Yuval Levin disagrees with conservatives who
aren't eager to jump on the Jindal-for-veep bandwagon. First Levin
defends Jindal's experience, arguing, "I suppose that's less
experience than some vice presidential candidates, but it's more
than others have had, and it's more management and executive
experience than Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, or John McCain can
point to." But Levin is misreading the conservative case against
putting Bobby Jindal on the GOP ticket. Most of us acknowledge that
he is smart, capable, and has a good resume. We just don't think
plucking him from the governorship before he has had a chance to
distinguish himself in it is good for conservatism, the GOP,
Louisiana, or the country.
Levin continues, "Kathryn [Lopez] says Jindal is needed in
Louisiana, and as a model of good conservative government
nationally. But if he could help Republicans win the presidency,
wouldn't that be more important in the big picture?" No, I don't
think so. If John McCain manages to win the presidency in spite of
the conservative/Republican brand or is seen as the last gasp of a
dying coalition, that is not better for conservatism or the country
in the long run than having a model of good conservative government
nationally. Conservatives need to re-prove to the persuadable
portion of the electorate that they can govern and that
conservative policies are prudent.
Granted, seeing McCain become president ranks very low on my
list of priorities, somewhere between being mugged and being in an
automobile accident. But even conservatives who are bullish about
McCain and think it is vital that we have a Republican president
for the next four to eight years might consider reinvigorating
conservatism "more important in the big picture." If McCain is so
important and he can't get elected without Jindal, then obviously
something is wrong with the right's place in our politics.
For this reason, I might answer Levin's next question
differently than he would: "[W]hat about what's good for McCain, or
for Republicans, or for the country?" I think in the long term,
having a successful reform-minded conservative governor is in the
best interest of the Republicans and the country. It is certainly
good for Jindal, though it might not be for McCain. But I'm less
interested in McCain than in conservatism or the country. I am not,
in any event, convinced that Jindal is the only way McCain can get
elected and have to ask what is wrong with McCain if he is. Bad
political timing has contributed to the thinning of the Republican
bench. Let's not make the mistake again.
topics:
John McCain, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Conservatism
