If we're going to promote a candid discussion of race in our country, we can't jump down the throat of everyone who ventures onto the racial minefield. Rather than finding offense in Roger Simon's suggestion that choosing Bobby Jindal as his VP running-mate would hurt John McCain among racist voters, I propose we simply analyze it. Here's what Simon said on this evening's Hardball, as guest host Mike Barnicle led the Politico reporter and Newsweek's Howard Fineman through a tour d'horizon of possible VP picks.
MIKE BARNICLE: Interesting new Republican face, Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana.ROGER SIMON: Interesting. Young. Very young, almost too young to run, not quite, he gets over the constitutional limit. But I gotta raise the delicate subject: if you're John McCain, and you know that you're going to get an 'x' percentage of votes based on race, do you pick a dark-skinned vice-presidential candidate, who some people are going to say–wrongly—is black, is a Hindu converted to Catholicism, who's an Indian-American? You know, none of that should matter in American politics, but is it a safe choice, or is it a choice that is going to get everybody chattering? I think McCain is going to go for a safer choice than that.
View video here.
BARNICLE: Yeah, I agree with ya. Howard, do you agree with that?
HOWARD FINEMAN: Not necessarily. I certainly think McCain is intrigued by Jindal, I mean, in the reporting I did on that weekend McCain had out at his ranch, he spent a lot of time talking to Jindal. Mitt Romney was there as well, and Charlie Crist. But Jindal really caught McCain's eye. McCain is going to make this decision based in part on personal factors. McCain is a Navy guy, he's a squadron guy. He wants somebody he's comfortable with and he really liked Jindal, the problem being that Jindal is really half his age, so it would be a little strange for a guy who wants to emphasize the Commander-in-Chief role.
My two cents: the best counter-argument to Simon's analysis is that Jindal got himself elected governor of Louisiana. garnering two-thirds of the white vote. I'd encourage readers to hear Jindal in action, as here in his conversation with Hugh Hewitt. Jindal is a brilliant, principled conservative. As for the experience issue, he's got more than Barack Obama. Before becoming governor, Jindal was a U.S. congressman from Louisiana and was elected freshman class president by his peers. Prior to that, he was the head of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, an agency which then represented about 40 percent of the state budget. In 1997, Jindal was appointed to become the youngest-ever president of the University of Louisiana System. He also served as President George W. Bush's Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Planning and Evaluation.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.















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Comments Policy
The proposed Jindal VP
June 23, 2008 - 20:53 ET by jpm100The proposed Jindal VP candidacy is a transparent attempt to fight the Democrats at their own game of identity politics. Everyone will see it that way. A little too much "me-too" in the Republican party these days.
He needs to be left alone as governor a few terms to become a more useful vetted asset in the future.
I take your point, but
June 23, 2008 - 20:54 ET by Mark FinkelsteinI take your point, but Jindal is truly so extraordinary. In contrast with Obama, he's the real deal.
Indian Americans steal better jobs than Mexicans
June 23, 2008 - 22:32 ET by Daniel BakerI'm sick of their destruction of our culture. Mexicans live in the poor parts 12 to a house and Indians live in the rich parts 12 to a house. Driving down wages so they can support families in India. A racist caste culture is all they bring.
http://www.ornery.org/
Obama's Real Religion
This is truly ignorant.
June 24, 2008 - 03:28 ET by sarcasmoBut interesting, just the same. I like Apu-types (to employ the cartoon stereotype) being Americans if they want to as much as you apparently hate 'em. And the caste thing in India is like slavery in the USA -- history.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Exactly
June 24, 2008 - 08:36 ET by mikefiskI don't see where the "racist" argument will stick with all but a minuscule minority... sure, Jindal is a minority, but a member of a minority that has been known for their ability to assimilate into American culture well and become successful once here.
"Oh no, we're going to be overrun with... intelligent, motivated, family-oriented individuals who work their butts off to succeed at almost all levels?"
...we should be so lucky.
