Reports: Utah GOP Gov. Huntsman to resign, become Obama’s China ambassador

By Michelle Malkin  •  May 15, 2009 10:15 PM

Several Utah media outlets report tonight that GOP Gov. Jon Huntsman will step down and accept President Obama’s nomination as US ambassador to China.

Governor Jon M. Huntsman Jr. will resign and accept an appointment as ambassador to China, ABC 4 has confirmed.

A press conference has been called for Saturday morning at the White House to announce the appointment.

The appointment will most likely mean that Gary Herbert will become Utah’s next governor. Since Huntsman has only served a few months into his second term, a special election will most likely be called in 2010.

The U.S. Senate will have to confirm the appointment.

And: “2News has confirmed through multiple sources that Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. may resign and accept the position of Ambassador to China in the Obama Administration. We hear the official announcement may come as early as Saturday. Governor Huntsman served as Ambassador to Singapore under President George H. W. Bush.”

Salt Lake Tribune:

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. will resign from office to accept a nomination to become the ambassador to China.

Sources tell The Salt Lake Tribune that an announcement is scheduled for Saturday. Huntsman is in Washington, D.C., but calls to his spokeswoman and various staffers were not returned Friday night.

Huntsman, who had been mentioned as a potential Republican contender for the White House, has previously served as the Deputy United States Trade Representative and was the ambassador Singapore. He speaks Mandarin Chinese and he and his wife, Mary Kaye, have adopted a daughter from China.

Huntsman had been scheduled to travel to China next week as part of a delegation of Western governors visiting the nation to discuss climate change, alternative energy and clean air technologies.

That trip was canceled due to concerns by some of the governors over the swine flu outbreak.

Huntsman will be replaced by Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert. Contacted Friday evening, Joe Demma, Herbert’s chief of staff, said neither he nor the lieutenant governor knew anything about any Huntsman appointment.

No wonder he’s been skipping out on GOP meetings lately.

Guess David Plouffe has nothing to fear now.

You know who won’t miss Huntsman? Tea Party protesters who booed him on Tax Day.

DLTDHYOTWO.

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  1. Governor of Utah Jon M. Huntsman Jr. to resign | Fire Andrea Mitchell!
  2. Report: Huntsman to Become Ambassador to China : The American Pundit
  3. Saturday, May 16, 2009: Daily Handpicked Headlines :: Daily Uprising :: Join the Conservative Counter-Revolution!
  4. Obama To Name Republican Rival Ambassador to China; The “Hillary Checkmate”? « Peace and Freedom Promises
  5. Reports: Utah GOP Gov. Huntsman to resign, become Obama’s China ambassador | The 2008 Elections
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  8. The TIW Blog » Blog Archive » RINO Relocation Program: Huntsman to China
  9. Huntsman Gets A New Job « Around The Sphere
  10. GayPatriot » To Truly Change Tone in WashingtonPresident needs Show Respect for Republican Ideas& Criticize His Supporters Who Malign His Political Adversaries
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Comments


  1. #701654
    On May 15th, 2009 at 10:24 pm, Jeff said:

    Nice to see, an old China – hand.

  2. #701655
    On May 15th, 2009 at 10:25 pm, Jeff said:

    Nothing quite like the Peoples Paradise, to make you feel like; part of the Matrix.

  3. #701661
    On May 15th, 2009 at 10:39 pm, FloatingRock said:

    He’ll be greatly missed! /sarc

  4. #701662
    On May 15th, 2009 at 10:40 pm, TruthToBeTold said:

    Another RINO shows his true colors!

  5. #701663
    On May 15th, 2009 at 10:40 pm, Doug Powers said:

    Obama needs somebody from Utah to present the U.S. to a Chinese government that has more conservative abortion principles than Barack does.

  6. #701669
    On May 15th, 2009 at 10:49 pm, Joy said:

    Doug – I’m not sure I follow you. Why would Obama want someone more pro-life to represent US to the Chinese? The people who never met an abortion they didn’t like?

    Can you clarify what you mean?

  7. #701671
    On May 15th, 2009 at 10:49 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    All part of the RINO Relocation Program. Since the GOP no longer exists, might as well disperse all those zombies to other shores before they do or say something stupid….. again.

    And isn’t it DLTDHYITAOTWO?

  8. #701673
    On May 15th, 2009 at 10:51 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    Joy…ahem… it was a joke. The Chinese are known to drown the second child in the river.

  9. #701674
    On May 15th, 2009 at 10:54 pm, Joy said:

    PP – Ahhhhhhhhh, okay. That makes sense. I guess my joke-o-meter failed me this time.

