Sunday, May 17, 2009
Huntsman: I Agonized Over China Ambassador Job
Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman said Monday he agonized over the decision to join the Obama administration as ambassador to China, concerned about the impact it would have on his family and his state.
President Barack Obama tapped the Republican governor for the post on Saturday, and Huntsman has yet to answer questions from reporters about his selection.
Huntsman said Monday that the decision was not an easy one. He and his wife, Mary Kaye, have seven children, including adopted daughters from China and India.
One of the most popular governors in state history, Huntsman won re-election in November with 78 percent of the vote. During the campaign, he said he intended to serve out his second term. He did not address his campaign pledge on Monday.
"The last week has been surreal. It has been an emotional roller coaster and it has been complete with a lot of sleepless nights," Huntsman said. However, he said, it would have been very difficult to say no to the president.
Huntsman and Obama "talked a lot about service and in some cases the importance of putting self-interest and politics aside in pursuit of those things that are more important for our nation, and I think we understand that," Huntsman said.
The governor said he and Obama agreed that the U.S. relationship with China was the most important in the world, and discussed how that relationship might be handled.
"We had a good meeting of the minds," Huntsman told reporters Monday.
Huntsman, 49, is fluent in Mandarin Chinese from his days serving as a Mormon missionary in Taiwan and has extensive experience in Asia, including serving as ambassador to Singapore in the George H.W. Bush administration.
A moderate Republican, Huntsman had been making a name for himself as a potential presidential contender in 2012 and had spoken openly about the need for the GOP to become more inclusive if it wanted to attract new voters.
Huntsman said he wouldn't resign as governor until the U.S. Senate confirms the appointment.
Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman said Monday he agonized over the decision to join the Obama administration as ambassador to China, concerned about the impact it would have on his family and his state.
President Barack Obama tapped the Republican governor for the post on Saturday, and Huntsman has yet to answer questions from reporters about his selection.
Huntsman said Monday that the decision was not an easy one. He and his wife, Mary Kaye, have seven children, including adopted daughters from China and India.
One of the most popular governors in state history, Huntsman won re-election in November with 78 percent of the vote. During the campaign, he said he intended to serve out his second term. He did not address his campaign pledge on Monday.
"The last week has been surreal. It has been an emotional roller coaster and it has been complete with a lot of sleepless nights," Huntsman said. However, he said, it would have been very difficult to say no to the president.
Huntsman and Obama "talked a lot about service and in some cases the importance of putting self-interest and politics aside in pursuit of those things that are more important for our nation, and I think we understand that," Huntsman said.
The governor said he and Obama agreed that the U.S. relationship with China was the most important in the world, and discussed how that relationship might be handled.
"We had a good meeting of the minds," Huntsman told reporters Monday.
Huntsman, 49, is fluent in Mandarin Chinese from his days serving as a Mormon missionary in Taiwan and has extensive experience in Asia, including serving as ambassador to Singapore in the George H.W. Bush administration.
A moderate Republican, Huntsman had been making a name for himself as a potential presidential contender in 2012 and had spoken openly about the need for the GOP to become more inclusive if it wanted to attract new voters.
Huntsman said he wouldn't resign as governor until the U.S. Senate confirms the appointment.