Agree
June 24, 2008 - 07:52 ET by PurdueMattAgree.
Nobody's gonna look at
June 23, 2008 - 21:02 ET by the strugglerNobody's gonna look at Bobby Jindal and think he's black.
Although Joe Biden might think he knows him from the 7 eleven down the street.
But I gotta raise the
June 23, 2008 - 20:59 ET by MidAmericaBut I gotta raise the delicate subject: if you're John McCain, and you know that you're going to get an x percentage of votes based on race, .....
And where, pray tell, does he get that information? McCain will not get 90% of any particular race but obama will. As we all know, obama is competitive ONLY because of race based voters.
first and foremost: Jindal
June 23, 2008 - 21:04 ET by mister josephfirst and foremost: Jindal needs to be left alone and allowed to grow. He's really cleaning house in Louisiana and doing a damn good job of it. even though he has more 'experience' than Obama, the world doesn't see that.
Secondly: oddly, the only people I knew who were 'troubled' by the race issue in Louisiana went by the name of Landreau, Blanco, Nagin, and...well...blacks!
thirdly: when Jindal ran against Kathleen Blanco, pre-Katrina, guess what one of his biggest platforms was: fixing the levees in New Orleans! but racism played a part and he wasn't elected. i'll always wonder what (if anything) Jindal could have done.
I fully agree
June 23, 2008 - 21:26 ET by jgarciaI fully agree with you on this.....Jindal already has more experience than Obama.. However, Jindal needs to stay put for his State (they need him more for now) and run for President in 8 yrs....... by then; we will need his skills and his keen ability to clean up the government cr*p that will be crawling around...... =) I doubt the race card will be brought up if he runs then……. You can’t use that card when you have a truly experienced, proven candidate!
I know a few individuals who
June 23, 2008 - 21:03 ET by ApacheI know a few individuals who would be considered racist by most PC police and they all vote democrat except for this election. I doubt they would find issue with Jindal as I have yet to hear any negative stereotype of Indians from them. One little plus with Jindal if race plays any factor is that citizens of India are the most pro-US of any other country. So maybe if he is elected Vice-President then that will further good will. Of course that probably won't mean much to voters here. I don't know much about him myself but he sounds a lot better than McCain so far.
Let me tell you that Indians are worse than your friends know.
June 23, 2008 - 23:03 ET by Daniel BakerMost Indian's never really adapt culturally into American society. They are very race based culture. They come and take advantage of our system, but will never be invested in America.
http://www.ornery.org/
Obama's Real Religion
I really hope you don't
June 23, 2008 - 23:14 ET by Cureboy675I really hope you don't think all Indians are like that. I work with a great deal of them in my company (I work in software and there are many Indian people there). These are people who have been here for 10 years. Many of them have finally completed the long process of becoming an American citizen (and I have to believe it is far more difficult these days for somebody from the Middle East to become a citizen than an individual from another part of the world) and they are very happy here. All the ones I have worked with are incredibly hard workers and very professional. It took me a long time to finally be able to get one of them to just plain gossip with me.
And, irony of ironies, many of them have been laid off in recent months because our company has chosen to outsource a lot of the work to even cheaper contractors in South America. (Indian programmers aren't the cheapest commodity anymore).
"I don't want your 'us or them'..." -- The Cure
"and I have to believe it
June 24, 2008 - 12:03 ET by red_dragon311"and I have to believe it is far more difficult these days for somebody from the Middle East to become a citizen than an individual from another part of the world"
I have to let you know that 19 men got studend visas and they expired with nobody investigating where these men were.
My Brother-in-law (in Mexico) was NOT able to get a tourist visa for him and his family for a week to visit my famliy. My Wife is going to take her citizenship test in July, you know the interview
"What color is her toothbrush?"
" what side of the bed does she sleep on" ect ect
we have waited 10 years to get this far.
as long as you are not Mexican it is pretty easy, and the cost today is $650.
35 years ago my dad came from Spain and it cost $45.
Being a white man who is the son of an immigrant, and who married a Mexican woman it is not an easy process, and it shouldn't be.
