The American Spectator : Don't Give Up on Jindal

Text Size

Don't Give Up on Jindal

By Ryan L. Cole on 3.5.09 @ 6:07AM

It will take more than one maladroit speech to halt this star's rise.

Last week's big story was President Barack Obama's ambitious and expertly delivered address to Congress. However, the subplot -- the nation's first prime-time taste of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, attracted its own share of attention.

Conventional wisdom, on both the left and right, is that the Republican rebuttal from Jindal (who many conservatives see as a savior) was an unqualified flop. Democrats loudly claim his address paled in comparison to the president's. They are right. Many Republicans sadly whisper that Louisiana's young governor is no Ronald Reagan. They are also right.

When he emerged in 1980 to deliver the country from Jimmy Carter's era of malaise, Ronald Reagan was 69 years old and entering the twilight of his political calling. His career had spanned decades from two terms in California's Statehouse to the Screen Actor's Guild. The future president spent this time formulating his beliefs ideas and putting them into practice. That experience, coupled with his exceptional charisma and the confluence of the political stars created the revolution which bears his name.

That, to borrow a phrase form historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, was no ordinary time. The GOP's endless longing to re-create it is fruitless and futile. Yet, Republicans would be foolish to jettison Jindal and his enormous promise.

At age 37, he is the youngest governor in the country. Small and slim, he is not possessed of movie star charisma. Where Reagan masterfully communicated transcendental themes, Jindal is an enthusiastic wonk, seemingly comfortable discussing and engaging in the minutia of policy debates. In many ways, at least superficially, Jindal is the opposite of Reagan. And going forward, that might be exactly what the Republican Party needs.

The past several national elections have seen the GOP, chasing after the Gipper's ghost, nominate candidates with some of the right core convictions and the ability to communicate broad themes. Yet they often seemed paralyzed when it came to explaining their own policy prescriptions and incapable of actually articulating the distinction between conservatism and liberalism. Accordingly, inarticulate Republicans have been defined downward by their opposition -- a recipe for almost certain defeat at the polls.

Last Tuesday's response to the president made it abundantly clear that Jindal is not yet in the rhetorical league of Presidents Reagan or Obama. He is, however, already their equal in terms of intellect and policy expertise. Not yet 40, Jindal, a Rhodes Scholar, has already helped salvage Louisiana's Medicare as secretary of Louisiana's Department of Health and Hospitals, served as president of his state's university system, served as an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and been twice elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Only in the second year of his first term as the Pelican state's governor, there is plenty of time for his rhetorical skills to catch up to his policy expertise.

In this sense, he is reminiscent of a past president from a nearby state. In 1978, at age 32, William Jefferson Clinton was elected governor of Arkansas. The "Boy Governor" as Clinton was known, was, like Jindal a highly ambitious Rhodes Scholar who seemed most comfortable digging through the weeds of arcane policy debates.

Because of his intellect, youth and ambition, by the end of the 1980s, Arkansas' governor was touted as a prospective future leader of the Democratic Party. In July 1988, Clinton delivered the nominating speech at the Democratic National convention for presidential candidate Michael Dukakis. The plodding 32 minute speech which only roused its audience when Clinton uttered "In conclusion…," was considered a failure. And yet, a little more than four years later, Clinton was addressing another audience from the steps of the West portico of the U.S. Capitol.

Like Clinton's nominating speech in 1988, last Tuesday's rebuttal to President Obama was not Jindal's finest moment. But, just as it would have been foolish to bet against the "Boy Governor," it would be just as unwise to think that we will not be hearing from Louisiana's young chief executive again.

topics:
Republican Party

About the Author

Ryan L. Cole writes from Indiana.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (25) | Leave a comment

drudge ette obama| 3.5.09 @ 6:28AM

If our country had more men like Jindal, we'd have less problems like Obama is bringing us.

Stay strong, Jindal. This is going to be a stormy night. Weak-kneed need not apply.

owyheewine| 3.5.09 @ 8:31AM

We have become a country that mistakes glibness for intelligence, character and leadership. We
selected Bill Clinton, who is relatively intelligence, but with the character suitable for state prison or leadership in Kosovo. We rebounded with Mr. Bush, but now have reverted to the super glib, but not being revealed as an unvarying linear liberal, with no real creative thinking skills Messiah. Governor Jindal is the type of creative problem solving thinker that we desparately need.

Ryan| 3.5.09 @ 8:36AM

Jindal only needs to really answer one way - by leading Louisiana, my home state, a dang good place to be from (think about it - Louisianians are ALWAYS interesting people), the best place to eat anywhere, ever - out of its longtime funk.

