Gov. Jindal prepping for national stage

By: Leigh Ann Caldwell
Topics: Campaign 2012

Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana addresses activists from America's political right at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012.

(Credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON - A rising star within the Republican Party continued to make his case for national leadership to the conservative base. Although the GOP is in the middle of a long and hard-fought presidential primary, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal mentioned none of the candidates' names, using this speech before the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) to promote Louisiana-style conservatism - and himself.

Speaking early Saturday morning in a nearly-filled ballroom at a Washington, D.C. Marriott, Governor Jindal said people in Louisiana are proud to be "bitterly clinging to our guns and religion."

The crowd erupted in ecstatic applause over Jindal's reference to a comment President Obama made at a fundraiser in San Francisco in 2008.

Attacks on the president are hugely popular here at CPAC, but other than a few jabs, Jindal stayed away from bashing the president, and instead used the platform to introduce his personal story and his political record to conservative activists.

Early in the race, the son of Indian immigrants popular among Republican establishment leaders was considered a possible contender for the Republican nomination, but he chose not to run. He instead became a proponent of his neighborly counterpart, Texas Governor Rick Perry, before Perry dropped out in January.

In Jindal's speech today he focused mostly on his initiatives, including his education policies. He boasted about the high number of charter schools and school vouchers, and he promoted teacher accountability through evaluations and pay. All three of those topics received thunderous applause.

Exciting the crowd the most was his attacks on the teachers' union. He said the Louisiana teachers' union has tried to stop every move he's tried to make to the education system.

It's not about adults, Jindal said; "The most important thing is student achievement."

The Louisiana American Federation of Teachers have fought Jindal's education plan and is promoting a petition in opposition.

"The governor's overreaching, dangerous agenda threatens our students, our schools and our profession," the union says.

Governor Jindal also touted slashing the number of state employees, and his proposal to overhaul of state employees' pension system, which would raise the retirement age and increase employee contribution.

"Put conservative ideas in action, they yield great results," Jindal said.

Insinuating that his leadership would bode well at the national level, the second-term Louisiana governor said Washington should apply some of his ideas.

"Washington can learn something," he said before walking off stage to a standing ovation.

Leigh Ann Caldwell
Leigh Ann Caldwell is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by cleftobrainiac February 14, 2012 12:57 AM EST: I voted for Bobby Jindal when he was elected to his first term as Louisiana Governor. I regret it every day. He's been nothing but awful since he took office and hasn't delivered on his campaign promises. He talked about how important our secondary education was and how we need to keep our college graduates in Louisiana after they finish school. He was going to bring big business to the state and create high paying professional jobs. Instead we get no new jobs and he slashes the hell out of the state college budgets. Way to go Bobby! Winning!; Reply to this comment


by calif7 February 12, 2012 12:34 PM EST: Does he still participate in exorcisms?; Reply to this comment


by rightbehind February 12, 2012 11:53 AM EST: He might as well forget it. There is no way to wash off the conservative stench.; Reply to this comment


by troutfishman2 February 12, 2012 11:38 AM EST: Where was he born? And that funny name ...; Reply to this comment


by busterdawwgy February 12, 2012 11:28 AM EST: "Bitterly?" The states make gun laws. Have I noticed the Feds swooping into Louisiana taking people's guns away? No. Have they forced a religion on the people, or banned any religion? I didn't think so. So why are those people so bitter against something that hasn't even happened, and won't happen.; Reply to this comment


by aheadace February 12, 2012 10:03 AM EST: Bobby one-dot will go no place needs to go back to India; Reply to this comment

by RobAla February 12, 2012 8:48 AM EST

I'm not surprised at the Louisiana teacher's association being against Jindal, teacher unions are almost always against Republicans. For the past 3 decades, education in the US has gone downhill. I attribute that to 2 things: 1) the creation of the worthless federal Department of Education in 1979, and 2) the actions of teacher's unions to force teacher desires (job security) over student needs.

I want both done away with. The federal government teaches no one, and there is no reason to waste $80 billion on the worthless Department of Education. It is far better to give 50 states the ability to be creative and innovative, than to force a stupid centralized approach on education. Teacher unions are all about protecting teachers from being held accountable for performance, and it has nothing to do with meeting the educational needs of children. Private unions are one thing, but public unions are unethical. Why should a public employee be able to go on strike against the very taxpayers who pay their salaries? In the case of public union strikes, they strike against the very people they are supposed to be serving. It is wrong.

Both teacher unions and the federal Depart of Education need to go.

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by VictorAshesLoveChild February 12, 2012 10:42 AM EST: "Why should a public employee be able to go on strike against the very taxpayers who pay their salaries?"

Because public-sector supervisors are as stupid, venal, and as willing to violate the rights of their supervisees as private-sector supervisors.

Have we cleared that up for ya, junior?


by farmerbb February 12, 2012 7:13 AM EST: Jindal will say anything to get elected. He is supposed to have a Biology major from university, and he runs on a platform of allowing creationism to be taught in schools. I guess the part of his education on evolution by natural selection fell out his ears when he leaned over ?; Reply to this comment


by sonofsummarex February 12, 2012 6:04 AM EST: I also love guns. And I'd love to turn them on the Louisianans for putting this zhithead in the governorship.; Reply to this comment