But I have noticed Inidans really ....GET IT.... they come here to be AMERICANS, most Mexicans don't want to be Americans, they want to travel to and from Mexcio with out have to jump through hopes of a visa.
This is just a way for the racist Liberal Democrtas to push a REAL minority out of the way for thier minoity of choice
A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
-Gerald Ford
Really? That just
June 24, 2008 - 22:56 ET by Cureboy675Really? That just surprises me. I would have thought that after 9/11 it would be far more difficult for Middle Eastern people to get residence or citizenship in America than for people from other parts of the world.
I really have nothing to back up what I was saying. (And I certainly didn't mean to suggest its fair. The requirements and the process should be the same for anybody who wants to come here) It was just a pure supposition on my part.
I don't know many but my
June 23, 2008 - 23:15 ET by ApacheI don't know many but my roommate in college was from India and got two engineering degrees and worked his way through college. Of all the people I met in college, he is the only one I still keep in touch with.
You can't get more invested
June 23, 2008 - 23:17 ET by balboaYou can't get more invested in America than Harold & Kumar go to White Castle.
what the heck are you talking about?
June 24, 2008 - 13:12 ET by wizardjrI have met and worked with Indians all over the Northern Hemisphere. I even spent some time working in Sri Lanka which, while not India is originally populated from there and shares much culturally.
No one I ever met lived 12 to a room unless they had a really large tribe of their own kids. They were all educated, literate, and hard working. The ones who immigrated to America did so to be Americans, not visiting Indians the way many from Mexico do.
I challenge you to present to me an Indian community or group here in America that meets your template. I want names and/or adddresses, otherwise I'm calling you out as an ignorant bigot spouting nonsense.
Jindal
June 23, 2008 - 21:02 ET by DelsaIs a fine man.
Simon is an ASS.
I think Jindal should help the folks in LA
What is Simon saying? Is Simon admitting he will not vote for the inrcxperienced BLACK democrat presidential nominee?
Well looking at the
June 23, 2008 - 21:09 ET by MidAmericaWell looking at the campaign button pictured above that certainly looks better than one with obama and hillary.
My doctor is an Indian-American and I trust him with my health. I've let him touch me in places that if another man had done it he would need to see a doctor.
Screw 'em. None of these
June 23, 2008 - 21:15 ET by BigSky1970Screw 'em. None of these left-winged bozo's in the lamestream media will vote for that ticket anyway. It's bad enough they chose McCain in the primaries, and we're stuck with him. If voters so shallow as to put age and race above such topics like the global war on terror or illegal immigration or high oil and gas prices, they need to re-evaluate their list of priorities and get it straightened out.
One finger points to thee, the other three point to me.
June 23, 2008 - 22:16 ET by Iowa Boy"You know, none of that should matter in American politics,"
Then why do liberal clowns keep bringing it up? Because they're setting the stage so that when any criticism is leveled at any of Senator Obama's policies, it can be labeled as racist.
Dispicable.
"I'd rather be governed by the first 2,000 people in the Boston
telephone directory than the 2,000 faculty at Hardvard Unversity." -
William F. Buckley Jr.
Jindal is a heathen convert to Christianity like Obama
June 23, 2008 - 22:23 ET by Daniel BakerOne was Hindu one was Muslim. Why are we being led by converts?
http://www.ornery.org/
Obama's Real Religion
Daniel, would you rather Jindal had never actually converted?
June 23, 2008 - 22:36 ET by R D HelmPeople can change, after all, and many times that change is genuine.
Are you going to tell me that you were a Christian the instant you popped out into this world?
Hardly.
You are as much a convert to Christianity as any Christian who ever lived.
Why should Mr. Jindal be held to a different standard?
Is it because he was once Hindu?
LOL-Heck, I would take Hindus over Muslims any day of the week.
