Jindal Talks About Poorly-Reviewed Speech

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Bobby Jindal

(AP)

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal yesterday addressed criticism of the widely-panned speech he gave one week ago responding to the President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress.

"Look, I get that people thought I could have spoken better. I get that," Jindal told reporters in Baton Rouge, according to the Associated Press. "That's fine ... What's important to me is the content. I'm a policy guy. You guys know that. I've always been a policy guy, always will be a policy guy. The ideas are important. The substance is important."

Though Jindal was widely criticized on his delivery, he also took heat from both Democrats and Republicans for the content of his speech, which some deemed a rehash of tired GOP ideas. New York Times center-right columnist David Brooks called Jindal's rhetoric "a form of nihilism" and deemed the speech "a disaster for the party."

(CBS)

The governor, who was profiled on "60 Minutes" Sunday, also spoke to Larry King last night.

"I'm certainly not nearly as good of a speaker as [President Obama] is," Jindal said. "And I'm not the only one that's got that opinion."

Jindal again stressed that the content of his speech, not the delivery, was paramount – though he did complain that "for years, I've been told I speak too quickly. Now I'm told I speak too slowly."

As he did in his speech, Jindal criticized spending in the Obama-backed stimulus package, saying, "I don't think $30 million for the federal government to buy new cars, $1 billion for the Census, $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts is going to get the economy moving again as quickly as allowing the private sector to create jobs."

He did not address allegations that he told an inaccurate story during the speech about an interaction with a Jefferson Parish sheriff during Hurricane Katrina.

In speaking to reporters in Louisiana, Jindal joked about the comparisons he drew following the address, referencing his state's history of corrupt politicians.

"Being compared to Mister Rogers is better than some of the other comparisons we've had here in the past," Jindal said.

(AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

Some commentators have compared Jindal's situation to that of Bill Clinton, who was a rising star in 1988 when he gave a speech at the Democratic convention that went on too long and was widely considered a flop. (It's not a good sign when people cheer when you utter the words "in conclusion.")

Realizing his high-profile address bombed, Clinton decided to get in on the joke – and soon after went on the "Tonight Show" to laugh with Johnny Carson about how badly his big moment had gone.

"Clinton very quickly figured out that if everyone was laughing at him, the only way to come out ahead was to join in and ultimately lead the hilarity," notes James Fallows.

Jindal isn't exactly following the Clinton script – he has opted for more serious venues, for one – but he is engaged in a similar type of damage control.

The Louisiana governor "is trying to minimize the losses and replace them with a positive image with voters," Emory University political science professor Merle Black told CNN.

Fallows argues that Jindal would be more effective in doing so if he went more aggressively for laughs.

"Turning the situation in his favor would be an act of Clintonlike dexterity, and would ideally happen under the auspices of today's Johnny Carson, Jon Stewart," he writes. "…Gov. Bobby, follow the trail that Gov. Bill has blazed! And act soon. Self-deprecation delayed is self-deprecation that just makes things worse."

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by whatithink-2009 March 4, 2009 4:22 AM EST: "Palin, and what is your problem with her?
Posted by dj292009 at 5:39 PM : Mar 3, 2009
___________________-- "

There comes a time when one has to ask - why can't people see what 90% of the world sees? Please push Palin to run in 2012. Please.; Reply to this comment


by bumpedoff March 3, 2009 11:26 PM EST: obama will bankrupt America and way before 2012; Reply to this comment


by dj292009 March 3, 2009 9:01 PM EST: Now that is hilarious!! What's the problem with Palin? Thanks for the laugh!!!
Posted by bluenomas

That is not an answer, now can you give one or not?; Reply to this comment


by dj292009 March 3, 2009 8:42 PM EST: butterfly462

Simple question?

Are the democrats at fault for any of this?; Reply to this comment


by bluenomas March 3, 2009 8:41 PM EST: I finally figured out the Democrats, they want to point fingers at the republicans. You bring up Palin, and what is your problem with her?
Posted by dj292009 at 5:39 PM : Mar 3, 2009
___________________--
Now that is hilarious!! What's the problem with Palin? Thanks for the laugh!!!; Reply to this comment


by dj292009 March 3, 2009 8:39 PM EST: I think I have just figured out Republicans. They have no idea how to run government, They are like the bullies on the school yard. They have no sense of self worth so they must cut down others to try to look big. McCain, Palin, Jindal, Steele, Rush(I know he holds no elected office but when the head of the RNC has to publicly appoligize to a talk show host he obviously is their leader), tell everyone how bad the Democrats are, blah, blah, blah. They try to yell loud and think the sound of their loud voice makes what they say the truth, they make you fear those who look, talk or act differently that them. But when you ask for substance they get this glazed look like What? You want me to think? You want me come up with a working solution? Umm, well, I just really wanted to be powerful and well known and looked up to, I really didn't want to actually work or think. Not one Republican I talk to(and I avoid this at all cost but I live in Texas) can tell me what they believe, well ok they do think that you have to be christian, pro-war, anti-abortion person to be an American, other than that they have no real way to create a working government. One that is for all Americans not just them.
Posted by butterfly462

I finally figured out the Democrats, they want to point fingers at the republicans. You bring up Palin, and what is your problem with her?; Reply to this comment


by butterfly462 March 3, 2009 7:05 PM EST: I think I have just figured out Republicans. They have no idea how to run government, They are like the bullies on the school yard. They have no sense of self worth so they must cut down others to try to look big. McCain, Palin, Jindal, Steele, Rush(I know he holds no elected office but when the head of the RNC has to publicly appoligize to a talk show host he obviously is their leader), tell everyone how bad the Democrats are, blah, blah, blah. They try to yell loud and think the sound of their loud voice makes what they say the truth, they make you fear those who look, talk or act differently that them. But when you ask for substance they get this glazed look like What? You want me to think? You want me come up with a working solution? Umm, well, I just really wanted to be powerful and well known and looked up to, I really didn't want to actually work or think. Not one Republican I talk to(and I avoid this at all cost but I live in Texas) can tell me what they believe, well ok they do think that you have to be christian, pro-war, anti-abortion person to be an American, other than that they have no real way to create a working government. One that is for all Americans not just them.; Reply to this comment


by mnamolina March 3, 2009 5:13 PM EST: "How can this war be unconstitutional? The constitution, if read, clearly states that war is just when it comes to the protection of our country. "

Yes, but the Iraq war was a pre-emptive invasion on a country that had nothing to do with 9/11 based on faulty info about WMD. And all without a declaration of War. The real shame is that it took our focus off of Bin Laden and Afghanistan and cause that war to go on much longer than it should have otherwise. To borrow from the ampaign for Liberty : "A strong national defense doesn't mean policing the world, launching preemptive war, or having troops stationed on every continent. Those things weaken our national defense by spreading our resources too thin and bankrupting our government at home."; Reply to this comment


by mjwilstein March 3, 2009 5:07 PM EST: I can't believe that Jindal inserted himself into the Rush vs. Steele fight on Larry King. You'd think that after his speech failure, he'd try laying low for a bit. You can watch the Larry King clip where he defends Rush here:
http://gotchamedia.blogspot.com/2009/03/jindal-inserts-himself-into-rush-steele.html; Reply to this comment