  10. #701677
    On May 15th, 2009 at 10:55 pm, amerpun said:

    Joy…ahem… it was a joke. The Chinese are known to drown the second child in the river.

    Nowadays the trend is illegally abandoning the child to be taken into an orphanage. Hence Huntsman’s adoption.

  11. #701683
    On May 15th, 2009 at 11:12 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    On May 15th, 2009 at 10:55 pm, amerpun said:

    Nowadays the trend is illegally abandoning the child to be taken into an orphanage. Hence Huntsman’s adoption.

    Yeah, orphanage. Much easier to harvest organs that way.

  12. #701686
    On May 15th, 2009 at 11:22 pm, DirkBelig said:

    So, how behind on his taxes is this joker? (That’s one of the requirements to get hired by Barry, right?)

  13. #701688
    On May 15th, 2009 at 11:39 pm, love2rumba said:

    DLTDHYOTWO.

    Indeed

  14. #701689
    On May 15th, 2009 at 11:41 pm, cactusjoe said:

    It shows what he thinks about the people in Utah. Why did he run for an office he obviously had little interest in doing? Huntsman must believe that his career is more important than the millions of dollars Utahans will shell out to pay for another election. Maybe he will ask his daddy cut us a check.

    A dishonorable act of betrayal.

  15. #701690
    On May 15th, 2009 at 11:42 pm, love2rumba said:

    Yeah, orphanage. Much easier to harvest organs that way.

    Hopefully not, I met an absolutely delightful lady 3 years ago who taught me how to do the Rumba dance who in fact came from such orphan circumstances in Red/mainland China…

  16. #701691
    On May 15th, 2009 at 11:43 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Let’s hope he does a good job. We need a good ambassador there.

  17. #701694
    On May 15th, 2009 at 11:48 pm, Bogtrotter said:

    Another RINO bowing to the annointed one……. Yawn

  18. #701698
    On May 16th, 2009 at 12:04 am, Otis said:

    Think team Obama wants their perceived threat in Huntsman in China instead of running for President or in the senate. Kinda like Sen. Gregg for Commerce Secretary. They’re not reaching over the isle, they’re trying to neutralize threats.

  19. #701699
    On May 16th, 2009 at 12:08 am, Joy said:

    Otis – That’s probably right on target.

  20. #701713
    On May 16th, 2009 at 1:43 am, prendad said:

    Greed has such appeal for our politicians. Obama is very keen on how to apply it skillfully and reap the benefits.

  21. #701714
    On May 16th, 2009 at 1:43 am, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

    Off topic:

    ‘Sanctuary City’ Houston has major swine flu outbreak at elementary school.

    Hundreds of sick school children, some of whom will probably die, its all good as long as we keep the Hispanics in Houston voting Demonrat, unlike almost the entire rest of Texas.

  22. #701721
    On May 16th, 2009 at 2:18 am, love2rumba said:

    Think team Obama wants their perceived threat in Huntsman in China instead of running for President or in the senate. Kinda like Sen. Gregg for Commerce Secretary. They’re not reaching over the isle, they’re trying to neutralize threats.

    If huntsman was a ‘threat’ to Obama, then I’m rolling my eyes :roll: .

  23. #701724
    On May 16th, 2009 at 2:28 am, Papa Louie said:

    The appointment will most likely mean that Gary Herbert will become Utah’s next governor.

    I don’t know Gary, but after listening to Salt Lake liberals complaining about him on the radio tonight, I think I’m going to like him.

    Huntsman portrayed himself as a “compassionate” conservative like his father until the elections were over. Then he came out of the closet, so to speak, and revealed himself to be more of a social liberal.

    After hearing Huntsman come out for civil unions and Global Warming, I found myself hoping someone would put him on a slow boat to China. It looks like the Obamessiah has granted my wish for change…

  24. #701752
    On May 16th, 2009 at 5:49 am, torabora said:

    Utahians used to be reliable conservatives?

    Something get in the water?

  25. #701754
    On May 16th, 2009 at 6:16 am, DagneyT said:

    No wonder Sarah Palin is so detested! There’s not a dimes worth of difference in the contiguous cabal! She appealed to us because there is an inbred instinct in us,that she is different, and honest! The rest of the yahoos, both donkey and elephant, are cut from the same cloth.

  26. #701755
    On May 16th, 2009 at 6:22 am, DagneyT said:

    And isn’t it DLTDHYITAOTWO?

    Could I please get the translation of the ITA? Thanks, Phil

  27. #701759
    On May 16th, 2009 at 7:18 am, zorro said:

    I never thought I would say something good would come from the Chicago Thug’s rise to power, but yes, there is a glimmer of good. A minor purge of RINOs is becoming noticeable.