No, I don't think that he will be able to totally turn around Louisiana's inherent culture of political corruption (Louisiana has a POLITICAL Hall of Fame in Huey P Long's hometown, for goodness' sakes), but is a great start in that direction.

ame| 3.5.09 @ 8:46AM

I RESPECT JINDAL AND HE WILL BE BACK!
ALONG WITH OTHERS SUCH AS PAUL RYAN, REPBLICANS HAVE A CHANCE TO BE - WELL, REAL REPUBLICANS!
Finally, with Jindal we have a leader on the national stage, not an empty styrofoam Greek column Obama poser.
Bobby Jindal is one of a very few truly brilliant people who have ideas that work and have proven to do so. He has more smarts in his socks than Obama has in his pretend sentimental idiotic "dreams."
Jindal is a man of principle, not politics; a man with an ethical and moral center, not "above my pay grade" - "I screwed up" - "I won" pureile whining; a leader, not a facilitator; a person of action, not staging; someone who believes in the power of America and Americans, not the power of government; a man of purpose, not empty promise.
Bobby Jindal has actually served the America he leads, not just taken from it for personal gain.
Jindal and other young Republicans such as Cantor and Ryan finally give me some real hope.
Obama couldn't lead a dog to a fire hydrant, but he can put dogs in a "study group" and teach them to bark.
Jindal is real, a leader who has proven himself through his actions, someone we can actually trust and someone who delivers, not the solipsistic pathetic frat brat elitist race baiting welfare Chicago thug wind blower we now must endure.
I didn't listen to Obambi's speech because he never says ANYTHING anyone can trust - NO SUBSTANCE, just dissembling equivocation. Obobo's a master of deceit, but I did listen to Jindal because he not only speaks with substance, he delivers it. Jidal is real, not an Obama cardboard cutout. Republicans have to stand on principle, not worry about voters. Jindal is far more savvy, more brilliant, more gravitas than what he showed in his speech - WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THAT...BAMBI??? STOP WITH THE OBAMA PANDERING - Let Jindal loose and go for the jugular...I can't stand this GOP mewing and puking. WAKE UP, MICHAEL STEELE, AND LEAD OR GET OUT!
OUR NATION IS UNDER ATTACK! ALL CONSERVATIVE AMERICANS NEED TO STAND UP LIKE NO OTHER TIME IN HISTORY!

Obama Drools| 3.5.09 @ 9:14AM

I know it wasn't done on purpose, but the supposed flubbed speech by Jindal is good timing. The Libs will be lulled into thinking he's not that great and Charlie Grubson can put his glasses on the end of his nose all he wants.

Go ahead, misunderestimate Bobby.

I'm sure they will be asking him his favorite color, what his Grammy thinks of him, how it feels to be so smart, etc. HA!

I say ignore the MSM. Let them interview Democrats and only Democrats. Don't give interviews until the MSM comes clean or takes some kind of oath to be even 5% more fair. 5% more fair and the present Demorat party would lose elections left and right.

How's Rangel?
How's Dodd?
What about Burris?
Where's Jefferson these days?
Has Geithner returned the money he TOOK from IMF to pay taxes yet? In my country, we call that theft.

Hope and Change=Suckers.

Admr. S. O. B. Buniontow VI| 3.5.09 @ 9:50AM

Give up on Jindal? What a foolish premise. No one is giving up on Jindal as LA governor.

As for presidential timber, he needs considerable some time to incubate.

Look, this isn't bean bag. The 2012 nominee will be competing against one of the most liberal and, unfortunately, politically savvy politicians in modern US history.

Bobby, "small and slim" like McCain, old and moderate, are not up to the task.

Michael Skaggs| 3.5.09 @ 9:54AM

Jindal 2012 or 2016. I just hope the country isn't a wreck by that time!

dcd| 3.5.09 @ 10:22AM

If Jindal is interested in the presidency than he had better use this as a learning experience. Get some acting/public speakingtraining so that he can talk to the public without looking like he swallowed a frog. Go to the gym and drink some protein shakes so that he can look solid. This is politics and image counts for a lot.

Rocco| 3.5.09 @ 12:59PM

Screw the conventional wisdom - it's nothing more than the bloviations of the intellectually inbred so-called mainstream media establishment. The only attention I pay them is the same I paid the Soviets during the Cold War - just to know what and how your enemy is thinking. Nothing more.

We as conservatives need to build up those who would represent our cause, help educate them and help them mature. Hoping and waiting for Reagan is a fool's game. Another one is not coming down the pike, so we need to work with what we have - Jindal, Palin, DeMint and others.

Let's not give up hope because the mainstream morons say so.

Mike| 3.5.09 @ 1:03PM

I don't know. As a La native, I'm a huge Jindal fan, but I've seen him speak a number of times, and I just don't think he's ever going to come close to the great communicator, or Clinton, or Obama for that matter. Smart as hell, yes. Charismatic, not at all.

His address to the state regarding hurricane preparation (the one that kept him away from the convention) sounded like he was competing in a FEMA speedreading bee. It was packed full of information and probably written on the back of a napkin during his helicopter flight. It may have even been brilliant, but who would know except a trained auctioneer.

Rick Josey| 3.5.09 @ 2:40PM

We like Jindal, and appreciate his success.

But in politics perception is everything. Jindal must learn to SELL himself and his policies. And speak forcefully. We need to see the FIRE in his belly, his real passion for what's on his heart. Without this, neither he nor any other conservative will convince the public to listen, much less be converted.