The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz
Well Obama ,for example, takes Christianity on his terms
June 23, 2008 - 23:08 ET by Daniel BakerHe likes the stuff that agrees with his own opinion and disregards inconvienient things about homosexual behavior. I think it is good for anyone to recognize Christ, but it is more important for Christ to recognize him as his follower.
http://www.ornery.org/
Obama's Real Religion
You were asked about Jindal
June 24, 2008 - 06:47 ET by motherbeltYou were asked about Jindal and you respond with "Well Obama for example...."
Is that because you are condemning Jindal without actually knowing anything about how he practices his Catholicism?
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
I don't care about their religion
June 24, 2008 - 08:39 ET by mikefiskA politician could be an atheist, Scientologist, or Kali worshipper for all I care... if they get things done, and respect the religions of others, does it really matter?
Prior to Bush, the last explicitly "Christian President" we've had... was Jimmy Carter. Personally, I'd rather an atheist who governs like Reagan than a Christian who governs like Carter.
here, here
June 24, 2008 - 13:15 ET by wizardjrYou've got my vote, or rather your candidate does.
Barry Obama, another 4 years of Jimmy Carter.
Bobby Jindal
June 23, 2008 - 22:27 ET by easygoerI believe Jindal should stay where he is. He is too young and too talented to be associated with a possible losing ticket.
I know it's old, not at all original, but I love how the WSJ ridiculed the "progressivism" of the NY Times
Louisiana
Elects 60th Caucasian Governor
As expected, Rep. Bobby Jindal has been elected governor of Louisiana. He captured
54% of the vote
on Saturday, a 37-point advantage over his nearest opponent. Twelve candidates
appeared on the ballot in Louisiana's open primary; had no one received a majority,
the top two finishers would have faced a run-off next month. Jindal, 36, will
supplant Missouri's Matt Blunt as the nation's youngest governor. In a state
famous for flamboyant and corrupt politicians, Jindal is, as we noted in our
Weekend
Interview last month, "an affable policy wonk with a quick mind and
a fascination with the details of governance."
His victory is also an ethnic first, and one that runs counter to the New York
Times's stereotype of the South:
It's not exactly clear what the Times means when it characterizes Louisiana
as a "state where race is inseparable from politics." Louisiana's
most memorable connection between race and politics was the 1991 run-off election
for governor, which pitted corrupt former governor Edwin Edwards against white
supremacist David Duke. But Duke lost in a landslide and, despite warnings that
his 39% showing was an ill portent, he faded into obscurity.
It's true that blacks and whites in Louisiana have disparate voting patterns,
with blacks voting much more heavily Democratic than whites do. But this is
the case everywhere in the country; and it is probably less true in Louisiana
than in most other Southern states. Bayou State whites are more inclined to
vote Democratic than those elsewhere in the region: Louisiana was the only Southern
state other than Arkansas and Tennessee that the Clinton-Gore ticket carried
twice; it elected its first Republican U.S. senator just three years ago; and
it is likely to retain Democratic state legislative majorities after next month's
run-offs.
There's something odd, too, about casting the election of an Indian-American
in "racial" terms. It's reminiscent of U.S.
v. Bhagat Singh Thind (1923), in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled
that "a high-caste Hindu, of full Indian blood, born at Amritsar, Punjab,
India," was not "a white person" for the purposes of immigration
law--even though ethnologists consider Indians to be part of the Caucasian race.
Justice George Sutherland wrote for a unanimous court:
The Times, in ascribing "racial" significance to the election of
an Indian-American, seems to see the world through a lens similar to that of
"the average well-informed white American" of 1923. And when the paper
searches for a link, beyond simple ethnic pride, between Jindal's background
and his politics, it comes up empty:
The Times doesn't give Prashad an opportunity to enumerate the "issues
that matter to Indian-Americans" on which Jindal is "out of the mainstream."
But we found a 2003 article in Little
India in which Prashad explained why, although "I like Bobby Jindal,
. . . I don't support him for governor."
Prashad disagrees with Jindal on abortion, stem-cell research, church-state
separation and guns. In other words, Prashad takes liberal positions on "social
issues" and opposes Jindal because his positions are conservative. That's
fine, but these are not issues that "matter to Indian-Americans" qua
Indian-Americans.