    McCain? McCain??

  28. #701766
    On May 16th, 2009 at 8:29 am, John Deaux said:

    Nwewsflash for Gov. Huntsman:

    You have an R next to your name and you’ve been chosen by a D president to be ambassador to our biggest creditor and military threat.

    You’re being set up.

  29. #701768
    On May 16th, 2009 at 8:38 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

    On May 16th, 2009 at 6:22 am, DagneyT said:

    And isn’t it DLTDHYITAOTWO?

    Could I please get the translation of the ITA? Thanks, Phil

    In the @$$.

  30. #701769
    On May 16th, 2009 at 8:38 am, zorro said:

    You’re being set up.

    John, their lust for power and the absence of a spine has clouded their judgement. The only cure is for them to switch parties, quickly.

  31. #701770
    On May 16th, 2009 at 8:42 am, monad888 said:

    Why would a governor ditch their state for an ambassadorship? That’s embarrassing.

  32. #701774
    On May 16th, 2009 at 8:57 am, jangar said:

    monad888 said:
    Why would a governor ditch their state for an ambassadorship? That’s embarrassing.

    Well, he’s not that conservative, but thinks it’s a great opportunity to play on Obama’s team? A lot continue to drink the poison…just sayin’.

  33. #701776
    On May 16th, 2009 at 9:01 am, jangar said:

    DagneyT said:
    there is an inbred instinct in us

    Hey, easy there Dag :)

  34. #701777
    On May 16th, 2009 at 9:03 am, John Deaux said:

    On May 16th, 2009 at 8:57 am, jangar said:

    Well, he’s not that conservative, but thinks it’s a great opportunity to play on Obama’s team?

    So how did that stimulus vote work out for Susan Collins? She took the blame for not funding swine flu research.

    The only reason the Obama administration is interested in bipartisanship is so they have a scapegoat to throw under the bus. Any Republican that chooses to be a part of this administration might just as well have a target tattooed on their forehead.

  35. #701778
    On May 16th, 2009 at 9:07 am, Pasadena Phil said:

    On May 16th, 2009 at 8:38 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

    On May 16th, 2009 at 6:22 am, DagneyT said:

    And isn’t it DLTDHYITAOTWO?

    Could I please get the translation of the ITA? Thanks, Phil

    ITA= in the a$$

  36. #701779
    On May 16th, 2009 at 9:15 am, b-cat said:

    He speaks Mandarin Chinese and he and his wife, Mary Kaye, have adopted a daughter from China.

    Is Ashley still single?

  37. #701780
    On May 16th, 2009 at 9:17 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    RINO Relocation Program? That works, make sure we worm them and give them their shots so they do not spread disease. When he returns quarantine him for 30 days to keep out swine flu and rabies.

    If this lad was into his second term even Utah is having problems-zombies from California?

  38. #701784
    On May 16th, 2009 at 9:52 am, almiller said:

    This is really the end of Huntsman’s political career and the start of the one he is destined for. From serving as ambassador to China Huntsman will likely enter church service.

  39. #701794
    On May 16th, 2009 at 10:31 am, happyscrapper said:

    Why is it necessary to have a press conference on national TV every time Odumbo appoints another loser to his administration? I mean, Ambassador to China?? Everyone knew it was going to be this guy…so just have the newscaster announce it, for crying out loud!! Doesn’t Barack have anything better to do with his time than all these press conferences??? NO…the Great One has to get his daily dose of ego boost by appearing in the flesh!

  40. #701805
    On May 16th, 2009 at 10:53 am, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

    Lincoln Chafee inherited his Republican Dad’s Senate seat and turned out to be a Demonrat in disguise (now out of the closet).

    Olympia Snowe inherited a state senate seat as a Republican when her husband died, and later won a US Senate seat.

    At least some RINOs are liberals who inherited their seats.

    John Kerry’s wife, TuhRAYza, was married to a wealthy Republican Senator who died, but that is a different matter.

  41. #701807
    On May 16th, 2009 at 10:57 am, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

    Too late now, in a sense, for McCain, but he was never as far along the RINO spectrum as some, and the way the MSM and Hispanics abandoned him, might push him further into the Republican camp.

    And I do respect his sacrifice as a POW.

    He was near my last choice for nominee, but I voted for him against Obama. Ok, rephrase that, I voted against Obama, as I had a strong sense he sought to destroy the United States. McCain was the slow boat to continued creeping socialism, Obama is the express train to totalitarianism and possibly an end to representative democracy in this country.

