Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana tonight presented the GOP response to President Obama’ s speech to the nation.
Certainly, Jindal is a brilliant man, a Rhodes Scholar who at a young age (37) has already made a great impression on America. He is well spoken and highly intelligent and knowledgable. He is said to have ambitions to move beyond the Louisiana Governorship and stands out as a better leader of the Republican party than just about any Republican in the Senate or Governorship.
However, his prescription of cutting taxes and making smaller government is so out of line with what is happening, and his earlier statement that he intended to refuse unemployment aid but accept other parts of the economic stimulus legislation, portrays him as unconcerned with the plight of so many Louisianans, including the unfortunate victims of Hurricane Katrina. He failed tonight to give recognition to the role of federal aid ($175 billion already) in the vast rebuilding project in New Orleans.Â
Jindal has potential, but if he continues to promote the same old, dull Republican philosophy that has led to the demise of the GOP, then his future national role will be curtailed.