A Times
editorial on a separate subject today opens with as concise a statement
as we've seen of the liberal worldview on race and other group identities:
This is not exactly false, but it is misleading in a fundamental way. Has there
ever been a society that did not practice "the singling out of groups of
people for abuse"? And has there ever been a society that put more effort
into overcoming this tendency than America?
The Times treats America as if it were uniquely susceptible to the ordinary
human failing of prejudice, when in fact it is uniquely committed to rising
above prejudice and affirming the ideal of equality. If Bobby Jindal can win
a Louisiana landslide, it may be that voters there are more progressive-minded
than writers and editors at the New York Times.
Agreed, I think a better
June 24, 2008 - 10:10 ET by dscottAgreed, I think a better choice would be Michael Steele, the former Lt. Govenor of MD. It would enrage the lib Dems nationwide and make them froth at the mouth just as they did when Steele was first elected. Steele has executive experience running a government bureaucracy where JC Watts and Alan Keyes do not. Don't get me wrong on the later two, both are good conservative men but Steele has an added dimension. The fact that Simon is making race an issue means the libs are terrified that McCain will negate the Dems only victim trump card in Obama, i.e. his race, therefore the strategic thing to do is pick a person of color or female to get that effect. That or McCain should tap someone like George Allen or Fred Thompson. McCain needs an advisor on practical day to day running of a bureaucracy, his Senate experience is not the same and doesn't prepare him for the necessary shift in world view. As a Senator you can play the outsider, nitpick at the various issues and needle the MAN, as the POTUS you are the MAN.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
you've convinced me
June 24, 2008 - 13:23 ET by wizardjrI was all about "No Jindal, no vote" but now that I've read some of these posts I finally agree that Bobby Jindal should not be 2nd fiddle to a RINO like McPain. Particularly if McPain loses!
Everything I've read about
June 23, 2008 - 22:28 ET by CJK51Everything I've read about Jindal suggests he will be a fine Republican candidate -- someday. I'd rather not see him tainted by running with McCain in this year's election.
Besides, isn't Lindsay Graham licking McCain's boots as he always does with such panache? Surely that's earned him a ticket to ride on the Straight Talk Express.
Run, Bobby, Run! Run away from McCain as fast as you can!
June 23, 2008 - 22:49 ET by R D HelmAnd as far away as you can.
Think Siberia. Seriously.
Stay where you are and start laying your plans for 2012. Please, please do not allow yourself to be associated with a liberal like McCain.
Any association on the part of a real conservative with John McCain will be political suicide in the end. :-(
The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz
Jindal is not much of a conservative
June 23, 2008 - 23:50 ET by nwahsWhy is Jindal suddenly a wonder boy conservative?
The current Louisiana session that just ended, Jindal was against the repeal of the Stelly tax and fought against it with emissaries while in committee. When I looked like it would pass without his support, only THEN did he get behind it.
While running for governor, Jindal promised he would not let the Louisiana legislature vote themselves a raise (http://www.2theadvoc...) . The Louisiana Legislature has voted themselves a 35% pay raise, and even though Louisiana voters are up in arms over it, Jindal refuses to veto the bill . Jindal outright lied to the voters to get elected.
Why is Jindal a wonder boy considered for VP?
You need to look closer at this "interesting new face." It might be TWO FACED.
nwahs, if Jindal has only one conservative bone in his body...
June 24, 2008 - 00:01 ET by R D Helm...he is still ahead of McCain by at least twelve bones or so.
The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz
But does he?
June 24, 2008 - 20:29 ET by nwahsWhat conservative influence have you seen in this Louisiana session?
Why is anyone waving the "Bobby Jindal -great example of conservatism" flag? What conservative principles has he displayed?
No one can give any because there aren't any that are evident. Which takes me back to why in God's name did Rush Limbaugh pronounce him a conservative wonderboy, and why have so many accepted this with no proof? THERE IS NO PROOF. He isn't that conservative.
nwahs...
