opinions is exactly what we need.
Huntsman might as well be a democrat. We don't want you RINO!! Go hang out with the chicoms and libs!
It's pretty bizarre the GOBP cult has fallen this far. Huntsman is by no means a moderate, seeing as how he supports Paul "The Undertaker" Ryan's deficit INCREASE plan. And Huntsman is no more an "experienced businessman" than Flipper Rmoney is. Instead, much like Rmoney, he is another GWB: a spoiled trust fund kid who rode daddy's coat-tails. Yet for all of that, by simply pointing out not the substantive problems of the party, but mere secondary things, like how to handle messaging (which is the true essence of his comments), he is lauded as a moderate and a voice of sanity. Not true. If you read all these facts together, Huntsman is really saying "look, we will never succeed in fully implementing our corporatist plans if we keep acting so crazy we can never con the public into trusting us again."
Beware of Huntsman. Americans are so desperate for civility in politics they mistake his civility for moderation. His not at all moderate. The GOBP's best hope is someone like Huntsman, who can distract attention from the failed policies he and his GOBP cult support, and instead divert America's attention into believing the GOBP has turned over a new leaf and can "play well with others." It's the GOBP's only hope and it should not be allowed to succeed unless the party is willing to also renounce it's failed policies of caring only for the greedy and not for the needy.
There is nothing "adult" or "centrist" about a guy who supports Paul "The Undertaker" Ryan's deficit increase plan. Please stop deluding yourselves. Huntsman is not America's savior, he is just a slightly smarter GOBP cultmember who knows their anti-American agenda is stalled until they can start faking "inclusiveness" better. Huntsman is a very slick snake in a suit, and many of you have fallen for his act simply because you mistakenly compare him only to the neanderthals in his party.
This was the man who could beat Obama and the GOP laughed at him. Enjoy losing in 2012.
The GOP needs a big tent if they expect to accommodate Neutron Newt.
Huntsman is intelligent and has integrity, therefore he never had a chance at the GOP nomination. Why he is even in the GOP is surprising. If he's as smart as I think he is, he'll switch to the Dems soon...he'd make a great moderate Dem candidate for the 2016 election.
I liked Huntsman when he told Romney on the debate stage that HE was what is wrong with politics today....then he turns around and endorses him/ Go figure....
Johnborg....."conserving order and defending truth"??? You really need to brush up on what conservatism means before you vote for it.
I'm afraid we will be waiting a long time for "bold and visionary." Certainly from the two established parties. I think bold and visionary is going to have to come from a 3rd party or outside groups pressuring the establishment.
"Waxing philosophical" and pretty accurate, IMHO.
I wish Huntsman would join up with Americans Elect. He's the only Repub candidate who has demonstrated any common sense and not just blabbering on spins to benefit the rich while making it sound like it's good for the average American.
The one guy who could've beat Obama and the Tea Party Birther fruitcakes kick him out of the race. That's how stupid today's GOP is...
Many have seen the same thing, yet there are the dumbest among us, making sure they get elected, then re-elected. Need a reason to vote, look at the past twelve years for inspiration. You'll wonder why you ever believed in the republican party to begin with.
"This is a time to go big and go bold and go visionary," Huntsman said.
Then you should not be a Republican. Republicans don't take kindly to those who do not toe the Tea Party line. Any more, that is. And the Tea Party line means never criticising those on the right and always criticising the Obama administration.
If you really want to be able to voice your own opinions when they are not far right talking points, then you need to leave the Republican Party.
Please run as an Independent, Huntsman. You will have my vote.
Huntsman's sin = not severely conservative.
And I thought all the infighting in the Republican Party with Santorum's dropout. I guess I was wrong. Let the fun continue!!
Actually Huntsman is no fool and really understands and talks candidly about Republican weaknesses. He is probably the strongest candidate they had if they could have gotten past their own self-righteous limitations and worked with him longer.
He is a very smart and thoughtful guy that I did not support ,but can see that they blew it buy not supporting him at least to broaden their scope and counter the extremism. They are now – stuck with Romney- and he will be their downfall in the Fall.
You are too decent a man to be a republican .
"We've needed compromise in this country to get things done from the very beginning..." whoa there cowboy... "Compromise" is for sissy-boys, Unconditional Surrender is the only thing acceptable to the Far Right who have taken control of the GOP. Which is why 2012 will show the lowest GOP voter turnout ever (no data just a hunch, but write it down!).
More and more, the Tea Party has been acting as if they are their own party. Well, I think it is beyond time that we give them what they want and let them see how much power they will wield as a true third party.
Be careful what you wish for, Teapublicans. You just might get it.