Bobby Jindal: The GOP's Rising Star?

Morley Safer Profiles Louisiana's Gov., Who Some Think May Run For The White House One Day

(CBS)  If you watched the Republican response to President Obama's address to Congress last Tuesday, you saw a rather awkward young man taking his best shot following one of the most powerful political orators the country has seen in ages.

While Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana, may not be quite ready for primetime, he does represent the party's attempt to broaden its base, to attract minorities - in short to reinvent itself. It's pretty remarkable for a 37-year-old first generation American policy wonk to be regarded as the Grand Old Party’s new young savior.

---

In New Orleans' Jackson Square, the strains of "Sweet Georgia Brown" accompany just about the most popular, yet unlikely, man in town: Bobby Jindal.

Jindal is not a musician, nor a restaurateur, but a mere governor, who after the Katrina debacle, is trying to put the "big un-easy" back on dry land. When asked by a tourist whether he'd be our next president, the governor replied, "No, no. I need to fix my state."

The son of immigrants, Ivy League educated, and all of 37 years old, Jindal has been called the great beige hope of the Republican Party.

"I think the Republican Party needs to stop thinking about who's the next messenger, is they need to stop thinking about how do they fix their party. We need to start thinking about how do we help fix our country?" Jindal told Safer.

He is the first non-white governor of Louisiana since Reconstruction, and in a state that has been described as "half under water, half under indictment," he's a far cry from what Louisiana voters had taken for granted: lily-white good ole boys who made more headlines for scandal and corruption than for governance.

This eager and ambitious young whirlwind is determined to change all that. He doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, doesn't swear and relentlessly hammers his message that the days of corruption and incompetence are over.

"I'm not going to take no for an answer on reforming our ethics laws," he said on election night.

"I think what voters were saying when elected me, 'We're tired of the past. We're tired of corrupt politics. We're tried of the same old politicians. We know we're better than that,'" Jindal told 60 Minutes correspondent Morley Safer.

"But one of the appeals of New Orleans and Louisiana was that it wasn't on the good list, that there was something wonderfully exotic and bad about New Orleans," Safer pointed out.

"We'll let Illinois have that reputation for a little while," Jindal replied.

If Jindal can truly change "business as usual" in Louisiana, it may be because he's an outsider. The son of immigrants who arrived from India in the early 70s, he was born in Baton Rouge. His mother earned a doctorate in nuclear physics; his father was a civil engineer.

Asked if he felt any racial tension growing up in Baton Rouge, Jindal said, "Not at all. You know, this has been a great place to grow up. The great thing about the people of Louisiana is that they accept you based on who you are."

That's quite a declaration in a state that not so long ago gave former Ku Klux Klansmen David Duke nearly 40 percent of the vote.

But that sunny "Leave it to Beaver" optimism is classic Bobby Jindal, a man so determined to be true blue American, he changed his name.

When he was born, Jindal was named Piyush. Asked where the name Bobby came from, Jindal told Safer, "Every day after school, I'd come home and I'd watch 'The Brady Bunch.' And I identified with Bobby, you know? He was about my age, and Bobby stuck."

[annaamed]

You know Americans are already so frustrated with BUSH failure polices and now we have these new Jokers known as Bobby Jindal (the governor of poorest begging state) & Rush Limbaugh (radio show host, a felon of drug user). Enough with this Jindal hypocrite, Where was he when his buddies BUSH, Dick and Rumsy were planning wars? Looting money from hard working Americans and lying for all the WMD crap.
Mc Cain another joker, voted for first stimulus $ 700 Billion and now he is calling it generational theft. Has BUSH and republican has not done enough damage to America? And now Obama is following same policies and keeping the same losers in his administration, what a joke!!
These jokers (specially so called conservative republican) have fun time in congress and Senate, have not done anything good and now dragging this great country into HELL !!
We the honest hard working Americans need real answer, no more these Jokers ripping us off. If they have some shame and honest values, they need to resign or not run again. Shame on you!
Nobody has ever won Afghanistan (read history) and will never be able to win. But we will have more $$ Billions pump in like Bush and have more soldiers dead or broken legs and arms.
Mark my words, that weather we will have a revolution in this country or we will definitely see Third World WAR very soon.
Answer me, because I have a right, and I am honest TAX Payer, whose money you guys are giving to your buddies in CITI Bank, AIG and others.
GOD save us from these hypocrite jokers, GOD Bless America

[MaryVerity]

Correction to the Bobby Jindal story: Neither Jindal nor the Catholic Church is opposed or has ever been opposed to stem cell research. However, both are zealously opposed to EMBRYONIC stem cell research, which involves the destruction of human life. And this opposition is not just for ethical reasons. With each passing month it becomes ever clearer that trying to get medical cures and treatments from embryonic stem cell research is like insisting a bull produce milk for you, rather than simply milking the cow. Jindal and the non-politicized segment of the scientific community both recognize that it's far better to milk the very productive "cow" of ADULT stem cell research: that's the area of stem cell research that's already provided a cornucopia of treatments in the here and now.

