The last thing America needs in a time of economic turmoil is the nearly $450 billion stimulus package proposed Thursday by President Barack Obama, Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman reveals in an exclusive Newsmax.tv interview.
“We need to look at the structural impediments that stand in the way of job growth and the deployment of capital in the marketplace,” the former Utah governor says. “It’s taxes, and it’s regulation, and we are overburdened by both.”
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Huntsman blasted Obamacare and described the federal healthcare program as a $1 trillion burden on society.
“Until such time as we’re willing to say Obamacare is a big loser for this country, to the tune of $1 trillion, impeding economic growth…we’re not going to be where this country needs to be in getting on our feet economically,” he says.
He tells Newsmax the legislation should be repealed.
“We can least afford it,” he says. “It’s a new bureaucracy that is being created. It would be a mandate that likely is unconstitutional.”
When asked about the issue of national security, as the 10th anniversary of 9/11 is remembered across the globe, Huntsman says the deepening recession has made the country more vulnerable.
“It’s our core, and our core is our economy,” he says. “When our economy is weak, we’re less able to compete with the rest of the world, we’re less able to project the values of the United States.”
Obama’s recent jobs speech came a little too late it the game, Huntsman tells Newsmax.
“We’ve had three summers of speeches, three summers of economic discontent, and I believe the American people have tuned out,” he says.
The 51-year-old newcomer to the 2012 political race says he is betting his poll numbers will go up.
“We’re just beginning to introduce ourselves to the American people,” he tells Newsmax. “I have every confidence that in the weeks and months ahead…that we’re going to do just fine.”
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