•  Campaign Videos (November 2011) « Jon Huntsman for President
  

clip from Nov. 9 debate in Michigan...
Romney: I'm sorry, pardon.
Maria Bartiromo: How would you crack down on China?
[Music starts] Romney: Well number one, I would do something this president should have done a long time ago, which is to label China a currency manipulator...

Unidentified: ...and then we'd start a trade war.

Unidentified: I think his view on China in terms of at least sounding like he's pushing a trade war is not necessarily good.

Unidentified: It leads to trade wars; it's simply wrong, not in our national interest, and I think it was a dumb idea.

Brit Hume: Combine that with Romney's apparent willingness to risk a trade war with China, his vagueness on tax rates, and his numerous switches on other issues, and you can see why so many Republicans are wary of him.

Unidentified: ...the Wall Street Journal said that was the dangerous mistake of a commander in chief...

Unidentified: ...that if there's too much pressure on them, they're going to crack and that's going to bring down the U.S., it's going to bring down the rest of Asia.

Unidentified: Jon Huntsman tonight gave some very substantive answers on things that he had personal knowledge of.  For example with respect to China, he corrected Mitt Romney, he spoke knowledgably about what engaging and being antagonistic towards China with a trade policy might be if there was a trade war...

Huntsman (clip from Nov. 12 debate in South Carolina): I don't know that this country needs a trade war with China.  Who does it hurt?  Our small businesses in South Carolina, our exporters...

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Notes: The Huntsman campaign again goes after Romney, but this time on a specific policy point rather than the formulaic monkey toy and weather vane type videos.  The video has a number of shortcomings however.  First, there are various unidentified talking heads.  Second, as pez001 commented: "I like Jon Huntsman, I support Jon Huntsman but somebody has to stop using the creepy incidental music that accompanies these videos. At best it's a bad choice, at worst it's manipulative. I think Jon is above that."  More significantly, while attacking Romney for a position that could lead to a trade war, the video does not provide any information on what Huntsman would do to address China.  If there was not room in the video, the campaign could, for example, link to fact sheet. 

Text of email from campaign manager Matt David:

Friends:

At Saturday’s foreign policy debate in South Carolina, Gov. Huntsman again showed that he is the only candidate who understands the world’s complex challenges and is prepared to lead as Commander-in-Chief on day one.

Gov. Huntsman continued to distinguish himself from Mitt Romney on their level of experience and knowledge of the U.S. - China relationship. Once again, Mitt Romney’s basic misunderstanding of foreign affairs came up as he continued to pledge to label China a currency manipulator and slap sanctions in place – a pandering sound bite that economic experts agree would start a trade war. 

When Gov. Romney proposed to take action against China through the World Trade Organization, Gov. Huntsman quickly dismissed Romney's "solution" as not even possible before delivering his own thoughtful, informed response.

The Washington Post later confirmed Gov. Huntsman’s statement.

We are living in tumultuous times, and America cannot afford a Commander-in-Chief who is forced to learn on the job. While his opponents continue to pander for applause lines, Gov. Huntsman will continue to offer substantive solutions that will strengthen America at home and abroad.

If you agree that Jon Huntsman is the principled, experienced leader America needs, please forward this email to five of your friends.

Proud To Stand With Jon Huntsman,

Matt David
Campaign Manager

Copyright © 2011 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.