  42. #701814
    On May 16th, 2009 at 11:14 am, DBNinKY said:

    Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. will resign from office to accept a nomination to become the ambassador to China.

    Maybe Huntsman feels positioning himself as a Team Obama insider will lend him greater credibility in attacking the administration, should he later on decide to make a bid for the GOP presidential nomination.

    Just a suggestion for Huntsman’s reasoning, not agreement with his decision to join the administration -

  43. #701816
    On May 16th, 2009 at 11:21 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    If BroBama would now appoint John McCain as Ambassador to Mexico all the world would be better off–far off.

    If Huntsman does run for President will it be a repeat? An Obama guarantee of re-election? I’ll not vote for the man.

  44. #701819
    On May 16th, 2009 at 11:36 am, Laree said:

    Tucker Carlson is moving to Fox News he joined the Cato Institute back in February I don’t know if the two are related he is a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute.

  45. #701824
    On May 16th, 2009 at 12:37 pm, SixDegrees said:

    DLTDHYOTWO

    Hey, maybe the Republicans could have that stenciled on some T-shirts.

    Then they could order three or four of them for the members to wear…

  46. #701825
    On May 16th, 2009 at 12:38 pm, MarcoPolo said:

    On May 16th, 2009 at 6:16 am, DagneyT said:

    No wonder Sarah Palin is so detested! There’s not a dimes worth of difference in the contiguous cabal! She appealed to us because there is an inbred instinct in us,that she is different, and honest! The rest of the yahoos, both donkey and elephant, are cut from the same cloth.

    Government spending in Alaska has risen on her shift too. Both in dollars and as a percent of GDP. http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/downchart_gs.php?chart=F0-total&view=1&year=1998_2018&state=AK

  47. #701836
    On May 16th, 2009 at 1:29 pm, Bruce said:

    A dishonorable act of betrayal.

    That would apply to most of the GOP, I would think. At least from my perspective as a former member of the party.

  48. #701837
    On May 16th, 2009 at 1:36 pm, happyscrapper said:

    Off topic, but I need to put this in today…Has anyone seen the following information? I hadn’t seen it, even on FOX. Have I been missing something, or is this new information??

    AP- WASHINGTON D.C. – In a move certain to fuel the debate over
    > Obama’s qualifications for the presidency, the group “Americans for
    > Freedom of Information” has released copies of President Obama’s
    > college transcripts from Occidental College. Released today, the
    > transcript indicates that Obama, under the name Barry Soetoro,
    > received financial aid as a foreign student from Indonesia as an
    > undergraduate at the school. The transcript was released by
    > Occidental College in compliance with a court order in a suit
    > brought by the group in the Superior Court of California. The
    > transcript shows that Obama (Soetoro) applied for financial aid and
    > was awarded a fellowship for foreign students from the Fulbright
    > Foundation Scholarship program. To qualify, for the scholarship, a
    > student must claim foreign citizenship. This document would seem to
    > provide the smoking gun that many of Obama’s detractors have been
    > seeking.
    >
    > The news has created a firestorm at the White House as the release
    > casts increasing doubt about Obama’s legitimacy and qualification to
    > serve as president. When reached for comment in London, where he has
    > been in meetings with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Obama
    > smiled but refused comment on the issue. Meanwhile, White House
    > press secretary Robert Gibbs scoffed at the report stating that this
    > was obviously another attempt by a right-wing conservative group to
    > discredit the president and undermine the administration’s efforts
    > to move the country in a new direction.
    >
    > Britain’s Daily Mail has also carried the story in a front-page
    > article titled, “Obama Eligibility Questioned”, leading some to
    > speculate that the story may overshadow economic issues on Obama’s
    > first official visit to the U.K.
    >
    > In a related matter, under growing pressure from several groups,
    > Justice Antonin Scalia announced that the Supreme Court agreed on
    > Tuesday to hear arguments concerning Obama’s legal eligibility to
    > serve as President in a case brought by Leo Donofrio of New Jersey.
    > This lawsuit claims Obama’s dual citizenship disqualified him from
    > serving as president. Donofrio’s case is just one of 18 suits
    > brought by citizens demanding proof of Obama’s citizenship or
    > qualification to serve as president.
    >

  49. #701844
    On May 16th, 2009 at 2:13 pm, rightisright said:

    having been a supporter of McShame in ‘08 elections says enough about him. Just another C.C. Republican…out with them.

    His dad has to be one of the most honest people you’d ever want to know, how is it the apple falls so far from the tree on occasion?