[Reality101]

From the eyes of an independent, I find the fawning over Bobby Jindal nauseating. He claims that he wants to change how the government does business. Really? If that's the case, why did he join the Republican party? Why join any party at all? Towing any party line, by definition, strips away sincerity in one's claim to change politics. The fact that he's garnered support from Limbaugh and Gingrich should be enough evidence of that.
He believes in "Intelligent Design", is against stem cell research and opposes abortion rights. So once more we have someone who wants to impose the consequences of his own religious views on everyone else. Add this to the hypocrisy of his remarks about overspending Democrats, and I fail to see where any change is.
Sounds like the same old fundamentalist Republican garbage to me. It's just been repackaged by another smiley politician who also saw fit to repackage his own name.

[ljblinddog]

Bobby Jindal is a nice man. We should invite him to press interviews and dinner. He should not be leading public policy.

Bobby Jindal?s gubernatorial victory marks the lowest participation by voters in a governor?s race since Louisiana went to the open primary system in 1975, according to secretary of state?s records.

He was rated the 7th least affective Congressman in Washington when he was a U. S Representative. His new ethics changes have no teethe. The successful disaster policies he used during Hurricane Gustav were those of former Governor Blanco?s based on what was learned and corrected after Katrina.

He inherited a state after Blanco, with a ?rainy day fund? at capacity, $250 million in capital outlay escrow, $630 million increase in revenue over past administrations, 2,500 fewer state employees and new businesses coming into Louisiana.

Since he has been Governor, he has been wrong on taxes, the future of oil and gas and has blown through a billion dollars that could have gone into education and health. The state of Louisiana is about 1.9 billion short, cutting services in the neighborhood of $400 million. As governor he has no new ideas, and is turning down bail out money to the state because he is afraid that he won?t have remedies in three years.

60 minutes did not reveal anything of substance about Bobby Jindal.

[sarvoshetty]

Dear 60 min. What an awful person bobby Jindal is for hting his Indian heritage so much. How ironic that the Republican Party has chosen him as the new face of tolerance. As a Indian American who was born only a few years before Bobby was deeply offended that he did not want to even remotely acknowledge his Indian roots. He should give the people of louisiana a chance to see him for who he really is.....a hypocrite....sincerely Sarvo

[akoli]

I believe in free speech and freedom of religion. To that end, Bobby Jindal has every right to choose whatever faith resonates with him. But I find it appalling that he would malign Hinduism. His comments about the Bhagavad Gita illustrate that he has no understanding of the text, nor its moral stance, which if he took the time to learn it, would illustrate that Hinduism is a faith of tolerance and respect for others.

Granted, the true tenets of the faith are not always practiced, but then again, who among us follows their religion to a T? Jesus did not tell his followers to kill, torture, rape, or abuse those who don't follow his teachings. But that's exactly what the Catholic Church and Islam have condoned for years.

Jindal, quit talking about issues which you clearly know nothing about. You sold out to the GOP to get elected - just admit it.

[acenlavoice]

The 60 minutes carfully crafted script made the comment that Bobby Jindal was a "beige" candiate. This was quite interesting and "telling" especially in the snide manor it was made. What color do you think President Barak Oboma is? He is not black.
The point, incase you don't get it, is not color - it is principal. Character not color.
We are now "reaping" a terrible impact on our country because the news media focused on color and hid the principals in this past election.

[Louisianakid]

Too bad CBS did this story before the Mardi Gras Debacle! Also missing was "I'm Bobby Jindal and I agree with this ad". Seems like the story gave the editor of the Times Picayune (who endorsed Jindal when he ran for Govenor) almost as much time praising his candidate that spent a lot of money in advertisements. If only CBS would have spent a little more time checking out reporting by the Times Picayune's own journalists, as recent as Saturday (2/28/09)/R. Travis Scott
pointing out some of the embellishments Jindal took credit for that belonged to former Gov. Blanco, including a Surplus $$! Too bad CBS didn't announce when the story was produced!

