Jon Huntsman Jr. Quotes

This is the marketplace of political ideas. This is how America operates. It’s a free market. It’s free-wheeling. From the outside, it looks unpredictable. There’s a circus-like free market.a

When America closes its doors, so does everybody else. We are the primary engine of growth in the world and we are the only beacon of free trade left, and open markets.

But economic recovery must be earned. And it will be earned by entrepreneurs and it will be earned by small businesses.

I’m not sure it’s the stimulus money that will necessarily allow the economy to recover. It will help to fortify our budgets, frankly, to ensure that there isn’t as much backsliding in the areas of education and healthcare, for example.

I would vote to increase the debt limit if there was a corresponding level of cuts. And if there was some serious talk about a balanced budget amendment, which we as governors always had to deal with.

And the trajectory that our debt is taking now beyond $14 trillion is going to have an impact on our currency. It goes south, and our currency’s going to have an impact on our standard of living and affect every family in this country, and over time, our international competitiveness.

In our own state, we came up with, I think, what was a very novel approach to closing the gap on the uninsured. To harmonize medical records – which was a major step in getting costs out of the system.

We’re fighting an enemy that is far different than any we have got before. It’s a nontraditional kind of war, and I think we need to step back, recalibrate how we go about protecting our borders and protecting our people, and resetting our position in the world.

You can be stern and forthright, and that’s my management style, but when you lose it totally, that’s a sign of weakness.

I come from a long line of saloon keepers and proselytizers, and I draw from both sides.

I’m a very spiritual person, and proud of my Mormon roots.

People truly reaching across boundaries – be they religious or race, political or geographic. A state that is sincerely civil and respectful of each individual’s pathway toward life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness will be our goal.

I was criticized at some level within the Republican Party by those who say government should not be in the economic development business at all. My response is that the only country I know that doesn’t have an economic development plan is Papa New Guinea.

I love music, I love all kinds of music, particularly jazz. Jazz is an extension of America. There’s no other country in the world that could have produced jazz.

My father, one of the great entrepreneurs and philanthropists of this state, taught me that capital – monetary or political – is to be used to benefit others. I intend to continue that tradition.

Economic prosperity and quality education for our children are inexorably linked.

Politics is a lot of serendipity. You’re in the right place and the right time and you’ve got the right message, and it either connects for you or, or it doesn’t.