The Points staff notes with sadness that former Utah governor Jon Hunstman has withdrawn from the competition for the Republican nomination.
Jon Huntsman, Former Candidate...
News of his decision in this regard came just as the staff was preparing a new series, to roll out next week, on the drugs and alcohol platforms of all the candidates. Was it fear of the laser-like scrutiny to which he would be subjected by Points‘ staffers that prompted Huntsman’s withdrawal? We may never know.
...and Former Rick Wakeman Wannabe(back row, right; courtesy Salt Lake City Weekly)
Suffice it to say that at the center of our Huntsman coverage was an unprecedented scrutiny of the lyrics of Wizard, the ’80s prog-rock band in which he played keyboards. Thanks to NPR, we already know that when the band covered Eric Clapton’s “Cocaine” they had to change the word to “Propane” to placate the Mormon elders. Our plan at Points was to tease out similar moments of textual evasion or substitution, which together would reveal what we believe was a counterhegemonic energy at odds with the candidate’s reputation for strict conservatism. Gingrich and Perry would’ve no doubt had him for lunch.
Undeterred, we will unveil our examination of Rick Santorum’s policy stances this Tuesday.