  50. #701850
    On May 16th, 2009 at 2:36 pm, Grey Fox said:

    On May 16th, 2009 at 1:36 pm, happyscrapper said:
    Off topic, but I need to put this in today…Has anyone seen the following information? I hadn’t seen it, even on FOX. Have I been missing something, or is this new information??

    I think it is a hoax. I can’t find any reference to it on GoogleNews except for one right wing blog, and the page seems to have disappeared. I went to the Daily Mail site to see if the article mentioned in the text had really been run, and I cannot find it. Until at least one of those articles surfaces I think we can discount it.

  51. #701851
    On May 16th, 2009 at 2:40 pm, 24Klady said:

    scrappy #48 – haven’t seen a reliable source for those stories floating around the net on Barry Soetoro’s records being -really- released by Occidental College. I just checked over at TexasDarlin’s site and there is nothing there, and they’ve been all over the COLB and the theories behind his identity. Do you have a link? Otherwise, if it came in an e-mail, I’d treat it as an urban legend. I didn’t run a Snopes on it though.

  52. #701853
    On May 16th, 2009 at 2:55 pm, fulldroolcup said:

    monad888 said:
    Why would a governor ditch their state for an ambassadorship? That’s embarrassing.

    But not unheard of. Republican governor Paul Celluci of Mass. went to Canada as ambassador for Bush. We didn’t miss him, but the woman who stepped into his position (Jane Swift) was a complete clown, hack, and embarrassment.

    Years later, she’s still living off “campaign contributions” extorted from her public-sector pals.

    Needless to say, the conservative wing of the GOP is insignificant in this one-party state.

  53. #701856
    On May 16th, 2009 at 3:09 pm, jsmiddleton4 said:

    At least he didn’t switch parties and then go to China…..

    The idea that going to China as an ambassador takes him off the map in 2012 is absurd. May even make him more marketable as in “I’ve lived in China. I’m ready for foreign affairs…”

  54. #701857
    On May 16th, 2009 at 3:09 pm, jsmiddleton4 said:

    At least he didn’t switch parties and then go to China…..

    The idea that going to China as an ambassador takes him off the map in 2012 is absurd. May even make him more marketable as in “I’ve lived in China. I’m ready for foreign affairs…”

  55. #701860
    On May 16th, 2009 at 4:14 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On May 16th, 2009 at 2:40 pm, 24Klady said:

    I did just get this in an e-mail. Darn it, I thought we might have him this time. I guess I shouldn’t be so gullible, but I truly believe he has a lot to hide in his past, and this could be one of them. He sure is good at covering up, isn’t he???

  56. #701862
    On May 16th, 2009 at 4:25 pm, Dedlock said:

    Another “moderate” quisling runs after Obama’s feckless handout.

  57. #701863
    On May 16th, 2009 at 4:25 pm, Dedlock said:

    Another “moderate” quisling runs after Obama’s feckless handout.

  58. #701864
    On May 16th, 2009 at 4:31 pm, 24Klady said:

    scrapper #55
    This is the first guy I’ve ever seen anywhere that doesn’t stay in contact with his old buddies from the past. Then, spend (if reports are true) big $$’s fighting release of transcripts and personal data. It’s a puzzle and is making those of us nervous that don’t get all excited about rumors. You got the job guy, just release the dang papers.
    We live in interesting times, indeed.

  59. #701868
    On May 16th, 2009 at 5:19 pm, tarpon said:

    This progressive is toast. Flushed out another one …

  60. #701878
    On May 16th, 2009 at 6:51 pm, DavidHughes said:

    Heard a news story about this on the radio today (CNN, I think). Said Huntsman was a presidential hopeful for Conservative Republicans. All I could think was, “hahahahahahahahahahaha!” Not likely. In the unlikely event that it were true, it certainly wouldn’t be after this. Good news is, when the O ship sinks, some of these RINOs will be going down with it.

  61. #702235
    On May 18th, 2009 at 1:27 am, Cosmo said:

    Odd. Not even a whisper from the left on Huntsman being a Mormon. I haven’t even heard Uber-tolerant Mike Huckabee mouth off on him. Won’t he alienate all of the Evangelical Chinese?

    This is a shrewd move, though, for Obama, and one pick I think he gets right. It puts a very capable businessman with Chinese street cred in the job, and removes him from the domestic political picture for a while.

  62. #702488
    On May 18th, 2009 at 11:45 am, old goat said:

    Admittedly Huntsman has made some interesting choices BUT as Utah gov he has done an overall GREAT job. Our small EMS volunteer agency (rural) was having major problems with a very powerful, union backed agency and we complained to Huntsman. Not only did he send a brilliant rep to research the problem, she had no qualms about knocking the union agency to the ground with the full backing of the gov. We were astounded!

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