I recently read an interesting article ("Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman Jr. compete in Mormon primary," June 23). The article pointed out a little-known fact: Mitt Romney is a great-great grandson of early Mormon Apostle Parley P. Pratt and Jon Huntsman Jr. is a great-great-great grandson of Pratt.
I have heard Mitt speak in Omaha, Nebraska, and as the article noted, "Romney struggles to chat up voters on the campaign trail, awkwardly filling in the silences with small talk."
By contrast, when I met and shook hands with Jon Huntsman Jr. in his governor's office in Salt Lake in 2007, he was warm, cordial and jovial with me.
I sometimes wonder: "What would Parley P. Pratt think today?" I think he would be pleased that two of his descendants are seeking the presidency of the United States. I think, he would urge them to cooperate and not compete. Huntsman has presidential leadership qualities, while Romney is best-suited for a vice-presidential role.
If they don't learn to cooperate and mesh their strong talents and minimize their weaknesses, the campaign could turn into the potentially "nasty, intra-faith contest" the article spoke of.
James A. Marples
Provo
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@Mike Richards - How, pray tell, is Jon Huntsman inexperienced? Like Romney, he has executive experience as Governor. He also served as Ambassador to one of the world's prominent -- and powerful -- rising powers.
If you're going to More..
There is much to admire in both Mr. Huntsman and Mr. Romney.
I ask this question in complete sincerity:
What are the chances that the current base of the GOP, comprised of a mixture of Tea Party libertarians and evangelical More..
The world won't see an intra-faith contest, and Mormons should not see it that way either. If they do, then it shows that the Church is still not a world religion, is not one of wide appeal, and is not yet ready for the big stage. It is still a More..