We need fired-up patriots, committed to the cause. Jindal is a good man. Let's see him burn.

www.PatriotHangout.com

Greg| 3.5.09 @ 4:27PM

Ricky I couldn't have said it any better myself. Jindal is a very likable guy but, like Palin, seems very naive as to the viciousness of the national media. But he'll learn. Although I was originally disappointed at Jindal, this article puts into perspective Jindal's age, experience, etc. Well done.

Len| 3.5.09 @ 4:44PM

I will admit that Jindal is certainly more conservative than most, but like most who label themselves conservatives they are really moderates. Frankly Reagan who is so idolized by conservatives(and this is not criticism, as I think he was very good for the country) was a moderate. To me to be truly conservative, one must ardently fight for strict constitutionality, and I can't think of one prominent Republican who does this.

BJC| 3.5.09 @ 7:03PM

A fine analytical defense, Ryan L. Cole! Yes, indeed -- those who are hypercritical of Bobby Jindal seem to be overlooking that he's very young for a politician. He's a half-generation younger than BHO, to be precise.

I have been a Jindal fan since I learned about him during his gubernatorial run. And I was dancing on my barstool when I pulled down the news that he'd won Louisiana's governorship. Good for Jindal, very good for Louisiana, and also good for Reagan Republicanism. What can rescue Louisiana from the dysfunctions on display immediately post-Katrina but the kind of realistic conservative policies that only someone like Jindal can get implemented?

But that's the thing: Jindal actually needs to prove out as governor of Louisiana, just as Ronald Reagan proved himself as California's governor. Jindal needs seasoning from living through the real-life executive experience running statewide policies. And just as seriously we who'd like to support his run for national office need evidence to evaluate his performance, from how well Jindal responds to good, bad, indifferent deals offered from the legislature or challenges from the judiciary or confrontations engineered by Leftist activist groups. And Ronald Reagan honed his "Great Communicator" skills through a lengthy period of training and practice -- starting off as a live-air radio sportscaster and proceeding through nationwide speaking tours to real-life Americans. Jindal already possesses a well-attuned moral philosophy of government and politics, he's gotten an exceptionally good education, and he's succeeded in the hands-on retail political environment of Louisiana. Just give him time, and I expect he'll do fine putting the wonk in the honky tonk.

Jim| 3.5.09 @ 7:16PM

People keep playing up Jindal, but he has no chance. Palin will be the 2012 presidential nominee. Jindal's a muslim and Romney's a mormon. Palin is our best hope.

Nick| 3.5.09 @ 7:34PM

Jim,

Gov. Jindal is a Roman Catholic.

Jmsadnz| 3.5.09 @ 11:07PM

Jim, you are a ignorant S.O.B. It's dumazzes like you that make it more difficult to keep this country safe from Islamofascists. Jindal is a Catholic from a Hindu family.

Interloper| 3.6.09 @ 5:26AM

Piyush Jindal has no future in politics beyond his current term as do-nothing governor of Louisiana. That state remains at the bottom of just about every indicia of quality of living, from infant mortality, to income, to early death. Absolutely nothing will improve under his tenure. Instead, he is dedicating himself to backing teaching creationism in Louisiana's failing public schools, cutting the state's rudimentary health care plan even more and rejecting unemployment funds in a state with low wages and increasing unemployment.

Jindal is, of course, just a substitute for a reactionary white Republican, brought in because of the advent of Obama and the the unavailability of the whoremonger David Vitter. As soon as a Great White Hope emerges, likely before he finishes his term, Jindal will be history.

drudge ette obama| 3.6.09 @ 7:22AM

Interloper, you sound like a bigot. Your white guilt must be eating you alive.

Cindy| 3.7.09 @ 8:33PM

Everything Jindal said made complete sense to me. Obama's flowery style of never really touching the issues is complete BS unless you are in love with him.
I'll be proud to see Jindal more in the future.

LawhawkSF| 3.8.09 @ 12:24AM

As several posters said above, Jindal's disastrous post non-state of the union address is very much comparable to Clinton's nominating snooze fest. He'll learn. He'll never be as glib as Obama, but who cares? To paraphrase Spencer Tracy, he already knows his lines, now he just has to avoid running into the scenery. Obama's mad rush into socialism, foreign policy surrender, and deep debt will ultimately work to Jindal's advantage. By the time next election rolls around, people will be thirsting for someone who actually understands economics and foreign relations. Jindal's academic credentials make Obama's shady schooling look childish. So they can't throw the Palin dodge at him. And then, on to the debates. Jindal can speak authoritatively on a huge range of subjects without the use of a teleprompter. In the time it will take Obama to say "uh, uh, uh," Jindal will have cleaned the messiah's clock.

Interloper| 3.9.09 @ 1:23AM

"Jindal's academic credentials make Obama's shady schooling look childish."

What is "shady" about the most elite private high school in Hawaii, Columbia and Harvard Law, pray tell?

All of America, except the deaf, have heard President Obama speak extemporaneously and at length on numerous ocassions, including during the presidential debates. Only those who , because of their racial prejudice, cannot acknowledge his brains and ability keep flouting the 'teleprompter ' foolishness.