The other, western Mormon

The 48^th Nobel Conference dealt with topics pertaining to the vastness of our oceans, the unknown wonders beneath them, and their future on this earth. I for one believe that our oceans are quite vast enough, and that we should do what we can to make sure that in another 150 years, Gustavus will not be hosting a conference about the wonders of the lost underwater city of Miami. This brings me to my preferred topic this election season: the absurd depths to which the campaigns have brought our national dialogue.

Expressing, among other things, contempt for policy that puts environment before business, Mitt Romney said this during his Republican Convention speech; “President Obama promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans and heal the planet. MY promise…is to help you and your family.”

Presidential primaries have always been a strange phenomenon, but they are getting stranger. This is a story of two men with nearly identical backgrounds whose fortunes in one such primary were drastically different. Both Mormons, both white males, both born into incredibly wealthy and powerful families, both went on to be successful businessmen and Governors, both sought the Presidency, but then one was run out of his own party while the other was given its nomination. Where did these two lives diverge so sharply? What event or choice separated these two fates?

Clearly, no one event or singular trait can account for how the primary turned out, but any explanation of their differences has to consider when one chose to please the crowd at all costs and the other said this:

“To be clear. I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy.” Enter Jon Huntsman, former Utah Governor who would later be denied an invitation to his own party’s convention, our other Mormon.

This was deemed a ‘controversial’ and ‘bold’ statement by some covering the election. Huntsman’s tendency to give longer, substantive answers in debates and unwillingness to throw red meat to the red masses was generally looked down upon and thought a poor strategy by the pundits, and they were proven right.

As it turns out, if you are trying to win a primary where the kingmakers are the activists and the party faithful, supporting cap and trade, term limits for congress, campaign finance reform, civil rights for LGBT couples, and refusing to sign anti-tax pledges is not the way to win.

Absurdly, Huntsman’s background in foreign policy hurt him with these voters even more than his pragmatic mentality and civil demeanor. He was the youngest ever ambassador to Singapore, speaks fluent Mandarin, and was Ambassador to China under president Obama. He has since adopted two Chinese-born daughters, and still makes frequent visits to promote democracy around the world. His life of service overseas prompted his campaign slogan, “Country First”. In other words, a life immersed in understanding how eastern cultures live the human experience was a bad thing, especially when he served as ambassador to our biggest rival under our worst ever president, Barack Obama.

Fifty years ago, the notion that this man is somehow less of a patriot because he chose to forego his political ambitions to serve as Ambassador to China in the Obama administration would have seemed quite as ridiculous to every American as it does to me. The notion that he is somehow less American because he has spent his life in America’s service in countries we consider rivals, that he is somehow less qualified to lead because he believes in evolution and global warming, and perhaps most absurdly of all, that all of these things were talking points that others used to attack him with effectively is clear evidence of the devastating polarization that has gripped our nation.

Jon Huntsman is the real deal. He is what Republicans, and to a larger extent our political system, need to reclaim the public sector for servant leadership and the center of the electorate for the disenfranchised moderates. He, without a doubt, had the best chance of energizing middle, reuniting the Republican Party, and beating President Obama. He could be our generation’s Eisenhower. But he will never get that chance, because he’s all substance, and no sensationalism.

In Jon Huntsman’s own words, “Our country is divided, because of attitudes like that.”

Until next time, Gusties, think more, believe less.