All indications are that President Obama will name Governor John Huntsman of Utah as the next ambassador to China.  (Read a news story HERE.) He does speak some Chinese and has an adopted daughter from China, so at first glance he appears a good fit.  The two-term widely popular governor, however, is reportedly a Mormon, a Republican and a fiscal conservative, and he backed John McCain in the presidential election.  It was rumored that he could have been a cabinet member had McCain been elected and some have thought he may appear as a Republican candidate for president in 2012.

In a change from most in his party though Huntsman recently announced that he favors same-sex unions, which was of course unpopular in his heavily Mormon state, but embraced in other parts of the country.  Now he’s apparently on his way to China, one of the most important ambassador positions (especially now, since we owe them even more money from our national deficit) for a president he campaigned against.

I’m curious, is Obama eliminating potential competition or did the Governor’s stance on same-sex unions cause him favor in the president’s eyes?  I don’t know if we will ever know, but one thing I’m learning, even as a life-long political observer, I can’t figure out politics anymore.

Are you surprised by politics these days?

Related posts:

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2. President Obama Absent from National Day of Prayer Celebration
3. How About and Obama – McCain Co-Presidency Ticket?
4. Sarah Palin Resigns as Governor
5. 25 Trivia Points about John McCain