Call him crazy

Striking a blow for sanity, Jon Huntsman tweeted this message yesterday: “To be clear. I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy.”It’s questionable whether Huntsman’s common-sense attitude will boost his long-shot prospects in the Republican presidential race – given the fact that so much of the prevailing Republican campaign rhetoric has bordered on the insane – but I would suggest that he keep tweeting in the same vein. He could be the factual reality candidate; that niche in the Republican race is wide open. By flying the banner of sane empiricism, 140 characters at a time, he could indeed perform a valuable public service. Consider these 10 tweeting possibilities:”Bachmann says Americans fear ‘the rise of the Soviet Union.’ The Soviet Union fell 20 years ago. I trust the historians. Call me crazy.””Bachmann says that gays are ‘part of Satan.’ I disagree. Gays are our neighbors, part of the American community. Call me crazy.””Romney says Obama wants to destroy us by imposing ‘European values.’ Bashing our friends and allies in Europe is demagogic. Call me crazy.””Santorum says abortion and gay marriage helped cause the recession. Let’s keep God out of it & stick to fiscal issues. Call me crazy.””None of my opponents support the debt ceiling deal. I do. I trust the finance experts who said default would be disastrous. Call me crazy.””My opponents keep signing mindless pledges. I won’t. I trust that voters will respect a candidate who refuses to pander. Call me crazy.””Perry says Soc Security is unconstitutional. No. Document says we can provide for ‘general welfare.’ I trust the Founders. Call me crazy.””Perry says the Fed chair is ‘treasonous,’ and evolution is just ‘theory.’ I trust we’re wise enough to laugh at such talk. Call me crazy.””Perry says scientists ‘manipulated’ climate data to make money. He lies. He can’t prove his claim. I trust factual reality. Call me crazy.””On CNN, top Reagan adviser calls Perry ‘an idiot, and I don’t think anyone would disagree with that.’ I trust the adviser. Call me crazy.”And that’s just for starters!However, we can safely assume that Huntsman will resist any urge to tweet such expressions of moderation. Given the mood of the current Republican primary electorate, the tactic of standing tall for sanity would be politically crazy.

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I’m a guest Sunday night on Larry Kane’s political roundup show, Voice of Reason, broadcast on the Comcast network. In case that seems like your best leisure option at 9:30 p.m.

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