Huntsman connects with Utahns in State of State

By Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb
Published: Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006 11:23 p.m. MST
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Pignanelli: For Utah Democrats, there was little to dispute and much to embrace in Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s speech on Tuesday. Since the content was not offensive, that leaves room for analysis of style.

The governor's presentation was a shrewd political maneuver — he established a handful of objectives for the Legislature (expanding kindergarten, tax reform, transportation) that can be easily achieved in six weeks. Because he avoided the hoopla that surrounds this speech in years past, there was more focus on the governor's simple but important goals. Huntsman cleverly sprinkled bipartisan references to lawmakers sending a signal to the public that he is a generous politician willing to extend credit. Further, the onus is now on the Legislature to remove the sales tax on food, a reform Huntsman openly endorsed.

The most "human" part of Huntsman's speech was when he lifted his eyes from the TelePrompter to articulate an emotional opposition to storing nuclear waste in Utah. Prior to this outburst, Huntsman had fallen into a "singsong" routine of most speakers using the electronic support. Huntsman can be engaging when not tethered to the TelePrompter. (The great orators of modern history — Jesse Jackson, Ronald Reagan, Frank Church — performed well when unleashed.) The ability to personally connect with the audience is in Huntsman's blood. Most members of the LDS Church, and even this gentile, were moved by the conference presentations given by Huntsman's grandfather, David B. Haight, who could not use a teleprompter. Although problematic in the 21st century, Huntsman should consider a similar approach.

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Webb: Yes, Democrats are easily co-opted by good Republican public policy initiatives. Democrats have little ability to win their own priorities, so they might as well cozy up to the governor. In his speech, Huntsman didn't try to dazzle with soaring rhetoric or to connect emotionally with stories, parables or metaphors. But it was a fine speech, laying out what the governor wants accomplished in the next 39 days and making Utahns feel good about themselves and their state. Huntsman inspires confidence and leaves citizens with the sense that the state is in good hands. The governor did create some confusion on tax cuts, with many observers wondering how you can eliminate the entire sales tax on food and flatten the income tax, while keeping the overall tax cut within the $60 million the governor proposed in his budget.

"Message" legislation

Webb: What is a so-called "message bill" is entirely in the eye of the beholder. It's easy for Frank and his liberal cohorts to disparage legislation designed to protect the traditional family as unfashionable and embarrassing. But these bills deserve full debate and as much respect as, say, a bill forcing Utah employers to pay a higher minimum wage.

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