HUntsman Outraged at Ad targeting Adopted Daughters

[bonnie]

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (Reuters) - Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman and members of his family expressed outrage on Friday at an advertisement targeted at his adopted daughters by a group supporting rival Ron Paul.

An online ad authored by "NHLiberty4Paul" shows footage of Huntsman with daughters Gracie, who was adopted from China, and Asha, adopted from India, when they were infants.

"American values. Or Chinese," the ad asks to a soundtrack of Chinese music. It calls Huntsman "the Manchurian Candidate" and ends with an image of Huntsman dressed as China's former communist leader Mao Zedong, and the words "Vote Ron Paul."

Paul, a Texas congressman, disavowed the ad during an interview on Friday on CNN, but said he could not control the actions of all his supporters.

"I couldn't even hear it, haven't looked at it, but people do that, and they do it in all campaigns," Paul said.

At a campaign appearance in Concord, New Hampshire, Huntsman, who was U.S. ambassador to China until April before jumping into the Republican race, termed the ad "just stupid" and "political campaign nonsense."

"If someone wants to poke fun at me, that's OK," said Huntsman, who trails in most polls in the Republican nominating contest. "What I object to is bringing forward pictures and videos of my adopted daughters and suggesting there's something sinister there."

The second oldest of Huntsman's seven children, Abby Huntsman Livingston, denounced the ad on Fox News Channel's "America Live" broadcast.

"It is unfortunate that the political conversation has become this vile. In our family, we put ourselves on the national stage and we expect to get everything and anything. Unfortunately, I think this video goes a bit far," Livingston said. "My two little sisters are the love of my dad's life."

Gracie Mei Huntsman, now 12, was found abandoned in a vegetable market in China at 6 months old, and adopted by Huntsman and his wife, Mary Kaye. She has been a fixture on the campaign trail, often referred to by her father as "our senior foreign policy adviser."

Asha, now 6, was abandoned in a field in India the day she was born, Livingston said.

Also weighing in was Cindy McCain, the wife of 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain. "I deeply resent the video made using the adopted daughters of@jonhuntsman," McCain wrote on Twitter. "@ronpaul shame on you. This has shades of 2000 all over it."

During John McCain's failed 2000 campaign for the Republican nomination, automated phone calls referred to the Arizona senator fathering an out-of-wedlock "black baby," apparently in reference to the McCains' adopted Bangladeshi daughter.

[Woody]

I AM surprised that Ron Paul would do this.

[bonnie]

I AM surprised that Ron Paul would do this.

I don't know it is fair to say Ron Paul did this.My reservations about Ron Paul is his pretty solid support from groups that do think just this way. It is pretty easy to disavow when you keep their money.

Ron Paul supporters are very extreme and radical in support of this man.Far beyond "this is my favorite candidate".Those that flock to you do so for a reason.

[lazarus]

I AM surprised that Ron Paul would do this.

I'm not. I fits the republican modus operandi. If 20 years ago he's writing racist newsletters then he's gonna do this.

[Dr. Shane]

Paul's supporters are more Libertarian than Republican. The Republican Party is the one that freed the slaves and passed the civil rights legislation in the '60s and '70s. The Libertarian Party has many more fringe elements in it.

Let's not forget that Republican President Nixon successfully integrated the schools, implemented affirmative action and signed off on the Equal Rights Amendment.

[lazarus]

Paul's supporters are more Libertarian than Republican.

Ron Paul has an R after his name. He is running for the republican nomination. He is a republican.

[bonnie]

Ron Paul has an R after his name. He is running for the republican nomination. He is a republican.

Ron Paul has a R after his name because it is his best chance.

There is a world of difference anyway between a conservative and a republican.

Nor does Ron Paul define and represent all republicans anymore than Harry Reid defines and represents all democrats.

Democrats are well known for their attacks on a personal level towards conservative black politicians.

Particularly against attractive black conservative women. Ask Condi Rice

[Dr. Shane]

Ron Paul has a R after his name because it is his best chance.

That is exactly what Ron Paul has said when asked why he is a Republican. Four years ago there was a televised debate for third-party candidates. Ron Paul was running as an independent although the Constitution Party wanted to nominate him. He was asked in the debate why he ran as a Republican for his House of Representatives seat and pretty much stated that it was his only chance of winning. He has his own following and if he were to drop out of the race some of his followers wouldn't even continue to follow the race.