Jon Huntsman on 'Hannity'

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-- Republican primary voters from coast to coast have a big decision making coming weeks and months they must decide who they support for the GOP nomination.

Now although Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are currently on top some conservatives are Begin -- look at the direction of former Utah governor Jon Huntsman.

How columnist George Will recently praised some of Huntsman is conservative credentials.

He argued that Huntsman supports Paul Ryan's proposed budget -- plan he would privatize Fannie and Freddie eliminate the capital gains tax.

He opposes farm subsidies and he is called No Child Left Behind a disaster but not everyone is convinced one man who remains unimpressed with the governors Donald Trump.

And -- my interview with the always outspoken entrepreneur or yesterday.

I asked him to talk about why some candidates icons -- Ron Paul are not participating.

And his upcoming Iowa debate take a look.

Ron Paul has zero chance zero.

Getting elected or getting the nomination.

He'll do okay in Iowa and -- I will fade into oblivion so Ron Paul you know frankly that some of these people -- there Huntsman is -- what he called my office I don't know if you know this.

One of the meeting I didn't give it to.

Maybe I should have I didn't give it to.

But he wanted to come up and see me and that I see him at -- debates and unlike you people I didn't go and see Donald Trump.

So he's a Mormon so I'm sure he wouldn't live.

But the fact is that all of these people I mean the two people -- we're talking about.

I'm glad they're not going to be -- because then I can sort of focus own people that really have a chance of winning.

And earlier today Mitt Romney announced that he would not attend the -- moderated debate either joining me now from Washington to respond to that much more.

Former Utah governor presidential candidate John Huntsman.

Governor had to say thanks -- -- -- John it's not going to be with you thank you all right did you ask for meetings -- trump.

I call trump after -- dropped out of the race like I did Tim Pawlenty just to wish him well.

No -- did I want to meet him no way that I won his support I think his of infusing himself into the dialogue.

Really guns down.

And makes a less consequential the very important issues that we must be discussing to get this country back on its feet again.

These are serious issues -- on this is that our ratings for Donald Trump this is about jobs for the American people this is about who can go -- to beat Barack Obama.

This is about securing our place in the world.

And dealing with the two biggest deficits that we face when there's an economic -- stopping at SS trust deficit -- I -- I read Donald's Trump's book it's a serious talk about how to make America tougher.

And stronger and he's got a lot of good proposals in that book.

I'm not sure why exactly say he -- it down he somebody that has been very successful while YA YU insulting him.

This is no doubt about that he's that he's a successful man he might wanna run as an independent I say when you start moving into politics as entertainment which is exactly what that says.

When he when you put on a show -- -- say that afterwards you might then pick your favorite contender this becomes more politics as entertainment as opposed to -- -- politics.

As part of a serious dialogue that this country has been waiting for and I say we need to get back to the issues we need to get back to the kind of discussion John.

That I'm going to be having with Newt Gingrich -- New Hampshire in just a few short days where we're gonna have.

They run on conversation about national security policy and defense policy in ways that I think we're really in -- the American people won't let me ask you this talk about -- here -- the latest poll numbers Gingrich had 37.

I'm talking about the latest Gallup poll Romney is said that 22.

Ron Paul a city can you of 1% of the -- is is my question to.

Why wouldn't you want every opportunity.

If I -- and I think one of the problems you face from the beginning is you are unknown to the American people.

Why not take advantage of every opportunity.

Whether or not you're gonna have a chance to be asked questions and answer them.

National TV exposure one -- just take advantage of the opportunity the free air time.

And get your point of view out instead you know make it a big deal over who's asking the questions I'm not particularly impressed.

With a lot of the so called moderate is of the debates here before.

Well I I for popular so be it that's.

There ought to be a little bit of dignity associated with a run for the presidency of the United States I think the presidency the United States John goes well beyond a reality show kind of format.

And listen people are coming around and taking a good look at -- -- for the first time.

And they're saying that I -- -- consistent conservative they might not of CNET the first go around they -- waved this off because we had crossed a partisan lines to serve as US ambassador to China.

But they're coming around -- to see that I have been consistently pro life.

Consistently pro Second Amendment.

Pro growth I delivered the largest tax cut -- in the history of my state Health Care Reform without a mandate the second voucher bill.

I support the Ryan plan the list goes on and on let me ask and is therefore no surprise that we're moving up in New Hampshire which is the state that were seriously competing all right so look let me ask as you -- appointed by Barack Obama as ambassador to China.

Now you if you won the nomination -- run against Barack Obama.

Do you regret having served the administration -- the -- do you think his policies as foreign policy has been good with China.

John when you were asked to serve your country.

During a time of war during a time of economic hardship.

When you have something you can bring to the table.

To make your country better and stronger I say it would be unpatriotic of me not to step up and serve but he's always believed and putting my country -- I I got that but I for example of that Barack Obama which would never happen I mean never -- and I'll just put it.

I couldn't serve under him I -- in such a deep philosophical divide.

On every major issue that we just -- we see things differently -- -- I'm not questioning.

If these are great American that it has nothing to do that we see life differently.

I would have a hard time working for him how do you go from working for him.

And then competing against him you know -- did you for example do you find that you yourself an agreement -- many things with Barack Obama.

Listen I I found my self serving my country in a very sensitive national security foreign policy post I was a conservative got -- governor before.

I am but consistent conservative candidate now because you step up and serve your country.

It doesn't mean you resign your political affiliation it doesn't mean you change your world view you simply say that during a time when maybe we -- -- -- Putting our country first and foremost you're willing to step up into a position that I was qualified for I've spent thirty years of my life trying to crack the code on China I put the nature of four times.

I speak Chinese I -- served as ambassador three times.

And I say if you believe in that kind of service if you have two boys in the military as I do we tend to put country probably the earliest down and I'm not questioning patriot is an up and serve.

It -- it look at the unequal trade balance between the US and -- China.

As ambassador.

Do you think we could have done more you could have done more Obama could have done more to -- to stop that imbalance and does it concern you.

The trade imbalance is going to Begin to address itself when China's currency problems begins to be addressed and that's driven first and foremost by their an entrepreneur -- is domestically because -- an ultra open source within China they want China to become more of consumption based model -- that's exactly where they're -- they wanna be able to sell their own products domestically where they can't today.

So I say when they Begin to rebalance their economy toward a more of a consumption base model we get more export opportunities which is more jobs created.

Here in the United States that's what our future looks like and I say that expands our economic opportunity and I'm in favor of that.

And I did everything I could to help move that along I will continue to -- hope you're ready for the incoming fire from trump I don't think -- -- sit back and take these common slightly tonight I had that situation -- finally ready for any -- hit three daughters to come up with a song -- -- Trump's gonna fire back card -- my prediction.

Thank you John I appreciate it all right good to see -- thank you governor and coming up as each one.

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Jon Huntsman on 'Hannity'

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