[jerseyneil]

Just because one decides to investigate the religion of their parents and then make an informed decision to change to Catholism from Hinduism, you seem to be suggesting that Jindal is less Indian. In fact, Christianity existed in India before it existed in Europe. All immigrants that come to the US seek to assimulate with the culture of their new home. Most of my Indian Hindu friends never ate beef before, but allow their children to eat burgers at McDonald's. Contrary to popular belief, food, names, and religion are not the only cultural identities we have as Americans. How many second generation Italians name their son "Vito" or Germans their son "Otto"? They don't do it. Barack only accepted his name as an adult, he was known as Barry as a child. Jindal would be ridiculed and picked-on as a child named Piyush. Thus, he wanted to be called Bobby. This is just common sense.

[jerseyneil]

I agree that Jindal does not have experience, yet, to be President. However, don't be too quick to judge him. Listen to his message and it makes sense. The US government gave banks, auto companies,and insurance companies a bailout. Now GM and AIG want another bailout because the money ran out. The Obama administration will give them that 2nd bailout, and possibly a 3rd and 4th bailout. The money comes from the taxpayers. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE. Only in America can a business be mismanaged, lose money, and get billions from the taxpayers. I voted for Obama, but these bailouts don't make sense. Where else can a CEO of a company receive millions of dollars in compensation when that company is on the verge of bankruptcy. We seem to be rewarding incompetence.

[wdh3007]

Jindal lacks experience and should not be the GOP's person but neither should RNC Chairman Michael Steele he is not the guy to lead party. Even at the CPAC meeting not one speaker mentioned real true conservative principles which are Liberty, Borders Language and Culture. The point is all of the real conservatives are gone and have abadoned their principles for the quest of power. The last true conservative was Raegan when he was living but until conservatives bring back the principles they once lived by the party will only be what it is now.

[sero5]

Way overhyped by the media as the future of the Republican Party. Most of the party is white and beholden to keeping whites in charge of the White House.

[labrat9999]

Yikes an Ivy League educated person in the GOP!! What happened to all that talk about Obama being an Ivy League person. Hmmm...seems like a bit of a double standard here. But on the other hand Jindal is an Ivy League moron so that's different. Please keep this guy in the GOP race for President. And Failin too. We love a good show.

[greybeardvet]

I am very positive about a smart guy of Indian heritage rising to the top in American politics, in fact, I would rather see that kind of real talent on the Democrat side than the Republican, however his over-the-top endorsement of "family values" rings a bit false. I'm also waiting for the final version of how he and the sheriff saved Katrina victims from the bureaucrats.

[lcswa]

Like other bloggers here I am appalled and saddened by Mr. Jindal's disconnection from his heritage. Is denying who you are and where you come from a way for this gentleman to garner respect from his political party? And furthermore as a child of two native Louisianans his comments alluding to non existing racism just don't ring true. Mr. Jinal needs to educate himself about his own state. As a west coaster who visits a grandmother who lives in a town just north of Baton Rouge, where non whites are still not welcome to walk down certain streets after a certain time of the days; I wonder about the integrity of someone who would turn a blind eye to racism and injustice that is obviously still there.

[Voltaire11]

It was quite a disappointment to see that CBS caved in to Republican cajoling to do a segment on Bobby Jindal on 60 minutes: it looked an awful lot like damage control after his disastrous performance delivering the Republican response last Tuesday. Fortunately, he still didn't look ready for prime time.

[briannorwood]

Jindal joins Palin, Huckabee and Romney among the GOP's "not ready for prime time" players!

[pizzanick]

As a conservative, I don't get a good feeling watching Jindal in this story. When asked if he encountered any racism when he was a kid, he said no, he was always welcomed with open arms in Louisiana. Really? No kids calling him names when he was young - are kids that mature? The other thing that troubled me about Jindal is that his family seemed to have entirely turned away from Indian culture. I would think that as a first generation immigrant, you would retain at least a few traditions. This guy is too willing to appease. Too perfect to be trusted. I would think he's lying through that smile of his.

[zed533u]

Even Iran is experimenting in stem-cell research, yes Iran. Creationism? Oh, come on. Republican Whip, Eric Cantor is not much better either. I agree with the "BUSH BUSH BUSH..." response or we be damned to a third world country.

P.S. This site doesn't (does not) like my apostrophe on my 64-bit laptop

[anj715]

It was quite appauling to watch the Jindal's last night totally disregarding their culture and heritage. As they are only the first generation indians, I find it hard to believe they have no connection with India or they don't want to do any thing with india. Are they hiding something? All Indians living in the USA have large extended families in India and they make frequent visits to Inida with their kids especially for weddings back home. It is quite appaulling they are so politically motivated ,they change their names and religion and totally deny themselves and their children of their heritage,. I have no respect for him. I respect people who value their culture and backgrounds they come and don't try to change themselves for poltics. I respect Obama not distancing himself from his real name and his heritage.