header graphic

Jon Huntsman for President

"About Jon" +
  5:04 web video from June 21, 2011.

[Music] Male Announcer: Jon Huntsman is different.  Fresh.  New.  Not really a typical politician at all. 

What made him that way?

Well where he came from for one thing.  His family.  A nice middle class start.  Jon Meade Huntsman.  Born Palo Alto, March 26, 1960.  First-born child of a man who would later be quite the self made success.  But at six Jon just helped his dad deliver eggs to grocery stores.  Started his own first business before he was ten, mowing lawns.  Big family.  Nine kids.  Jon was the oldest.  Left high school a shade shy of graduation to travel with his rock band "Wizard."  Not your typical politician here.

Well "Wizard" didn't take off, but Jon did, on a mission trip to Taiwan.  Then back home to finish college, join the family business and start a family of his own.  Met his life-long love in high school.  Worked along side her at a neighborhood restaurant.  Mary Kaye Cooper was the salad girl that stole his heart.  She still has it 28 years later.  Regardless of travels, they haven't gone a day without talking.  In all those 28 years, not a day.  Best friends.  Sweethearts.  Skype often connects this family across miles and time zones.  Quite a life.  Quite a marriage.  Quite a family.

Now seven kids of their own, each with their own unique relationship with dad.  Grounded in a love for conversation, love for the outdoors, walking in the American wilderness, laughing, wrestling, bedtime stories, motocross—'til Mary Kaye put a stop to that one—too many broken bones for this mom's taste.  Mary Anne, accomplished keyboardist.  Abigail, up and coming media pro.  Elizabeth, just graduating college to begin the rest of her life.  Jon the 3rd, born while his dad served as Deputy Secretary of Commerce for East Asia.  Drummer in the family rock band, dad on keys.  Will, born while dad was U.S. Ambassador to Singapore.  He's the family guitarist.  The two youngest girls joined the family from the far East.  Raised to learn of their own cultural roots, the opportunities of our country and the love of their adopted family.  Grace Mei had been abandoned in a Chinese market.  Jon and Mary Kaye adopted her Christmas of 1999.  Asha Bharati they brought home from a Catholic orphanage in India Christmas 2006.

This man, a sucessful two-term conservative Governor of Utah, the youngest U.S. Ambassador in a century, to Singapore, and then Ambassador to China.  Some see a man of the world.  His family sees the world's best pancake chef, who makes a mean egg-white omelet.  A dad who listens.  Practical jokes.  Cranks up the rock.  The dad who won't make dinner reservations because his favorite restaurant carts don't take them.  Mary Kaye has mentioned she'd like to eat somewhere nice someday, but that day seems yet to arrive.

Their favorite spot to vacation is California's Coronado beach.  Maybe that's where both sons found their love for the U.S. Navy.  Jon's favorite place to eat there, a two-hour drive north to Henry's Taco Stand in L.A..

Jon's a quiet, no-drama conservative, heart in the right place.  Sees a generational opportunity for America now to re-set our place in the world, balance our books, put America's house back in order, just doing what he always has.  Making life better for his family.  For your family. 

This guy is different.  Jon Huntsman.

Notes: A very thorough bio. video.