Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal began his address to the nation by praising America's first African American president. This at the same time he was being smacked across the face by the left and the right in our country. It was surreal and it was to be expected.
Jindal's speech was a good one. It was not a great one but it didn't have to be. This was a no win situation for whomever was to follow President Obama. While Obama's delivery was flawed and he still doesn't have some rudimentary process under his belt - as when he began to speak before Speaker Pelosi introduced him - it was still delivered to the slobbering press and crowd. The agenda was large and no specific solutions were offered up yet you would think it was the best speech ever to read the glowing remarks afterward.
Jindal speaks quickly, especially for a man of the South. His delivery of the speech was evidently meant to slow him down and bring it to a common man's level. It seemed to reach too far back in maturity, though, and this leaves critics to feed on belittling him. Plus, Jindal is an unabashed patriotic first generation American who truly believes in his conservative message. More importantly, he is successfully governing a state known for corruption and bad behavior as a leader who walks the walk.
The left hates him.
Helen Thomas cracks a Slumdog Millionare joke about Gov. Jindal after calling his speech "pitiful" and it's accepted as comedy because it is an attack on a Republican of color. Imagine if it was a watermelon and fried chicken joke about Barack Obama. And, uttered by a known conservative. Wow. Just as MSNBC's Chris Matthews uttered "Oh, God" as Gov. Jindal came onto television screens, Helen Thomas is proven again to show her true colors. Both brag of their liberalism yet continue to shine an unflattering light on it.
The holier than thou wing of the Republican party is in full voice today criticizing the speech made last night by Gov. Bobby Jindal as a rebuttal to the one delivered by President Obama. I read one remark that many listeners would be surprised to see him and put his accent to is face. I read many remarks on his teacher tone as if to speak to kindergartners. I read that the message was dumbed down and wouldn't ring true with young people or the diversity crowd.
What is incredible to me, though sadly fully expected, is the fact that while we celebrate the nation's first African American president's first speech delivered to a joint meeting of Congress, in the same evening discrediting the rebuttal of the loyal opposition in the form of Gov. Jindal.
Who is Bobby Jindal? Jindal is the first Indian-American state governor. He is a Rhodes Scholar, a graduate of Oxford University. His birth certificate is not called into question. Born to poor Indian immigrants in the state of Louisiana, his "American" name is taken from a sitcom. His mother was four months pregnant with him when his parents arrived in this country, making him a "pre-existing condition" as he calls himself to insurance companies. Jindal began his career in politics at an early age - in his early 20's in the state of Louisiana and the state is richer for it. A classic Jindal line was spoken by him last night, "The strength of America is not found in our government, it is found in her people." "We look for hope in different places", when talking about the differences between Republicans and Democrats in basic political philosophy. And, the left hates him.
The American left hates Bobby Jindal. He is a rising star with plenty of time to get there. His age is 37. He is a first term governor and he will not be rushed into anything else. He says he will run for a second term and I believe him. The state sorely needs him and he knows how to lead. Plus, the people love him. He will be a strong candidate for higher office in 2016.
Jindal points to the fact that yes, Republicans in power lost their way as far as conservative fiscal policy and he speaks to the folly of that corruption. He is against universal health care if the government runs it. He advocates and implements charter schools and school choice, especially in New Orleans where the need is so obvious, especially after Hurricane Katrina. He demands the federal monies promised to Louisiana after devastating storms.
Gov. Jindal is known as a policy wonk. He is articulate. He is a fast talker. He leads by producing a positive message and inspiring the people of Louisiana. His life story is to be celebrated, not belittled for political gain. His life story is impossible in any other country. He is grateful and he is humble. The left hates him.
Jindal was raised with the constant statement from his father, "Americans can do anything". While the current president and his administration are busy stating that if Congress doesn't act immediately and expand government to unprecedented levels (while bashing the previous administration for doing so), then America may never recover. Doom and gloom. Last night Jindal said, "Don't let anyone tell you we cannot recover. That America's best days are behind her."
He plainly laid out the Republican alternatives to the big government solutions of the Democrats. He counsels that the Republican party must be more than the party of no and provide acceptable alternatives.
The left hates him. The right would do well to settle down and let him be just who he is.
4 comments:
The left doesn't hate him; I've seen no evidence of that whatsoever. I've seen him speak in person before, once very recently, have great respect for his ethics and his political skill and his talent. And for those very reasons alone, expected much more from him last night. I feel fairly certain that his Party also expected much better from him last night, given the brutal panning he's receiving from its membership across the board today.
Honestly? Your assessment implying his moment in the national spotlight was poorly received because of race or ethnicity in some way? Not even close.
Americans can do anything. Obama has said the same thing many times before, and did again last night. In fact, three paragraphs you've written here in this very post could be lifted verbatim and said about the President. Jindal needed something more than that, and he just didn't produce.
It was a horridly delivered, rehash of old and tired slam the libs ideas that failed to respond remotely to what Obama said...and isn't that what the opposition's "response" is supposed to do? Respond to the message delivered by the other party?
I like Jindal. He's got a whole lot of promise as a political leader who can do a great deal for this nation going forward. But what a shame last night was such a wasted opportunity to demonstrate that fact.
My intent was not to imply Jindal is bashed for race or ethnicity. It's the jokes that are let go, etc.
Interesting you don't see the hate. Also interesting you claim the right thought he failed. Even Rush today, so I am told, suggested the critics on the right give him a break.
WIth time, I hope he receives better advice and staging. He'll be fine. His rebuttal was clear to those listening with open ears - there is a complete distinction between the parties on problem solving. The Republican party is finally getting back to being Republicans. There is a message and suggestions.
I personally thought that while the delivery was a bit stiff and rehearsed, there wasn't much else he could have done. The president's speech came off beautifully - an extended campaign speech, and not much more - but he could have stood up there and mumbled and picked his nose and the press would have applauded his way of doing it. Helen Thomas and Chris Matthews, and countless others, showed their true colors.
Jindal has plenty of time to get it right on camera. The important thing is that he's got it right in his head.
Just to point out, his Katrina story was near all a total lie, there was never any big bad bureaucrat stopping boats. I'm sure the people of Louisiana are very proud that their tragedy could fuel his goals though.
Also from a pure critic standpoint his speech was really weak, overly 'folksy' to appeal to people but came off patronizing, just plain dumb points (we have Ethiopian and Indian food so we're a cultural hub?), and he just stumbled through the speech pretty badly.
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