Show selects GOP's Huntsman as ambassador to to- China Ri Richard hard Simon Los Angeles s sr r Times WASHINGTON President Barack I Saturday y reached into the Republican Republica ranks for fora a a key foreign foreign- policy position in his a administration choosing Utah Gov J Jon n Huntsman to tob tobe tobe b be ambassador to China Ghina Given the breadth of issues at stake in our relationship with China this this' ambassadorship is as as' as Important as any in the world said in announcing ng the the- ambassadorship at atthe the Wh WhiteHouse White WhiteHouse e eHouse House with Huntsman at athis athis athis his side While Huntsman has served seI as an ambassador to Singapore speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and has an adopted Chinese daughter noted that his selection of not only a Republican but a Republican who co-chaired co my opponents opponent's campaign for forthe forthe the pre presidency wouldn't be bethe bethe bethe the easiest move ove to explain t to some me people Huntsman also noted the unusual political c circumstances Nor did I expect as national co chair of Senator John McCains McCain's presidential campaign to tobe tobe tobe be called into action by bythe bythe bythe the person who beat us Huntsman added But called Huntsman the kind of leader who always puts country ah ahead ad of party whose knowledge and experience prepared him for the challenging job Echoing comment about setting aside party differences Huntsman said When the president of the United States asks you to step up and serve in a capacity like this that to me is the end of the conversation and the beginning of the obligation to rise to the challenge Once confirmed by the Senate as expected Huntsman will play a critical role in US U.S. efforts to recruit Chinese help on several fronts responding to global economic troubles addressing climate change and stopping the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea Huntsman also will wili have to address human rights a standing long-standing US U.S. concern about China and a matter of importance to Hollywood piracy With a vast population a growing economy and far- far reaching influence China will have a crucial role in confronting all the major challenges that face Asia and the world in the years ahead said Huntsman's appointment also could help who has struggled to win the support of congressional Republicans for a number of his initiatives The appointment came as asa a se because Huntsman has been mentioned as asa asa asa a potential challenger to in 2012 Its hard to run for president from Beijing said Bill president of the National Foreign Trade Council With the appointment President takes a promising GOP figure out of partisan politics at least for a time added John J. J Pitney Jr a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College more the president does so in ina a way that bulks up his his' bipartisan credentials Smart move Don Kettl KettI incoming dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy said that is fragmenting the Republicans Hes pulling key moderates into his camp and each step is allowing the remaining Republican base to slip further to the right His bet is that the Republicans cant can't win in 2010 or in 2012 without finding their way back to the middle Its It's getting increasingly lonely being a moderate Republican And that's vastly enhancing position The 49 year old Huntsman who won a second term as governor in in November has drawn criticism from party members for his support of of sex same-sex civil unions He also has been critical of his party telling ABC News last month You cant can't just st say no It would do us all a whole lot of good if we actually started engaging directly in finding compromises His sele selection tion drew praise from members of both part parties s. s Sen Orrin Hatch a fellow Utah Republican called Huntsman's qualifications tailor made for this important position on the world stage Rep Howard L. L Berman D chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said the selection of Huntsman demonstrates President nt commitment to a bipartisan foreign policy Gov Huntsman's Chinese language capabilities diplomatic political and entrepreneurial experience make him a solid choice to navigate the complexities of the the- U.S.-China U.S. relationship including various human rights trade and security added issues Berman Huntsman both born in California served as a White House staff assistant to President Ronald Reagan ambassador to Singapore under President George HW Bush and deputy trade representative under President George W. W Bush The son of Jon M. M Huntsman Sr a Utah chemicals and plastics billionaire and p philanthropist the Utah governor and his wife Mary Kaye have seven children including an adopted daughter from India in addition to their adopted daughter from China Huntsman's selection came as the White House announced that would be adding a stop in Ghana to a July trip to Russia and to the Group of 8 summit in Italy i v h L s JF H r J I i. i o. o H t |