June 24, 2008 - 20:36 ET by Clear thinkerYou have just admitted to all of us that you have no clue how to recognize Conservatism.
45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goals.htm
Another post the give no answer
June 24, 2008 - 22:38 ET by nwahsAnd you've posted another non answer.
I know very well what Conservatism is and its NOT public school vouchers. Its NOT impeding tax cuts in committee. Its NOT letting legislators extort pay raised from you.
So NO THINKER, what has Bobby Jindal done that is conservative? If you have no answer (and its obvious you don't) why the heck even chime in? Can't you find an irrelevant board to snipe on? Maybe laud or criticize the inventiveness of Everquest?
But you have no clue what Jindal has and has not done in Louisiana, so you snipe me. What a waste of space.
Oh, Clear Thinker challenges my conservatism by answering specific legitimate question with nothing. So how is YOUR candidate doing, Goldilocks? Oh that's right, the Goldilocks conservatives were in brain lock and didn't bring a candidate. Don't criticize me for your failures.
That's "Great White Snipe
June 24, 2008 - 22:41 ET by Clear thinkerThat's "Great White Snipe Hunter" to you!
45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goals.htm
No, you're a troll. Short,
June 24, 2008 - 22:43 ET by nwahsNo, you're a troll. Short, immediate responses and no substance or new information.
scorecard
June 24, 2008 - 22:47 ET by Free Stinkerclear thinker: 2
nwahs: 0
Alright... chalk up another
June 24, 2008 - 22:54 ET by Clear thinkerAlright... chalk up another one for me!
45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goals.htm
Hay nwahs
June 24, 2008 - 22:58 ET by general companyHow about letting others decide for themselves?
"I would probably be the most popular person in modern polling history if I did that (veto the bill), but I don't want to give the Legislature any excuse to slow down our reforms," Jindal said. The governor in the past week has called the pay raise "excessive" and "over-the-top" and has the constitutional authority to veto bills -- as he has done six times this session.
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/jindal_unfazed_by_pay_raise_cr.html
Fiscal responsibility?
Not conservative?
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
the right thing to do is the
June 24, 2008 - 23:02 ET by Conservative Voicethe right thing to do is the veto the pay raises. Let the legislature make their excuses. By not using the veto pen he is of no use.
Yea, duplicating the BS
June 24, 2008 - 23:24 ET by general companyYea, duplicating the BS they have in DC is much better?
BTW, is $36,000 high for a state rep?
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Do campaign promises not
June 24, 2008 - 23:32 ET by Conservative VoiceDo campaign promises not really matter anymore? Going from 16K to 37K seems like a mighty big raise don't you think? What does that pay mean on an hourly basis? Why can't I just vote myself a 100% pay raise?
Texas legislatures make $7,
June 24, 2008 - 23:40 ET by nwahsTexas legislatures make $7, 200 a year and their schools and infrastructure are MUCH better than Louisiana's.
The average salary over the states is about 25,000. The raise is excessive considering the low cost of living in Louisiana.
The point is, they know there is a huge outcry against it, and they're going to do it simply because they can, and Jindal hasn't the backbone to stop it. How could he deal with hostile governments if he cant deal with a rogue state legislature?
From the same
June 24, 2008 - 23:20 ET by nwahsFrom the same article
"Asked by reporters what he meant by "a tighter rein," Jindal said he or
his chief lieutenants would be "getting more involved at the committee
level" to oppose lawmakers' bills or to use the threat of vetoes more
stridently."
Here's a bigger problem. Jindal's chief lieutenants were involved in this session at comittee level - impeding the repeal of the Stelly tax!
Again - WHY? Why is Jindal a poster boy for Conservatism?
I worked hard to send my children to private schools because politics completely destroyed the public school system. Now they want to send all the behavior and parenting problems into private schools for a tidy sum. Now what recourse do Louisiana children have? Home schooling until a liberal judge decides that's "child abuse."
Jindal gets an "F" in conservatism and a ph (phony) in politics.
Now why have so many missed this? Limbaugh is not stupid. Why did he he throw up Jindal's name haphazardly and why have others latched on to it? Was a dark skinned Republican so intriguing that many overlooked his record?
If thats too cynical, then why? Why is Jindal a conservative wonderboy? I don't get it - he is NOT conservative.
He has been in office for
June 24, 2008 - 23:47 ET by general companyHe has been in office for less then 6 months. We will see.
I worked hard to send my children to private schools because politics completely destroyed the public school system.
I havent a clue what your problem is. "Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Yes, Bobby Jindal is a new
June 24, 2008 - 23:54 ET by nwahsYes, Bobby Jindal is a new governor and we will see more in 6 months. I don't like what I've seen so far, but 6 months will show more. Still - Why is he presented as some wonder boy? What in the world sets him up as some great VP other than ethnicity? There is no apparent answer.
He has been in office for
June 24, 2008 - 23:47 ET by general companyHe has been in office for less then 6 months. We will see.
I worked hard to send my children to private schools because politics completely destroyed the public school system.
I havent a clue what your problem is.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Funny thing is
June 24, 2008 - 01:37 ET by well99All these racial bs is brought up by Dems and MSM.Oh wait that is the same thing.Some liberals need a class in race relations.They are definately racist and yet they dont see it in themselves only in others.
→ Jindal VP
June 24, 2008 - 01:50 ET by Cool ArrowWe can call him the Native Indian-American Candidate.
Then watch the Dems squeal.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
I'd be ok with Jindal on the ticket if he were at the top
June 24, 2008 - 02:04 ET by DaMavBut that's not going to happen. So what about #2? And what about Palin?
Both Jindal and Palin are like a breath of fresh air to conservative Republicans. I count on one of them being the front runner in 2012, and offering an energetic, and appealing youthful face to conservatism combined with an outstanding track record as governor of their respective states.
Why wait? The Vice Presidency is not a bad place to build experience. If McCain actively promotes them with concrete and tangible ways of ensuring their involvement during his Presidency this could be the best of all worlds. If McCain/Jindal would defeat Obama in 2008 and groom Jindal for 2012 & 2016 we could end up snatching a sustained conservative victory from the most dismal presidential race in a long long time.
As to the racial issue, this, as is almost always the case, is an issue raised by the left and played to the left's advantage. I don't give a rats hindquarters what race our President is. I don't oppose Obama because of his race but because he is a far left ideologue with poor judgement. And I suspect most voters opposing Obama feel the same way. I'd be willing to bet that the head of Jindal's church doesn't run around ranting about white people. And he got a heck of a lot of good old boy support in LA, even though the Dems did their best to smear him on racial grounds. This time they would have a very hard time getting away with it.
McCain is going to have to
June 24, 2008 - 03:16 ET by BruzillaMcCain is going to have to deal with stories about his collaboration with the NV while a POW, his pitiful military career, why the Navy found him unfit for higher command, his wife's personal and business issues (along with her family's), his connections to Keating, the Keating 5 scandal, how he tossed POW/MIA families under the bus in 1994 so Anheuser-Busch (which he and Cindy own millions in stock) could start making millions selling beer to the Vietnemese, his record as a RINO, and on and on. I'm sure the race of his VP will be the least of his worries.
Dead on Mark
June 24, 2008 - 14:12 ET by IamTinmanSimon is a moron! If one is a racist which shade of brown is more appealing? Running Jindal would make the racism issue moot!
Jindal is indeed the real deal! Too bad he isn't leading the ticket. A rock solid conservative version of the american dream! We wouldn't have to worry about who he would choose for the supreme court!
racists won't vote for him - it's true!
June 24, 2008 - 16:25 ET by wizardjrI don't see that any Demoncrats would ever vote for him. They all have to vote for The Obamination because.... all together now class - "He's a black victim of white society." Just like hispanics are 'the other white meat' when it comes to leftist and black politics, Bobby Jindal is not dark enough for the racists that comprise the main stream Demoncrat party.